CITY
OF SOUTH LYON
REGULAR
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
June
14, 2004
Mayor
Doyle called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Mayor
Doyle led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
PRESENT:
Mayor Doyle
Council
Members: Dryer, Schwarck, and Wallace
City
Manager Cook
Attorney
Lee
City
Clerk/Treasurer Zemke
Department
Heads: Martin & Renwick
ABSENT:
Council Member: Crawford
Mayor
Doyle stated that Mayor Pro-tem Crawford lost his wife last week and asked that
we all keep he and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES:
CM
6-1-04- APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 24, 2004
Motion by Schwarck, supported by Wallace
To approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 24, 2004 as written
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVAL
OF MONTHLY BILLS:
CM
6-2-04- APPROVAL OF MONTHLY BILLS
Motion by Dryer, supported by Schwarck
To approve the monthly bills as presented
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVAL
OF AGENDA
Mayor
Doyle stated that he would like to table Old Business #5 until the next meeting.
He stated that we have an opening on the Parks and Recreation Commission
and he will have more information at the next meeting.
CM
6-3-04 – TABLE APPOINTMENTS BY MAYOR DOYLE
Motion by Wallace, supported by Schwarck
To table Appointments by Mayor Doyle until the next regular meeting
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CM
6-4-04- APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Wallace, supported by Dryer
To approve the agenda as amended
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CITIZEN’S
SUGGESTIONS
Councilman
Dryer asked when the repairs to the sewer along Pontiac Trail at Brown’s
Rootbeer will take place. Superintendent Renwick stated that the repairs should
begin this Friday. City Manager
Cook stated that we have been waiting for the Road Commission to make a decision
as to their responsibility. He did
authorize Steve Renwick to have the repairs done. Pictures will be taken and we will bill the County at a later
date if needed.
Councilman
Schwarck asked the City Manager to briefly review the ordinance relating to
mowing of private property. City
Manager Cook stated that we have a Weed Ordinance, which requires individual
property owners to maintain the grass. Property
owners who allow their grass to grow over 12 inches will receive notice from us
and have two weeks to take care of it. If
they do not, we will have it mowed at a rate of $175 per hour. He stated that it
is not our intention to mow single-family residence, however we will if we have
to.
Councilman
Schwarck stated that we all need to be concerned about the West Nile Virus, and
tall wet grass is ideal for larvae to grow.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Proposed
Amendment to the Budget – FY 2003-2004
City
Manager Cook stated that the proposed budget amendment reflects adjustments in a
number of areas. Administration had
been adjusted for increased retirement costs as well as fringe benefits.
Water and Sewer has been increased due to the under estimated cost of
engineering services for the treatment plant.
These costs are reimbursable under the State Revolving Loan Fund.
The Capital Improvement Fund has been increased due to the settlement for
the Trailway Management Council. This
project is now complete. And, the
Historical Depot budget reflects the decrease due to the deck costing
significantly less than originally estimated.
CM
6-5-04 – APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT – FY 2003-2004
Motion by Wallace, supported by Dryer
To approve the proposed budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 as
presented (see attached
amendment
as part of these minutes)
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Collective
Bargaining Agreement – Police Officers Labor Council
City
Manager Cook stated that he has provided the list of contract changes including
the additional New Year’s Eve holiday, long-term disability coverage, increase
in monthly payment at retirement to $500 beginning the 3rd year of
the contract, increase in uniform cleaning from $375 to $400 per year, change to
the PPO Community Blue and Drug Card, and pay schedule reflecting 3.5% increase
each year. This contact will expire
June 30, 2007.
The
question was asked if the union has approved this contract.
City Manager Cook stated that they have ratified.
At this point we need to approve the contract, it will be signed and
everything will be in place.
Mayor
Doyle stated that he would like to commend the City Manager as well as the
bargaining unit for their hard work. This
contact seems very reasonable and was done on time.
CM
6-6-04 – APPROVAL OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – POLICE OFFICERS’
LABOR COUNCIL
Motion by Dryer, supported by Schwarck
To approve the contact between the City of South Lyon and the Police
Officers’ Labor Council for the period
7-1-04
through 6-30-07
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Professional
Services – Engineering
Cemetery
Section Addition - $33,000
4”
Water Main Abandonment – Lake to South Ridge
Sidewalk
- Hagadorn
City
Manager Cook stated that within the upcoming budget year, we have budgeted for
the cemetery addition. We have a
proposal from HRC for the engineering services in the amount of $33,000.
Also,
we have a proposal for the abandonment of the 4 inch water main and reconnect
all water leads to the existing 12 inch main.
The
third proposal is for the engineering for the sidewalk extension on the east
side of Hagadorn from Whipple to N. Ridge.
As you will recall, we have allocated our Community Block Grant funds for
this project. Our allocation is
roughly $47,000. Anything over that
would be paid for by the City.
Councilman
Wallace asked if the sidewalk on Hagadorn would be going around the trees.
City Manager Cook stated that we will try to salvage as many trees as
possible, but we will not know until we have the design engineering.
It was stated that the safety of the children in the neighborhood is
worth losing a few trees.
CM
6-7-04 – APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH HRC – CEMETERY SECTION ADDITION
Motion by Dryer, supported by Schwarck
To approve the letter of agreement with Hubbell, Roth & Clark for
Professional Engineering Services for the
Cemetery
addition in the amount of $33,000
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CM
6-8-04 – APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH HRC – WATER MAIN ABANDONMENT
Motion by Schwarck, supported by Dryer
To approve the letter of agreement with Hubbell, Roth & Clark for
Professional Engineering Services for the
4”
watermain Abandonment from Lake Street to South Ridge in the amount of $23,400
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CM
6-9-04 – APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH HRC – HAGADORN SIDEWALK
Motion by Wallace, supported by Schwarck
To approve the letter of agreement with Hubbell, Roth & Clark for
Professional Engineering Services for the
Sidewalk
extension along Hardorn Street in the amount of $29,000
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The
question was asked if the sidewalk would be complete before school starts.
City Manager Cook stated that it would be a fairly short construction
period, and we would be looking at construction hopefully in August.
Discussion
was held on other sidewalks throughout the City that needs replacing.
City Manager Cook stated that we have an on-going 50/50 program.
If someone has a sidewalk in disrepair all they have to do is contact DPW,
and the City pays for 50% of the cost. We
also do evaluations ourselves and if there are bad sections we do contact the
property owner.
Councilman
Schwarck stated that we also discussed, at one time, the possibility of
extending a sidewalk along one side of Chester so that when the Singh
development goes in, children will have a safe access to Bartlett Elementary.
City Manager Cook stated that this is something that can be reviewed down
the road. It may be some time
before that development is complete.
Mr.
Ron Morelli of 179 Eagle Crest stated that safety is the major issue when you
are talking about sidewalks. He
stated that along the east side of Pontiac Trail through the City, the sidewalk
is not complete and he does not see how some of these developments such as the
oil change facility and car wash have received Certificates of Occupancy without
having their sidewalks complete. King
Plaza came into the City years ago, and his understanding was that they would
extend sidewalk when they tore out their leach field, and it has been years.
The only safe place for children to cross the street is Nine Mile or
Reynold Sweet so we have kids running across the street.
The Township has done a good job from Nine Mile towards the City. With Mickey’s Dairy, there are a lot of children running
across the street there.
Mayor
Doyle asked if the garden area will be affected by the cemetery addition.
City Manager Cook stated that the gardens will be eliminated.
Mayor Doyle asked if there has been any thought given to moving it. He
stated that there are several people that use that.
Councilman Wallace stated that Volunteer Park has 100 acres to consider.
Proposed
construction – 9 Mile Road – Dixboro to Rushton
City
Manager Cook stated that last Wednesday we met with the Urban Area Systems
Committee that will be appropriating funds for projects within the Federal Aid
to Urban Systems. The Director of
the Livingston County Road Commission has recommended that Nine Mile between
Dixboro and Rushton be put in the funding cycle beginning October 1, 2004 for
construction in 2005. This is all
predicated on the availability of Federal funding, which has not be
re-appropriated. However, the goal
of the director was to have a letting in January 2005 for construction in the
spring. This is a $2.1 million
project, which is a high estimate. They
are not asking for any funds from the City at this point. It could possibly come up at a later date if they have a
problem coming up with their 20%. At
this point, the other issue is the alignment of the road, which will not take
place because of extremely bad soil conditions up to 40 feet deep.
This is handled by a four-way stop, therefore should not be an issue.
Mayor
Doyle stated that we started this process some time ago.
Several years ago, Commissioner Potter, City Manager Cook and he went
over for meetings to impress upon the various bodies the importance of paving
Nine Mile. This is almost a
two-mile stretch with a number of subdivisions along here.
This is long overdue. This
may get some of the truck traffic out of downtown and will provide a straight
shot to US 23. We have contributed
$12,500 toward engineering. City
Manager Cook stated that they are about done with engineering so they will be
ready to go based on the availability of funding.
That section of Nine Mile is the busiest gravel road in Livingston County
with 4,000 vehicles per day, which is 10 times what is recommended.
County
Commissioner Jeff Potter of 1099 Stable Lane stated that he is especially
excited about this project. He
stated that he would like to commend the Mayor and City Council as well as the
City Manager for seeing this through. This
has been on the City’s “to do” list since the mid 1990s. The City Manager,
City Council and he, when he was Mayor, went to Green Oak beseeching them to get
involved in this regional effort. Partly
due to the change in leadership and Mark St. Charles becoming Supervisor, they
have been more receptive to help work together to solve regional problems.
The City did appropriate a small amount of engineering monies to get this
conversation going. Lyon Township
Superintendent Chris Olson attended meetings even though they had no
jurisdictional input, just to emphasize the importance of the project.
Putting the through traffic on the through roads and the shopping traffic
on our downtown roads will do a lot for sustaining our businesses here in town.
South Lyon has done more with being able to leverage more outside grants
and outside efforts than just about any other small community in Oakland County
because of your insight and being there when it was necessary to put the funds
out. Our City Manager has been determined and has been the glue
that has held this together. The
Federal funds have not yet been appropriated, but the pieces came together when
the new Federal Aid to Urban Systems was planned and we had a doable project
ready to go. Over an 8-10 year
period, Martindale, Griswold, Nine Mile to the east of Pontiac Trail and to the
West, we will have completed that circle to help people get around the City in a
safe way.
City
Manager Cook stated that the Director, Mike Caine spent time elaborating to the
communities of Livingston County that if they wanted these project to go
through, they had to get the engineering complete so that they would be in a
position to capitalize on funding that is available.
Councilman
Dryer stated that what this will mean that the traffic will increase on Pontiac
Trail as a result of this as well as increased traffic on Nine Mile.
City Manager Cook stated that the whole idea of completing Griswold was
to move traffic around the City, but yet not far enough away that they could not
return back to the City without being inconvenienced.
Appointment
– Mayor Doyle – REMOVED FROM AGENDA
NEW
BUSINESS:
Railroad
Crossing Closure – Reese Street – June 21-25, 2004 weather dependent
City
Manager Cook stated that he called MDOT because they seem to be the only agency
with any impact on the railroad. We
requested an informal meeting versus asking for a safety inspection at the
crossing, which is a much more formal process and takes much longer.
We were able to get the railroad, MDOT and the City to discuss various
issues, primarily the gates being activated without any train traffic.
Part of the cause is at Ten Mile, not Pontiac Trail but also Reese
Street. They also needed to come in
and re-do that entire crossing. Hopefully,
when they are done the 107 responses since 1998 that we made to signals going
off with any train traffic will be eliminated.
At this point, we do believe that this will be taken care of and
completed by June 25, depending on weather.
Live-Scan
Fingerprint System – Grant $20,155
Chief
Collins stated that we have been trying for two years to join the rest of
Oakland County in the 21st century. Live-Scan is an optical scan
finger printing method, which will be used instead of the cardboard and ink.
Instead of mailing these cards to the State Police and FBI, with
Live-scan everything is done electronically and instantaneously and helps build
criminal records and court dispositions. We
were having some problems being accepted for the grant, and thanks to the City
Manager and one of his contacts, we were able to get that grant approved and
ready to move forward with Council approval.
The
question was asked if everyone has gone to this type of system.
Chief Collins stated that we are one of the few communities in Oakland
County that does not have this system.
Councilman
Schwarck asked how often would we use this type of thing and how many times do
we fingerprint people. Chief
Collins stated that it depends, but 200-300 times per year.
Chief
Collins stated that if we do need to use Live-scan, then we take them to Novi.
Commissioner
Potter stated that in many instances people are picked up for minor charges or
suspicions and have turned out to be wanted on Class 1 felonies that would have
been put back on to the street if it were not for the ability to identify the
person through Live-scan.
It
was stated that there is a $7,031 matching amount.
City Manager Cook stated that this was not budgeted, therefore Council
does need to approve the match. It
was stated that this is a reimbursing grant.
We will have to pay the full amount and be reimbursed the $20,155.
CM
6-10-04 – APPROVAL OF PURCHASE – LIVE-SCAN
Motion by Schwarck, supported by Dryer
To approve the funding of $27,186 for the Live-Scan Fingerprint System
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CM
6-11-04 – ACCEPTANE OF GRANT – LIVE-SCAN
Motion by Wallace, supported by Dryer
To accept the reimbursable grant of $20,155 Local Law Enforcement Block
Grant Funds for the Live-Scan
Fingerprint
System
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
CM
6-12-04 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Schwarck, supported by Dryer
To adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
VOTE:
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Respectfully
Submitted,
_______________________________
________________________________
John
Doyle, Jr., Mayor
Julie C. Zemke, City Clerk/Treasurer