President Irwin called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on February 25, 2025, in the Marcellus Village Hall. Trustees present: Markle, Engstrom, Webb, Haley M., Haley G. and Watts.
Agenda
Motion by Haley M., supported by Engstrom, to approve the agenda with the following additions:
• Under President’s Report – Add item B. DPW and Utility Clerk Positions and Interviews
• Under Clerk’s Report – Add Item C. Village Hall Vacuum
Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Minutes
Motion by Webb, supported by Markle, to approve as presented and place on file the corrected minutes of the January 14, 2025, regular meeting and the minutes of the February 11, 2025, regular meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bills
Motion by Haley G., supported by Watts, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $18,030.42. Roll call vote – Watts, Markle, Engstrom, Webb, Irwin, Haley M. and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Webb, supported by Engstrom, to receive and place on file all items on the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote – Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
Closed Session per MCL 15.268 (8)(h) to Consider Material Exempt from Discussion or Disclosure by State and Federal Statute, specifically a Legal Memorandum
President Irwin requested a closed session for discussion of a memorandum of law provided by Village Attorney Luke Nofsinger. Motion by Irwin, seconded by Webb, to move into closed session at 7:05 p.m. for that purpose and/or to consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal law, per MCL 15.268 (8)(h). Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Haley M., Webb, Irwin, Haley G., Watts and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
The Council moved back into open session at 7:37p.m.
Solid Waste Ordinance
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to authorize Village Administration to rewrite the Village’s Solid Waste Ordinance in the manner proposed, by adding the following language to the ordinance:
1. A heavy-duty plastic container of either sixty-four (64), ninety-six (96) gallons in size, provided by the refuse service/waste disposal company, which is equipped with wheels and a hinged top and is specially adapted to the hydraulic lift mechanism mounted on all packer type refuse or recycling vehicles.
2. Size of the refuse containers shall be determined by the licensed refuse service/waste disposal company.
3. All garbage and rubbish shall be placed in plastic trash bags.
4. Residents shall be responsible for the periodic cleaning of refuse containers.
5. No container shall be placed on the Village tree line or at curbside pickup locations more than 24 hours prior to contracted pick up day.
6. All empty containers shall be removed from any and all Village tree line and curbside collections sites within 24 hours of set collection day.
Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley G., Engstrom, Irwin, Markle, Haley M., Webb and Watts. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Clerk’s Report
MSHDA CHILL Program
The MSHDA CHILL Program team provided a written update and a copy of its project planner for the Village Council, informing the Council that the program is progressing smoothly, and the team is on track with the project timeline. Highlights of the update included the following:
1. Tier Two Environmental Review is completed, and documents will be submitted to MSHDA for review.
2. Building Inspections for the Home Improvement Program (HIP) have begun.
3. A contractor will be used to complete the Standard HUD Home Inspection Checklist and provide project estimates. Team members will accompany the inspector to ensure thorough documentation and review.
4. Inventory Cards have been submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for review.
5. The Request for Release of Funds (ROF) was submitted and once approved, the Village will begin receiving reimbursements.
Motion by Webb, supported by Engstrom, to receive and place on file the documents provided by the MSHDA CHILL Program team. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Kruggel Lawton 2024 Audit Engagement Letter
Motion by Webb, supported by Haley G., to approve the proposal and authorize the signing of the Letter of Engagement for audit services with Kruggel & Lawton CPA for the 2024 Audit of Village funds, F-65 filing and Act 51 reporting in the amount of $19,100. Roll call vote – Webb, Irwin, Haley G., Watts, Engstrom, Haley M., and Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Surf Air Wireless, LLC Discontinuation of Service and Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC)
Manager/Clerk Terrill shared the February 18, 2025, email communication from Jason Estep, of Surf Internet, which informs the Village that Surf Internet plans to remove its services from the Village’s water tower and discontinuing internet and phone services at the Village Hall and DPW buildings; and the Village will need to work with another provider for these services. The discontinuation of service notification was also sent to Chief Olsen to inform him the same regarding the services for the Fire Department and the Emergency Services location at 308 Elm Street.
Mrs. Terrill reported she has contacted MEC and there is a $100.00 fee per location ($200.00) to the Village for construction/installation of the service. Irwin moved, supported by Engstrom, to authorize the payment of the fee and to move forward with obtaining MEC’s services. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Markle, Engstrom, Watts, Haley M., Webb and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Resolution 2025-02 – Resolution Declaring Marcellus Village Council Support for the Preservation of the Federal Tax Exemption of Municipal Bonds
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-01, a Resolution Declaring Marcellus Village Council Support for the Preservation of the Federal Tax Exemption of Municipal Bonds and to forward the resolution to the Village’s Congressional Representative(s). Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley M., Haley G., Engstrom, Irwin, Markle, Webb and Watts. Nays: None. Motion carried.
DPW
EGLE Reporting Violation Notice and 2024 Consumer Confidence (CCR)/Water Quality Report
President Irwin shared the January 8, 2025, Violation Notice – Reporting Total Coliform letter from EGLE. The notice advises the Village that laboratory reports and compliance monitoring laboratory results for the November 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024, monitoring period were not received until January 3, 2025, due to an incorrect file being uploaded to EGLE on December 11, 2024. The correct file was sent to EGLE on January 3, 2025, and the Village is now in compliance with EGLE requirements.
The Village will include the following notice regarding this violation in its 2024 CCR/Water Quality Report which will be mailed to all users of the Village’s water system.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Reporting Requirements Not Met for Marcellus
This notice is being sent to you by the Village of Marcellus:
We are required to report the results of your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. While we collected our monthly total coliform sample on time, we did not report the results to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) by the December 10, 2024, deadline for the November 1 to November 30, 2024, compliance period.
What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do at this time. This is not an emergency. You do not need to boil water or use an alternative source of water at this time. The results of the sample were negative for bacteria. Even though public health was not impacted, as our customers you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct the situation.
What happened? What is being done?
While we collected the sample on time, we inadvertently missed reporting the sample results to EGLE by the required deadline. We are required to monitor total coliform by collecting two samples per month. We collected the required samples on November 5, 2024, but failed to report the result until January 3, 2025. We are making efforts to ensure this does not happen again. We have already returned to compliance.
Motion by Irwin, supported by Engstrom, to receive and place on file the January 8, 2025, Violation Notice from EGLE, to approve distribution of the notice within the Village’s 2024 CCR/Water Quality Report and to meet EGLE’s requirements regarding reporting back with the Public Notice Certification and Distribution form. Roll call vote – Ayes: Webb, Watts, Haley G., Engstrom, Irwin, Markle and Haley M. Nays: None. Motion carried.
GreenMark Equipment Filters for Backhoe
Motion by Irwin, supported by Markle, to authorize the purchase of oil filters, air breathers and filter elements from GreenMark Equipment, of Three Rivers, Michigan, at a cost of $1,016.75. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Haley M., Irwin, Webb, Markle, Watts and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Lodging for DPW Employee’s Lagoon Operations Training in Clare, Michigan on March 3, 2025 – March 4, 2025
Motion by Irwin, supported by Engstrom to authorize up to $380.00 for hotel and mileage for DPW Employee Landon Hackenberg’s training in Clare, Michigan, on March 3, 2025, and March 4, 2025. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Haley M., Watts, Irwin, Webb and Haley G. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Peerless Midwest, Inc. – Report Re: Water Filtration Plant: Core Sampling of Iron/Manganese Filters
Motion by Markle, supported by Irwin, to receive and place on file the February 20, 2025, report from Peerless Midwest, Inc., of Mishawaka, Indiana. Roll call vote – Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
The report outlines the results of the core sampling of the iron/manganese filters at the Village’s water filtration plant and gives recommendations as to filtration rate, backwash rate and frequency and scheduling the net core sampling event. The report advises the Village that a normal service life for this filter media is 15-20 years and the media is in its 17th year of service. Replacement is recommended in the next 5 to 10 years if water quality continues to be satisfactory.
Adjournment
Motion by Irwin, supported by Haley M., to adjourn at 8:31 p.m. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion passed.
Jacqueline A. Terrill
Village Manager/Clerk
Dennis Irwin
Village President
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