VILLAGE OF BEAR LAKE, MICHIGAN
MINUTES

March 14, 2001
A budget hearing was held at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall. The millage was set at 8 mills.

At 7:30 the regularly scheduled meeting of the Bear Lake village council was brought to order. Council members present were Jeff Harthun, Glen Moore, Jim Reed, Len Steinberg, and Carol Urbanus. Don Hyrns was absent. Also present were Connie Guerne, Treasurer, Joanne Schroeder, Clerk, Howard Higley, Maintenance Man and Gary McBride, Water Supervisor. Don Conway, Fred Alkire, Leslie Smith, Bill Papineau, Jerry Johnson, and Tim Richard attended.
The MINUTES of the February 14 meeting and Special Meeting of March 8 were approved as distributed.
The Village of Bear Lake Council hereby resolves to levy, under the General Property Tax Act, a total millage of 8 mills for the year 2001-2002 operations. It was moved to extend the Bear Lake Village property tax payment deadline from September 15, 2001 to February 28,2002 with no penalty. Seconded and carried.
The TREASURER'S REPORT was accepted as read.

A motion was made and seconded to pay the bills listed at the end of this report.
The annual committee appointments made by the president, as listed in the March 8 minutes were announced. Len Steinberg moved to accept the appointments that were made. Seconded and carried.

General Fund $50,541.61 Equipment Fund $20,341.11
Major Street Fund $ 34,133.99 Minor Street Fund $ 5,673.07
Park Fund $ 17,336.71 Water Fund  $39,926.84
Building Fund $ 71,465.34 Library $710.28

WELLHEAD PROTECTION:Don Conway reported that the workplan submitted in December was approved. This includes the installation of monitor wells and pump tests. The next meeting of the Wellhead Protection Committee was set for May during the regular council meeting.

PRESIDENT: President Vern Best resigned in February. President Pro Tem Glen Moore was sworn in as president. Attachments: Letter of Vern Best’s resignation and a letter from village attorney Randy Hyrns as were distributed to each council member.


SEWER: Fred Alkire, Pleasanton Township president, and Leslie Smith, Bear Lake Township president, requested that Vern Best be allowed to continue to represent the Village on the Sewer and Library Feasibility Boards. Len Steinberg recommended that Best continue as a representative. The Council agreed. The next Sewer meeting will be on March 17 at 7 p.m. at Pleasanton Township Hall.

PARK: Caretaker Carol Urbanus reported that a new dock was needed in Hopkins Park. Howard Higley readily agreed. She also reported that a Playground Fund should be established as funds for new playground equipment for Hopkins Park are being sought.


WATER: Jim Reed reported on drainage issues at the Bear Lake School. The new addition to the school has been planned with retention ponds as a way to keep runoff onsite. The Council was made aware of the excess water problems. They agreed that extra efforts must be made to stop excess water runoff. We received a letter from the DEQ with notification that a plant tap needs to be installed by April 30, 2001 or fines will be issued.


SAND BUILDING:Jim Reed reported that specifications on the building are being rewritten. He also reported that there is a line item on the Bear Lake School construction bid for the demolition of the old sand building.

TREES: Problems with various trees on Lynn and Locust Streets were reported. Len Steinberg will look into the problems.

STREETS: A letter was received requesting street closures for the annual Bear Lake Days in July. Jim Reed moved to close Lynn Street from Main Street to U S 31 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 12, 13, and 14, 2001, and to close Lynn Street from Stuart to Main, and to close Main Street from Lynn to Wise on Saturday July 14 only. Carol Urbanus seconded the motion. Motion carried.


ORDINANCES: During the Special meeting of March 8 all ordinances were tabled to the April meeting except one. Jim Reed announced that a Communications Tower Ordinance was something the Council might want to consider. At a hearing at the Bear Lake Township Hall it was disclosed that the land containing the water tower is leased by the Village and is zoned residential by the Bear Lake Township. A variance is needed in order for the council to proceed with the tower project. The council did not address this issue.

Connie Guerne was honored for her 25 years as treasurer with the Village of Bear Lake. She was given a certificate, a cake, and a Cubic Zirconia ring. Tim Richard from the Manistee News Advocate was there to take photos for an article about Connie, and her years of service to the Village.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully, Joanne Schroeder, Clerk

March 14, 2001: Bills submitted to be paid:
Corrpro Waterworks $445.00 Auto-Owners Insurance $1,764.92
Qwest $4.64 Consumers Energy $389.69, $32.87, $712.72, $66.59
A & A Service $42.24 Blarney Castle Oil Co $59.85, $180.25
Crystal Lake Clinic $30.00 OMS Compliance Services $64.00
Hyde Equip Co $317.61 Kent County $28.00
Northstar Automotive $50.35 J Schroeder (office supplies) $11.07
S Schroeder Technology Support (computer supplies) $75.98 Bittner, Hyrns, etc $991.00, $1,369.00