OSCEOLA COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MINUTES

January 24, 2008

 

The Osceola County Board of Commissioners was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Chairman Larry Emig.  He led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance and offered prayer.

 

Roll Call-Present: Brock, Hoaglund, Sikkema, Tiedt, Faber, Brooks and Emig.

Absent:  None.

 

Brief public comment:  None.

Employee comment:  None.

 

MOTION #1:  Approval of Board Agenda

Motion by Commissioner Hoaglund, support by Commissioner Faber to approve the agenda with the addition of an update on the possible tractor purchase for the Maintenance Department.  Motion carried with voice vote.

 

MOTION #2:  Approve Board Minutes of Dec. 20, 2007 & January 8, 2008

Motion by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Tiedt to approve the Board minutes of December 20, 2007 and January 8, 2008 as presented.  Motion carried with voice vote.

 

RETIREMENT PRESENTATIONS

The Board recognized three retiring employees at this part of the meeting for their years of service to Osceola County.  The three employees were Alan Benson, Ruth Ann Stevens and Carol Wojcik.  They received a written proclamation as well as clocks for their years of service.

 

The Board also recognized Karen Bluhm, Osceola County Clerk, for her service to the Michigan Association of County Clerks as their President in the year 2007.

 

The Board recessed at 9:20 a.m. to have refreshments with those honored for their retirement from the County.

 

Board meeting resumed at 9:55 a.m.

 

Purchase of Lawn Tractor for Maintenance Department

Lance Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor, was present to advise the Board about his further investigation into the purchase of a new lawn tractor for departmental use.  He explained to the Board his reasons for recommending the purchase of the Husqvarna lawn tractor from State Street Hardware here in Reed City and asked for their support.

 

MOTION #3:  Purchase of Lawn Tractor

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Brock to purchase the Husqvarna lawn tractor from State Street Hardware in Reed City not to exceed $5700.00.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

 

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Lance briefly addressed the COA Tustin facility restroom remodeling, noting the COA Director was not in agreement with the Committee’s previous decision on the 22nd of January to lower building capacity and remodel the existing restrooms.  He will be meeting at the Tustin building on Friday morning with COA Director, Loraine McCall, regarding other possible solutions. 

Commissioner Emig directed County Coordinator, Susan VanderPol, to contact the COA Director to be present at the next committee meeting on February 5, 2008.

 

Commissioner Emig reviewed the Committee minutes of January 8, 2008 with Commissioner Brooks offering the following:

 

RESOLUTION 2008-0001

TAX CREDIT FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED, ETC.

 

WHEREAS, the County Board of Commissioners may provide that for taxes paid in the first year of delinquency before May 1, for the homestead property for which a senior citizen, paraplegic, quadriplegic, eligible serviceman, eligible veteran, eligible widow, totally and permanently disabled person, or blind person, as those persons are defined in Chapter 9 of Act No. 291 of the Public Acts of 1967, as amended, makes a claim before February 15, for the credit provided by Chapter 9 of Act No. 281 of the Public Acts of 1967, as amended, if that claimant presents a copy of the form filed for that credit to

the County Treasurer, has not received the credit before March 1: any interest, fee, or penalty that would have been added if the tax had been paid before February 15 shall be waived; and

 

WHEREAS, the County’s general fund must refund to the Delinquent Tax Fund any interest waived pursuant to the act to the above statute;

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Personnel & Administration/Finance Committee recommends that the Board of Commissioners waive any interest, fee or penalty as specified above for the 2006 tax levy. In addition, the committee recommends that the Board emphasize that:

1.       The property tax credit claims must have been filed with the Michigan                                                       

       Department of Treasury prior to February 15, 2008.

          2.   The eligible person must retain a copy of the property tax credit claim and  

                 present a copy of the claim to the County Treasurer.

3.    The eligible person must not have received the credit before March 1, 2008.

4.    The Taxes must be paid by May 1, 2008.

 

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Brock to adopt.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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January 24, 2008

 

RESOLUTION 2008-0002

OSCEOLA COUNTY INVESTMENT POLICY

 

Purpose--It is the policy of Osceola County to invest its funds in a manner, which will provide the highest investment return with the maximum security while meeting the daily cash flow needs of the County and comply with all state statutes governing the investment of public funds.

 

Scope--This investment policy applies to all financial assets of the County.   These assets are accounted for in the various funds of the County and include the general fund, special revenue funds, debt service funds and capital project funds (unless bond ordinances and resolutions are more restrictive), enterprise funds, internal service funds, trust and agency funds and any new fund established by the County.

 

Objectives--The primary objectives, in priority order, of the County=s investment activities shall be:

 

Safety--Safety of principal is the foremost objective of the investment program.

Investments shall be undertaken in a manner that seeks to insure the preservation of capital in the overall portfolio.

 

Diversification: The investments will be diversified by security type and institution in order that potential losses on individual securities do not exceed the income generated from the remainder of the portfolio.

 

Return on Investment--The investment portfolio shall be designed with the objective of obtaining a rate of return throughout the budgetary and economic cycles, taking into account the investment risk constraints and the cash flow characteristics of the portfolio.

 

Delegation of Authority to Make Investments--Authority to manage the investment program is derived from the following: Osceola County Board of Commissioners= most current resolution designating depositories and MCL 48.40 requiring the County Treasurer to be the custodian of the County=s funds.   Management responsibility for the investment program is hereby delegated to the Osceola County Treasurer who shall establish written procedures and internal controls for the operation of the investment program consistent with this investment policy.   Procedures should include references to: safekeeping, cash purchase or delivery vs payment, investment accounting, repurchase agreements, wire transfer agreements, collateral/depository agreements and banking service contracts.   No person may engage in an investment transaction except as provided under the terms of this policy and the procedures established by the Osceola County Treasurer.   The Osceola County Treasurer shall be responsible for all transactions undertaken and shall establish a system of controls to regulate the activities of subordinate officials.

 

The Osceola County Treasurer is limited to investments authorized by Act 20 of 1943, as amended, and may invest in the following:

 

NOTE--the following list includes all investments authorized by Act 20 PA 1943, as amended.   Each County may remove or limit each section of the list as the County desires.

 

 

 

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(a) Bonds, securities, and other obligations of the United States or an agency or instrumentality of the United States.

(b) Certificates of deposit, savings accounts, deposit accounts, or depository of a financial institution.   Authorized depositories shall be designated by the Osceola County Board of Commissioners at the Board=s organizational meeting after each regular election of the commissioners.

(c) Commercial paper rated at the time of purchase within the 2 highest classifications established by not less than 2 standard rating services and that matures not more than 270 days after the date of purchase.

(d) Repurchase agreements consisting of instruments listed in (a).

(e) Bankers= acceptances of United States banks.

(f) Obligations of this state or any of its political subdivisions that at the time of purchase are rated investment grade by not less than 1 standard rating service.

(g) Mutual funds registered under the investment company act of 1940, title I of Chapter 686, 54 Stat. 789, 15 U.S.C. 80a-1 to 80a-3 and 80a-4 to 80a-64, with the authority to purchase only investment vehicles that are legal for direct investment by the County.   This authorization is limited to securities whose intention is to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share.

(h) Investment Pools through an interlocal agreement under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512.

(i) Investment Pools organized under the surplus funds Investment Pool Act, 1982 PA 367, 129.111 to 129.118.

(j) The Investment Pools organized under the local government Investment Pool Act, 1985 PA 121, MCL 129.141 to 129.150.   

 

Safekeeping and Custody--All security transactions, including collateral for repurchase agreements and financial institution deposits, entered into by the Osceola County Treasurer may be on a cash basis or delivery vs payment basis as determined by the County Treasurer.   Securities may be held by a third party custodian designated by the Treasurer and evidenced by safekeeping receipts as determined by the Treasurer.

 

Prudence--Investments shall be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, which persons of prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the probable safety of their capital as well as the probable income to be derived.

 

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Faber to adopt.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

RESOLUTION 2008-0003

DEPOSITORY RESOLUTION FOR OSCEOLA COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, under the laws of the State of Michigan, Act No. 40 of the Michigan Public Acts of 1932, 1st Extra Session, as amended (MCL 129.12), this Board is required to provide, by resolution, for the deposit of all public monies, including tax monies, belonging to, or held for, the State, County or other political

units coming into the hands of the County Treasurer, in one or more Financial Institutions within the State.

 

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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Osceola County Board of Commissioners as follows:

 

1          The Osceola County Board of Commissioners hereby provides for the designation and deposit of all public money including tax money by the Osceola County Treasurer in the following financial institutions:

 

Chemical Bank

Citizens Bank

Huntington National Bank

JP Morgan Chase Bank

Lake Osceola State Bank

 

2.         The Treasurer is authorized to enter into and execute on behalf of the County any contracts with any bank or trust company for the safekeeping or their party custodianship of any of the County’s securities as well as any contracts or repurchase agreements with any corporation for the purchase of any such securities which will be the subject of such safekeeping or third party custodianship arrangements, on such terms and conditions as the County Treasurer shall require, and;

 

3.         The County Treasurer is authorized to rely on the continuing effect of these Resolutions until amended or repealed by a subsequent resolution of this or a successor Board of Commissioners.   

 

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Sikkema to adopt.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #4:  Scrap Tire Grant Application

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Tiedt to authorize Dan Massy to bid out the scrap tire removal project for the Orient Township property subject to the funding being approved by the State.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #5:  2008 Bulk Paper Purchase

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to award the 2008 bulk paper purchase to Integrity Business Solutions in the amount of $5,173.14.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #6:  Disposal of Office Chair

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to give an office chair to retired employee Ruth Ann Stevens, which she previously used, for the sum of $1.00.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #7:  Animal Control Benefit Time

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Tiedt to allow the new Animal Control Director 2 weeks of vacation upon date of hire as the new Director.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

 

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January 24, 2008

 

Commissioner Emig then reviewed the Committee minutes of January 22, 2008 with Commissioner Brooks offering the following:

 

MOTION #8:  Payment of Accounts Payable Invoices

Moved by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Faber to submit the accounts payable invoices in the amount of $79,962.04 and recommend the several amounts scheduled therein be allowed also that the Clerk of this Board be allowed to draw orders on the County Treasurer for the same.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #9:  Payment of Prepaid Invoices

Moved by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Faber to submit the prepaid invoices in the amount of $676,249.30 and recommend the several amounts scheduled therein be allowed also that the Clerk of this Board be allowed to draw orders on the County Treasurer for the same.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #10:  Soil Erosion Permit Fees

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Sikkema to increase the Soil Erosion permit fee on Commercial permits by $50.00 taking it from $150.00 to $200.00.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #11:  EMD Regional Coordinator Position

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Brock to make the Regional Coordinator position at EMD a temporary full-time at 40 hours per week, with no insurance or retirement benefits, and funding to come totally from the grant.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

MOTION #12:  EMD Local Planner Position

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Brock to establish the Local Planner position in EMD as a temporary full time position, with no insurance or retirement benefits, until the grant expires March 31, 2008.  Motion carried with seven yes votes.

 

Commissioners shared their reports from Board liaison appointments.

 

Motion by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Brock to adjourn at 11:10 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________                            ________________________________

Karen J. Bluhm, County Clerk                          Larry Emig, Chairperson