January 8, 2002 Board Minutes

DATE 01/08/2002	The Clinton County Board of Commissioners met in Organization Session on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at 9 a.m. with Diane Zuker, County Clerk calling the meeting to order.
MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL	Clerk Zuker called for a moment of silence. The pledge of allegiance was given to the flag. Roll was called and a quorum reported. Present were Larry Martin, Mary L. Rademacher, John W. Arehart, Russel Bauerle, Virginia Zeeb, Robert Showers and Sara Clark Pierson.
COUNTY PERSONNEL	Ryan Wood, Jeanette Smith, Craig Longnecker, Peter Preston and Annette Devereaux.
VISITORS	John Fifarek, Rhonda Westphal and Gary Webster.
MINUTES OF 12/14/2001	The minutes of December 14, 2001 were presented. BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Zeeb moved, supported by Commissioner Bauerle to approve the minutes as printed. Motion carried.
AGENDA	The agenda was amended to include the following communication: · Cheboygan County Resolution supporting Senate Bill 677 pertaining to the Secondary Road Patrol and Jail Reimbursement Programs Funding BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Bauerle moved, supported by Commissioner Showers to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS	The following Communications were reviewed: 1. Letter of Appreciation from Linda Curtis, Director of the St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce 2. Benzie County Resolution regarding supporting the re-instatement of funding for the Cooperative Resource Management Initiative Program 3. Allegan County Resolution supporting Senate Bill 677 regarding Secondary Road Patrol and Jail Reimbursement Programs Funding 4. Cheboygan County Resolution supporting Senate Bill 677 pertaining to the Secondary Road Patrol and Jail Reimbursement Programs Funding BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Martin moved, supported by Commissioner Rademacher to accept the Communications #1 & #2 and place on file and further that Communications #3 & #4 be referred to the Finance and Personnel Committee. Motion carried.

ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON	Clerk Zuker opened the nominations for Chairperson. BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Showers moved, supported by Commissioner Bauerle to nominate John Arehart. Clerk Zuker called for further nominations. None were offered. Commissioner Martin moved, supported by Bauerle to close the nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for the appointment of John Arehart as Chairperson. Motion carried unanimously.
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRPERSON	Clerk Zuker opened the nominations for Vice-Chairperson. BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Showers moved, supported by Commissioner Martin to nominate Sara Clark Pierson. Clerk Zuker called for further nominations. None were offered. Commissioner Bauerle moved, supported by Commissioner Martin to close the nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for the appointment of Sara Clark Pierson as Vice-Chairperson. Motion carried unanimously.
CHAIRPERSON ELECT ASSUMES CHAIR	Commissioner Arehart assumed the chair. On behalf of Vice-Chairperson Pierson and himself, Chairperson Arehart thanked the Board for their continued support and confidence. The County will be facing many challenges this coming year given the Budget constraints. Chairperson Arehart with the support of the Board members would like to plan a retreat to be held sometime late winter or early this spring.
2002 MEETING SCHEDULE APPROVED	Commissioners reviewed the 2002 meeting schedule, which continues with the regular meeting day on the last Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. with the exception of the Annual meeting on October 8^th at 7 p.m. and regular meeting in December being on Friday, December 20^th. JANUARY 29 JULY 30 FEBRUARY 26 AUGUST 27 MARCH 26 SEPTEMBER 24 APRIL 30 OCTOBER 8 7:00 P.M. MAY 28 OCTOBER 29 JUNE 25 NOVEMBER 26 DECEMBER 20 (Friday) BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Martin moved, supported by Commissioner Zeeb to adopt the 2002 meeting schedule as presented. Motion carried.
ADOPTION OF BY-LAWS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE	An amended version of the By-Laws and Rules of Procedure was presented for review. The amendments included revisions to Section 1.3 – Vacancies in Office and an addition of a section to Article VI – Committees, which provides for Committee meeting agenda procedures. BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Martin moved, supported by Commissioner Showers to approve the By-Laws and Rules of Procedure as amended. Voting on the motion by roll call vote, those voting aye were Zeeb, Rademacher, Martin, Showers, Pierson, Bauerle and Arehart. Seven ayes, zero nays. Motion carried. (INSERT BY-LAWS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE)

2002 BOARD COMMITTEES AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS	The 2002 Committee Chairpersons, Committee Assignments and Other Boards and Agencies were reviewed. Chairperson Arehart recommended the following Committee Chairpersons Finance, Sara Clark Pierson Personnel, Larry Martin Building and Grounds, Virginia Zeeb Law and Courts, Robert Showers Physical Resources, Russel Bauerle Human Services, Mary Rademacher BOARD ACTION: Commissioner Showers moved, supported by Commissioner Bauerle to concur with the recommendation of Chairperson Arehart to appoint the above named Commissioners as Committee Chairpersons to the respective Committees. And further, concur with the Committee Assignments and Appointments to other Board/Agencies with the amendment to the Green Space Committee as noted by Commissioner Bauerle. (INSERT BOARD COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS)
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT	Ryan Wood, Administrator gave the following report: · The County was advised that the State inmates housed in the County Jail will be taken back by the State. Sheriff and Jail Administrator have been working hard to fill those vacancies. Oakland County has committed to house approximately ten prisoners per week. The County will see a modest reduction in revenue in the first few months of 2002 as a result of this. · CAPS Grant – The western district has made a favorable report to the officials in Washington. Hopefully this will be moving forward. The Administrator will continue to keep the Board posted on the progress. · The County projected the State Revenue Sharing to be flat for 2002. Last week the County was provided with the new estimates that Clinton County’s State Revenue Sharing is down about $40,000. It is likely that further cuts will be coming. We will be monitoring this closely. · MSHDA Housing Grant will be on the agenda for the Finance meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 10^th. The deadline for the grant application is January 31^st. Due to the deadline and requirement of the application process, a public hearing will be planned for January 24^th as part of the Finance Meeting scheduled for that day. · Newsletters for the public forums scheduled for the end of the month will be going out today. The information received as a result of the Green Space Commission and Open Space surveys will be posted on the County’s Website. Additionally, some press releases will be placed in the newspapers, in hopes of generating some interest regarding the County’s planning effort. · Greenspace Commission meeting on Friday was very well attended. There was discussion regarding the rails to trails. This Group has a lot of positive energy and is making good progress.
PUBLIC COMMENTS	Chairperson Arehart called for public comments. There were no public comments.
ZONING	Peter Preston, Development Director presented the following Zoning matter:
PC-37-12-2000 GARY VANDENBERG (WAL-MART) REZONE TO COMMERCIAL IN BINGHAM TOWNSHIP SECTION 15 TABLED	PC-37-12-2000 Request submitted by Gary Vandenberg (Wal-Mart) in Section 15 of Bingham Township to rezone a parcel from R-3 under City of St. Johns Zoning to B Commercial under Bingham Township, Clinton County Zoning. Peter Preston requested that this matter remain tabled at this time. It is anticipated that further information will be forthcoming at the end of the month.

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Chairperson Arehart called for Commissioner’s comments:

· Commissioner Rademacher noted that two modular homes were placed on their foundations over the holidays as part of the Housing Project. One on DeWitt Road and the other in the Village of Elsie

· Commissioner Martin received a call from McKenzie Insurance Agency regarding the Special Use Permit for Les Miller and Sons. The agent questioned the requirements of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Bond. Commissioner Martin noted that he referred the agent to Brian Kench, of Associated Government Services. Gary Webster of Associated Government Services was present at the meeting and noted that he will follow up on this matter with his staff.

ADJOURNMENT

BOARD ACTION: With no further business to come before the Board, Commissioner Zeeb moved, supported by Commissioner Bauerle to adjourn. Motion carried.

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Diane Zuker, County Clerk

NOTE: These minutes are subject to approval on January 29, 2002.