VILLAGE OF CONSTANTINE
Regular Meeting, February 18, 2008
Village Hall, 7:30 PM

President Weiss called the Regular February 18, 2008 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM at the Village Hall.

Present at Roll Call: Trustees Brewer, Brown, Harder, Mathers and Witek, and President Weiss. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser, Fire Chief Haydon, Rental Inspector Lammott and Clerk Strawser. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Mathers, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 6 – 0.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brewer, to approve the February 4, 2008 regular meeting minutes as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 5 – 1. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, Mathers and Witek, and President Weiss. ABSTAINED: Trustee Brown. (Trustee Brown abstained since he was not at the February 4 th meeting.)

Insertion on Page 1, Paragraph 11: Trustee Witek asked for discussion & President Weiss said, “No.”

Manager Honeysett said he would check as to whether the Steven Weed/DDA BLDG bill for the Incubator door repair had been already been approved and paid. Trustee Brewer, citing the recurring squad car repair bills, asked if Manager Honeysett had budgeted, as planned, for a new squad car in 2008. Manager Honeysett said that the cost-benefit of buying used vehicles might be less than originally thought, but that despite the repairs and the need for a new fuel pump, the mechanic said the cars were sound and that the Village needed buy a new copy machine and some other things instead. Treasurer Strawser raised concerns about nearly $6,000 in utilities from Indiana Michigan Power, asking why the US-131 sewer lift station accrued charges of more than $3,000 for the month. President Weiss asked if that was unusual. Treasurer Strawser believed so. Manager Honeysett said that a part of the tractor repair charges would be recouped from insurance.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Weiss, to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $48,833.30. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0.

Cool Cities member Sue Emrick said the Cool Cities Committee had yet to see the Christmas Decoration leasing company’s CD, but that the majority favored the traditional angel decorations or something equally visible, although the committee was also uncomfortable suggesting how to spend Village money. The committee might take a field trip to see display samples. Dimensions/samples will be provided so any custom order replicates the existing angels.

Treasurer Strawser asked why Three Rivers had not provided a monthly sewer bill for January and asked if the Village had any dialogue re: the recent heavy rainfall’s effect on usage and charges. Manager Honeysett said no alarms had been tripped and he had not heard from Three Rivers, but that he was concerned considering known infiltration problems. Clerk Strawser reminded Council that Three Rivers has been late providing monthly billing several times in the last six months.

Treasurer Strawser asked when the Village would begin making principal payments on the Incubator building. Manager Honeysett said that Tom Meyer’s loans needed to be extended and the (former First National) bank loan needs to be re-written, but he expected payments to begin no later than April 2008.

President Weiss called for public hearing for the purpose of applying for a DNR Recreation Grant /”Life Trail” system at Riverview Park to order at 7:51PM .

Treasurer Strawser said that while she appreciated the concept, she hoped the Council would consider the project based on listed anticipated expenses, the likelihood of unanticipated expenses caused by our aging infrastructure, the resolution language locking the Village into the project if awarded the grant regardless of the Village’s financial condition and the lack of a 2008 budget on which to base financial decisions.

President Weiss closed the public hearing at 7:54PM .

Manager Honeysett read the list of meetings he attended in January 2008. He said to expect more meetings and talks with engineers Fleiss & Vandenbrink regarding the Water Study recommendations once the water tower inspection happens in March. Manager Honeysett said the DDA had not met because some experts were not available, and that he was working on getting all DDA minutes to the Council. Trustee Witek suggested that 4 th of July fireworks might need to be purchased early this year due to the 2008 Olympics being held in China . Manager Honeysett said he would get in touch with 4 th of July Committee co-chairs Konneck and Kufeldt.

Police Commissioner Brewer gave an overview of the January 2008 Police Report.

DPW Commissioner Harder read of the January 2008 DPW Report. He said the Seal Coat Program is the 2008 Street Repair Plan. Clerk Strawser asked if the sewer line and meter pit repair on Green and W Fourth Streets was on the same property the Village had trouble with in the past; no one could answer. Manager Honeysett said the Village Street Index was being updated using the Central Dispatch Address Map information collected by the Village and promised copies to the clerk and treasurer.

Fire Commissioner Brown read the January 2008 Fire Department Report.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Mathers, to accept and file the Manager’s and Commissioners’ reports as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 6 – 0.

Fire Chief Haydon reassured trustees that the mutual aid agreement will have no effect on our auto aid agreement (two separate agreements). He explained that Sturgis Fire Chief Hopkins and the Sturgis attorney reviewed and produced the final draft of the mutual aid agreement without review by the Village attorney.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Weiss to adopt Resolution No. 08-02 (a Resolution authorizing the St. Joseph County Fire Department Mutual Aid agreement.) Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 08-02

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

 Whereas , the various Fire Department Units in the County have rendered mutual aid to one another in the past; and

Whereas , the Fire Chiefs of the various units have been meeting to prepare a revised Mutual Aid Agreement for Fire Departments in the County; and

Whereas , an appropriately drafted Mutual Aid Agreement has been submitted by the Fire Chief to the Constantine Fire Board representing the constituent governmental units namely: Village of Constantine, Township of Constantine and Township of Florence; and

Whereas , it is appropriate for each governmental unit to approve the agreement prior to execution by the Fire Chief; and

Whereas , it is determined appropriate to maintain a Mutual Aid agreement for the benefit of all concerned and subject to the rights and limitations stated therein; and

Whereas , the Constantine Village Council has determined that the agreement is in the best interests of the Village of Constantine ;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Constantine Fire Department Chief is hereby
authorized and directed to execute the St. Joseph County Mutual Aid Agreement for Fire
Departments on behalf of the Village of Constantine and that the same is a
dopted in its entirety. Any previous and conflicting resolutions, agreements and practices, or parts thereof,
are hereby repealed and rendered null and void.

Trustee Brown, speaking for the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee, asked that the Council direct Manager Honeysett to begin actual pricing of the “spare parts” list recommended by Ken Herceg. The list is based on the Herceg Report and modified by Trustees Chiddister, Brown and Manager Honeysett, with cost estimates of $73,066.04 based on the engineer’s report. Manager Honeysett was so directed; as long as engineer-consulting costs remained within the Manager’s discretionary limit, a formal motion is unnecessary.

The Michigan Municipal League said that while the Village is under no obligation to fill the vacant Council seat, most communities consider it wise to do so. Manager Honeysett recommended interviewing interested candidates. Trustee Brown said that while interviews had been conducted to fill the seat vacated by Trustee Moyer, that was not how Trustee Nelson’s vacated seat had been filled (because of Mr. Chiddister’s previous council experience), but if interviews are to take place, it should be as soon as possible since a full council is crucial to having functional committees. Trustee Brewer said the Council also needs the seventh person as a tiebreaker. Manager Honeysett said Roxana King and Richard Larrance have applied. He said there is no conflict of interest appointing a spouse of a DPW employee since trustees do not have direct control of the [spouse’s] job, but that being a Village employee is a conflict of interest and any employee would need to resign before being appointed. Discussion ensued regarding the best way to advertise and fill the position.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Mathers, to place a notice in the March village newsletter making an application deadline of 5:00PM, March 6, 2008 for anyone seeking to fill the vacant trustee position, and to set a Special Meeting for March 10, 2008at 7:30PM at the Village Hall for the purpose of interviewing candidates seeking appointment to the vacant trustee seat. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0.

In response to Trustee Witek’s question, Diana Lammott said that she took the daily traffic count figure from a previous grant application prepared by Gove Associates. She explained that in-kind equipment figures were based on depreciation & usage charts allowed by the federal government. Ms. Lammott said that the plan included eliminating the under-utilized skateboard park, replacing it with a 2-hoop basketball court. She said that the improvements would have minor maintenance costs. Ms. Lammott said that Act 51 non-motorized money could be captured to help pay for the portion of asphalt park trail alongside East Water Street and that she would seek additional funding through private/independent foundations. Manager Honeysett said the resolution language did not lock the Village into the project, though he could not imagine dropping the project without mitigating circumstances. Trustees Brewer, Mathers and Witek voiced concern at committing to the plan, based on estimated, not hard figures, without the 2008 budget in place. President Weiss and Manager Honeysett said they supported the project as an economic development tool that will attract young people, tourists and industry. Everyone thanked Ms. Lammott for her hard work.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Mathers, to approve Resolution No. 08-03, seeking grant funding for Riverview Park. (Applying for a DNR Recreation Grant /”Life Trail” system.) Motion failed by Roll Call 3 – 3. Voting YES: Harder, Mathers and Weiss. Voting NO: Brewer, Brown and Witek.

St. Joseph County Under-sheriff Dennis Allen addressed the assembly on his candidacy for St. Joseph County Sheriff in the 2008 election.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Witek, to authorize the purchase of a Rotary Broom from Great Lakes Green Power of Union, MI at a cost of $3,197.95. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. (The John Deere 60-inch heavy-duty rotary broom will be primarily used for intersections, but may lessen the need to hire professional street sweepers.)

President Weiss set a Budget Work Session for 8:30AM on Saturday, March 1, 2007 at Village Hall. She said that Council members would not get paid for attending since it is not a regular or special meeting.

Adjourned meeting at 9:05PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk