CITY OF LINDEN
Minutes for City Council Regular Meeting
Held at 7pm on Monday, February 13, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Mayor Danielle Cusson. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers on the lower level of the Mill Building at 201 N. Main Street, Linden, Michigan.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was recited by all present. A moment of silence in memory of those who have served on behalf of the United States was observed by all.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Danielle Cusson, Heather MacDermaid, Ray Culbert, Brad Dick, Brenda Simons, Charlie Ross, Dave Franz
Absent: None
Others Present: Paul Zelenak, City Manager, Matt McKone, Attorney
MINUTES
Motion by Culbert, second by Ross, to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2016 regular City Council Meeting. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING/PRESENTATION
CORRESPONDENCE
(A)Planning Commission Annual Report from Adam Young
(B)MML Conference Information
(C)Loose Center
MacDermaid – Is there a reason why this came about?
Culbert- $72,000-$75,000 a year to Loose Center and the auditor from SLPR wants us to tighten up our reigns. Going to a grant program. Have 2 committee’s set-up and their board has been asked to come to our meeting on February 23rd.
Ross- Loose’s position is that the funds were promised to them from the 2000 millage election. Budget has $100,000 shortfall every year. They go to corporations to get the funds. Obvious they do not squander the money. City of Fenton and Fenton Township have opted out. We are the only community supporting the Loose Center.
Franz – How do we get the other communities back on board?
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Craig Hart – His property on Valley View has a drainage issue. Something needs to be done to the property next door. They put a culvert in their backyard, ran a 5” into a 4” pipe. The DPW need to do a better job salting where the water drains. My wife took a terrible fall on the ice buildup.
CONSENT AGENDA
None.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
(A) CAS 05-17 2017/2018 Budget Discussion
Tonight, we will be discussing numerous budgetary items that will affect our future City Budgets. We have several multi-million dollar expenditures coming our way over the next several years. I would like to give you information on future revenues / expenditures. I also want to make you aware of certain aspects of each item, and get some of your thoughts on the projects and their potential for completion. Please bring your copy of the current City Budget to the meeting. I am not expecting you to review all the attached information for the meeting. However, it will provide backup for our discussion.
Road Projects: Funding Issues
S. Bridge Street Paving:
Lindenwood / Main Street
Road funding from MDOT has been reduced. Not certain when we will get additional funding. Lindenwood - $15,000 per house for the cost for the new road. Trying to do some roads every year. We have $200,000 coming off the books next year from a SAD. Next year we need to decide how to fund these road projects. Maybe a 5 mill increase on a ballot proposal? How much are we going to spend every year on roads?
Pathway Projects: Safe Routes to School
LAFF Pathway
The LAFF Pathway will be asking each community to help fund this project.
Safe Routes to School – I would like to move forward with this project and get funding for it.
DDA: Parking
Building on Bridge Street
Future Development
Parking shortage has been discussed at many meetings. When Dr. Wax builds her building, we will be missing parking spots. Going to work on reconfiguring Main Street parking.
DPW Site: Future Improvements
The current DPW Garage is not functional. Each year we meet with the State of Michigan for the run-off water issue.
Water & Sewer Projects: Water/ Sewer Rates
Water Tower
Saw Grant Completion
Misc. Water / Sewer Improvements
Low water pressures and flows within the city. Going to raise rates and we should consider getting a bond.
Eagles Wooden Park: Restroom Facility Projected Completion Date - Summer of 2017
Future Expansion of the Park
Linden Mills Building: Study
Completion of Study
Asked our Engineers to look over and give us an estimate to repair. $30,000 left in the fund to preserve the building. Raise the millage, do a fundraiser to preserve it the way we want it. We do not have the means to cover all the cost. We should decide what is priority and how to fund it.
Capital Expenditures: Building(s)
Equipment
DPW trucks need to be replaced and a new fire truck eventually. We should budget and set aside money for these items.
Revenues:
Culbert – Have HRC put a spread sheet together over a 10-year period of total cost. What will be paid off and the expense. Also, what the revenues are too.
Cusson – How will these priorities be set? Who will make these decisions? Zelenak – It will be City Council.
Franz – How do we budget for Police, Fire and DPW vehicles? Zelenak - They sit down at budget meetings and prepare in their budget.
Franz – Who makes the decision on who gets what? Zelenak – just depends on the fund balance.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Was given during New Business.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Nothing to report now.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
The Council reviewed the Police Department Monthly Activity Report, Fire Department Monthly
Activity Report, and Building Official’s Monthly Activity Report and Code Enforcement Report.
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS
Cusson – Met with Ed Koledo and Shelly Day about Grow Linden and the Gus Macker.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion by Ross, second by Culbert, to approve accounts payable in the amount of $196,223.72. Motion carried.
YEAS: Dick, MacDermaid, Franz, Simons, Culbert, Cusson, Ross
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 pm
Respectfully Submitted,
______Approved: ______
Lynn M. Henry, City Clerk
City of Linden Minutes for February 13, 2017Page 3