bearlakemichigan.org
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 January 2003 Minutes, as presented here were approved at the February 2004 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.
January 13, 2004
Guest; Thomas Burgess from Waste Water Management, gave a brief presentation concerning some of the many waste water options available to the Village of Bear Lake.
Guests; Harry Luzius of Gourdie-Fraser Inc. offered a potential partnership with Mr. Burgess and Waste Water Management, to propose a Responsible Management Entity to work with existing home owner septic systems, and also a collection and treatment option.Figures could be available for consideration of the Council at the February meeting.
The Regular Meeting of the Bear Lake Village Council was called to order by President Glen Moore at 8:00 p.m. at the Bear Lake Village Hall.
Present: Treasurer; Connie Guerne, Trustees; Dendra Best, Vern Best, Don Hyrns, Jeff Harthun, Joanne Schroeder, Carol Urbanus. Howard Higley.
Absent; Pam Wade, Clerk.
Guests: Dave Long, A. Jay Johnson, Jackie Johnson, Tim Richard, Carver Edwards, Ronald Ronning, Burton Ware, Robert Howe, Michelle Mortenson.
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Minutes: The December minutes were approved as read, with one notation; The November minutes which were approved at the December meeting, contained the wrong account balances which were a duplicate of the month before. The Treasurers Report was read correctly but was posted in the minutes incorrectly.
Treasurers Report: The reading of the Treasurers Report was postponed until the end of the meeting upon the recommendation of Vern Best.
Bills: Motion made by Joanne seconded by Carol to pay the bills presented with the exception of the bill from Keddie Norconk Memorial Library. Yes votes; Dendra, Vern, Joanne, Carol. No votes; Don and Glen. Motion passed. Motion made by Joanne seconded by Don not to accept the proposal from Corrpro Waterworks for cathodic protection ; on the recommendation of Water Superintendent, Gary McBride, as there is a warranty in place. Motion carried.
A request was made for a list of official mail sent or received. President Moore said there was none.
Council Members: Don asked the council, on behalf of the Bear Lake Promoters to order 3-100 bulb strings for the Village Christmas tree along with one case of colored bulbs. The promoters will cover the cost of the order. Motion made by Don seconded by Carol to order these bulbs. Motion carried. Motion made by Carol seconded by Dendra that if the Village has sufficient money in the Christmas light fund, the council will also order 1 (one) case of multi colored bulbs for the Village decorations. Motion carried.
Complaints received by Joanne concerning garbage and rotting deer at 12162 Maple Street. Connie Guerne will obtain a copy of the letter Council asked to be sent to the Manistee Health Dpeartment in September 2003 from the Clerk for further action.
Village Elections will be held on March 8, 2004. The Village will have an “open ballot” which is a complete write-in ballot, due to an error in distributing the correct forms. Anyone interested in running for the offices of: President, Treasurer, Clerk or any of the 3(three) Trustee seats, must obtain a Declaration of Intent, form. The form must then be filled out and returned to the Clerk before 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2004. Only the names of those who have filed the Declaration of Intent forms will be counted on Election Day. Upon receipt of the completed form, the Clerk will instruct each person that files the Declaration of Intent form as to what other forms must be filed in order to comply with election rules. President Moore and Trustee Hyrns noted that it is possible to go to the County Clerks office ahead of time to fill out the additional required form.
Dendra was asked to gather suggestions for a possible March application to the Manistee Local Revenue Sharing Board.
Library: Motion made by Don seconded by Carol to pay the bill from Keddie Norconk Memorial Library for maintenance, snow plowing and insurance on the building. Yes votes; Jeff, Don, Joanne, Carol, Glen. No votes; Dendra and Vern. Motion carried. Motion made by Don seconded by Jeff to stay involved in the Library as a support of the Library. Yes votes; Jeff, Don, Joanne, Carol, Glen. No vote; Dendra. Abstain; Vern.
Motion made by Dendra seconded by Carol to appoint Carver Edwards to represent the Village of Bear Lake interests on the Keddie Norconk Memorial Library Board. Carver accepted the appointment. Motion carried.
Park: Carol gave a report that the people in charge of the pop machine have not emptied the machine and/or unplugged it and nobody at the company knows what is supposed to be done with the machine. Carol recommended waiting to hear back from the company before taking any further action.
Sewer: Dendra reported that the sewer board decided not to sign the copy of the Resolution to Withdraw that was presented to them from the Village. Village Attorney; Randy Hyrns, has been in contact with Mr. Wilson, the attorney for the Sewer Board; in an attempt to reach an agreement.
Streets: Posts in street right-of-way. There are several residents that have snow plowing posts that are too close to the roadway and may pose a serious hazard from the snowplowing being done if the snow plow should hit them. Council decided to address each complaint when/if it comes to the council.
Water: Motion made by Dendra seconded by Don to accept the amended water rates to become effective with the April 1, 2004 billing sent. Motion carried. Copy of rates attached to minutes.
New Rates for 2004 are:
Residents and In Village Businesses(3 months service): Excluding car washes, laundry mats and dry cleaners: 3/4" = $45 | 1 1/2" = $90.00
Out Of Village Residents and Businesses: 3/4" = $80 | 1 1/2" = $160.00
School (based on current tap size):= $600.00
Motel: (based on current tap size): Summer (May - October) $275.00 | Winter (November - April) $215.00
Turning water on/off: $15.00
Water Tap Fees: Resident - $1000.00 for 3/4"
Non Residents: - $1200.00 for 3/4"
1 1/2" Tap for for both Resident and Non Resident: $1200.00 plus addtional costs plus installation has to be approved by Village Engineer.
Rates for taps larger than 1 1/2" will be determined by the Village Council when an application is received. Said taps must have the written approval of a Village aproved engineer.
Multiple Units Excluding car washes, laundry mats and dry cleaners: Rate will be determined by the Village Council when an application is received. Said application must have the written approval of a Village aproved engineer.
Returned Check charge: $20.00
All requests for new or changed taps must be approved by the Village Council at a Regular scheduled meeting. If a "Special Meeting" is requested, party requesting the Special Meeting will be charged for the cost of the Special Meeting.
Residents will be charged $15.00 per month for water when they are occupying the residence for any part of the month. This does not apply to out of Village users. They will be charged the entire quarterly rate.
Past due date: If payment is not made in full within 60 days, procedings will be taken to have the users water turned off. One year's payment of water fees in advance will be necessary to have the water turned back on.
Effective as of April 1, 2004
Dendra reported on the MOWRA Conference that she and Vern attended in East Lansing. The presentation from Joyce Hudson from the EPA; was most informative. The EPA is putting emphasis on the state to help people who need help with replacing septic systems, and help people understand how their septic systems operate.
Update on Wellhead Protection Education. Dendra reported that the students are working on the center leaflet for the educational pamphlet which will go out soon.
Ordinances: The junk ordinance will be rewritten by the ordinance committee and presented to the council at the February meeting for review.
It was noted that the current Dismantled Vehicle Ordinance is in effect.
Treasurers Report: The discussion of the Treasurers Report was requested to be postponed until this time in the meeting, by Vern Best.
Vern asked for a closed meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action pertaining to a line item on the General Ledger and guest Tim Richard said a closed meeting can only be called be the person it pertains to. After discussion of the concerns Council had, Motion made by Dendra seconded by Vern to contact the Village Attorney in writing for a legal opinion concerning the payment of the deputy Treasurer; Ricke Guerne being paid for performing Treasurers duties as needed. Yes votes; Dendra, Vern, Jeff Joanne. No votes; Don and Glen. Abstain; Carol. Motion carried. Motion made by Dendra seconded by Vern to request that President Moore write the letter to the Village attorney. Yes votes; Dendra, Vern. No votes; Don, Joanne and Glen. Abstain; Jeff, Carol. Motion denied. Motion made by Vern seconded by Don to accept the Treasurer Report as read. Yes votes; Vern, Jeff, Don, Joanne, Carol, Glen. No vote; Dendra. Motion carried.
Treasurers Report:
Building Fund $55,169.07
Equipment Fund $4,347.20
General Fund $36,304.39
Library Fund $11,206.14
Local Street Fund $6,367.60
Major Street Fund $41,596.01
Park Fund $29,528.16
Water Fund $54,030.25
Council asked that the Clerk mail a Welcome to Bear Lake Letter to “Curves for Women.”
Meeting adjourned at 9:15p.m.
Bills paid for November: Bear LAke Ace Hardware $236.10; Bittner, Hyrns, Daly & Riemland. P.C. $163.50; Hyde Equipment $48.42 ; Jackpine Business centers $35.98; Kent County Health Department $96; Marathon Ashland $79.82; McBride Septic Systems LLC $580.00; MISS Dig System Inc. $177.24; NAPA Auto Pars $59.80 ; Pioneer Group $ 41.53; Pioneer Press Printing $18.00; Ron Brown and Sons $43.96; Shoreline Waste Services $140.10; Staples $46.61 and $84.40
Respectfully Submitted by; Pam Wade, Clerk
Page updated February 13, 2004
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