VILLAGE OF CONSTANTINE
Regular Meeting,
April 7, 2008
Council Room, 7:30 PM

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

Present at Roll Call: Trustees Brewer, Brown, Harder, Larrance, Mathers and Witek, and President Weiss. Absent: Trustee Harder. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser, Rental Inspector Lammott and Clerk Strawser. (Fire Chief Haydon entered at 7:40PM.) The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

President Weiss welcomed Dick Larrance to the Council.

Trustee Witek asked why some agenda item memos did not contain the Council-mandated informational paragraph.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Harder to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Amendments: VII. Unfinished Business, remove SAAC and place US-131 before Sewer Ad Hoc Update.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brewer, to accept the March 8, 2008 Budget Workshop minutes as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 1. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, Larrance, Mathers, Weiss and Witek. Voting NO: Brown. Corrections: Insert in Page A, Paragraph 11, Line 3 – President Weiss asked if either fund could lend the Village money toward non-fund projects, as long as the money were put back, so the Village can repave Sixth Street this year.

Motion by Witek, Seconded by Brewer, to accept the March 10, 2008 Special Meeting minutes as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Corrections: Page 1, Last Paragraph, Last Sentence – All Council members agreed that the unusual weather aggravated existing problems, and that care should be taken to minimize the impact and cost to the Village and individual residents. – changed to - Some Council members agreed that the unusual weather aggravated existing problems, and that care should be taken to minimize the impact and cost to the Village and individual residents.

Motion by Witek, Seconded by Harder, to accept the March 17, 2008 Regular Meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Trustee Witek asked how Kendall Electric was on the bills when they have been out of business for more than a year. Manager Honeysett said that Three Rivers had been directly billed for parts to repair the lift station, the bill only now being submitted to the Village for reimbursement. Trustees asked if the police car repairs were under control. Manager Honeysett said he hoped so.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brown to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $ 21,591.24. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

During Audience Participation, Treasurer Strawser asked for an update since the portable sewer pump was still in use after more than a week. Manager Honeysett said that while one submersible pump was being rebuilt, with the excessive discharge, the portable pump was being used in conjunction with the second lift station pump “to be safe”. The repairs had no target completion date, but he hoped it would be only a couple of days.

The Council was presented handouts from former Trustee Chiddister and MDOT’s Jason Latham regarding the status and economic development requirements of the proposed US-131 Constantine Bypass. MDOT officials Jason Latham and Jon Sytsma, repeated explanations of why no specifics or guarantees can be given while in the planning phase, only when the project has been officially approved through the Record of Decision and it advances to the design phase. Jason Latham outlined a likely timetable for the actions leading up to the design phase. He said it was unlikely the Federal Highway Administration would veto the project as long as it met federal program standards. Asked when the public comments would be accepted and addressed, Mr. Latham said that public comment would follow approval and dissemination of the Environmental Impact Statement through individual written comment only. Mr. Latham said that all public comment had to be addressed as part of the Record of Decision. Mr. Latham advised that all comments be specific and direct to be effective, but that design details may not be a part of the public comments document as “it’s not the right place”. Trustee Witek asked for copies of the previously promised public comments as well as future documents; Mr. Latham said he would provide them. In response to audience questions, Mr. Latham said that while some survey work had begun, it was not necessarily for property purchase, more likely for certain design points such right-of-ways and section corners and asked the stakes remain undisturbed. Property purchase negotiations would likely not begin in earnest for a couple years. Officials discussed how MDOT determines which is the most cost-effective highway material. Trustees asked if/how the five (5) concerns raised by the Council had been resolved. Jason Latham said the outstanding issues were at Millers Mill and Riverside Drive, but that he was pretty sure that a flashing signal could be part of the Riverside Drive intersection if subsequent traffic warrants it, figures to be based on averages and twenty-year projections. Safety is MDOT’s primary concern. Rumble strips, including centerline rumble strips, might also be incorporated into the project. Trustee Brown said that he needed to know specific answers to the five (5) points raised by the Council. Mr. Latham he would put together a summary and send him the information or that it would be in subsequent official documents. Trustee Brown asked for the summary and any other available information. Discussion ensued regarding the proposed cul-de-sacs. Jason Latham said the issue was resolved; only one (1) cul-de-sac remained in the project since MDOT does “not count the ones at the beginning and the end” of the bypass. Mr. Latham said that rising costs make this project “interesting” and he hopes it can be done for $31 million. MDOT officials urged citizens to participate in the governor’s Transportation Task Force, looking into alternative transportation funding sources such as higher gas taxes, toll roads, privatization, etc. since MDOT is already under-funded and even a ten-cent gas tax increase would not meet current freeway maintenance costs.

Fire Commissioner Brown reported that the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee met last week and expected another meeting by the end of the month, with the focus on 1) Spare parts – Manager Honeysett looking into costs, with a report expected to be presented to Council at the next regular council meeting, 2) Sleeving – action yet to start since a contract has not been signed (discussion ensued as to why a contract was not written, reviewed or signed and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation and the sleeving project), 3) the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee discussed if they wanted to take on more issues, with the committee leaning toward doing so. Trustee Witek said that considering the issues facing the Village sewer system, a third council member should be appointed to serve on the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee. Trustee Brown said that had been discussed and to expect Council action in the near future. Discussion ensued as to the project itself and possible additional costs.

Trustee Brown asked if bids were sought for the proposed copy machine purchase. Manager Honeysett said Attorney Bush said an RFP was not needed, but that he would seek one if directed, although he did not believe any company would give a better discount than DL Gallivan. Trustee Witek reminded the Council that an RFP on the well repair saved the Village $3,000. Specifics of the warranty were not known, Manager Honeysett saying he could get the information from the bookkeeper, but that he assumed it included a standard service contract. Clerk Strawser asked how the full-featured machine could be used to best advantage in the current copy machine location. Manager Honeysett said it would be moved into the front office. Trustee Harder said the copier needed to be purchased and to vote tonight.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to authorize the Village manager to purchase a Kyocera KM-C2525E color copier from DL Gallivan, Portage, MI for a total cost, including trade-in, of $10,995.00. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

Fire Chief Haydon led discussion of the proposed Lock Box Program wherein the elderly and or disabled individuals would be provided with recycled realtor lock box to which the Fire Department retained a master key for entry in case of emergency. Several communities in St. Joseph County have similar programs. Chief Haydon said that some apartment managers, businesses, and individuals have already provided the department with master keys for such emergencies. Only those persons asking to participate would be part of the program; 9-1-1 will have a list of those with lock boxes. Manager Honeysett rejected the suggestion that keys be housed with the police department. Fire Commissioner Brown and Chief Haydon explained why liability is not a concern. Trustee Mathers said he preferred seeing a clean what to do list, policy and fee schedule before approving the program. Discussion ensued as to whether to charge a fee equal to refurbishment of the lock box.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Witek, to authorize the Constantine Fire Department to offer the Residential Lock Box Program, at no cost to Village residents. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

Adjourned meeting at 9:18PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Included in packet, but not formally discussed: 4th of July parade route and information; Harvest Festival information.