City Of Albion
City Council Meeting
June 02, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor William M. Wheaton opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.
MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED
ROLL CALL
Ron Gant (1), Betty Branche (2), Ken Waito (3), Andy Zblewski (4), Cheryl Krause (5), George Strander (6) and Mayor William M. Wheaton.
Administration: Mike Herman, City Manager; Kevin Markovich, Director of Public Services; Kerry Helmick, Finance Director/City Clerk/City Treasurer; Eric Miller, Chief of Public Safety; Anne Earle, City Assessor; Nidia Wolf, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director; Peggy Sindt, Economic Development Corporation President; Eric Sanchez, Economic Development Corporation Vice President; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer; Scott Kipp, Albion Public Safety Lieutenant and Chuck Robison, City Attorney.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Comments were received from Council Member Branche.
A. Elder Abuse Awareness Day – John Hallacy.
Council Member Strander read a Proclamation declaring June 15th, 2008 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day and then presented same to Calhoun County Prosecuter John Hallacy. Additional comments were received from Mr. Hallacy.
B. Public Hearing – Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption for Decker Manufacturing.
Mayor Wheaton opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 p.m.
Opening comments regarding the IFT process were received from City Manager Herman.
An overview of the project undertaken by Decker Manufacturing was received from EDC President Sindt.
Council Member Gant questioned if new jobs would be created. EDC President Sindt responded that current jobs would be retained.
City Manager Herman stated that new tax revenues would be forthcoming from this project even if the IFT was granted as the Exemption would only allow for a 50% abatement.
Bernie Konkle and Jean Summers from Decker Manufacturing introduced themselves at Mayor Wheaton’s request.
Council Member Strander questioned how this project would help retain jobs. EDC President Sindt responded that jobs would be retained through increased operational efficiency.
With no other comments being brought forth, Mayor Wheaton closed the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.
V. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to agenda items and to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper protocol and decorum is required.)
No comments were received.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of Regular Session Minutes – May 19, 2008.
No comments were received.
Waito moved, Gant supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented. (7-0, rcv).
VII. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION
A. 2007 Audit Presentation – Bill Tucker, Abraham and Gaffney.
Bill Tucker, CPA, Abraham and Gaffney presented the 2007 Audit to the City Council.
Additional comments were received from Council Members Strander and Gant, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.
B. Request for Approval for the Albion Fireworks Committee to Use Barnes Park as a Public Viewing Area on July 03, 2008 or, in the Event of Rain, on July 05, 2008.
No comments were received.
Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Albion Fireworks Committee Using Barnes Park as a Public Viewing Area on July 03, 2008 or, in the Event of Rain, on July 05, 2008. (7-0, rcv).
C. Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-16, to Approve the Application of Decker Manufacturing for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate for a New Facility.
Comments were received from City Manager Herman and Decker Manufacturing Treasurer/Vice President Bernie Konkle and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Jean Summers.
Branche moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Application of Decker Manufacturing for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate for a New Facility. (6-0, rcv, Waito abstaining).
D. Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-17, for an Early Retirement Window (June 01 –July 31, 2008) for Non-Union Employees (MERS Division 10) 55 Years of Age and With at Least 15 Years of Service.
Comments were received from City Manager Herman.
Waito moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-17, for an Early Retirement Window (June 01 –July 31, 2008) for Non-Union Employees (MERS Division 10) 55 Years of Age and With at Least 15 Years of Service. (7-0, rcv).
E. Request for Denial of Liquor License Application from Dave’s Market, Inc. (Sandeep Kaur).
Comments were received from Council Member Gant and City Manager Herman.
Krause moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Deny the Liquor License Application from Dave’s Market, Inc. (Sandeep Kaur). (7-0, rcv).
F. Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-18, to Add the Delinquent Utility Billing and Abatement Charges to the 2008 Summer Tax Bills.
Comments were received from Council Members Zblewski and Strander, Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.
Zblewski moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-18, to Add the Delinquent Utility Billing and Abatement Charges to the 2008 Summer Tax Bills. (7-0, rcv).
G. Presentation/Discussion of Grant Writing Proposal by DWayne Harturp (Dd Grant Consultants).
DWayne Hartup presented Dd Grant Consultants to the City Council.
Additional comments were received from Mayor Wheaton, City Manager Herman and Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street.
H. Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member(s).
No action was needed as all Council Members were present.
VIII. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)
Comments were received from Council Members Waito, Branche, Gant, Strander, Krause and Zblewski; Mayor Wheaton; City Manager Herman; DDA Executive Director Wolf; Dennis Reed, 1103 Burr Oak Street; Norm Bender, 908 Maple Street; James Hull, 301 Perry Street and Susan Baldwin, 164 West Hamilton Lane, Battle Creek.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Krause moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to adjourn the Regular Session. (7-0, rcv).
Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 8:29 p.m.
____________ _________________________
date Kerry Helmick
City Clerk