City Council

City of Potterville 319 N. Nelson St.  PO Box 488  Potterville, MI 48876  Phone: (517) 645-7641 Fax: (517) 645-7810  www.pottervillemi.org *This meeting was held by teleconference* City Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Kring on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call: Present: Mayor Kring at City Hall, Deputy Mayor Lenneman at residence, Member Nichols at residence, Member Potter at City Hall, Member Smalley at City Hall, and Member Twichell at City Hall Absent: Member Pulda Approval of Agenda: Motion by Mayor Kring to amend the Agenda; to remove the Manager/City Clerk evaluations, to add Consideration of reduction of rental fee for DDA pavilion for restaurant use during COVID-19 and to add appointments to ZBA. Supported by Member Smalley. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Approval of Minutes: Motion by Member Smalley to amend December 17, 2020 minutes to include “Member Smalley supports Mr. Briant Titus’ on traffic speed on Vermontville Hwy. Member Smalley also supports the sidewalk connection for Cherry Street to Independence Commons Residential Community.” under Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items. Supported by Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter and Member Smalley. Nays: Member Twichell. Motion Carried (5-1). Motion by Member Smalley to approve amended minutes. Supported by Member Potter. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter and Member Smalley. Nays: Member Twichell. Motion Carried (5-1). Approval of Bills: Motion by Member Twichell to approve payment of General Bills in the amount of $49,418.45. Supported by Member Smalley. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley and Member Twichell. Nays: none. Motion Carried (6-0). Approval of Bank Reconciliations: Motion by Member Potter to approve December 2020 accounts for General, Tax and Payroll. Supported by Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). City Manager’s Report: Manager’s report is in January 2021 Council packet. Page 1 of 4  City of Potterville 319 N. Nelson St.  PO Box 488  Potterville, MI 48876  Phone: (517) 645-7641 Fax: (517) 645-7810  www.pottervillemi.org Public Comment on Agenda Items: Jeff Bussard of 746 Brenneman St., believes the Lockview Meadows road, that has the fog and chip seal road application, is in rapid deterioration with rocks all over. Mr. Bussard would like to know what is the City’s solution? The City Manager asked the City’s Public Engineer to review it. He will give his recommendations to the City Manager. The City will look at it in the spring. This is typical for the first year. Larisa Ballard of 751 Tim’s View St., communicated that it was a sloppy job with overspray and with lots of gravel in storm drains. Ms. Ballard said it sounds like a gravel road when driving on it. Tim Maynard of 747 Tim’s View St., desired to share he agreed with previous comments. Another concerned citizen is worried about the mowing in the summer and that stone chips would be thrown. Again, it was said “it feels like a gravel road when driving on it.” Commission/Committee Reports: Member Twichell gave report for TIFA. TIFA awarded CN Railroad America in Bloom matching grant. Also TIFA funds were approved to add a photo eye sensor to the Vermontville Corridor street light outlets photo eye for Holiday Decorations to power off in the daylight. Department Reports: DPW Director, Don Stanley, commented that he has looked at the Lockview Road fog and chip seal project and feels it is in the normal parameters for this type of project. He reviewed with engineer Brandon, Contractor and himself shortly after it was completed and it was in the condition as expected. This is a maintenance only project a temporary fix to help preserve the road longer. New Business: a) City Council Officer Elections: Motion by Member Twichell to retain Bruce Kring as Mayor for 2021. Supported by Deputy Mayor Lenneman. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, and Member Twichell. Nays: Member Smalley. Motion Carried (5-1). Motion by Member Smalley to retain Jennifer Lenneman as Deputy Mayor for 2021. Supported by Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). b) Appointments to Boards: Motion by Member Twichell to appoint to Board of Review, Kris Whipple and Marilyn Metzmaker. Supported by Member Smalley. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Motion by Member Smalley to appoint to Zoning Board of Appeals, Monica Baker and Kris Whipple. Supported by Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Page 2 of 4  City of Potterville 319 N. Nelson St.  PO Box 488  Potterville, MI 48876  Phone: (517) 645-7641 Fax: (517) 645-7810  www.pottervillemi.org c) CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up Grant Agreement: Motion by Member Twichell to accept the agreement and direct the City Manager to sign the agreement for the City. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). d) Resolution of Support and Authorization of Signature to Execute Right of Entry License Agreement between the City of Potterville and Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company: Motion by Mayor Kring to support and authorize Right of Entry License Agreement. Supported by: Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). e) Resolution of Support and Grant Match for the City’s 2021 application to the Lansing Economic Areas Partnership (LEAP): Motion by Mayor Kring to support grant match application for LEAP. Supported by Member Smalley. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). f) Manager/City Clerk regular annual performance evaluations - Removed g) Reduce Rental Fee on DDA Pavilion to $50 one-time fee per local establishment to be used during COVID-19 restrictions and reviewed again at March City Council Meeting: Motion by Member Twichell to support for the reduction of rental fee during the time of MDHHS on restrictions for in person dining in restaurants. Supported by Member Potter. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: Tim Maynard of 747 Tim’s View St., asked about location of Council Packet on the website. Jeff Bussard of 746 Brenneman St., stated that there seems to be some feedback on the meeting call, which made it hard to hear everyone. Mr. Bussard asked to have a different solution if we were to continue to have virtual meetings. Another concerned citizen suggested that Lockview subdivision residents be invited to join a walk through concerning the road with City Manager, DPW Director, Engineer and Contractor. Briant Titus of 606 W Vermontville Hwy, gave his support for the Mayor and his dedication to the supporting the U.S. Constitution. Brandy Hatt, Zoning Administrator, Gizzard Fest is moving forward and is scheduled for June 11. The committee is beginning to plan for parade, carnival, 5K race, band and beverage tent. Communications from Mayor and Council: Member Nichols shared 2020 was first year in many years that there were no changes to the Council and the council is working together well. Page 3 of 4  City of Potterville 319 N. Nelson St.  PO Box 488  Potterville, MI 48876  Phone: (517) 645-7641 Fax: (517) 645-7810  www.pottervillemi.org Deputy Mayor Lenneman thanks the council for support for herself and Mayor Kring. Member Potter thanks everyone for his first year on council. Mayor Kring appreciates all the support for Mayor. He also would encourage others to see all the work the DPW is doing at Lake Alliance with the clean-up in the woods near the Thornapple waterway. Member Twichell wants to again say he supports Mayor Kring standing up for what is important such as U.S. Constitution. Nichols believes as public official that some believe you can no longer have a personal opinion in public and he disagrees with that. Nichols says we need to find common ground and agree to disagree on some items. Everyone should be able to post whatever they choose. Next Meeting is February 18, 2021 Excuse Absent Members: Motion by Smalley to excuse Member Pulda. Supported by Member Twichell. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter, Member Smalley, and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Motion to Adjourn: Motion by Member Twichell and Supported by Member Potter. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Kring, Deputy Mayor Lenneman, Member Nichols, Member Potter and Member Twichell. Nays: None. Motion Carried (6-0). Meeting Adjourned at 8:25 pm Respectfully Submitted by: Becky Dolman City Clerk Approved 2/18/2021 Page 4 of 4