OSCEOLA COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISIONERS

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

JANUARY 8, 2008

MINUTES

 

 

The Committee meeting was called to order at 9:20 a.m. by Chairman Emig.

 

Present:  Commissioners Hoaglund, Brooks, Sikkema, Faber, Tiedt, Brock and Emig.  Also present:  Carol Halladay-County Treasurer, Dan Massy-Economic Developer, Mark Watkins-EMD Director, Susan VanderPol-County Coordinator and Karen Bluhm-County Clerk.

 

Motion by Commissioner Brock, support by Commissioner Tiedt to approve the agenda as amended.  Motion carried.

 

Brief public comment:  None.

 

Motion by Commissioner Brock, support by Commissioner Tiedt to approve the December 18, 2007 committee minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to approve the claims in the amount of $59,010.80.  Recommendation carried.

 

County Treasurer/Bond

Carol Halladay, shared information with committee members regarding SB368 signed on December 27, 2007 by Governor Granholm.  This legislation requires the County Board of Commissioners to cover the County Treasurer by a blanket bond in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 or shall give a bond of a surety company authorized to do business in Michigan in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00.  Our current MMRMA liability policy already covers the County Treasurer in the required amount so Osceola County will not have to do anything different.

 

Tax Credit for Elderly, Disabled, Etc.

County Treasurer, Carol Halladay, was present to explain the proposed Resolution regarding a tax credit for elderly, disabled, etc.  She explained that the required MI 1040 CR must be filed by the tax payer in order to be eligible for the credit.

 

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

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January 8, 2008

 

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.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brock, support by Commissioner Sikkema to adopt.  Recommendation carried.

 

Carol Halladay, County Treasurer, then provided the annual Investment Policy and the Depository Resolution for the Commissioners’ approval.

 

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.

 

 

 

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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.

 

(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.   

 

 

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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.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Tiedt, support by Commissioner Sikkema to adopt.  Recommendation carried.

 

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.

 

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.   

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to adopt.  Recommendation carried.

 

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Orient Township Tire Site

Dan Massy, Economic Developer, was present to brief committee members on the bid process and the options acceptable by the State of Michigan for the tire site clean up in Orient Township.  Dan reported the tire grant clean-up money will not be awarded by the State until later this month, but wanted Commissioners to know their options when and if Osceola County receives a grant for the clean up.  After some discussion it was decided to have Dan proceed with the bid process by using the DEQ list if we are awarded a tire clean up grant.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Hoaglund 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.  Recommendation carried.

 

Carol Halladay and Dan Massy left the meeting at 10:00 a.m.

 

Emergency Management Administrative Assistant Position

Mark Watkins, Emergency Management Director, spoke to the committee his current Administrative Assistant being chosen to be the new Mecosta County Emergency Management Director.  He explained how the funding for the position works and asked that he be allowed to fill the position as soon as possible.  He would like to put Diane Bush in this capacity as she has been working with the current staff and knows the position.  Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, advised Mark and committee members that he already has the position available and he may fill it as he sees necessary.

 

Mark Watkins then briefly updated committee members on the current emergency situation as it relates to the weather. 

 

Mark left the meeting at 10:14 a.m.

 

Maintenance Department Update

Lance Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor, updated committee members regarding the MIOSHA letter previously received.  Lance reported that with the assistance of Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, they have communicated with the author of the MIOSHA letter and the necessary updates are being made.  Upon the updates being completed, photos will be forwarded on to MIOSHA.  Lance reported the department is currently working on the bathrooms at the Commission on Aging building in Tustin.  Lance reported Brooks Security is in the Courthouse today doing final installation of the new security system.  Lance then talked with the committee about the purchase of a tractor for the department.  After some discussion Lance was instructed to gather more information on each of the tractors and bring that information back to the next committee meeting.

 

Lance Cornelius left the meeting at 10:27 a.m.

 

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2008 Bulk Paper Purchase

Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, presented the only bid received on the 2008 bulk paper purchase.

 

Recommendation 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. Recommendation carried.

 

Commission on Aging Advisory Board

Commissioner Emig reported no new information at this time.  Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, reported speaking with someone in Mecosta County regarding such an advisory board.  In Mecosta County the Advisory Board is appointed by the Board of Commissioners, putting them under the liability of the County and making them eligible for mileage reimbursement and per diem.  Commissioner Emig asked for this to be placed back on the next agenda.

 

9-1-1 Funding Resolution

Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, reported that information is still being gathered to know what needs to be done by County Boards regarding 9-1-1.  Once this is determined, the Board will need to adopt a formal resolution regarding this matter.

 

Budget Amendments

None received.

 

Township Treasurer Update

Commissioner Emig reported that at the County Summit held in November 2007 that when he spoke with the Treasurers present they seemed happy with the Board’s resolution to issues regarding the printing of tax bills and tax rolls.  A brief discussion was held and Susan reminded committee members that another meeting with Township Treasurers is planned for sometime in March.

 

Disposal of Office Chair in Register of Deeds

Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, explained that the Register of Deeds wants to dispose of an old office chair previously used by retired employee Ruth Ann Stevens.  She explained the condition of the chair and reported that the retired employee would actually like to have the old chair. 

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Faber to give the old office chair to retired employee Ruth Ann Stevens for the sum of $1.00. Recommendation carried.

 

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Animal Control Director/Benefit Time

Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, asked direction from the committee for allowing two (2) weeks vacation in the first year of hire to the new Animal Control Director.  She reminded members of the committee that this has been done for several other newly hired department heads.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Sikkema, support by Commissioner Tiedt to allow the new Animal Control Director 2 weeks of vacation upon date of hire.  Recommendation carried.

 

Employee Comment:  Karen Bluhm, County Clerk, spoke to the committee about programming election equipment costs.

 

Extended public comment:  None.

 

Moved by Commissioner Hoaglund, support by Commissioner Faber to adjourn at 11:22 a.m.

 

 

 

 

___________________________                                          _____________________________  

Karen J. Bluhm, County Clerk                                      Larry Emig, Chairperson