CITY OF MASON

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES OF AUGUST 18, 2003

Whipple called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 201 W. Ash Street, Mason, Michigan. Naeyaert led the Pledge of Allegiance and offered the invocation. Whipple stated that Preadmore notified him that he had to attend an out of state meeting.

Present: Councilmembers: Johnson, Bruno, Clark, Naeyaert, Helbig, Whipple

Absent: Councilmember: Preadmore

Also present: Martin Colburn, City Administrator

Kathy Revels, Finance Director

Deborah Stein, Deputy City Clerk

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: August 4, 2003

The Regular Meeting Minutes of August 4, 2003 were approved as submitted.

APPROVAL OF BILLS

MOTION by Naeyaert, seconded by Helbig,

To approve the payment of bills in the amount of $226,534.91 as submitted.

MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOR

Jeannie Dart, representing the Friends of the Library, commended the recent work done at the library. However, she asked that the treads be put back on the ramp.

Onnolee Burton of 516 E. Ash, also of the Friends of the Library, commented that the leaky roof over the children’s area caused ceiling damage and asked that it be repaired

REGULAR BUSINESS

Public Hearing – Industrial Facilities Tax for Efficiency Production , Inc.

Whipple opened the public hearing at 7:38 p.m.

Ken Forsberg, president of Efficiency Production, Inc., commented regarding the submitted application for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate for the metal fabrication company. A ten year exemption is being requested for an investment of $174,325 and the creation of three additional employees. A robotics cell unit was purchased to enhance the ability to produce the trench safety equipment at the manual welding plant.

Whipple closed the public hearing at 7:40 p.m.

Resolution No. 2003-50 City Council Appointment

Resolution No. 2003-50 was introduced by Johnson and supported by Naeyaert.

CITY OF MASON

CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2003-50

CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS

August 18, 2003

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Mason that it does hereby make the following appointment and that the term will begin August 18, 2003 through December, 2004.

Cable Commission Robert Clark 2004

Resolution Approved Unanimously

Resolution No. 2003-51 Rezoning Request for 236 State Street

Discussion was held to add language to the fifth whereas paragraph of Resolution No. 2003-51

Resolution No. 2003-51 was introduced by Naeyaert and seconded by Johnson.

CITY OF MASON

CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2003‑51

A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE REZONING OF 236 STATE STREET

AUGUST 18, 2003

WHEREAS, a request has been received from the owner of property at 236 State Street to rezone the property to C‑1/Central Business District; and

WHEREAS, the property is currently zoned O‑1/Office; and

WHEREAS, the property is further described as Lot 8 except the west 1 rod and that part of lots 9, 10 and 11south and west of State Street, Block 6, City of Mason; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds the C‑1 zoning would be appropriate for this parcel and consistent with the zoning of nearby properties; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the request was noticed and held by the Planning Commission on August 12, 2003, with testimony given and public comment solicited and the Planning Commission approved a resolution recommending approval of the rezoning request.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby approve the request to rezone the property at 236 State Street to C‑1.

Resolution Approved Unanimously

Bid – V-Box Material Spreader

Four bids were received for the V-Box Material Spreader for the Department of Public Works.

MOTION by Helbig, seconded by Naeyaert,

To accept the Monroe Truck $8,505 bid to install a V-Box Material Spreader.

MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

Request – Waiver of Fees for Kiwanis Village

Kiwanis Village submitted a letter requesting that the one-percent administrative fees for tax collection be waived.

MOTION by Bruno, seconded by Clark,

To waive the one percent administrative fee for real estate taxes collected for Kiwanis Village for 2003.

MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

· Discussion was held regarding the failed charter amendment requesting that the two-year residency requirement be reduced to six months for City Council candidates. McGinty indicated that the State Attorney General wrote in the review comments of the ballot proposal that the existing two-year charter limit is unconstitutional. Only a requirement for one-year or less can be enforced. The charter amendment can be resubmitted to the voters in another form on the November ballot, changing the two year residency requirement to one year.

· Johnson thanked the Mayor, Council, and City Staff for the plant and support offered during the recent loss of his brother.

· Naeyaert informed the Council that residents neighboring the new Mike’s Fire House Grill contacted her and are upset about trash being left behind from the cars parked in front of their homes.

NEW BUSINESS

· Clark informed the Council that the Ad Hoc Recreation Committee met last week to work on details of the proposed plan for sports fields. The proposal will be presented to Council for approval when it is finalized

COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE

· Colburn informed the Council that correspondence was received from the Ingham County Board of Commissioners Environmental Committee asking government agencies to review a draft ordinance that would regulate the development of wetlands in Ingham County.

LIAISON REPORTS

Planning Commission

Comments have been received regarding the Master Plan from the Capital Regional Airport Authority and the Downtown Development Authority.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

· “Mason Cares” will be held on Patriot’s Day, September 11, 2003.

· A Patriot’s Day event is being planned through the county and city.

· The permit submitted to the DEQ for Hayhoe Riverwalk has been received back. It is planned to begin the linear park project this fall.

· State Street Bridge is scheduled to be completed by October 10, 2003.

PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOR

None.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

_____________________________ __________________________

Martin A. Colburn, City Clerk Russell W. Whipple, Mayor