Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called
to order on
Present: Richard L. Bade
John C. Gault
Janice L. Gensel
Jay E. Johnson
Raymond Peck
Teresa K. Salem
Michael T. Szukhent
Absent: None
Others Present: Dennis J. Bow, City Manager
Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer
Edward G. Henneke, City Attorney
Approval of Agenda – Motion by Gensel, seconded by Szukhent, to add B-2 Sidewalk Discussion to the agenda.
Yea: Bade,
Gault, Johnson, Peck,
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Approval
of Agenda – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve the
Yea: Bade,
Gault, Johnson, Peck,
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
MEETING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
The following individuals addressed the issue of the installation of new sidewalks on Hut West, Daniel and Shawnesee:
Lynn Lutton Kristina Stefanic John Smith
508 Daniel 609 Hut West 508
Hut West
Jack Morton Elaine Freiheit Shirley
Gauthier
512 Hut West 525 Daniel 503
Chamberlain
Darrell Johnson Elva Cook Jane Forbes
500 Daniel 1459 Flushing Road 608
Hut West
Flushing City Council
Minutes
August 9, 2004
Page Two
Wanda Sorensen Kim Baier Michelle Bartkovich
517 Hut West 616 Shawnesee 601
Shawnesee
Eldon Lurvey
CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to approve City Council Minutes (July 26, 2004 Regular Meeting), City Council Minutes (July 26, 2004 Closed Meeting) and August 9, 2004 Council Bills List.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Moms Who Care – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Salem, to approve the Moms Who Care request to solicit donations for Flushing High School’s “Safe Senior Celebration” on October 1 and 2, 2004.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Sidewalks – The City Manager detailed the process involved in developing the sidewalk plan. Members of the Planning Commission mapped out the existing and missing sidewalks throughout the City. The plan was to first construct sidewalks in school routes; add additional sidewalks where there were none to provide a walkable community and to repair and replace existing sidewalks. He suggested that if sidewalks are not wanted in the Hut West, Daniel and Shawnesee area, then the money could be used in another area to put in sidewalks, or used for repair and replacement of existing sidewalks. Councilperson Johnson asked the City Attorney about the City’s liability if sidewalks are not installed. He responded that a municipality has no liability if sidewalks are not installed. A municipality has liability for defective streets and buildings and automobile liability. It does not create liability simply because a sidewalk was not installed.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
August 9, 2004
Page Three
Sidewalks – Motion by Bade, seconded by Gault, to send the sidewalk plan back to the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on the sidewalks and to use fiscal year 2005 funds for repair and replacement of existing sidewalks.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
REPORTS:
Fire Services Committee Report – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Szukhent, to approve the Fire Services Contract between the City of Flushing and Flushing Township subject to the township’s agreement.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Capital and Program Improvements –
Item Description Priority Frame
Estimate Points
New Use for Existing City
Hall H I 49
Support bike path/walk path
system Phase I H I
1,400,000 48
New Use for Existing Police
Station H I 48
Study Potential for Moving
Library to City Hall H I
45
Study Potential for Moving
Senior Center to Library H I 44
Construct City Clock H I 43
Maintain riverfront ie:
clearing & soil erosion control H I 41
Consider Authority for
Library H I 32
Pavilion Roof and lighting
over Ice Rink H I 150,000 30
Provide Buffer between Park
& Downtown H I 29
Consider Use of Maple Street
Property H I 26
Maintain Riverwalk path H I 24
Downtown Traffic Study H I 150,000 23
Support Structure for Civic
Group Signs H I 2,000 23
Inspect old Fire Station
(Ambulance Building) H I 23
Consider Real Estate
Purchases H I 19
Storage Tank – Wastewater
Plant H I 425,000 18
Sidewalk – Windmill Pte. To
River Woods H I 18
Flushing City Council
Minutes
August 9, 2004
Page Four
Capital and Program Improvements – Motion by Bade, seconded by Salem, to approve the Capital Improvements as amended, and to approve the priority listing as presented.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Construction Engineering Services – Flushing Trailway – Motion by Salem, seconded by Gault, to approve the Construction Engineering Services Proposal for the Flushing Trailway as presented.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Sewer Treatment Plant – System Status – Motion by Gault, seconded by Bade, to remove the Sewer Treatment Plant – System Status from the table.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Sewer Treatment Plant – System Status – The City Manager provided Council with documentation regarding the operation of the wastewater treatment plant. It included an estimate of the cost per thousand to maintain current service on an in-house basis of $3.74 per thousand gallons, as well as an estimated cost of contracting with Genesee County Water and Waste Services of $2.95 per thousand gallons. Also attached was a letter provided by Jim Redding of Rowe Incorporated summarizing four (4) different issues that have been raised in the event the City decides to maintain a sewage treatment plant in-house.
Sewer Treatment Plant – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Gault, to maintain the City’s wastewater plant in-house for three (3) years and to direct the City Manager to continue negotiations with Genesee County.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
August 9, 2004
Page Five
Michigan Municipal League (MML) – Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate to the Annual Meeting – Motion by Bade, seconded by Szukhent, to appoint Councilperson Gault as voting delegate and Councilperson Salem as alternate at the MML annual conference September 30 through October 2, 2004.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjournment – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Gault, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 9:00 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer