A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, October 8, 2007, at 5:00 P.M. Central Time.

Roll Call: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Bicigo, Smokevitch.

Absent: Valesano (Valesano entered the meeting at 5:17 p.m).

Also Present: City Manager Nordeman, City Attorney Lawrence, and City Clerk/Treasurer Olson.

In attendance in the audience were: Larry Bicigo, Rocky Scarlassara, Charlotte Broswavic, Bill Sliva, Jim Nocerini, Glen Trceziak, Lynn Perry, Jeff Sjoquist, Marlene Bicigo, and Jon Bendick.

Mayor Hendrickson led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved that the items on the Consent Agenda be approved as noted below:

The minutes of the meeting of October 2, 2007 as written.

The following reports for the month of September 2007:
A. Police report, as submitted by Police Chief Sherwin, indicating 206 complaints, of which none were closed by arrest, and logging of 2,385 miles on patrol duty.

B. Joint Fire Authority report, as submitted by Fire Chief Ahola, indicating answering six (6) fire calls; spending approximately 114.5 man-hours fighting fires; and holding one practice and training session.

C. Electric Dept report as submitted by Chief Electrician David Graff.

D. Public Works Dept report as submitted by Foreman Kelly Stankewicz.

E. Treasurer’s Revenue Report as submitted by Clerk/Treasurer Dorothea Olson.

Payrolls and Disbursements in the amount of $527,572.20 and instruct the City Clerk/Treasurer to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

(The minutes of September 10, 2007 and September 24, 2007 were removed from the consent agenda for further discussion.)

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to amend the minutes of September 10, 2007 by attaching the wage committee recommendations and the payroll scales effective 10/01/07.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to amend the minutes of September 24, 2007 (Page 263, Paragraph 4) to read "to set the starting wage of Tara Peltoma, utility billing clerk, to be Step 1 of the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer wage scale ($14.61/hour).

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to amend the minutes of September 24, 2007 (Page 264, Paragraph 3) to read "to move Manager Nordeman to Step 7 on that scale ($29.67/hour).

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007 and September 24, 2007 meetings as amended.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to approve the payment for DDA clerical services to MaryAnn Harrington in the amount of $100.00.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, and Bicigo. Nays: none Absent: Councilor Valesano

Motion carried.

Jim Nocerini of 408 Tobin Street and Rocky Scarlassara of 412 Tobin Street addressed the Council with concerns about enforcement of the zoning ordinance relative to fences and occupied homes with no water or sewer services.

(Councilor Valesano entered the meeting – 5:17 p.m.)

Charlotte Broswavic of 414 Tobin Street advised the Council that the fence in question will be replaced in the spring. Manager Nordeman confirmed that this would resolve the problem.

The Council was updated on the progress of the Christmas Lights Committee and the Crystal Manor building re-development.

Jeff Sjoquist advised the Council that the connection to the township water supply is nearing completion and the City should be receiving township water within the next month.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve the Estimate of Funds Needed for the water project in the amount of $599,768.71.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve Change Order #003 for the Water Transmission System Project in the amount of -$10,799.62.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson temporarily adjourned the meeting to conduct a public hearing on the Crystal Falls Recreation Plan updates.

Meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m.

PUBLIC HEARING:

A public hearing was conducted regarding the updates to the Crystal Falls Recreation Plan. The plan was updated to include the new soccer/football field developed this fall and an upgrade to the electric service at the campsites throughout Runkle Lake Park. The update also included a re-adjustment of the target dates for the various projects listed in the Five Year Recreational Plans and Goals.

There were no comments from the public.

Manager Nordeman advised the Council that he is looking into the installation of restrooms at both Lincoln Park and the golf course. He also noted that the soccer/football field has been seeded and grass is beginning to grow.

There were no further comments regarding the recreation plan.

Public Hearing closed at 5:50 p.m.

Meeting reconvened at 5:50 p.m.

Councilor Bicigo seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve the updated Crystal Falls Recreation Plan as presented by the Crystal Falls Planning Commission and further to file the revised plan with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: None

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Bicigo moved to remove, with regrets, Richard Kranz from his seat on the Planning Commission due to his continued absence from the commissions meetings.

Motion carried.

Manager Nordeman advised that the fall yard waste pickup would be conducted during the week of October 22^nd.

Discussion regarding the Iron County Road Commission salt shed was tabled to later in the meeting.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve $200.00 to contract for further milfoil treatment of Runkle Lake.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to purchase a 1996 rotary mower from Horst Distributing for use at the golf course and cemetery in the amount of $4,995.00.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to meet in closed session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act P.A. 1976, No. 267, Section 15.268 (d) to consider the purchase of real property, specifically the salt shed owned by the Iron County Road Commission.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: none

Motion carried.

Meeting temporarily adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Meeting reconvened at 6:40 p.m.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to authorize Manager Nordeman to submit a bid on the Iron County Road Commission salt shed building consistent with the closed session discussion.

Motion carried.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Smokevitch moved to adjourn this meeting of the City Council.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.