President Irwin called the regular meeting of the Marcellus Village Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on May 14, 2024, in the Marcellus Village Hall. Trustees present: Markle, Engstrom, Welburn, Haley, Webb and Thomas.
Agenda
Motion by Welburn, supported by Engstrom, to approve the agenda with the following addition:
• Add MAESA Report in the place of Mike Haydon – Ordinance Enforcement at Item Number 7.
Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Minutes
Motion by Webb, supported by Markle, to approve and place on file the minutes of the April 23, 2024, Regular Meeting as presented. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Bills
Motion by Haley, supported by Engstrom, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $55,860.30. Roll call vote – Ayes: Markle, Webb, Haley, Thomas, Engstrom, Welburn, Irwin. Nays: None. Motion carried.
MAESA
Trustee Welburn commented on concerns due to a lack of EMTs and paramedics for ambulance services in Cass County as a whole. MAESA is hoping to add 1 mill to the ballot for help with this service, adding that we will need to pay these volunteers soon to keep this service.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Webb, supported by Thomas, to receive and place on file all items on the Consent Agenda. Roll call vote – Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
President’s Report
Student/Youth Council
Trustee Engstrom stated she has spoken with Superintendent Pauley at Marcellus Community Schools and Ms. Pauley is agreeable to the Student Youth Council idea. It is hoped that creation of the Youth Council can begin in the fall, once Ms. Pauley has time to approach teaching staff on who might be interested in being a part of this Youth Council. Trustee Engstrom will continue to work on this as time allows.
DWSRF Project 7525-01 Change Order #2 and Downtown Beautification Project Notice to Proceed
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to accept and proceed with the DWSRF Project 7525-01 Change Order #2; and to approve and issue the Downtown Beautification Notice to Proceed to Balkema Excavating, Inc. Roll call vote – Ayes: Webb, Haley, Thomas, Engstrom, Welburn, Irwin, Markle. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Estela Salazar Resignation from DDA
Motion by Irwin, supported by Webb, to accept, with regret and thanks for her work and time serving on the DDA Estela Salazar’s resignation. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Clerk’s Report
MSHDA CHILL Program Grant Administration Applications
A Request for Third Party Grant Administration for the CDBG CHILL Grant Program was published in The Marcellus News on April 18, 2024, with proposals due Wednesday, May 2, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. The Village received one proposal from Sarah Ayers who proposes to administer the program for $45,000, which will be paid by the program.
Motion by Irwin, supported by Welburn, to approve and hire Sarah Ayers, who will be assisted by who will be assisted by Christine Nofsinger, to administer the MSHDA CHILL Program Grant. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Thomas, Haley, Webb, Markle, Irwin and Welburn. Nays: None. Motion carried.
MSHDA – CHILL Program Second Updated Citizen Participation Plan
Motion by Markle, supported by Engstrom, to approve the second updated MSHDA CHILL Program Citizen Participation Plan. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
MSHDA – MI Neighborhood Grant Program Announcement
A May 3, 2024, email to Manager/Clerk Terrill from Rachel Presley of MSHDA, congratulating the Village of Marcellus for being selected for a MI Neighborhood program grant award in the amount of $469,217 for homeowner rehabilitations, rental rehabilitations and a public amenity was shared with the Village Council. Additional information will be provided during the Microsoft Teams meeting scheduled with MSHDA on May 29, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
EPA Community Funding for WTP
President Irwin reported on the April 29, 2024, email communication from Andrew Tracy, Infrastructure Specialist, Water Division, Region 5 of the U.S. EPA. The email shared FY 2024 Community Grants Final Implementation Guidance, training requirements, workplan requirements and a requirement to meet with Mr. Tracy to go over the details of the project. This meeting was held via Microsoft Teams on May 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Tracy informed Manager/Clerk Terrill and Engineer Frank Renaldi that the $1 million funds are reserved for the Village so that there is not a specific timeline to work on a reduction in the scope of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project, or, for the application for additional funding to assist with the project. The plan right now is to work on qualifying for a waiver of the required 20% match funding, to search and apply for additional funds, and to see where the Water Fund stands at the end of the current DWSRF project when Baker Tilly completes its second financial analysis as required by the Affordability and Planning Grant the Village received in 2021.
Resolution 2024-03 Supporting Implementation of a Ground Emergency Medical Transportation Program (GEMT) in Michigan
Trustee Webb explained that the State of Michigan does not currently participate in the program and local emergency services and ambulance providers are not fully reimbursed by Medicaid to cover the costs of medical transportation for this segment of the State’s communities. GEMT is a voluntary program available to emergency medical transportation providers operated by or for any governmental entity. Local governments directly providing emergency transportation services have the option to choose whether they participate in the program. Those communities interested in participating in a GEMT program, when made available in Michigan, were encouraged to offer support by passing a resolution and sharing it with the Michigan Municipal League and their respective lawmakers.
Motion by Webb, supported by Irwin, to adopt Resolution 2024-03, a Resolution Supporting Implementation of a Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Program in Michigan. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
DPW
Proposal – Southwest Michigan Dust Control Quotes
Motion by Irwin, supported by Welburn, to approve the quote from Southwestern Michigan Dust Control, Inc., for two applications, one in June 2022 and one in September 2022, at a cost not to exceed $3,630.00. Roll call vote – Ayes: Engstrom, Thomas, Haley, Webb, Makle, Irwin and Welburn. Nays: None. Motion carried.
April 2024 DPW Report
Motion by Irwin, supported by Markle, to receive and place on file the April 2024 DPW Report. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Timothy Weston Water Training
Motion by Irwin, supported by Welburn, to approve the Valve and Hydrant Maintenance for drinking water class for Timothy Weston at a cost of $110.00. Roll call vote – Ayes: Thomas, Haley, Welburn, Markle, Irwin, Webb and Engstrom. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Old DPW Fuel Tank and Tree Quote from J.C. and Sons, Inc.: Motion by Irwin, supported by Welburn, to approve trading the old fuel tank at the DPW for a $500.00 reduction to the $4,000 quote for tree removal that was approved by the Village Council on April 23, 2024. Roll call vote – Ayes: Thomas, Haley, webb, Irwin, Welburn and Engstrom. Markle abstained. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Quote – Corrpro Companies, Inc. Cathodic System
Service Plan for Village Water Tower
Motion by Irwin, supported by Welburn, approving and authorizing the Village Clerk or Village President to sign the annual service agreement provided by Corrpro Companies, Inc., for “Plan C Service,” which includes the following for $705.00:
1. Tank to Water potential profile within tank to monitor and verify effectiveness of system on submerged surface of tank.
2. Electrical Measurements to test anode and reference cells.
3. Inspect, test and clean rectifier, controls, meters, contacts, wiring and connections. Replace fuses as required.
4. Adjust system for optimum corrosion control on submerged metal surface of tank.
5. Submit report with all data obtained evaluation of data and recommendations for continued performance.
Roll call vote – Ayes: Haley, Webb, Irwin, Welburn, Engstrom, Markle and Thomas. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Personnel CommitteeEmployee Evaluations for Michael Clark, Kim Henritzy and Jacqueline Terrill
Trustee Engstrom reported that the Personnel Committee met for the following employees’ annual evaluations on May 8, 2024:
• DPW Employee Michael Clark (May 16, 2024, 2-year)
• Kim Henritzy (May 13, 2024, 4-year) and
• Jacqueline Terrill (May 10, 2024, 8-year)
All three employees received favorable evaluations and were thanked for the wonderful work they do for the community. The Personnel Committee recommends that Michael Clark and Kim Henritzy receive a 75-cent per hour raise, retroactive to their respective work anniversary dates; and that Jacqueline Terrill receive a four percent annual raise retroactive to her work anniversary.
Motion by Engstrom, supported by Thomas, to approve the recommended and previously approved and scheduled pay raise of 75-cents per hour for DPW Employee Michael Clark; a four percent increase as approved in the Village Manager/Clerk’s contract; and a pay raise of 75-cents per hour for Utility Clerk Kim Henritzy. Roll call vote – Ayes: Irwin, Welburn, Engstrom, Markle, Thomas, Haley and Webb. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Public Comment
Jeremiah Marmon, of 140 East North Street, questioned the ordinance violation he received regarding the semi-truck that is parked in his driveway. The semi is missing wheels and is not currently licensed. He requested special consideration for having the semi parked in his yard. After a lengthy conversation, he was instructed to comply with the ordinance regarding Motor Vehicle Storage and to contact Village Ordinance Enforcement Officer Mike Haydon again.
President Irwin – Re: Letter to the Editor
President Irwin addressed the Council regarding a recent Letter to the Editor published on May 2, 2024, in The Marcellus News, and had the following comment on the letter: The Trustee who used the term “sitting fallow” had retracted the statement during the same conversation, stating that the term was inappropriately harsh, and that the DDA had recently used the Hudson Memorial Building for a Vendor’s Market and other community activities and he was pleased to see other groups making use of the building.
President Irwin stated that the Village Council feels the Hudson Board does an outstanding job serving the community. He reiterated that the Hudson Board, the DDA, Village Council and other community boards and groups work hard serving the community and do an outstanding job.
Adjournment
Motion by Thomas, supported by Engstrom, to adjourn at 8:03 p.m. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion passed.
Jacqueline A. Terrill
Village Manager/Clerk
Dennis Irwin
Village President
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