COUNTY OF OSCEOLA

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MINUTES

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008

 

 

The Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Emig at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of reviewing the claims presented.  Regular committee business began at 9:10 a.m.

 

Present:  Commissioners Hoaglund, Brooks, Sikkema, Tiedt and Emig.

Also present:  Loraine McCall-COA director, Robin Fuerneisen-Meals Coordinator, Michelle Kuz-Animal Control Director, Judge Scott Hill-Kennedy, Susan VanderPol-County Coordinator and Karen Bluhm-County Clerk.

 

Motion by Commissioner Tiedt, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.

 

Brief Public Comment:  None.

Employee Comment:  None.

 

Motion by Commissioner Hoaglund, support by Commissioner Tiedt to approve the April 15, 2008 minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Sikkema to approve payment of the claims in the amount of $67,218.63.  Recommendation carried.

 

Commissioner Brock arrived at 9:15 a.m.

 

49th Circuit Court Update

Judge Scott Hill-Kennedy was present with a general update from the 49th Circuit Court.  He thanked the Commissioners for their support for the new court recording equipment.  He reported Lance Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor, has met with the vendor who will be installing the new recording equipment.  He spoke about the optimistic goals Judge Nichols has for Court Collections.  Judge Hill-Kennedy reported the new Court Recorder, Sabrina Marlett, will be working on collections in conjunction with her reporting duties.  He addressed legal research in the Law Library and the attempt to do this through West Law on-line.  This would eliminate the need for the hard volumes resulting in a reduction in costs.  He then addressed how the Judges continue to fill in for each other when a Judge needs to be absent, eliminating much of the need for visiting Judges.

 

Animal Control Vehicle Purchase

Michelle Kuz, Animal Control Director, reported to committee members that the truck the Board previously approved for purchase is not available according to the bidder, Crossroads Chevrolet.  Discussion was held on the bid process and the legal contract entered into by Crossroads

 

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Chevrolet upon bid to the County.  Michelle was asked to contact Babb Ford to see if the vehicle they bid was available.

 

Ed Nettle, EMS Director, arrived at 9:34 a.m.

 

Commission on Aging-Meals Grants Update

Robin Fuerneisen, Meals Coordinator, and Loraine McCall, COA Director, were present with an update for the Meals Grants. United Way grant was raised from $12,500 to $14,000 for the year.  A grant request for $5,500 was made of the Community Foundation for the purchase of equipment at the Tustin Senior Center; and this grant was granted in full.  Lance Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor, gave an update on the “sink hole” in the parking lot at the Tustin location.  The County Road Commission will be assisting on the project and charging the County for the employee’s time and the equipment time.

 

Millage Renewal Language for COA & EMS

Karen Bluhm, County Clerk, shared proposed millage renewal language for both Commission on Aging (COA) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).  She noted that the verbage is exactly the same from the election six years ago, except she had inserted the correct tax years and worked with Rosie McKinstry, Equalization Director, to obtain the estimated annual revenue amounts for the ballot proposal.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Hoaglund, support by Commissioner Brock to approve the proposed EMS Millage Renewal language as presented:

 

Shall the County of Osceola renew the levy up to 1.0 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of the taxable value), for a period of six (6) tax years, 2008 through 2013 (inclusive), which is an estimated annual revenue of $678,177 based on the 2008 taxable valuation, to support the continued operations of the Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance)?

Recommendation carried.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brooks, support by commissioner Sikkema to approve the proposed COA Millage Renewal language as presented:

 

Shall the County of Osceola renew the levy up to 0.8 mill ($.80 per $1,000 of the taxable value), for a period of six (6) tax years, 2008 through 2013 (inclusive), which is an estimated annual revenue of $542,542 based on the 2008 taxable valuation, to support the continued operations of senior citizens services through the Commission on Aging?

Recommendation carried.

 

Maintenance Update

Lance Cornelius, Maintenance Supervisor, reported the final inspections on the Tustin Senior Center were done on the 1st of May.  They now have just a small amount of finish work to complete on that project.  He reported meeting with Mike Smith on the new sound system in

 

 

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conjunction with the Circuit Court recording equipment.  He also reported they will be doing some remodeling at Animal Control.

 

Michelle Kuz, Animal Control, reported back on the vehicle purchase.  Babb Ford does not have the exact vehicle bid on their lot, but would substitute another vehicle for $200.00 less.  Discussion on the need to stay with the bid specifications or else the entire project would need to be re-bid.  Babb Ford did offer to order the vehicle bid, but we would need to wait six weeks before we could obtain the vehicle.  After some discussion the following recommendations were made.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Tiedt, support by Commissioner Brooks to rescind  Board Motion #14 of April 17, 2008.  Recommendation carried.

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Hoaglund to purchase the truck bid by Babb ford in the amount of $20,919.04 for the Animal Control Department.  Recommendation carried.

 

Grazing of Cattle by Joe Delagrange

A letter has been received by Joe Delagrange asking the County to allow him to graze his cattle again this season on County property in Sylvan Township. 

 

Recommendation by Commissioner Brock, support by commissioner Brooks to allow Joe Delagrange to graze his cattle on County property in Sylvan Township this year. Recommendation carried.

 

Road Commission Presentation

Cliff Youngs, from the Road Commission, shared a video presentation with committee members as well as several township representatives.  The video addressed road funding in the State of Michigan.  State, local and federal funding was addressed in the video presentation.  After the video presentation Cliff explained how a proposed countywide millage would benefit the Road Commission.  He presented proposed ballot language, which asks voters for 2 mills for the sole purpose of funding the maintenance and repair of existing blacktop/chip seal roads within Osceola County. 

 

Signage in County Buildings Policy

Susan VanderPol, County Coordinator, presented a previously adopted Signage in County Building Policy final draft.  No further action was needed.

 

Friend of the Court Work Study Wage Increase

Cyndi Hunt, Friend of the Court, has sent correspondence to the committee asking they increase the hourly wage to $7.75 for the Ferris State University Work Study position in her department. This brings the wages in line with the Ferris State University policies for other off campus student employees.  It was noted that the County is reimbursed 75% of expenditures for the student employee.

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Recommendation by Commissioner Tiedt, support by Commissioner Sikkema to approve the wage increase at $7.75 for the Ferris State University Work Study position within the Friend of the Court office.  Recommendation carried.

 

Employee Comment:  None.

Extended public comment:  None.

 

Motion by Commissioner Brooks, support by Commissioner Sikkema to adjourn at 10:59 a.m.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

______________________________                        _______________________________

Karen J. Bluhm, County Clerk                          Larry Emig, Chairperson