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WEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
June 17, 2005
9:30 a.m.
1. Call to Order. C. Mulholland, Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
Roll Call:
Steve McNeal – Allegan County
Thomas Hogenson – City of Big Rapids
Pat Capek – City of Cedar Springs
Gregg Yeomans – Ionia County
John Todd – Mecosta County
Ray Steinke – Mecosta County
Marcia Walker – Montcalm County
Elmo Hoaglund – Osceola County
Paul Thibodeau – Osceola County
Edward Berghorst, Treasurer – Ottawa County
L. Charles Mulholland, Chair – At large
Regina Davis – At large
Tammy Holt – At large
Tom Lindeman – Montcalm County (alternate)
Staff:
David Bee – Director
Nancy Murphy – Administrative Assistant
Guests:
Steve Redmond – Michigan Department of Transportation
Catherine Ballard – Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Charamy Cleary – Michigan Department of Agriculture
Brian Waters – Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth
Rich Harlow – Michigan Department of Agriculture
Aileen Waldron – USDA Rural Development
Lloyd Walker – City of Greenville
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
D. Bee reviewed the Board Financial Statement for the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2005: October 2004 through April 2005. Revenues at $112,333.16 exceed expenses of $110,362.25 for the period. Looking at the “Status of Grant Programs” information, the Allegan and Ottawa Shoreline Study shows expenses at 54.72% but they are really higher when you include the MDOT match of $5,000 that was spent during the last Fiscal Year. We haven’t yet started on the fourth year shoreline study. The second group of Hazard Mitigation plans shows expenditures at about two-thirds of the budgeted amount. The counties are currently reviewing the final draft reports for the last two Hazard Mitigation projects. In general, our finances are quite good.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Todd to accept and place on file the financial statement for the period of October 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005. SUPPORTED BY G. Yeomans. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Bee reviewed the revised budget that was included in the Board meeting materials. He said that we review and update the annual budget every year at this time to see if adjustments are needed and also in preparation for next year’s budget that we prepare for review by the Executive Committee at their August meeting.
Revenues
The biggest change to this year’s budget is the EDA/MEDC Inventory Project; the budget amount was changed from $40,000 to $20,000 because the anticipated MEDC match did not come through; the project will be funded by EDA and WMRPC dues. The “Land Use Plan” category is our work on the Big Rapids Township Land Use Plan; the Township completed their payment of all amounts due during the last Fiscal Year. The Miscellaneous amount of $4,000 is the payment we receive from MAR for the Secretariat work performed by D. Bee.
Expenditures
In the Contractual Services category, we deducted $10,000 from the Asset Management budget that we had expected to pass through to the counties, because Planner Steve Stepek has been doing more work on that program. Office Machines were increased by $250 (due to a computer purchase) and Printing costs were increased by $500 (because we are having more documents printed than in the past). Special Events expenses also increased; previously that category was primarily the December Board meeting but expenses for today’s open house were added to that category.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY P. Thibodeau to approve the Amended Budget for Fiscal Year 2004-2005. SUPPORTED BY E. Berghorst. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
MDOT Resolution
Approval of CEDS
D. Bee said that the WMRPC’s annual CEDS program is funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and by member dues. The annual CEDS report includes lists of projects, lists of strengths and weaknesses, and demographic information. The report is similar to last year’s, with updated information and different projects.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY R. Steinke to approve the 2005 CEDS Report and to recommend its submission to the U.S. EDA. SUPPORTED BY P. Capek. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. Round Table / Regional Issues
E. Hoaglund – Osceola County. They will be breaking ground for the new Health Department complex in one week.
P. Thibodeau – Osceola County. The Osceola County website will be expanded to include all townships in the county. At least the names, addresses, and phone numbers of representatives will be included.
E. Berghorst – Ottawa County. He said his report is similar to what he presented at the CEDS Committee meeting in May. Local units of government are complaining to the County Board about tax abatements. Zeeland Farm Services applied for an Agricultural Renaissance Zone / tax abatement. They built a soybean processing plant and are expanding. They were awarded the 2004 Michigan Best Small Business award and have grown from 115 to 150 employees. They have excess methane gas and will buy a generator and generate electricity from the gas.
R. Steinke – Mecosta County. The proposed amphitheater is back on the agenda. They expect a full house at the public hearing.
J. Todd – Mecosta County. The County Board discussed the financial problems of the MOCAT bus system and authorized the formation of an authority board; later there will be a public vote for the necessary funding. The Ice Mountain facility has cut back its production and staff because they can’t bottle enough water due to the restrictions imposed by the court; the case will go to the Michigan Supreme Court.
T. Hogenson – City of Big Rapids. The hospital has a new name – Mecosta County Medical Center. They are very pleased with the hospital project, which is a good investment for the community. Tax abatement activity has increased as have property improvement grants also, related to developments in the real estate market.
M. Walker – Montcalm County. The County needs to improve its mapping capabilities and is considering a map information office; they’re not sure the best direction to take and need input. The City of Greenville has had interest and activity in their industrial park; they have two companies with a total of 60 jobs; they are moving in the right direction.
T. Lindeman – Montcalm County. Electrolux in Greenville sent out a final announcement; there will be 2,000 job cuts. New business is coming but there are still problems. The industrial park is doing well and the hospital is expanding.
G. Yeomans – Ionia County. The “B93 Birthday Bash” is coming and they have contingency plans for anticipated crowds. It’s a three-year deal; they will have to wait and see if the economic benefits outweigh the possible disturbance related problems. The Ionia Fairgrounds is trying to expand use of its facility by trying new activities. The City of Ionia’s Manager is leaving after 20 years with the City and the past 16 years as its Manager. The Planning Commission Board has calmed down after the defeat of the proposed zoning ordinance; they are working on watershed issues. The railroad may have a privately owned section.
P. Capek – City of Cedar Springs. The City Council directed their City Manager to hire an agent to pursue easements to do improvements to the water and sewer system. They have begun work on restoration and rehabilitation for an abandoned park site near Cedar Creek. The post office wants a new site. So they are playing musical facilities. There is preliminary investigation for land acquisition near the Creek and Main Street.
T. Holt – At-Large. She attended a meeting of a local black business group; they are Christian based. There was a representative from the Planning Commission there. There was an interest in learning more about the various organizations in the area.
Regina Davis – Fair Housing Center of Grand Rapids. They are still working on education enforcement. Pieces of counties are represented here. The FHC is interested in ways to better educate people about housing discrimination. When issues related to discrimination arise, they have funds available to address them. Tell your communities that they’re there.
S. McNeal – Allegan County. County administration and other departments have moved into their new offices at Dumont Lake. It’s a great new facility and includes new Commission chambers. Allegan County was awarded a grant to clean up tires. Sometimes recycled tires are used to build roads. Allegan County, Ottawa County, and the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council (MACC) are exploring joint formation of an airport authority. There would be a great benefit to businesses if their customers could make quick trips to and from the area. They will make a decision within the next few months. The County lost their Finance Director.
The County is facing many budget challenges. They had planned a millage request for multiple services, including the jail, law enforcement, administration, etc. The result was like going down the grocery aisle and putting too many cans without labels into the basket. Too many different interests were putting in their funding requests to be added to the millage list. So now they are revamping the proposal to focus on funds needed for operations so they can better sell it to the public.
Lloyd Walker – City of Greenville. He is the Mayor of Greenville. His wife, Board member Marcia Walker, had told him what a great group this was and that he should attend a meeting, so he did.
Aileen Waldron – USDA Rural Development. She is now a Multi-Family Housing Specialist (no longer a Field Specialist). USDA is still in business and doing well. They have a farm labor housing program to help farmers with the costs of housing for their workers. They have over thirty programs.
7. Staff Updates
D. Bee briefly reviewed his Staff Update. The 2005 CEDS process is complete. The CEDS Committee is working on a strategic plan; they have done the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and will continue with the process throughout the summer and finalize the plan in the fall. EDA has changed its focus from directing the regions to change the way they do business, to assessing the impact of the President’s “Strengthening America’s Communities Initiative”. The MEDC is concerned that companies might leave other Michigan areas to move to Greenville due to their tax incentives.
8. Other Business
9. Adjournment
A MOTION WAS MADE BY P. Thibodeau to adjourn. SUPPORTED BY E. Hoaglund. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
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