Kentwood Committees & Boards
City Commission (Back to index)
Minutes for 7-17-2007



APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD CITY COMMISSION
HELD JULY 17, 2007
Commission Chambers

Mayor Richard L. Root called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

Commissioner Coughlin gave the invocation.

Commissioner Brinks led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call: Present: Commissioners: Sharon R. Brinks, Michael W. Brown, Robert Coughlin, Richard Clanton, Frank Cummings, Frank Raha III and Mayor Richard L. Root.

Staff Present: Fire Chief Jim Carr, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, City Clerk Dan Kasunic, Engineering & Inspections Director Steve Kepley, Fire Department Administrative Assistant Nancy Shane, City Attorney Jeffrey Sluggett, Assistant Finance Director/Purchasing Agent Phil Tietz, Deputy Administrator Keith Van Beek, Police Captain Randy Williamson and Recreation Director Charlie Ziesemer.

Forty (40) citizens and members of the news media attended the meeting.

Motion by Brinks, supported by Clanton, to approve the agenda.

Motion Carried.

ACKNOWLEDGE VISITORS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS:

Professor at GRCC Kevin Dobra and Director of Purchasing for GRCC Mansfield Matthison spoke on supporting the millage that is on the August 7th Election. The Commission questioned what fiscal actions had been taken, if the Commission were to support the millage increase. There was support of the college itself and called it a jewel of the community.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion by Brinks, supported by Clanton, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Receive and file minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting held on July 3, 2007.
B. Resolution 60?07 to set an August 21, 2007 public hearing date to consider the establishment of an Industrial Development District in the City of Kentwood for Commerce Midwest LLC located at 4600 East Paris Ave., SE; under Act 198.
C. Receive and file minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting held July 9, 2007.
D. Payables for the City of $531,002.80, Roads of $187,098.65, Water/Sewer of $280,585.67, Taxes of $11,269.49, totaling $1,009,956.61.
Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All. Nays: None. Absent: None.

Motion Carried.
Resolution Adopted.

Motion by Brown, supported by Cummings, to approve the minutes of the July 3, 2007 City Commission Meeting.

Motion Carried.

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS:

PROCLAIM TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2007 AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN THE CITY OF KENTWOOD.
Mayor Root proclaimed Tuesday, August 7, 2007 as National Night Out and presented the proclamation to Police Captain Williamson.

PRESENTATION FROM MARTHA SMART FROM THE KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY.
Director of KDL Martha Smart spoke briefly on the annual KDL 2006 report followed by Kentwood Branch Director Cheryl Cammenga who spoke on the local branch usage and improvements and VP Chair of the Board of Trustees Shirley Bruuresma who spoke of the budget cuts from the State.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

APPROVE CONTRACT WITH KENTWOOD GENERAL EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION (KGEA).
Motion by Clanton, supported by Brinks, to approve the contract with the Kentwood General Employee Association (KGEA).

Motion Carried.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Stiles Machinery, Inc.
Mayor Root opened the public hearing to approve the establishment of an Industrial Development District in the City of Kentwood and to set an August 21, 2007 public hearing date to consider an application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Stiles Machinery, Inc. located at 3965-44th Street, SE; under Act 198.

Following a brief presentation by Economic Development Planner Golder and company representative Glenn Morgan:

Motion by Brown, supported by Cummings, to close the public hearing.

Motion Carried.

ADOPT RESOLUTION 61?07 TO ESTABLISH AN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF KENTWOOD AND RESOLUTION 62?07 TO SET AN AUGUST 21, 2007 PUBLIC HEARING DATE TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR STILES MACHINERY, INC.
Motion by Coughlin, supported by Raha, to adopt Resolution 61?07 to establish an Industrial Development District in the City of Kentwood and Resolution 62?07 to set an August 21, 2007 public hearing date to consider an application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Stiles Machinery, Inc. located at 3965-44th St., SE; under Act 198.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All. Nays: None. Absent: None.

Resolutions Adopted.

Beacon Condominiums.
Mayor Root opened the public hearing to consider a Major Change to an approved PUD Site Plan and Final Site Plan Review for a PUD for the Beacon Condominiums located east of Forest Hills Avenue and south of Christ Community Church.

A brief presentation followed by Economic Development Planner Golder and Board Member of the Guardian Angel Homes Paul Salberg.
Some of the neighbors? spoke of their concerns regarding landscaping, density and set-backs; while other interested parties spoke in favor of this project.

Motion by Clanton, supported by Coughlin, to close the public hearing.

Motion Carried.

TABLING OF A MAJOR CHANGE TO AN APPROVED PUD SITE PLAN AND FINAL SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR A PUD FOR THE BEACON CONDOMINIUMS.
The Commission discussed several issues for clarification from City Attorney; however, they still had concerns they wanted addressed.

Motion by Cummings, supported by Brinks, to table action until the August 21, 2007 City Commission Meeting.

Motion Carried.

BIDS:

BIDS FOR SANITARY SEWER CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
City Engineer Kepley explained the need for the improvements.

Motion by Raha, supported by Brinks, to authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with Jackson Dirt Works, the low bidder, for the re-construction of sanitary sewer crossings within the City at a total contract amount of $76,772.00 (plus an approximate project contingency of 10%) resulting in a total requested approval for $85,000.00 with funds from the Drain Fund, continent on approval of insurance by City Attorney.

Motion Carried.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR:

Mayor Root-Kentwood Community Church August 19th cookout and asked for attendance by Commission.

Commissioner Cummings-Thanked the Recreation Department for the July fourth activities.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 P.M.



Dan Kasunic Richard L. Root
City Clerk Mayor