Village of Constantine
Regular Council Meeting
October 15, 2010
7:30 PM

President Weiss called the Regular Monday, October 4, 2010 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM.

Present at Roll Call: Trustees Robert Brewer, Mark Brown, Willie Harder, Cindy LaFluer, Gary Mathers, Sarah Moore and President Patricia Weiss. Other elected officials present: Treasurer Donna Strawser and Clerk Ruth Strawser. Village employees present: Manager Mark Honeysett, Police Chief Bedell and Administrative Assistant Diana Lammott. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Mathers, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Amended: Postpone New Business A. Award Presentation to next meeting.

MINUTES
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Mathers, to approve the Regular September 20, 2010 meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

NEWSLETTER MINUTES
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brown, to approve the abridged version of the Regular September 20, 2010 minutes for newsletter printing as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
No one rose to speak.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

DRINKING WATER REVOLVING FUND
Jon Moxey of Fleis & Vandenbrink re-stated the case for, and responded to questions regarding, the proposed $1,955,000 Drinking Water Revolving Fund project for Village water improvements. All Council members spoke, several stating they had received more negative than positive comments from residents regarding the anticipated water rate increases because of current financial concerns and suggested advancing the project in stages. Several Council members spoke in favor of the project citing the need for system improvements to entice large business location, the ability to fight major fires and the availability of 15% principal forgiveness funding. The Treasurer reminded everyone of the Village’s current debt load and financial concerns. Leonard Moyer said the last major water project was done in 1967. In response to a question from MacKenzie Strawser, Mr. Moxey said it would not improve water pressure, but make it more uniform throughout the Village. Manager Honeysett said the project would not affect the budget since all funding would be offset by increased water rates.

Motion by Weiss, Seconded by Moore, to authorize the Village President and Village Manager to sign the appropriate documents to move forward with the proposed DWRF Project. Motion failed by Roll Call 3 – 4. Voting YES: Harder, Moore and Weiss. Voting NO: Brewer, Brown, LaFluer and Mathers.

MAJOR GENERAL BANDHOLZT MEMORIAL STONE
Manager Honeysett referred to the letter from the Michigan Historical Commission approving the Village’s request to move the Bandholtz marker to a spot outside the Village Hall within the historic district, saying he thought the Council had latitude to move the stone anywhere within the Village. The Bandholtz Memorial Committee said they had not met, but hoped to set a meeting and have a recommendation by the next regular meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

SPEED LIMITS – LOCUST, BIRCH, N. WASHINGTON AND E. WATER STREETS Manager Honeysett and Police Chief Bedell led discussion of a complaint from Barry Visel, Schoolcraft, MI, regarding a speeding ticket he received while driving Locust Street. Discussion centered on that instance and several streets the police chief had been asked to re-consider limits and signage, and the reasons for the current limits. Consensus was there was no need to make changes at this time.

UNSAFE BUILDING – 325 S. WASHINGTON STREET
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Brown, to appoint the Village Manager to schedule a Public Dangerous Building Hearing and serve as the Hearing Officer for the purpose of taking testimony to determine whether or not to recommend the destruction of the home located at 325 S. Washington Street in the Village of Constantine. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Manager Honeysett said the owner of the property had no objection to the action and to expect similar action in the near future on the house across the street as a “dilapidated house”.

CURED-IN PLACE LINING
Sewer Ad Hoc Committee Chairperson Mathers led the discussion on the need for further sleeving repair of the sewer lines on five (5) Village streets following inspection camera work by Clean Earth. Following the expenditure for these repairs, the Sewer Ad Hoc Committee expects approximately $200,000 will remain of the Dell Lawsuit money. Sewer line inspections will continue on a section-by-section review instead of targeted lines.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Weiss, to authorize the Village Manager to contract with ProForm Pipe Lining of 226 S. Elder, Mishawaka, IN 46544, to install 2,204 feet of cure-in-place lining in sewer lines on East Second, Birch, Locust, Canal and Race Streets at a cost of $76,618.00 Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Trustee Moore asked everyone to come and support the HS Girl’s Volleyball fundraiser for cancer on October 26 th.

ADJOURNMENT
President Weiss declared the meeting adjourned at 8:29PM.

Ruth Strawser
Constantine Village Clerk

Included in the packet, but not formally discussed: the publication “Establishing Realistic Speed Limits”, an email from H. Scott Chiddister dated 10-4-2010 re: the proposed DWRF Project.