FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Monday, December 4, 2006 – 7:00 PM
Mayor James Rynberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Councilmember James Breinling gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Present at Roll Call: Mayor James Rynberg and Councilmembers James Breinling, Dick Conley and Jane Drake. Councilmember Larry Breuker was absent.
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake and Neighborhood & Economic Development Director Michele Ribant
Public Present: Aaron Bennett, Rick VanBoven, Ryan Higbee, Ned Hughes and John Sella
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to adopt Resolution R-06-31 honoring the Fremont Police Department’s Pistol Team for its 1st place finish in the State of Michigan Class D Team Division and the High Chief’s Division; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adopt Resolution R-06-32 honoring the Fremont Lions Club for its service to the Fremont Community and its 20-year tradition of placing American Flags throughout town during special occasions and events; motion approved.
Consent Action Items
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Drake and carried to approve the following Consent Action Items:
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the November 30, 2006 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $166,239.89; motion approved.
Mr. Aaron Bennett, of Bennett Farms, Inc. submitted a letter to Council to officially lodge a complaint against a City employee’s recent call to the MI Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding surface water run-off and contamination of groundwater. Bennett Farms manages the stockpiling of subject turkey litter to be applied as fertilizer and incorporated into their croplands located in Sheridan Township approximately 2 miles southwest of the City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).
City Manager Yonker reported that the call to MDEQ was not made as nor intended to be a complaint, but only an inquiry to this type of farming operation. The City has long had an issue with manure management and other practices by farming properties adjacent and up-gradient of the City’s WWTP. Both the surface runoff & groundwater contamination from these sites greatly impact the operation of the City’s WWTP and imposes significant additional testing requirements & costs on the City. The increased contaminant levels, especially in the groundwater, prevent the City from increasing the use of the WWTP’s effluent to irrigate the plant’s fields. Staff was simply inquiring as to what the State considered as “Best Management Practices” (BMP) for manure handling and storage on agricultural properties. MDEQ misfiled it as a complaint with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA.)
Mr. Bennett noted there were no unfavorable findings from the MDA, but noted that because a complaint was filed, his farm’s name would remain on the State’s permanent complaint list. Council requested City Manager Yonker contact the MDA requesting Bennett Farm’s removal from said list.
Mr. Ryan Higbee, of 339 E. Dayton Street requested assistance or guidance regarding groundwater continuously entering his basement walls and floor. Council requested DPW staff follow-up on Mr. Higbee’s request.
Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:30 PM.
GMHS President Ned Hughes and Financial Director John Sella gave a brief presentation of the Hospital’s proposed Revenue Bond Capital Project. The project entails purchase of property and construction of a wellness resource center and various modifications to the existing hospital site.
Mayor Rynberg closed the hearing at 7:48 PM.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve Resolution R-06-33 approving the Hospital Finance Authority’s bond issue for GMHS’ construction and equipping of certain Hospital facilities; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley and approved, to accept F&V Construction Management, Inc.’s recommendation for awarding the following trade bids for construction of the Fremont Marketplace Project & parking lot improvements in the NE block of Downtown, for a total of $853,264:
Excavation - Shaler Excavating $195,000
Concrete - Bill McKinley Masonry 98,795
Decorative Concrete - RA Homes 282,167
Bituminous Paving - Oman’s Contracting 44,600
Metals Works - Taylor Made Metals 57,760
Building Construction -Onder Construction 54,600
Landscaping - Twin Lakes Nursery 34,110
Site Electrical - Nieboer Electric 47,600
Restroom Building - Rich Construction 38,632
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to accept the revised Exhibit A to the Construction Management Contract with F&V Construction Management, Inc. reflecting the updated trade bids and recalculated fees; motion approved.
Mayor Rynberg submitted two quotes to provide food service for the annual employee dinner. Following discussion, Council requested that Mayor Rynberg seek an additional quote from one of the providers for a buffet- or family-style service similar to the other provider’s quote and to move forward and make a selection.
N&E Director Michele Ribant gave a presentation on the status of the Downtown Blueprint Program and noted the presentation will be given to other local civic groups and posted on the City’s website.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley and approved to make the following re-appointments to the Fremont Zoning Board of Appeals for terms ending as noted:
David Crosley (3-yr. term expiring 1/01/10)
Ed Thomas (3-yr. term expiring 1/01/10)
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to appoint Mayor Rynberg to the WMSRDC Board of Directors for the remainder of his 2-year Mayoral term ending November 2007; motion approved.
Reports
City Manager Yonker reported his participation, along with the Mayor and Police Chief in the Pandemic Flu Planning Committee meeting last week. He summarized the topics for discussion during an upcoming meeting next week with Gerber Products Co., NCEDO and reps from the MEDC. Mr. Yonker also informed the Council of the passage of the vote to establish the Newaygo County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), which will result in the application of a “pillow assessment” (fee) on each overnight motel/hotel stay in the County. The funds raised through this levy may only be used for marketing & promotional purposes for the County’s tourism industry. He extended a big thank you to the NCEDO Board and staff for helping coordinate this effort.
The Following Communications were transmitted for Council Information:
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to close the Regular Session at 9:25 PM, at City Manager Yonker’s request, and enter into a Closed Session for the purpose of reviewing the City Manager’s Mid-Year Self Evaluation; motion approved by roll call vote.
Council excused City Clerk Blake from the Closed Session and the remainder of the Regular Session.
The Closed Session ended at 10:05 PM and the Regular Session reconvened.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley, that based on the Council’s mid-year review of the City Manager’s performance and his salary’s penetration into the Council-established salary range, to approve a two percent (2%) increase in the City Manager’s salary retroactive to the beginning of the City’s fiscal year, July 1, 2006; motion approved.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Drake to adjourn the meeting at 10:09 PM; motion approved.
_________________________________
James M. Rynberg, Mayor
_________________________________
Todd M. Blake, City Clerk