Regular Council Meeting
Present for Roll Call:
Bausano, Harrell, Junot, Koskiniemi, Lanctot, and Rastello.
Absent: Turner.
Guests: Joe Egan,
Jean Grathoff, Tina Hodges, Sean Jacques, Sandy Johnson, Greg Korry, Jon
Koskiniemi, James Lemler, Matt Mikkola, Dan Mukavetz, Garrett Neese, Martin
Olgren, Edward Sever, Edward M. Vertin, and Daniel Zubiena.
The meeting was
called to order in the Village Council Chambers by President Harrell at
Members of the Calumet-Laurium Business Association
were present to inform the council of the activities being planned for the
Boomtown Revival to be held August 12-14.
A pageant, parade, antique car show (at the George Gipp Arena), and
concert are in the planning stages. Two
raffles will be held and possibly a baseball tournament. If enough funds are raised, fireworks will be
part of the celebration as well.
A motion was made by
Lanctot and seconded by Koskiniemi to re-appoint Randal Golus to a five-year term
on the Laurium Housing Commission. Yes–Bausano, Harrell,
Junot, Koskiniemi and Lanctot. Abstain–Rastello. Carried 5-0.
A motion was made by
Koskiniemi and seconded by Junot to approve the minutes of the
A motion was made by
Junot and seconded by Lanctot to approve payment of the merchandise accounts in the amount of $33,114.55 and the prepaid bills in the amount of
$43,348.38. Carried
6-0.
Finance: Village
Administrator Vertin attended the UP Manager’s Conference last week. A study has been done about the effects of
Proposal A and Headlee. Vertin will
contact the MML to see when they can do a presentation to the council on this
information. A comparison of the cash
position in the General Fund from last April to this April indicates that there
is $37,000 more this year. This is
because no transfers were made to PIF last year. More cuts are expected from the state to the
village.
Recreation: Baseball
will be holding a pancake breakfast at the George Gipp Arena on
Public Safety – Police:
Recent repairs and
tires for the Lumina cost $1000.00.
Rural Development cannot split the loan/grant to get the police car
now. We will have to wait to hear from
FEMA about the fire truck. If the FEMA
grant comes through for the fire truck, a loan will be made internally for the
police car. If the fire department does
not get the FEMA grant, then both the fire truck and the police car will be
obtained from the Rural Development grant/loan. The Houghton County
Commissioners will be meeting on May 24, 2004 to decide the fate of the 911
Dispatch in Laurium. A motion was made
by Lanctot and seconded by Rastello to draft a letter to the Houghton County
Commissioners endorsing a resolution to support moving the Houghton County 911
dispatch from Laurium to Negaunee.
Carried 6-0.
Public Safety – Fire:
A motion was made by Rastello and seconded by Koskiniemi to approve the
purchase of remote garage door openers for the fire trucks from Keweenaw
Overhead Door for a maximum of $250.00.
Laurium’s original steamer fire truck, used from 1899-1930, is going to
be auctioned in Tawas City on June 5. It
is currently valued between $50,000-$60,000.
A motion was made by Rastello and seconded by Lanctot to authorize the
Fire Department to attend this auction to bid on the steamer. The Trust Fund will finance the purchase for
an amount not to exceed what the firefighters can guarantee to pay back through
their monthly stipend and fundraising.
Carried 6-0. Thanks were given to
the Fire Department for the $80,000-90,000 in grants they have received in the
last few years.
Streets/Equipment/Sanitation: A discussion took place on the property owned by Alan and
Mary Rautio on Isle Royale Street. They
are concerned about an open ditch that belongs to NHCW&SA, not the
Village. Approval is needed from
NHCW&SA in order to fill in the ditch.
A motion was made by Bausano and seconded by Rastello to have the leaf
and branch piles open on Saturdays during spring and fall clean up and 3
Saturdays after from 8:00AM-Noon.
Notification of such will be put into the paper. Carried 6-0.
The “Village of Laurium residents dumping only” sign needs to be fixed.
Property/Building/Ordinance: The Unsafe Building Ordinance was presented as adapted for
Village use by Attorney Vairo. The
Houghton County Building Inspector would be enforcing the ordinance and the
hearing officer would be an engineer or contractor. The council would be the board and all
appeals would be dealt with in Circuit Court.
A motion was made by Lanctot and seconded by Rastello to approve
Ordinance #145 – Unsafe Buildings.
Carried 6-0. This new ordinance
would repeal Ordinance #142 – Unsafe Structures.
Beautification/Parks/Community Relations: Three trees from the 100 block of Osceola Street were
removed. They will not be replaced
because there is a high-pressure gas line in the median. 11 maple trees were planted in the playground
area. A decision on where to plant the 4
remaining trees will be made in the next week.
Turner attended a meeting on grants for community planning. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2004 but it
is not likely that we will apply due to the time constraint.
Old Business: The
updated version of the Drug/Alcohol
Policy was discussed. A motion was
made by Lanctot and seconded by Koskiniemi to approve the updated Drug/Alcohol
Policy. Carried 6-0. (A copy follows the minutes).
New Business: A
motion was made by Rastello and seconded by Bausano to approve the Management
Reports Resolution and Loan Resolution for Rural
Development. Carried 6-0. (A copy of
each resolution follows the minutes).
The State of Michigan is looking for a building to use as a garage for their trucks. Village Administrator Vertin will contact
them to see if the block building meets their criteria. A motion was made by Koskiniemi and seconded
by Bausano to donate $50.00 to the CHS Senior Class graduation party. Yes –
Bausano, Harrell, Junot, Koskiniemi and Lanctot. No – Rastello. Carried 5-1.
The meeting adjourned
at 7:38PM.
Respectfully
submitted,
Patricia M. Golus,
Clerk
Village of Laurium