VILLAGE OF BARODA

VILLAGE OF BARODA

Council Minutes

Baroda Municipal Building

May 3, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Members Present: President Bob Getz; Trustees Claudia Brister, Larry Nye, Ed Rath, Milt Sluder, Mona Stankiewicz and Don Turney; Treasurer Amy Hemphill; and Clerk Diane Mensinger

Guests Present: Pastor Kendall Holder, Chuck Eckenstahler, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hurst, Mr. & Mrs. Donnie Johnson, Ron Zordell, Leonard Olson, Steve Carlisle, Kayla Vander Ploeg, Josh Nitz and Julie Nitz.

Council Meeting called to order at 6:41 p.m. by President Getz. Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

I. Audience Comments

A. Diane Mensinger, chairperson of the Miss Baroda Queen Committee, introduced Kayla VanderPloeg and Josh Nitz as our current representatives.

President Getz presented Josh Nitz with his Key to the Village as Josh was not able to attend the Blossomtime Mayor’s Banquet.

B. President Getz thanked Pastor Holder and the Baroda Church of God for all of the work they have done and plan to do in the community. Last

year the church members maintained the yards of the homes that had been foreclosed on. This year they are coordinating two painting projects in

the village.

C. Clerk Mensinger thanked Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hurst and Support Local Agriculture for donating $200 toward our Geranium Project.

II. Reports

A. Village Engineer - none

B. Committees

1. Park – Trustee Nye reported that Drain Commissioner Zilke stated that no work can be done in Hickory Creek to repair the wash out until

after June 1 due to the trout.

2. Finance – Treasurer Hemphill reported that the audit has been completed and a final budget has been placed on file in the office.

C. Planning Commission – Trustee Ed Rath reported that the Planning Commission reviewed the request by Mr. & Mrs. Hurst, property owners of

8972 First Street and Audra Johnson, the owner of Hometown Deli, to place two bistro tables and a sandwich sign board on the

sidewalk in front of the deli and recommended to the Council to approve the request.

III. Unfinished Business

A. Outdoor Signage & Seating - Motion by Ed Rath, seconded by Claudia Brister to approve the request by Mr. & Mrs. Hurst and Hometown Deli

to place two bistro tables and a sandwich sign board in front of the deli located at 8972 First Street. Motion carried, no nays.

B. Hills Rd/First St Intersection – Village Engineer Steve Carlisle

1. The contractors are hoping to pave on Wednesday.

2. It was a council consensus to place a flowering tree and some type of mulching on the southern open curb area between the street and Nye’s

Autotechs and Tire and to pave the northern open curb area along the Baroda City Mill. It was also suggested to plant another flowering tree on

along Hills Road between Founder’s and Sonoma Court.

3. A business owner along Hills Rd. complained that an electric pole had been moved too close to his truck dock. Steve Carlisle indicated that they

have to keep the electric lines in alignment with the other poles while still keeping the pole in the road right-of-way. Trustee Sluder will check the

pole location out to see if it is still possible to get a semi-truck into the dock without too much difficulty.

C. Revolving Loan Fund – President Getz reported that we were turned down for the second application to replenish our Revolving Loan Funds

D. Miscellaneous

Treasurer Hemphill brought up the employee health insurance. The cost of employee health insurance is $3,300 over what we budgeted. It was

council’s consensus to go ahead and pay it this year and to review it for the next fiscal year.

IV. New Business

A. Commercial Tax Abatement -Motion by Larry Nye, seconded by Milt Sluder to approve 100% Commercial Tax Rehabilitation Tax Abatement

for Demski LLC (Baroda Tap & Grille) for five years. Motion carried, no nays.

B. Olson RLF Resolution -Motion by Ed Rath, seconded by Larry Nye to approve Resolution 2010-2011-#3 authorizing the Village of Baroda

Revolving Loan funded in part from the USDA Rural Development through the Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program to issue a loan to

Founder’s Winery , LLC. Motion carried, no nays.

C. Business of the Year Awards -It was agreed to present the awards at the June Council Meeting to:

Baroda Tap & Grille – Certificate of Recognition

Founder’s Winery – Certificate of Recognition

Hometown Deli & Catering – Community Spirit Award

Vendetta Auto Fabrication – Business of the Year Award

D. Fire Dept. use of Municipal Bldg. Garage - Motion by Ed Rath, seconded by Don Turney to approve the Baroda Township Fire

Department to park the Grass Fire Truck and the Fire Jeep in the Baroda Municipal Building garage once the police department moves out.

Motion carried, no nays.

E. Fee Schedule – Clerk Mensinger

Clerk Mensinger presented a proposed fee schedule for adoption at the June Council Meeting. It was agreed to set the following fees: Sexually

Orientated Business ($1,000), Ordinance Book (cost of book plus $25 fee) and Master Plan ($20). Clerk Mensinger will prepare an adoption

resolution for the June Council meeting.

F. 2010 Millage Rate - Motion by Don Turney, seconded by Bob Getz to approve the 2010 Millage Rat at 9.900 mills. Motion carried, no nays.

G. Barodafest Service Contract - Motion by Bob Getz, seconded by Milt Sluder to enter into a service contract with the Barodafest Organization in

the amount of $2,000. Motion carried, no nays.

H. Miscellaneous – nothing

V. Consent Agenda

A. Council Minutes – April 5, 2010

B. Treasurer’s Report

C. Paying of Bills and Transfers - $6,623.30

D. Correspondence

Motion by Ed Rath, seconded by Mona Stankiewicz to approve the consent agenda items as presented. Motion carried, no nays.

VI. Council Comments

A. President Comments

1. President Getz and the Enforcement Office will be doing a drive through of the village this week to determine which properties need to be

addressed.

2. Received a thank you from the family of Bill Menser for the funeral remembrance.

3. I & M will begin the tree trimming along Church Street the week of May 10 and then begin installing the new 3-phase electric service.

4. Discussion held on the former school property being for sale. Angela Kirby, Baroda Township Assessor, advised the Village that the lot falls

under the Land Division Act.

B. Council Member’s Comments

1. Clerk Mensinger

a. Received a request to sell trinkets in downtown Baroda on July 3 as the Fireman have already approved a different vendor to sell at the

Legion field and Industrial Park field. Council consensus was to let the vendor purchase a peddler’s permit and allow him to sell in the

downtown area only.

b. Just received notification from the Berrien County Community Development Department that we received a grant for six pop bottle recycle

bins. These will be used in the Baroda municipal buildings, Barodafest, July 3 Fireworks and at Music in the Park.

c. Suggested that we look into having a sign made to indicate when the park pavilion is reserved.

2. Treasurer Hemphill - We received a request to allow a church group to book the Village Park for a church league softball group on every

other Monday beginning mid-May through June. It was a council consensus to allow them to reserve the ball field for this purpose at no

charge.

3. Trustees Turney, Stankiewicz, Nye, Sluder and Brister had no comments.

4. Trustee Rath

a. There is a camper parked behind Baroda City Mills that looks like somebody is living in.

b. Requested that a copy of the mowing ordinance be sent to the owner of the vacant properties along Sonoma Court.

Meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.