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Please note the regular meeting day has been changed to the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm.

The Village of Bear Lake Web Site has been in existence since July 1998. Click here to view the minutes archives.

Please note that the Minutes are not posted to the web site until they have been approved. The May 2003 Minutes were approved at the June 2003 Council Meeting. A copy of the current month's minutes can be requested from the Clerk but please be advised that until approved they are subject to corrections and revisions. The Clerk will also have available for viewing the current Minutes of the Bear Lake Pleasanton Utility Authority.

May 14, 2003

The regular meeting of the Bear Lake Village Council was called to order by President Glen Moore at 7:30 p.m. at the Bear Lake Village Hall. Present: Treasurer; Connie Guerne, Clerk; Pam Wade, Trustees; Dendra Best, Vern Best, Don Hyrns, Jeff Harthun, Joanne Schroeder and Carol Urbanus. Howard Higley. Guest; Karen Bruchan.
Minutes: Motion made by Vern seconded by Carol to approve the April minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Guest: Karen Bruchan from the Manistee County Community Foundation presented President Glen Moore, a check in the amount of $1,012.50 to contribute toward the education component of the Village’s Wellhead Protection Initiative, which will be developed in collaboration with the 4th and 5th grades and the high school students in Bear Lake.

Current Fund Balances
General Fund $18,173.12 Equipment Fund $4,348.00
Major Street Fund $35,474.01 Local Street Fund $5,852.27
Park Fund $33,916.17 Water Fund  $53,037.48
Building Fund $54,821.74 Library $11,193.94

Motion made by Carol seconded by Vern to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.
Bills: Motion made by Vern seconded by Dendra to pay bills. Motion carried.

Council Members: Dendra gave information on the Downtown Development workshop that she attended. The information was very informative with some very helpful ideas that have possibilities of being implemented concerning downtown parking for people passing through with RV’s and for new signs that may help passers by locate points of interest, such as the Library, Banking and the Post Office. Joanne will inquire to the Manistee County Library concerning a sign for the Keddie Norconk Memorial Library. Dendra, Joanne and Carol will attend the Bear Lake Township Board meeting to inquire about paving the parking lot at the Township hall.
Vern reported that there are 3 trees in the Village that need immediate attention. A total of $900 is needed to completely remove those trees. Motion made by Don seconded by Carol to have the three trees removed. Motion carried.
Glen reported that Charter Communications will raise the rates for Digital Cable Connections next month.
Connie asked permission store the old desk at her house. Permission granted.
Clerk reported that the Village Auditor recommends that the bonds for Clerk and Treasurer be raised to $100,000 each and that Carol also be bonded in the amount of $5,000. Motion made by Vern seconded by Don to accept the recommendation of the Auditor and raise the Bonding amounts of the Clerk and Treasurer and to get a bond for Carol, in the above amounts. Motion carried.

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New Business:
Glen reported that the trees in the downtown area planted by the Bear Lake Promoters need to be trimmed and/or relocated.
A letter will be sent to the owners of the building downtown who have made improvements to thank them for doing so.
The camp host and hostess are able to continue help with the summer job duties.
A time table will be set up for any and all water repairs in the future.
Connie recommended to the council that there be no increase in the 10 millage levied at this time. Motion made by Vern seconded by Don to keep the tax millage at 10 and to approve a resolution to extend the collections date without penalties to February 29, 2003. Motion carried.
Motion made by Joanne seconded by Dendra to give the Treasurer and Clerk each a $50/month pay raise. Motion carried.
A drop box will be posted at the clerk’s residence as soon as possible.
Motion made by Joanne seconded by Don to renew the Village Domain name for the web site for 5 years at the rate of $19 per year. Motion carried.

Park: 15 (correction at May Meeting to read: 7) seasonal campers are now in the park. There is a problem with the new bulletin board leaking water. Carol will work with the company to try to find a solution to the problem.

Sewer: Utilities Authority Report was given by Dendra. Motion made by Vern seconded by Dendra to leave our funds with the Bear Lake Township board to satisfy former financial obligations brought to the Bear Lake Pleasanton Sewer Board that is now defunct. Motion carried. Motion made by Vern seconded by Dendra to ask the Village attorney to be present at the next Utility Bonding Authority Board meeting on May 21, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pleasanton Township Hall. Yes; Dendra, Vern, Jeff, Joanne, Carol, Glen. Abstain; Don. Motion carried.
Motion made by Vern seconded by Jeff to give Glen permission to contact the Village attorney to ask him to attend the next U.A.B. meeting. Motion carried.

Streets: Dendra reported that 10 trees damaged by Consumers Energy need to come out. The total estimate for this and the other 19 trees that need attention is $50,000.00. Dendra will apply for a grant to help provide the cost.

Water: Wellhead Protection program is moving into the next phase. Volunteers for the Wellhead Protection Committee are needed from various aspects of the Village and Township and Dendra is in the process of getting the needed people to sit on the committee. Glen reported that the agreement with the Carter’s is nearly completed.

Equipment: Motion made by Joanne seconded by Carol to accept the highest bid on the John Deere tractor of $1,376.00. Motion carried.
All bids on the 8 sections of dock were rejected.

Ordinances: Glen reported that the director of the METRO Act has sent a letter stating that the Village has met the requirements needed to “opt in” and are now qualified to receive the grant money.

Old Business: Motion made by Don seconded by Dendra to change the Village meeting day to the second Tuesday of each month starting with the June 2003 meeting. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Bills paid for April:
Absolute Safety; $70.90, Bear Lake Ace Hardware; $475.72, Bittner, Hyrns, Daly, Reimland; $900.00, BC/BS; $270.04, Dale Stanton CPA; $625.00 Dendra Best; $114.92, Jackpine Business Centers; $50.77, Keddie Norconk Memorial Library; $102.00, Kent County Health Department; $96.00, Marathon Ashland; $89.83, Mathieu Insurance Agency; $3,461.00, McBride Septic Systems; $217.50, Pioneer Group; $10.21, State of the Art Framing and Gallery; $37.50, Thompson’s Tree Removal; $270.00.

Respectfully Submitted,

Pam Wade, Village Clerk

Made with a MACPage updated June 17, 2003

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