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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 November 2003 Minutes were approved at the December 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.
November 11, 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, Joanne Schroeder, Carol Urbanus, Howard Higley. Absent; Jeff Harthun. Guests; Patrick Looney, Jim Reed, Jerry Johnson, Andy Pyrne, Dick Marlet, Tim Richard and Richard Raetz of Global Remediation Technologies Inc..
Dendra requested to President Moore that the Council take a moment of silence in observation of Veteran’s Day.
Minutes: The October minutes were approved with the following corrections; 1. Library: (“KNMLB is also refusing to reimburse the Village for Audit, postage and envelopes.”) 2. The Manistee County Road Commission will do a study to see if the hidden Intersection sign that was requested to be posted on Potter Road, near Lynn Street, (“is needed.”)
Treasurer’s Report:
| General Fund | $36,395.83 | Equipment Fund | $2,344.63 |
| Major Street Fund | $34,588.71 | Minor Street Fund | $5,218.78 |
| Park Fund | $30,949.67 | Water Fund | $62,097.57 |
| Building Fund | $55,113.96 | Library | $11,194.94 |
Motion made by Dendra seconded by Vern to accept the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried.
Bills: Motion made by Dendra to pay the bills except for the bill presented from the BLPUAB. Motion carried.
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Motion made by Don seconded by Vern to have 100 posters printed to inform the residents that the proper disposal of leaves is to bag them and leave them at the curbside for pickup. Motion carried.
Joanne reported that the Village was awarded a grant of $6,845.00 from the Manistee County Revenue Sharing Board for the total cost of the new sander.
Motion made by Dendra seconded by Carol to authorize the Treasurer to research the best possible short term interest rates for CD funds for the Building, Park and Water Funds and take the appropriate action using her best judgment. Motion carried.
New Business: Audit Bids: Sealed bids were received from two auditors. Motion made by Dendra seconded by Joanne to accept a one year engagement with the current auditor; Dale Stanton, at a cost of $1,750.00. Motion carried. With Council requesting that Mr. Stanton present the Audit in person to the Council upon completion.
Sewer: President Moore and Dendra Best met to discuss and compile a Report To Council on the sewer project, the correspondence received from USDA Rural Development, and alternative options available to us. After discussion, Council requested a copy of that Report be attached to these Minutes. Village Attorney Hyrns was consulted on the several issues with which Council had serious concerns. Council voiced its strong objections to a Special meeting of the Utilities Authority being held in Grand Rapids at the offices of Prein Newhof, November 24, 2003, against the wishes of our 2 Village Council Utiltity Board Members. Council objected this would prevent proper public participation and that business could be done at a Special Meeting. Council and the public present requested that no formal contract be signed to proceed with engineering at this time. Council determined that with little public support and no financial controls in place to contain costs it was time to withdraw.
Motion made by Don seconded by Joanne to have Clerk send a registered, return receipt; letter to Fred Alkire, President of the BLPUAB, with copies sent by regular mail to Bear Lake Township, Pleasanton Township, Attorneys; Randy Hyrns and Richard Wilson informing them that the Village of Bear Lake is opting to withdraw its membership from the BLPUAB effective on this date (November 11, 2003) and to pay one third of any bills incurred up to this date that the Village is one third responsible for. Yes votes; Vern, Don, Joanne, Carol, Glen. No vote; Dendra. Motion carried.
Richard Raet of Global Remediation Technologies Inc. addressed the Council offering to assist with research and development and technical assistance grant writing for alternative wastewater systems.
Ordinances: Amendment to the Non-Partisan Election Ordinance to read as follows: “Addendum: If there are not sufficient candidates running for office to exceed two per office, the primary is automatically eliminated in that particular year.” Motion made by Dendra seconded by Carol to attach this addendum to the Non-Partisan Election Ordinance. Motion carried.
Dendra asked that a new category be placed on the agenda starting with the December Council meeting for “Correspondence sent and Received.” The Council agreed.
Special Assessment Procedures Ordinance. Motion made by Dendra seconded by Joanne to accept the Village Attorney’s opinion and pass the Special Assessment Procedures Ordinance, numbered 2003:04. Yes votes; Dendra, Vern, Don, Joanne, Carol. No vote; Glen. Motion carried. Junk Ordinance was tabled for further review by Council members.
Library: Joanne was asked to inquire about a written release from the KNMLB, at the next KNMLB meeting. President Moore also asked Joanne to inquire about the KNMLB reimbursing the Library Fund for its cost share of the audit, the cost of postage and envelopes used to pay KNMLB bills.
Park: In the interest of time, Carol reserved her report for the next meeting.
Streets/ Sidewalks: Report on signs. Joanne reported that “Handicap Child” signs would cost $69.07 each. The post for each sign would cost $9.25 each. Glen reported the need to replace the sign for Lynn Street. Motion made by Carol seconded by Dendra to purchase two (2) “Handicap Child” signs and one (1) Lynn Street sign. Motion carried.
Water: The next Wellhead Protection: Meeting has been scheduled for the December 9, 2003 Village Council Meeting; at 7:00 at the Village Hall.
Old Business:
Employee Holiday/Vacation Leave Policy. Motion made by Don seconded by Joanne to pass the Employee Holiday/Vacation Policy as amended. Yes votes; Dendra, Vern, Don, Joanne, Glen. No vote; Carol. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m
Respectfully Submitted,
Pam Wade, Clerk
Bills paid for October
Bear Lake Ace Hardware; $56.95
Bittner, Hyrns; $197.00
Blarney Castle; $1,177.89
Gosling Czubak Engineering; $1,582.50
Jackpine Business Centers; $39.98, $29.90
Kent County Health Department; $48.00
Marathon Ashland; $48.25
McBride Septic Systems; $542.50
Michigan Pipe & Valve; $187.40
Northern Fire & Safety; $25.00
Pioneer Group; $143.00
Ron Brown & Sons; $755.00, $387.83
Thompson’s Tree Removal; $1,140.00
Page updated December 11, 2003
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