DELTA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

 

                                           February 1, 2005

                                           Escanaba, Michigan

 

     A Regular meeting of the Delta County Board of Commissioners was held this date, pursuant to the following call:

 

                                           January 27, 2005

The Honorable Members of the Delta             

County Board of Commissioners

 

Dear Commissioners:

     A Regular Meeting of the Delta County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday February 1, 2005, at 5:15 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Delta County Courthouse.

 

                                           Sincerely yours,

                                           Nancy J. Kolich

                                           Delta County Clerk

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:  Commissioners Bengry, Elegeert, Nelson, Ruohomaki and Schultz.

ABSENT:   None.

          The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. in the Delta County Circuit Courtroom by Delta County Clerk, Nancy Kolich.

         

   V.     APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING       

          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the minutes of the January 18, 2005.  MOTION CARRIED.

           

   VI.   PRESENTATATION OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

         A.  Received:  No written communications were received.      

         B.  Forwarded: No written communications were forwarded.

 

VII.      REPORTS OF STANDING AND STATUTORY SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND OTHERS

1.  Public Health Board minutes of 11-17-04.

2.  FIA minutes of 11-22-04 & 12-27-04.

3.  Solid Waste Management minutes of 11-23-04 & 1-21-04.

4.  Pinecrest Board of Trustees minutes of 12-16-04.

5.  Airport and Parks Commission minutes of 1-12-05

1.  Township Association minutes of 10-28-04.

2.  Criminal Justice minutes of 12-7-04.

        Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki that the Communications and Reports of Standing and Statutory Committees and the Reports of Special Committees and Others be received and placed on file.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

VIII.           PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

          Hugo Mattonen addressed the Board stating that the Board meetings should consider televising the meetings.

          Waldon Johnson addressed the Board with his concerns with the Road Commissioners insurance benefit issues.

          Paul Neumeier addressed the Board with his concerns with the dismissal of the Road Commission Manager, Mark Desotell.

          William Charon addressed the Board requesting that the Board meetings be televised.

 

X.   COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Building and Grounds Committee.

    

2.   Finance Committee.

 

3. Personnel Committee.  

        a.  1-13-05.      

        Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to receive the minutes and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED.     

4.   Administrator’s Report. 

       1.  Ren Zone:

       The pay request #4 from Oberstar for $456,742.28 was submitted EDA and approved by the Finance Committee. The Administrator also advised the Committee that the remainder of the County share of the project needs to be transferred to the Ren Zone account.  The Administrator will be working with Kelly Smith to complete a power point presentation on for the Ren-zone.  They will be set up to make the presentation with the laptop and projector, eventually the finished product will be available for prospects to view on CDs.

 

  2.  Early Out Retirements:

       There is interest in an early out program.  However, some of the people are more concerned about the costs of continuing health care.  Mr. Erickson will be talking to BCBS about retiree plan options.  He is also exploring health savings account options to maximize dollar benefit for retirees.

3.  Emergency Management:

Phase I of the homeland security grant has been reimbursed by the State.  Phase II will be the purchase of 800 mHz radios for county law enforcement departments.  The turn around time for getting the money from the State is about 30 to 45 days, much quicker than last year.  Phase III will be radios for EMS and Fire Departments.

 

4.  MAC Conference.

A couple of important events will take place before the MAC Conference.  Next Tuesday is the Governor’s State of the State address.  The budget proposal is anticipated to be presented on Thursday.  Mr. Erickson will be following these closely, since these will likely bring up some important discussion issues in Lansing.

             

     Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to receive the Administrator’s report and place on file.  MOTION CARRIED.

    

6.        Computer Committee.

    

   X. GENERAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS

 

      A. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

                  

 B. NEW BUSINESS

    1.  Payment of Bills.

         Moved by Commissioner and seconded by Commissioner to pay the bills in the amount of $1,055,318.14.  MOTION CARRIED.

         

         2.  Presentation by Drain Commissioner Don Shirley.

         New Drain Commissioner, Don Shirley, updated the Board on items he is exploring including Garden Flood Prevention, and possible future revenue sources.  He also urged the Commissioners to attend the Water Shed Management Grant and Workshop at the MAC Conference.

         

        3. Authorization for 911 Coordinator to send letter to SBC

        Captain Robert Berbohm addressed the Board with a request to authorize the 911 coordinator to send a letter to SBC requesting an increase in the monthly line charge supporting E911 to 4% of the highest county phone line charge with a maximum charge of $.80 per month.  This would be a 40 cent increase from the $.40 charge set in 1993.  This would take about 3 months to take effect. Moved by Commissioner Ruohomaki and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to send to Finance for a recommendation for the next Board meeting.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

4.  Executive Session re:  Labor Contract.

     Moved by Commissioner and seconded by Commissioner to convene into executive session at 5:55 p.m.

 

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

NELSON    ABSTAIN

RUOHOMAKI YES

SCHULTZ   YES

ELEGEERT YES

          MOTION CARRIED.

Commissioner Nelson did not attend the executive session.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to reconvene at 6:02 p.m.

 

No actions were taken during executive session.

     Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Bengry to ratify the Teamsters Corrections Officers contract.

          ROLL CALL     BENGRY    YES

NELSON    ABSTAIN

RUOHOMAKI YES

SCHULTZ   YES

ELEGEERT YES

          MOTION CARRIED.

 

     Addition to the Agenda.


          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to put Pay Request #4 on the agenda.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  5.  Oberstar Pay Request #4.

  Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to pay Oberstar Pay Request #4 in the amount of $456,742.28. 

    ROLL CALL      BENGRY    YES

NELSON    YES

RUOHOMAKI YES

SCHULTZ   YES

ELEGEERT YES

         MOTION CARRIED.

          Addition to the Agenda.

          Moved by Commissioner Bengry and seconded by Commissioner Ruohomaki to add item 6 Timber Cutting Resolution on the Agenda.  MOTION CARRIED.

         

          6.  Timber Cutting Resolution.

          Moved by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the Timber Cutting Resolution as presented.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  XI.  GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

       Paul Neumeier addressed the Board with his concerns about events that occurred after the last meeting.

 

       Sherri Cavill addressed the Board to have the meetings televised and the minutes published in the newspaper.  She volunteered to be on an ad hoc committee to look into televising the meeting.

 

XII.         COMMISSIONERS CONCERNS

 XIV.  ADJOURNMENT

 

     Moved by Commissioner Schultz and supported by Commissioner Nelson to adjourn at 6:27 p.m. 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

_____________________________  _________________________________

Nancy J. Kolich, County Clerk       Thomas Elegeert, Board Chairperson