CITY OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN

REGULAR COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

DECEMBER 19, 2005

 

 

 

A regular meeting of the Menominee City Council, City of Menominee, County of Menominee, State of Michigan, was held Monday, December 19, 2005 at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Council Chambers.

 

The Honorable George W. Krah called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

 

PRESENT:       Mayor Krah, Council Members Fernstrum, Hudon, Jasper. Mick, Organ, Plemel,

            Schloegel and Sorensen

ABSENT:         None

 

PRESENT:  9                ABSENT:  0

 

 

There being no additions or corrections to the minutes of the regular meeting of November 21, 2005, the minutes stood approved as presented.

 

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to remove items #4 and #8 under Reports of Standing Committees, to reverse the order of items #1 and #7 under Reports of Standing Committees on the agenda, and to approve the agenda as amended.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

Mayor Krah opened the public hearing that was called for the purpose of hearing citizen comments on the proposed vacation of alleys in the 3700 block of Tenth Street. 

 

Doug Boutin, 1017-38th Avenue, asked what would happen to the property if it were vacated.

 

Mr. Furton said it would be split evenly between the property owners.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Fernstrum and seconded by Council Member Organ to close the public hearing.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Mayor Krah opened the public comment session called for the purpose of hearing citizen comments on agenda items only.

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Two

 

 

 

The following people spoke in opposition to the proposed Mutual/Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Marinette:

 

·         Kim Lemery, W5607 Willow Road, Menominee MI 498485

·         Irene Mayou, 3315 Parkdale Drive, Marinette WI 54143

·         Bill Gruber, W5677 #7 Road, Menominee MI 49858

·         Rob Steffen on behalf of K&K Warehouse, Menominee MI 49858

·         Laura Campbell, 2912-14th Avenue, Menominee MI 49858

·         Pam Goes, 3054 Carney Avenue, Marinette WI 54143

·         John Schmidt, on behalf of L.E. Jones, Menominee MI 49858

·         Gary Nadolny on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Menominee MI and Marinette WI

·         Mark Erickson on behalf of the Lloyd Flanders, Menominee MI

·         Curtis Mayou, 3315 Parkdale Drive, Marinette WI 54143

 

A motion was made by Council Member Schloegel and seconded by Council Member Plemel to close the public comment session.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

 

Dan Mathein, President of Business Development, updated council on recent business development activities.

 

 

The following communications were then heard with regard to the Mutual/Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Marinette:

 

Tom Johnson (Menominee Fire Department) expressed concern with possible short crews having to wait while a fire grows in intensity rapidly.  He presented a seven minute video demonstrating the intensity of an actual fire.

 

Andy Yates (Menominee Fire Department) spoke on the two in two out regulation that if we were short shifted we could not act independently and would need to wait for additional personnel.

 

Scott Kotecki (Menominee Fire Department) said he was not opposed to the concept but was against a less than four person shift.  They have not been asked to work with the city to help solve budget problems.  Local businesses are concerned with response times and asked council to table this for further consideration.

 

Jay Heckel (Marinette Fire Department) said he was not opposed to the concept but felt that details needed to be in place prior to implementation.

 

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Three

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Special Projects Committee reported that they had reviewed the following resolution congratulating the Menominee High School Varsity Football Team for their 2005 season and they recommended that the resolution be adopted:

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, the Menominee High School Boys Football Team completed a very successful season; and

 

WHEREAS, the Menominee High School Boys Varsity Football Team has completed their 2005 regular season with an 11-2 record; and

 

WHEREAS, the Menominee High School Boys Varsity Football Team advanced to the State semi-final game; and

 

WHEREAS, the Menominee High School Boys Varsity Football Team received several post season awards both as a team and individually; and

 

WHEREAS, the Menominee High School Coach, Ken Hofer, has been selected by the Associated Press as Class B "Coach of the Year"; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Menominee is proud of the way our community is represented by the Menominee High School Varsity Boys Football Team, coaches, cheerleaders, band members, and all supporters of the team;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Menominee extends congratulations to the Menominee High School Varsity Boys Football Team and its coaches for a very successful 2005 season.

 

S/SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Jasper and seconded by Council Member Hudon to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Parks and Recreation Committee reported that they reviewed Application for Payment #4 in the amount of $6,800.00 and Change Order #1 increasing the contract amount by $500.00 to Kakuk Construction, Inc. for the Spies Field arch relocation and they recommended that they be approved. 

 

S/PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Four

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Parks and Recreation Committee reported that they reviewed Application for Payment #7 in the amount of $159,334.49 and Change Order #3 increasing the contract amount by $24,118.60 to Kakuk Construction, Inc. for Contract 03-PK-04 Spies Field expansion/renovation and they recommended that they be approved. 

 

S/PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Fernstrum and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Public Works Committee reported that they had reviewed the communication from the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the crossing of the Wisconsin Central Limited/Canadian National with 19th Avenue, located in the City of Menominee, Menominee County, Michigan (Michigan Department of Transportation File RR06911; USDOT N.I. 180434G) and they recommended accepting full signalization of this location and keeping the street open.

 

S/PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Mick to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Special Projects Committee reported that they had reviewed the following resolution recognizing William Plemel for his service to the City and they recommended that the resolution be adopted:

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel served on the Menominee City Council for twelve and one-half years most recently as a Second Ward Council Member; and

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel was first appointed to the City Council in May of 1973 by then Mayor Nesbitt and served for four and one-half years;

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel served as Mayor of the City of Menominee from 1980 to 1983; and

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel was elected to the Menominee City Council again in November of 1995 serving as a Council Member for another eight years; and

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Five

 

 

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel also served on the Menominee City Planning Commission both as the council representative and as a citizen; and

 

WHEREAS, William Plemel dedicated his time and efforts for the betterment of the City of Menominee;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Menominee, by its City Council, give thanks and special recognition to William Plemel for his service to the City.

 

S/SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Fernstrum and seconded by Council Member Mick to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Finance Committee reported that they reviewed the claims for the month of November 2005 and they recommended that checks be drawn on the treasurer in payment of the bills as follows:

 

            General Fund   $  330,620.26                  River Park Fund   $    12,497.17

 

S/FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Hudon to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Special Projects Committee reported that they had reviewed designs for new City signage prepared by Signs and Designs and they recommended accepting Concept C for entrance signs and Concept A for direction signs.

 

S/SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Jasper and seconded by Council Member Hudon to refer this back to the committee for the selection of a logo first.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Special Projects Committee reported that they had reviewed hosting the 2007 American Legion Region 5 Tournament at Spies Field and they recommended that City Council send a letter of support for American Legion Post #146 to host the tournament.

 

S/SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Six

 

 

 

A motion was made by Council Member Organ and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Judicial and Legislative and Public Safety Committees reviewed the proposed Mutual/Automatic Aid Agreement between the City of Marinette and the City of Menominee and they recommended that the agreement be approved.

 

S/JUDICIAL AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

S/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to adopt the foregoing report.

 

Following a discussion with concerns from firefighters, businesses, and citizens the following motion was made.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Fernstrum and seconded by Council Member Hudon to table this.

 

AYES:  Hudon, Organ, and Fernstrum

NAYS: Jasper, Krah, Mick, Plemel, Schloegel, and Sorensen

 

This motion failed to carry.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Schloegel and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to amend the report to include the requirement of a twelve person committee to be made up of four firefighters, four city officials, and four business/industry representatives evenly represented by Menominee and Marinette and to finalize the details by January 31, 2006 with the city manager reporting the procedures when completed to the city council.

 

AYES:  Jasper, Krah, Mick, Organ, Plemel, Schloegel, Sorensen, Fernstrum, and Hudon

NAYS: None

 

This motion was carried unanimously.

 

The vote on the motion to adopt the foregoing report as amended was recorded as follows:

 

AYES:  Krah, Mick, Organ, Plemel, Schloegel, Sorensen, Fernstrum, Hudon, and Jasper

NAYS: None

 

This motion was carried unanimously.

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Seven

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORT:

 

The Personnel and Labor Committee reported that they had reviewed the proposed job description for Street Department Working Foreman as attached and they recommended that the job description be approved.

 

S/PERSONNEL & LABOR COMMITTEE

 

A motion was made by Council Member Organ and seconded by Council Member Mick to adopt the foregoing report.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:

 

A motion was made by Council Member Mick and seconded by Council Member Sorensen to approve the meeting schedule for 2006 as follows:

 

CITY OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN

2006 MEETING SCHEDULE

 

  MONTH                    MONDAY       THURSDAY                TUESDAY          TUESDAY

                                       5 p.m.                 4 p.m.                         10 a.m.               4:15 p.m.

                                        CITY           W W U B                  CEMETERY        PLANNING

            COUNCIL                                           BOARD          COMMISSION

 

January                             16th                   12th                                    10th                          10th

February                           20th                    9th                                14th                           14th

March                              20th                    9th                                14th                           14th

April                                 17th                  13th                               11th                           11th

May                                 15th                   11th                                  9th                            9th

June                                 19th                    8th                               13th                          13th

July                                  17th                   13th                                11th                          11th

August                              21st                   10th                                  8th                            8th

September                       18th                   14th                                12th                           12th

October                                       16th                     12th                               10th                           10th

November                        20th   6:30p.m.        9th                               14th                          14th

December                        18th                     14th                               12th                          12th

 

·                     City Council meeting schedule is tentative and may be changed to meet the needs and schedules of council members.  Requires proper public notification.

·                     Cemetery Board meets in the Committee Room of the Municipal Complex, 2511-10th Street, Menominee, MI 49858.

·                     City Council, Water and Wastewater Utility Board (WWUB), and Planning Commission meet in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, 2511-10th Street.

 

This motion was carried unanimously.

Regular Council Proceedings

December 19, 2005

Page Eight

 

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Mayor Krah opened the public comment session.

 

Steve Salewsky, 1013-38th Avenue, asked why the alley in the 3700 block of Tenth Street was being vacated.

 

Council Member Plemel expressed his thanks to council and staff and said he enjoyed working with everyone.

 

Council Member Schloegel commented on the proposed 10th Avenue/10th Street reconstruction project and to concentrate on this intersection to improve it as much as is possible.

 

Mr. Furton said he appreciated the support and guidance received from Council Member Plemel throughout the years and added he enjoyed working with him.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Jasper to close the public comment session.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

ADJOURN:

 

A motion was made by Council Member Plemel and seconded by Council Member Fernstrum to adjourn the meeting.  This motion was carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas F. DeNike, City Clerk/Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/skj