Village of Marcellus Council Proceedings

Regular Meeting – February 8, 2022

President Welburn called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on February 8, 2022. Trustees present: Simmons, Irwin, Thomas, Wilcox and Webb. Trustee Oswalt was absent.

Agenda

Motion by Simmons, seconded by Thomas, to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

Minutes

Motion by Webb, supported by Welburn, to approve and place on file the minutes of the January 25, 2022, Regular Meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

Bills

Motion by Simmons, supported by Irwin, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $107,090.41. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Thomas, Welburn, Wilcox, Webb, and Simmons. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Motion by Webb, supported by Simmons, to receive and place on file all items on the Consent Agenda. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.

President’s Report

Quote – ML Mechanical for Repair to South Heater Unit and Installation of New North Unit in the Faith Plastics Building

   Motion by Irwin, supported by Thomas, to approve the quoted price of $5,012.00 from ML Mechanical, of Decatur, Michigan, for the repair to the South Unit Heater and replacement of the North Unit Heater in the Village-owned building occupied by Faith Plastics. The costs for these repairs and the repairs to the heater unit in the building occupied by Marcellus Metalcasters, quoted at $1,244.00 will be shared 50/50 by the Village and the DDA. Roll call vote – Ayes: Thomas, Welburn, Wilcox, Webb, Simmons and Irwin. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Clerk’s Report

ARPA Discussion

Clerk Terrill shared information regarding the U. S. Department of the Treasury’s Final Rule for the Coronavirus State and Local Relief Funds (SLFRF), which goes into effect on April 1, 2022, and specifically, that “the Treasury has agreed that additional flexibility for use of SLFRF funds is warranted and provides expanded eligibilities for water, wastewater and stormwater projects broadly. The final rule provides detailed information on expanded eligibilities for stormwater infrastructure, among other eligibilities. 

   Council members discussed ways to leverage these funds to make the biggest impact, while also considering other funding options for water and other infrastructure projects. 

Sprinkler System Quote for Metalcasters and Faith Plastics Buildings

As part of the maintenance plan being put together to properly determine the true costs of ownership of the Village-owned rental buildings occupied by Marcellus Metalcasters and Faith Plastics, the Village Clerk shared the quote received from Main/Line Fire Sprinkler of Otsego, Michigan, for the installation of a fire sprinkler system in the buildings. The quoted prices of $368,000.00 is good for sixty days from February 7, 2022, and does not include the installation of the required six-inch water main to the front of the buildings off Main Street or the installation of a fire pump to be able to properly protect the plastics that are being produced and stored in the Faith Plastics portion of the building. If there is not enough room in the building to house a fire pump, a room would have to be built to house it. 

   Clerk Terrill will seek an additional quote for the sprinkler system, to be added to the plan. 

DWSRF – Updated Milestone Schedule

As noted in the January 25, 2022, Village Council meeting, a proposed Village of Marcellus FY 2022 4.5 QTR Milestone Schedule was presented for approval by the Village Council. The updated schedule moves the Village’s Water Project to the 4.5 Quarter Financing Schedule for fiscal year 2022 with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and has an anticipated loan closing of September 20, 2022. The updated milestone schedule will not affect the Village’s funding as noted on EGLE’s DWSRF Final Project Priority List FY 2022. 

Motion by Thomas, supported by Irwin, to authorize the Village Clerk to sign, date and return a copy of the new milestone to Clarence T. Jones, Project Manager/Environmental Quality Analyst at EGLE. Roll call vote – Ayes: Welburn, Wilcox, Webb, Simmons, Irwin and Thomas. Nays: None. Motion carried.

RAP Questionnaire/Application

Clerk Terrill shared the January 26, 2022, email communication from Zachary Morris, the Executive Director for Market Van Buren, Cass & Van Buren County Economic Development. The email informed municipalities in the two counties that the MEDC has presented an opportunity to apply for Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grants to help revitalize traditional downtowns in our communities. Market Van Buren intends to apply with their partners within Region 8 to help communities like Marcellus who would not otherwise be eligible for the 50/50 grant due to the minimum match requirement of $500,000.00. 

The email communication noted that the best chance for a successful application would be an existing or planned project. The one project the Village is currently working on, which fits into the RAP guidelines, is the Main Street sidewalk project that will be accomplished at the same time as the water main and lead service line replacements. In order to meet the deadline for submission to Market Van Buren, so that Region 8 can submit its application on our behalf, the questionnaire/application had to be submitted by Monday, January 31, 2022. A copy of the submission, listing the total projected cost of the project at $302,222.00, was included in the Village Council meeting packet. 

The Morris email said that Market Van Buren is now the area economic development resource for Cass and Van Buren Counties.

Addendum to DDA Memorandum of Understanding

Motion by Simmons, supported by Thomas, to approve the Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Village of Marcellus and its DDA and authorize the Village President and Clerk to sign the document and forward it to the DDA for ratification. Roll call vote – Ayes: Wilcox, Webb, Simmons, Irwin, Thomas and Welburn. Nays: None. Motion carried.

The proposed amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding were previously approved during the December 14, 2021, Village Council meeting.

DWSRF Required Easements

Clerk Terrill shared the valuations for the properties that will need permanent easements for the Village’s water infrastructure during the DWSRF project, due to Railroad requirements. Because the Village is using Federal Funds, it must have a professional broker’s price opinion completed and approve a request for authorization so the broker may complete the good faith offers to the owners. The properties and their estimated compensation amounts for the offers are as follows: