Village of Laurium

Regular Council Meeting

May 21, 2002

 

Present for Roll Call: Bausano, Bonenfant, Harrell, Johnson, Lanctot, Lutz, and Zei.

 

Guests: Susan Cone, Bruce Joosten, James Lemler, Dan Mukavetz, Sharon Rastello, Edward M. Vertin, Eric Waara, and Dan Zubiena.

 

The meeting was called to order in the Village Council Chambers by President Bonenfant at 5:30PM.

 

Correspondence

 

Sharon Rastello, the Executive Director of the Laurium Housing Commission was present to discuss the water main that is under the proposed garages at the Housing.Ý Since the water main was thought to be 10 feet from where it actually is, the project cannot go ahead as planned.ÝÝ Michigan-American Water Company is to be contacted for an estimate to move the line.Ý The Village of Laurium Street Department may also be able to do this work.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Lutz to reappoint Helen Gorman to a five-year term on the Laurium Housing Commission.Ý Carried 7-0.Ý No action was taken on the vacancy on the board from Dominic Galettoís resignation.

 

Eric Waara from UP Engineering was present.Ý A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Zei to approve payment of a bill for $4992.40 for on site engineering on the Willow Avenue water project from last summer.Ý Carried 7-0.Ý Mr. Waara sent a letter to Payne & Dolan with a punchlist of problems that they need to take care of from last summerís paving project.Ý These items need to be finished by June 29.Ý The village is to send a certificate letter to remind them of the problems to be fixed.Ý A separate contract for the Villageís portion will be set up with the contractors to correct the drainage problems for Ward Prideaux on North Pewabic Street.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Zei to reappoint Dan Zubiena and Dan Mukavetz each to three-year terms on the North Houghton County Water & Sewer Authority.Ý Carried 7-0.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Lutz to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2002 regular council meeting.Ý Carried 7-0.

 

A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Harrell to approve payment of the merchandise accounts in the amount of $17,754.68.Ý Carried 7-0.

 

Finance: Village Administrator Vertin indicated that state shared revenues will be cut.Ý The villageís annual audit will begin in July.

 

Recreation: A temporary gate has been placed at the end of the ballfields.Ý This will allow the gate at the DPW garage to be left open for baseball yet keep people from getting back to the leaf and branch piles after hours.Ý Gregg Saxton will be working on Saturday mornings in June so that the leaf and branch piles can be open.Ý Bausano met with John & Joel Rastello from baseball.Ý A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Lanctot to have the village purchase grass seed, weed and feed and quikcrete for the fences, for approximately $500.00.Ý Carried 7-0.Ý Baseball will rebuild the buildings that were damaged, fence in a field and repair the dugouts.Ý Bausano suggested to baseball that they donate their buildings to the village so that they will be covered by our insurance.Ý Vertin will get an estimate to have electricity run to the concession stand.Ý The footpath to the fields has been fixed and improved for pedestrian use.Ý A Porta potty will be put near the arena for the convenience of people using the recreation area.Ý President Bonenfant asked Vertin to look into grants to help construct restrooms at the playground area.Ý The Laurium Fire Department and the recreation committee will be sponsoring a fundraising dance at the George Gipp Arena on July 19, 2002 featuring Jimmy Enriettií s polka music.Ý A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Johnson to recognize the Wolverines hockey team with a certificate at the next meeting.Ý Bruce Coppo, Roger Rintala and the Daily Mining Gazette will be invited to congratulate the team on winning the USA Hockey Menís National Tournament Championship.Ý Carried 7-0.

 

Public Safety ñ Police/Fire: If the DPW does not want to use the Police Suburban, it will be put out on bids.Ý A motion was made by Harrell and seconded by Lanctot to purchase the upgrade DDP for Windows for the report program that the police department uses for $1800.00.Ý Carried 7-0.Ý A motion was made by Harrell and seconded by Lanctot to authorize Chief Lemler to order five 800mhz radios.Ý The approximate cost is $3000.00/radio, which will be paid from the Public Improvement Fund.Ý Carried 7-0.Ý A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Harrell to reissue the paychecks to the firemen.Ý Proof of adequate funds to purchase the thermal imaging camera must be obtained before the department can start getting their monthly checks back.Ý Yes ñ Bausano, Bonenfant, Harrell, Johnson, Lanctot, and Lutz.Ý Abstain ñ Zei.Ý Carried 6-0.Ý The Fire department will tar the roof at the fire hall to help stop the leaking problems.Ý The fence at the fire hall will be fixed by the DPW.Ý The matching grant money ($785.00) to purchase the chainsaws and portable radio will be from the capital outlay budget line item in the Fire Departmentís budget.Ý The old chainsaws will be scrapped.

 

Personnel ñ Police/DPW: The Drug/Alcohol Policy was tabled until the June meeting.

 

Streets/Equipment/Sanitation: Three DPW employees will go to Tomahawk Wisconsin on May 31 to demo Case loaders.Ý The final spec sheets on the new loader will be determined and sent to the dealers so those bids can be opened at the June meeting.

 

Property/Buildings/Ordinances: Harrell gave Vertin a list of properties having unsafe structures last week.ÝÝ Letters to these property owners will be sent out this month.

 

Beautification/Parks/Community Relations: The trees on the 100 block of Osceola Street have been marked but have not yet been cut down.Ý The sign at the recreation area will be painted.Ý The poles for the street signs will be replaced as needed.

 

New Business: Susan Cone complained about the ìunlicensed landfillî at Bryan Andersonís property.Ý A letter will be sent to him regarding the yard maintenance ordinance.

 

Old Business: A motion was made by Johnson and seconded by Lutz to amend the Cable Franchise Ordinance.Ý The term of the franchise will be five years.Ý Section 9 ñ Rates will be changed to 3% of the basic and expanded tier.Ý Only these amendments need to be published.Ý

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:10PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Patricia M. Golus, Clerk

Village of Laurium