Lake O retires Brisbin Drain debt, OKs 3-mill levy 5/01/01 by Helen Mudry Staff Writer The Lake Odessa Village Council adopted two resolutions April 16 to retire the debt on the Brisbin Drain and levy three millls for general highway projects. Resolution 229 retires the Brisbin Drain debt of approximately $276,000. The Village of Lake Odessa participated with Ionia County and Odessa Township to construct the drain in 1981. Ionia County issued bonds, with each entity responsible for a percentage, Ionia County 9 percent, Odessa Township 11 percent and the Village of Lake Odessa 80 percent. The village has been levying a combination of special assessments against 284 parcels in the village along with a two-mill street levy against all parcels to pay bond debt service payments. The street millage and special assessments have provided enough funds to pay off the village debt service ten years early. With the payoff of the Brisbin Drain bonds, the village will discontinue the special assessment levy against the 284 parcels. Resolution 230 for the three mills was unanimously adopted under the authority of General Law Village Act. This means the village now has five mills for general highway fund projects. Each mill generates $32,800 for a total of $164,000 at current property values. In other business the council: • Adopted a smoke-free policy for the village building and vehicles. According to the policy, smoking will be strictly prohibited within all village-owned buildings and vehicles, including offices, hallways, waiting rooms, lunch rooms meeting rooms and all community work area. This policy applies to all elected officials, employees visitors and contractors. Smoking will be allowed in all outdoor areas, with the exception of the Page Memorial Building. The designated smoking area for the Page Memorial Building will be outside the west entrance door. Smoking is permitted in the second floor apartment of the Water Works building. The policy was announced 30 days in advance to facilitate a smooth transition. Employees who smoke and want to use this opportunity to quit are invited to participate in a smoking cessation program of their choice. The village will pay an employee who successfully completes a cessation program on their own time a one time amount of not to exceed $150. • Heard comments from Brian Slade, who said he talked with David Nowak, a field scientist from Envirologic Technologies Inc. who is hired by the State of Michigan to do site contamination cleanup. Nowak was monitoring gasoline contamination at the monitoring well where Sanderson's Signs is now located. Slade reported that Nowak said the gas is between five and 11 feet deep. He retrieves five gallons every two weeks. Because the gas floats above the water, it is not going into the ground water, but should be a concern for the well head protection program in the village. Slade told the council that Nowak is finishing a report for treatment of the site. The state will act on the report, put out bids and the cleanup could begin this summer. Nowak estimated the cleanup could take 12 to 18 months. • Learned that the village cleanup will be May 18 and 19 with dumpsters available to getting rid of household trash. The dumpsters will be available for dumping from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, May 18, and 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 19. The dumpsters will be parked at the DPW garage on M-50. This free service allows residents to dispose of junk and debris which cannot be disposed of during weekly garbage pickup. Special dumpsters will be available for appliances such as washers, dryers and stoves. There is a $30 charge for any appliance that contains Freon. Appliances that have already had the Freon removed cannot be accepted because this is a federal violation. Other items that are not acceptable are brush, leaves, concrete, asphalt shingles, tires, chemicals, petroleum products or garbage. • Was told there will be a hazardous waste collection May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DPW garage. • Approved a bill for $6,121.13 to Smith and Evan of a variable speed drive and wiring for preparation for the water tower painting. • Approved a bill of $1,800 to Dixon Engineering for preparation of specifications and bidding on the water tower painting. • Approved payment of $3,714 to Wolverine Engineering for soil borings to facilitate the pavement design on 4th Street • Adopted Ordinance No. 136 to put the Lake Odessa Area Arts Commission's organization in and dissolution in better order. Trustee Karen Banks said the ordinance will allow the commission to sell raffle tickets for money-raising events. It will also allow charitable gift deductions. She said these changes should help the commission qualify for more grants. Slade questioned if the Arts Commission ever returned some of the revenues generated by booth fees from Art in the Park back into maintenance of the park. Banks said the money is used to provide programs that benefit the whole community and the commission has never been asked to contribute to park maintenance. Village President Randy Klein said "Art in the Park" has been using the park 30 years and it has never been a problem. • Heard Police Chief John Shaw report that the village is changing some of the misdemeanors into civil infraction. This will save the village money for attorney fees. The March police report includes 93 complaints, 16 arrests and 34 traffic citations, There were 1,208 miles put on the 1997 Ford and 1,858 miles on the 2000 Ford. • Learned the water tower painting project is scheduled to begin April 23, provided the temperature is above 50 degrees. The portable tank will be in place April 18. The village will be flushing water on April 18,19 and 20. • Heard from Trustee Ken Cote that the recreation committee will hold a village meeting (time and place yet to be announced) to ather citizen input • Discussed the condition of the village sidewalks. Trustee Melanie Kauffman said the existing ordinances have never been enforced. They need to be updated and publicized and then enforced. She said she is getting copies of sidewalk policies from other communities to see how they are handling the finances and requirements. • Heard Trustee Bill Rogers report that he has collected donations for flower ports and flowers for Fourth Avenue. • Was told that Arbor Day recognition will be at 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, at the village beach. • Heard that Trustee Ross Thomas has been asked if something can be done about cars cruising through town with loud music blaring. Shaw said it is difficult to enforce. The village police try to chase the drivers down and tell them to turn down the music • Heard Village Manager Bill Yost announce that May 13 through 19 will be "Community Pride Week" and encouraged people to sweep their streets clean • Heard Kauffman express concerns about the fair grounds. She wondered who is responsibile for mowing the grounds and said with the grass getting tall, many people used the grounds to dump their junk. • Voted to hire Tim Tromp as the village attorney. Cote expressed concern about possible conflict of interests. Banks said as an attorney, Tromp would excuse himself from the case if a conflict arouse. Shaw spoke highly of Tromp and the village work he has done. • Voted to join the county-wide Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act. This will permit financing for cleanup when land is sold and the site will generate jobs.