April 26, 2022
President Welburn called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on April 26, 2022. Trustees present: Simmons, Irwin, Thomas, Oswalt and Webb. Trustee Wilcox was absent.
Agenda
Motion by Oswalt, seconded by Irwin, to approve the agenda with the following addition:
Under DPW – Add Base Wage Rate to DPW Positions.
Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Minutes
Motion by Webb, supported by Oswalt, to approve and place on file the minutes of the
April 12, 2022, Regular Meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bills
Motion by Simmons, supported by Thomas, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $24,232.51. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Thomas, Welburn, Oswalt, Webb and Simmons. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bluegill Frolic
Mike Nelson introduced himself as the Vice President of the Bluegill Frolic, reminding Village Council members that the Bluegill Frolic is scheduled for August 19 and 20, 2022 as approved during the March 9, 2022, Village Council meeting, closing Main Street from noon on August 19, 2022 and reopening at noon on August 21, 2022. In addition, he reported the Bluegill Frolic will parade on local roads with no need to close Main Street.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Webb, supported by Welburn, to approve all items on the Consent Agenda. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Webb, supported by Welburn, directing the Village Clerk to check with the Village’s Ordinance Enforcement Officer, Zoning Administrator and Building Official regarding public safety and public health in relation to an ongoing blight problem at 201 South Worden Street. Roll call vote – Ayes: Welburn, Oswalt, Webb, Simmons, Irwin and Thomas. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
DDA Appointments
President Welburn reported he received two recommendations from the DDA for the two open positions on the DDA Board and appointed Nikki Hackenberg to the DDA with a term expiring on November 20, 2025. Simmons moved, supported by Irwin, to ratify and confirm Nikki Hackenberg’s appointment to the DDA. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. President Welburn abstained.
President Welburn then appointed Estela Salazar to the DDA Board. Motion by Irwin, supported by Thomas, to ratify and confirm Estela Salazar’s appointment to the DDA with a term expiring on November 20, 2025. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Village Boundaries
Village Council members again discussed at length Village growth plans and the solar farm and marihuana grow activities in Marcellus Township.
Motion by Webb, supported by Thomas, to move forward with Village Council’s proposed annexation of several properties immediately adjacent to Marcellus Village, including the required resolution and petition for annexation, etc., to be filed with Cass County Board of Commissioners with a planned completion date of July 1, 2022. He reminded Village Council members the petition must set reasons and justifications for annexation. Roll call vote – Ayes: Oswalt, Webb, Simmons, Irwin, Thomas and Welburn. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Miranda Wilcox’s Resignation from Village Trustee
President Welburn read aloud Miranda Wilcox’s email resignation from her position as a Village Trustee.
Motion by Welburn, supported by Webb, to accept with thanks for her service, Miranda Wilcox’s resignation as a Village Trustee. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Irwin, supported by Thomas, to advertize for the open seat on the Marcellus Village Council in The Marcellus News, on the Village’s website and Facebook page and to post on the front door of the Village Hall and marquee sign. Roll call vote – Ayes: Webb, Simmons, Irwin, Thomas, Welburn and Oswalt. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Clerk’s Report
MSHDA – Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund Program
Motion by Thomas, supported by Oswalt, to approve the execution of a participation agreement and service provider contract between the Village of Marcellus and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) for its Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund program as a local municipality collecting water and sewer payments, authorizing the Village Clerk to execute the agreement on behalf of the Village and return it to MSHDA. The program can also help homeowners with delinquent mortgage/housing payments, delinquent property taxes, delinquent condominium association fees or delinquent utility payments to help them avoid foreclosure, displacement, or utility shut-offs once they are signed up to participate in the program. Roll call vote – Ayes: Simmons, Irwin, Thomas, Welburn, Oswalt and Webb. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Quotes for Village Hall Hot Water Heater
During a recent service call for the non-working Village Hall boiler, it was noted that the hot water heater has corroded beyond repair and has started to leak. Two quotes were obtained for the removal and replacement of the unit. Irwin moved, supported by Simmons, to approve the quoted price of $1,684.00 from Good’s Mechanical & Construction Services, LLC for labor and materials to replace the hot water heater, add a shutoff valve the hot water line above the tank, reconnect the gas piping and venting, replacing with new materials as necessary, reconnecting the existing recirculation line and the necessary permitting. Roll call vote: Ayes: Irwin, Thomas, Welburn, Oswalt, Webb and Simmons. Nays: None. Motion carried.
DPW
Robin Sharp Meter Investigation
During the April 12, 2022, Village Council meeting, the Village Council agreed to verify correct installation of and to obtain a graphical reading of the daily usage on the meter at Village resident Robin Sharp’s address. The Village DPW has verified correct installation of the meter and the graphical reading shows the meter is working correctly. (It has been learned since the April 12, 2022, Village Council meeting that the usage showing on this meter was misread by the resident, leading her to misunderstand how much water was being used in the home.)
Personnel Committee
DPW Positions
Trustee Irwin reported that part-time DPW employee Ashton Weston is leaving and has taken a full-time position with a company. He gave his two-week notice after the April 12, 2022, Village Council meeting.
Motion by Irwin, supported by Thomas, to hire Michael Clark to fill the position being left by Adam Brown, beginning May 16, 2022, with a recommended starting pay rate of $21.00 per hour, plus $1.00 per hour for holding a CDL license. Clark will be trained to cover the Crossing Guard position on an as needed basis and will begin training for water and sewer licensing as soon as practicable. The motion includes modification of the base pay rate for new-hire DPW employees from $18.00 per hour to $21.00 per hour and the rate for CDL licensing from $.50 per hour to $1.00 per hour for DPW employees. Roll call vote – Ayes: Thomas, Welburn, Oswalt, Webb, Simmons and Irwin. Nays: None. Motion carried. The Village Clerk will prepare an updated pay resolution and wage scale for the May 10, 2022, Village Council meeting.
Planning Commission
Planning Commission Chair James R. Thomas, Jr., requested the Village Council to attend the May 25, 2022, Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m., when the Planning Commission will hear a request for a Special Use permit for a marihuana retail business to be located at 166 South Burney Street; and a Site Plan Review to allow for demolition and construction of a larger commercial building at 472 E Main Street.
Adjournment
Motion by Simmons, supported by Thomas, to adjourn at 8:22 p.m. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion passed.
Jacqueline A. Terrill
Village Clerk
Ronald Welburn
Village President
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