Board Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting
April 14, 2009

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Courthouse, City of Houghton.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Paul Luoma. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the following commissioners responded to roll call: Edward Jenich, District 1; Dennis Barrette, District 2; Anton Pintar, District 3; and Paul Luoma, District 5. Scott Ala, District 4, was absent.

Commissioner Barrette made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2009 Regular Meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Public Comment None

Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve paying the bills submitted of vouchers #111928 thru #112022 for a total of $65,487.57 along with the late bills in the amount of $55,482.76 for a grand total of $120,970.33. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Pintar, Barrette, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

Correspondence

Eric said the letter from Keith Lambert, Office of Land Survey and Remonumentation Bureau of Construction Codes explains the funding counties will receive for the 2009 Remonumentation Program. The funding is a formula based amount.

Reports Standing Committee

Commissioner Barrette reported to the Board on the following: Western U.P. District Health Department, GIS Committee, Airport Committee, Copper Country Mental Health, and the 911 Advisory Board.

Commissioner Pintar reported to the Board on the following: Houghton Keweenaw Soil Conservation District, The Planning Commission, The Copper Country Trail Committee, and The Law Enforcement Committee.

Commissioner Jenich reported to the Board on the following: Keweenaw National Park, Commission on Aging, KETA, Department of Human Services, Medical Care Facility, Finance Committee, and Law Enforcement regarding grant for replacement of the Sheriff Department boat.

Sheriff McLean spoke regarding the grant money available in the amount of $60,000.00 to purchase a new Sheriff Department Boat. He has received one bid for $68,000. The old boat has a value of $5,500 to 7,500. The County would have to add the additional money needed. Sheriff McLean said he is waiting for one more bid to come in. Commissioner Jenich made a motion to pursue acceptance of the Grant money for a purchase of a new boat. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Commissioner Luoma read a report prepared by Commissioner Ala for the Board on the following: Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund, Portage Lake Multi Rec., The Fair Board, WUPPDR, Michigan Works, and he attended an ORV seminar sponsored by the Michigan State Police.

Commissioner Luoma reported to the Board on the following: Houghton County Road Commission, Western U.P. Substance Abuse, and The Houghton County Transfer Station.

County Officers

Kathy Beattie, Houghton County Treasurer, reported to the Board stating on April 1, there were 21 property foreclosures. Of these there are 8 occupied.

New Business

  1. Auditor’s Report – Mike Grentz, Anderson Tackman & Company. Mr. Grentz

    stated the General Fund had a good year. The net assets showed an increase over last year. Mr. Grentz went over the charts prepared of Cash by Fund Type, General Fund – Fund Balance-five year trend, General Fund Revenues, and General Fund Expenditures. Mr .Grentz returned to the Audit Report and went over the 3 deficiencies listed. #1. Over budget on a couple departments. #2. Funds with a deficit needing a corrective action plan to be filed with the State Treasurer are: Tri-County Work Camp Fund, 2006 Delinquent Property Tax Sale Fund, Law Library Fund, and Passenger Facility Charge Fund. #3. cash deficit in several funds.

    Commissioner Jenich made a motion to accept the audit as presented for Houghton County for the year ending September 30, 2008. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

  2. County Equalization – Equalization Director John Partanen. John went over

    the 2009 Equalization Report for Houghton County. The SEV for Houghton County is 1,048,254,431. The Taxable Value for Houghton County is 724,768,789. John stated there was an increase of Assessed Value of 5%. The increase in taxable value over 2008 was 43,491.834 which is 6%.. John stated that with the increase of almost 43,500,000 of taxable, he estimates that the county increase in revenue could be $270,000.

    A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette to accept the 2009 Equalization Report of Assessed and Taxable Values as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

  3. Resolution regarding Houghton County Land Bank Authority. A motion was

made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to adopt the Resolution Approving the Intergovernmental Agreement Establishing the Houghton County Land Bank Authority as presented.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

4. Resolution regarding Application for Neighborhood Stabilization Grant. Eric stated that this is stimulus money that the County is eligible for. It is a competitive grant. WUPPDR will apply for the grant. The target areas that this grant would apply to are Calumet, Laurium and Lake Linden. A motion was made by Commissioner Pintar and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to adopt the resolution authorizing Western U.P. Planning & Development Region to submit the application for MSHDA funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Pintar, Barrette, Jenich, Luoma 4

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

  1. Submissions for Jail Project. A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich

    and seconded by Commissioner Pintar to accept the submitted bids for a jail project. He stated the project is totally based on if stimulus money is received. Commissioner Luoma would like the Building Inspector to go over the bids due to the large difference in the amounts. He said he would set up a committee to then review the bids. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

  2. Request for approval of homeowners to receive MSHDA grants. A motion was

made by Commissioner Barrette and seconded by Commissioner Pintar to approve the list as submitted of applicants eligible to receive assistance from the Houghton County Housing Rehabilitation Program 2009-2011.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Barrette, Pintar, Jenich, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

7. Passenger Facility Charge Fund – Deficit reduction plan and resolution. A motion by Commissioner Barrette and seconded by Commissioner Jenich to approve the resolution as presented.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

8. 2006 Delinquent Property Tax Sale Fund – Deficit reduction plan and resolution. A motion was made by Commissioner Pintar and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to approve the resolution as presented.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Pintar, Barrette, Jenich, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

9. Tri-County Work Camp Fund – Deficit reduction resolution. A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to approve the resolution as presented.

The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 4

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

10. Law Library Fund – Deficit reduction resolution. A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Pintar to approve the resolution as presented.

The motion was carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Pintar, Barrette, Luoma 4.

NO: None 0.

ABSENT: Ala 1.

11. Appropriations

a. Western U.P. District Health Department - $16,392 A motion was made Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to approve the budgeted appropriation as listed. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

  1. Travel Requests

a. Kathleen Beattie – Houghton County Treasurer’s Office

b. Lisa Mattila – Houghton County Treasurer’s Office

c. Diana Ginter – Houghton County Circuit Court

d. Tracy Stipe – Houghton County Family Court

e. UPACC Spring conference

Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve all travel requests as listed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Public Comments None

Commissioner Jenich acknowledged two students from Calumet High School in attendance.

Commissioner Pintar made a motion to adjourn. There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned.

_____________________________________
Paul Luoma, Chairman

_____________________________________
Mary Schoos, Clerk

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