VILLAGE OF BARODA

Council Minutes

Baroda Municipal Building

April 6, 2009

6:30 p.m.

Members Present: Bob Getz, Claudia Brister, Larry Nye, Milt Sluder, Don Turney, Treasurer Hemphill and Clerk Mensinger

Members Absent: Ed Rath and Mona Stankiewicz 

Guests: Risk Ast, Gretchen Hoadley, Pastor Holder, Tom Porcaro and Ron Zordell 

Meeting called to order at 6:31 p.m. Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

I.          Audience Comments

Gretchen Hoadley was present to inquire about the construction going on at a residence on Second St. President Getz told her that it has been turned over to the attorney and she could contact him directly. 

II.        Consent Agenda

A.  Council Minutes

B.  Treasurer’s Report

C.  Paying of Bills and Transfers

D.  Correspondence

Motion by Don Turney, seconded by Milt Sluder to approve the consent agenda items. Motion carried, no nays.

 III.       Reports

A.  Police Chief – no report

B.  Village Engineer – no report

C.  Committees

1.      Park – Trustee Larry Nye

Trustee Nye reported that 35 people came to the park work day. They were able to rake up all of leaves and put together the four new park benches. The next park work day will be held on April 25. They plan to do some digging, mulching and possibly some painting.

2.      Finance – Treasurer Hemphill

a.  The 4thQuarter 2008-09 Budget (pre-audit) is available at the Village

Office for review.

                              b.   Interest earned in 2008-09 on CD’s (for all funds) was $16,619.54, which

is down approximately $7,000 from the previous year.

                              c.   Treasurer Hemphill presented 2009-2010 budget amendments (see

attached).

                                    Motion by Don Turney, seconded by Milt Sluder to approve the budget

amendments as presented. Motion carried, no nays.

D.   Planning Commission

President Getz reported that the Planning Commission is currently working on a new   sign ordinance.

            E.  DDA

     The DDA has voted to terminate the Tax Increment Finance Plan and to have their       

     funds transferred to the General Fund.

     Motion by Bob Getz, seconded by Larry Nye to transfer the DDA funds to the General     

     Fund as a restricted fund.

                                    YES    NO      ABSENT

Claudia Brister               X

Bob Getz                       X

Larry Nye                      X

Ed Rath                                                     X

Milt Sluder                     X

Mona Stankiewicz                                     X

Don Turney                   X

Motion carried.

 IV.       Unfinished Business

A.  South Shore Tool & Die / Pratt – tabled as we are still waiting to hear from

Wightman & Associates, Inc.

B.  Business of the Year Awards

      President Getz and Clerk Mensinger nominated the following for 2009 Business  

      Awards:  Recognition – New owners of CJ’s Quick Mart, Lewis Electric and

      possibly Founder’s Winery and for Business of the Year Awards – Tio’s Restaurant       

      and Johnny’s Barber Shop

      Motion by Claudia Brister, seconded by Milt Sluder to approve the nominations for

                  the Village’s 2009 Business Awards. Motion carried, no nays.

      C.  Miscellaneous

                  1.   Trustee Sluder reported that the Maintenance Department has concluded

      the inside water meter readings. They plan to change out any bad meters.

2.   President Getz announced that the Village’s water loss is down from 26.04%

      to 19.59%.

V.        New Business

A.  MML Region 2 Meeting – President Getz announced that the Region 2 meeting is

on Friday, April 17.  Aaron Anthony, Bridgman City Manager, is trying to get the Commercial Tax Abatement on the agenda. President Getz and Clerk Mensinger are planning to attend.

B.  Appointment of Planning Commission Members

      President Getz nominated Tom Porcaro and Ron Zordell to the Planning Commission.

Motion by Larry Nye, seconded by Claudia Brister to appoint Tom Porcaro and Ron Zordell to the Village Planning Commission.

YES    NO      ABSENT

Claudia Brister              X

Bob Getz                       X

Larry Nye                      X

Ed Rath                                                     X

Milt Sluder                    X

Mona Stankiewicz                                    X

Don Turney                   X

Motion carried.

            C.  Miscellaneous

1.   Trustee Turney asked about the deteriorating business signs and awnings on

      First Street that are no longer in business. We will ask Kim Fowler,

      Enforcement Officer, to contact the property owners and ask them to remove

      the deteriorating signs.     

2.   Trustee Turney also complimented the ad that we placed in the printed

      program of Lakeshore High School production of “Beauty and the Beast”.

 VI.      Council Comments

A.  President Comments

            1.   President Getz thanked Pastor Holder and the Baroda Church of God

      members who attended the park work day.

2.   President Getz announced that the Township is working on their Master Plan

and that they have invited our Planning Commission members to attend their

next meeting on Monday, April 13 to discuss future plans.

3.   President Getz read thank you notes from Amy Hemphill (death of

      grandmother) and Sen. Ron Jelinek (death of his wife).

4.   President Getz announced that the designated money from MDOT is official.

5.   President Getz announced that we have received authority from the State of

      Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth to administer the State  

      Electrical Code. We will need to set up a contract with Ed Steinke.

B.  Council Member’s Comments

      1.   Clerk Mensinger requested permission to attend the MAMC Clerk’s

Conference in June. The Council consensus was to allow her to attend as it has been included in the budget.

                        2.   No comments from Trustees Nye, Brister, Turney or Sluder.

                        3.   Treasurer Hemhill thanked Clerk Mensinger and Council for their support

      during the time of her father-in-law’s illness and death.

Meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.

Recorded by:

Diane Mensinger, Village Clerk