Month: June 2018

Featured

June 20, 2018 Village of Bear Lake Meeting

The following was received by our volunteer at 4.54pm on June 20, 2018.
Too late to alert anyone wishing to attend. Once again the audio broadcast of the meeting was terminated by the Village before the end of the meeting in violation of the access permitted under the Open Meetings Act. The Village does not record its meetings.

AGENDA

Village of Bear Lake Council Meeting

June 20, 2018

7 p.m. – Village Office

CALL TO ORDER and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL ADOPTION of AGENDA

  • Additions

PUBLIC COMMENT: Any agenda item ONLY (two (2)-minute maximum)
Note: Members of the public will speak only when recognized by the chair person.

CORRESPONDENCE: 

  • Right of Way – letter

REPORTS/DISCUSSION

MINUTES APPROVAL: 

  • May 16, 2018 Regular monthly meeting   

SEWER UPDATE – Brain Sousa from Wade Trim

VILLAGE MAINTENANCE REPORT:

TREASURER’S REPORT: T Report May 31, 2018 (Autosaved)

  • Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report
  • Amendments:
    • Flag banner purchase -May 16, 2018 motion needs to be amended.

BILLS to be PAID: Authorized Disbursements May2018

Clerk’s Report 6-20-18

REIMBURSEMENTS: see page 2

COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS:

PARK: 

  • Park Manager Report – Jeff Bair
  • Swim Safety items, grant received – President Bair
  • Hopkins Park Sign samples – President Bair
  • Kayak/Canoe Project – President Bair
  • Watershed Clean-up event – President Bair/Barb Farfsing

STREETS, TREES, SIGNS, LIGHTS, SIDEWALKS:   

WATER: 

  • Water Well update – President Bair
  • Water Ordinance update – President Bair & Council member Evans
  • DPW Building update – President Bair

BLIGHT/CABA:

  • CABA :  Rick Farfsing
  • Blight Enforcement Officer report: Gibson

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Pauline Jaquish

MANISTEE COUNTY TRAIL COMMITTEE REPORT:  Council member M cPherson

BEAR LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD REPORT: Council member McPherson

TWO LAKES SEWER REPORT: Jeff Bair

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT: Barb Farfsing

  • Redevelopment Ready Community

AD HOC COMMITTEE: Policy, Resolution & Ordinance Committee – Clerk McPherson

OLD BUSINESS: 

  • Ballot language for the appointment of Clerk & treasurer has been approved and DPW Building
  • Community Clean-Up Day – update

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Committee member assignment

PUBLIC COMMENT: General Time – Any Village-related item (two (2)-minute maximum) Note: Members of the public will speak only when recognized by the chair person.

Items on agenda or not listed

UPCOMING EVENTS and ANNOUCEMENTS:

  • Watershed event Saturday, June 23 at Bear Lake B&B at 5p-8p
  • Community Clean-up Day Saturday, June 30 at 9a-1p
  • Bear Lake Days July 13-15
  • Community Dimmer Thursday, June 21 at 5p

ADJOURNMENT     

REIMBURSEMENTS to the EQUIPMENT FUND and WAGE TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND:

May 2018

Featured

Village of Bear Lake Regular Meeting. June 20, 2018. 7pm

Our apologies but no Agenda or documents have been received for this evening’s meeting as of 3.20 pm.

Conference Call-In to listen to monthly council meetings live by calling 1.302.202.1107, Conference code 149002.  Note:  a charge from your phone carrier could apply – we suggest using Google or Skype to avoid charges

DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE MUTED. PRESS 6 Self Mute – Mute your individual line. Press 6 again to unmute the line.

Featured

Village of Bear Lake – Water System updates

A number of subscribers have been asking where to find up to date information on the daily work schedules for the Village of Bear Lake water system construction progress.

The Village web site has minimal information. http://www.bearlakemichigan.org/

ATTENTION BEAR LAKE VILLAGE RESIDENTS…

STREET WORK FOR THE
WATER WELL PROJECT IS BEGINNING!

On Friday, June 8, asphalt grinding will start on the following streets listed below.

Virginia Street
Cody Street
Euclid Street
Locust Street
 
They will bury the pipe on Monday, June 11.  
Except work on the above streets for the next month.  No weekend work.
 
Sorry for any inconvenience.

As it has become increasingly difficult to navigate with multiple construction sites on multiple streets, Bear Lake News offered to publish a point of contact. We were told not to contact the Project Manager and directed to forward all questions to the Village President. No information is available for the Construction Site Manager.

However – the awarded contracts specify the hours a resident can be impeded from accessing or being able to leave their property.

On Saturday the following Notice was taped to the Bear Lake Post Office window. [Click on the image to view a full size version]

We do not know who posted this notice but on Thursday the revised State of Michigan Lead/Copper Rule went into effect.

Additional notices were apparently placed at the Bear Lake Post Office alerting property owners that workers may be asking to enter their property to assess plumbing and install water meters. No notice is currently available at http://www.bearlakemichigan.org/progress-for-water-well-project-in-the-villlage.html but the Bid Packages are referenced there.

It is unclear if the Village now intends to take ownership of, and commence replacement of, older ‘lead’ [pronounced leed] lines – i.e the line from the mains water that enters a home or business – as part of the water system upgrade.

A review of the past lead/copper rule can be seen here.

In 2015 the Village had a 14.5 ppb lead assessment as part of the MDEQ mandatory water testing for a public supply. This was adjudged to be an averaging out of a high (24ppb) sample from 5 taken at Village homes. The cause was older lines and fittings.

Which explains why the current Notice is posted as the disturbance of lead in older lines and seals can occur during construction.

It is to be hoped that a more in depth notice, time table and contact numbers will be mailed to each Village property owner as many do not get their mail directly at the Post Office.

It should also be possible for Village water customers to request a lead testing kit if they are unsure of the condition of their lead lines, seals and domestic fittings.

Although the incident occurred in 2015, the Village is not required to test for lead again until this year [3 year cycle]

Problematic for older homes is the preferred sampling method which calls for running water to simulate ‘normal’ use before catching a sample.

Many people do not run their water for the recommended time first thing in the morning.

Now is the time to get your water tested and check all fixtures for the Safe Drinking Water Act ‘Lead Free’ label.

If you need to contact any Village official for information the following information is listed by Manistee County:

Village Offices:P.O. Box 175 Bear Lake, MI 49614
TELEPHONE 231-970-2066
Fax: 231-864-4300

Jeffrey Bair. President 231-970-2066 jeffbair4@gmail.com

Cindi McPherson Clerk 231-970-2066 bearlakeclerk@gmail.com

Sally King Treasurer 231-970-2066 bearlaketreasurer@gmail.com

Jacqueline Johnson Trustee 231-864-5030

Greg McPherson Trustee 231-970-2066

Ron Ronning Trustee 231-864-3656

[Note 2 Trustees were replaced mid term and their replacement’s contact information is not available for Andrea Ware or Marla Evans]

As previously noted the Village has not, to date, published an updated Water Ordinance. Bear Lake News has requested a current draft.

Featured

State of Michigan proposed revised lead/copper rule

http://michiganradio.org/post/mdeq-releases-watered-down-lead-and-copper-standard

May 11, 2018:

“The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality updated its proposed lead and copper rule to allow utilities more flexibility in scheduling replacement of lead service lines. It also increased the lead action level from the original 10 parts per billion to 12 ppb. The federal action level is 15.

Under the initial proposal, lead service line replacement would be based on water testing results, and utilities would be required to replace those lines within 20 years. The revised rule requires replacement of all lead service lines regardless of tested lead levels, but allows utilities to incorporate the work into their regular maintenace schedules.

Randy Roost, principal planner of Water Operations for the Lansing Board of Water and Light, says that this allows utilities to take advantage of cost efficiencies, particularly when it comes to replacing lead lines to private homes.

However, the new proposed rule doesn’t resolve confusion over who will pay to replace those privately owned lines. “The only mechanism we have for generating revenues to pay for that is through our rates, which means some customers are paying for another customer’s lead service line replacement,” says Roost.

According to Roost, public funds can’t be used to pay for private infrastructure.”

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-tou-dwmad-LeadCopperRuleRequirements_606928_7.pdf

Village of Bear Lake Approved Special Meeting Minutes May 14, 2018

Village of Bear Lake Council
SPECIAL MEETING
DPW Building
Water Well System
May 14, 2018
7PM
Bear Lake Village Hall
Approved Minutes with corrections, cmc

Approved corrected minutes May 14, 2018 PDF Click link to view

The Special Meeting Meeting on the DPW Building and Water Well System of the Bear Lake Village Council was called to order by President Jeff Bair at 5:01 p.m. at the Village Hall. Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: President: Jeff Bair Council: Peggy Bass, Marla Evans, Ron Ronning & Andrea Ware
Treasurer: Sally King, Clerk: Cindi McPherson, Staff: Jared Bair
Absent: Sally King, Jackie Johnson, Greg McPherson & Larry Gibson
Guests: Two (2) guests
Public Comment:
• None
Motion to Accept the resolution authorizing village proposal to authorize issurance issuance of municipal securties securities by Ronning and seconded by Evans, motion carried.
Ayes: Bass, Evans, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nays: none
Absent: Johnson, McPherson

[Editor’s note: no additional documentation was received relating to this item. No Resolution # is listed nor the purpose. A request for clarification from Manistee County Clerk produced the following – confirming that 1/4 of registered voters of the Village requested a Referendum vote on the intent to borrow $350,000 at 3.5% over 30 years to finance a maintenance building.]

I received from the Clerk, a Resolution of the Village of Bear Lake Village Council approving the verbiage for the Proposal.  I have attached it for your convenience.

[click to read PDF – Bear Lake Village Resolution]


Motion to authorize the village president and the village clerk to sign any documents necessary to close the USDA water project by Evans and seconded by Ronning, motion carried.
Ayes: Bass, Evans, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nays: none
Absent: Johnson, McPherson

Motion to authorize the village president and the village clerk to sign the construction contracts on behalf of the village by Evans and seconded by Ronning, motion carried.
Ayes: Bass, Evans, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nays: none
Absent: Johnson, McPherson
Public Comment:
• Guest questioned repayment of water system. DPW Building
Meeting adjourned at 5:08pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Cindi McPherson, Clerk

Featured

Village of Bear Lake: Draft May 2018 Minutes

[NOTE: The Village did not properly enable the telephone conference line so there is no full recording of this session]

The documents received are available here.[click link]

Village of Bear Lake Council
REGULAR MEETING
May 16, 2018
Bear Lake Village Hall
Unapproved Minutes Drafted Minutes May 16 2018

The regular meeting of the Bear Lake Village Council was called to order by President Jeff Bair at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall. Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: President: Jeff Bair Council: Peggy Bass, Marla Evans, Greg McPherson, Ron Ronning & Andrea Ware
Treasurer: Sally King, Clerk: Cindi McPherson, Staff:
Absent: Jackie Johnson, Jared Bair, Larry Gibson
Guests: None
Motion to Accept the Agenda by Ronning and seconded by McPherson, motion carried.
Ayes: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nays: none
Absent: Johnson
Note: agreed to have guest speaker speak after Public Comment.
Public Comment: • None
Guest speaker; Rebecca Koteskey, from Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network, Traverse City office, spoke on Garlic Mustard in the village of Bear Lake. She was connected by Karen Buckner after finding some near her home & within the village. A Workbee to remove
the invasive garlic mustard is set for May 19, 2018 10am to noon in Bear Lake. Flies and door hangers were given out.

Correspondence: Read by clerk:
• None

REPORTS:
Motion to accept the minutes from April 18, 2018 regular monthly meeting with correction by Evans, seconded by Bass. Motion Carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: None
Absent: Johnson
Correction: mis-spelled word, 2nd page, “performed”.
Motion to accept the minutes with corrections from May 14, 2018 Special meeting minutes with corrections by McPherson, seconded by Evans. Motion Carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: None
Absent: Johnson
Abstain: McPherson
Corrections: King was absent, mis-spelling of “issuance” and “securities”. Under Public Comment, it should read, DPW Building.

• Maintenance Report: No report

• Treasurer’s Report: Reviewed by King. Written report on file in the 2018 Minutes binder.
April 2018 Fund Balances:
General checking/savings total 61,262.00
Water checking only 17,389.09
Money Market Checking 6,089.91
Savings 100.00
Park checking/savings total 23,841.17
Park CD#2 33,149.40
Major Street checking/savings total 23,062.24
Minor Street checking/savings total 6,263.78
Equipment Fund checking/savings total 18,183.75
Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented by McPherson seconded by Bass, motion carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson

King reported a light on the museum is on 24/7, motion sensor is not working. Jeff Bair will contact Paradigm Electric to fix.

Bills to be paid presented by the Clerk. List on file in 2018 Minutes folder. Motion to pay the bills by Bass, seconded by McPherson. Motion carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson

Amendments:
Motion to accept the Amendments as presented by Ronning seconded by Bass, motion carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson
Amendments:
Park Fund: Increase Gas & Oil – $600
From Printing & Publishing – Bal. $500

April reimbursements to the General Fund were read by President Bair.
o Wages to General Fund: $4,587.17
o Equipment Rental to General Fund: $867.76

Committee Chair Reports:
Park:
o Park Manager Report: Verbal report by Park Manager, Jeff Bair. April 2018 deposits – $2,527.00 compared to April 2017 – $1,260. Report on file.
o Construction on center boat parking area in the camp area, filled in and hydro seeded.
o Bair provided information on a new sign for the entrance of Hopkins Park. Cost would be $600, John Mertes from Vyper Graphics. Sign is 4ft X 8ft, wrapped on metal poles. Picture of sunset over Bear Lake on sign. Bair will check on location of sign so it is on village property.
o Motion to OK $600 from Park Fund to purchase new Hopkins Park sign with committee design approval, by Bass seconded by Ronning, motion carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson

o Kayak/Canoe project – President Bair stated Karlyn from AES will write the grant for the village for the Meninger Family Endowment to be used for recreation projects.
o Little River of Ottawa Band of Indians – grant for safety swim items done – June 11, 2018 expected action on grant proposals.
o Bass questioned if Bear Lake Marina was paid up on back payments. Treasurer King reported, Yes.
o Ronning questioned, if camp host should pay for having his sewage dumped?
o Discussion was held, decision to leave as is currently.

Streets, Trees, Signs, Lights, Sidewalks: No report
Evans asked for update on last months resident concern on his street, Ronning Street. President Bair said he spoke with resident and agreed on a fix. Waiting on a quote from Ron Brown.

Water:
o Update on Water System Improvement Project; closed on May 15, 2018.
o Ken Mlcek, project manager will be sending an estimated timeline for the project.
o The updated Water Ordinance was presented to the council. Discussion was held. Water Ordinance is tabled for further review by President Bair, Treasurer King, Clerk McPherson and council member Evans. [NOTE: A copy of the updated Ordinance was requested – the Clerk stated it was the prior version that was discussed] view link by clicking here]
o Treasurer King presented new verbiage for the new water invoices; $XXXX penalty if not paid by the due date. $5.00 late fee will stay the same. Motion to accept the Treasurer’ proposed verbiage for the water invoices as presented and keep the $5.00 late fee by Ronning seconded by McPherson, motion carried. Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson

Blight/CABA
CABA: No report.
BLIGHT: Blight Officer no report by Gibson.

County Commissioner Report: Pauline Jaquish verbally reported on the Variety empty property, County Treasurer will be following up on finish grading of the property. President Bair reported there are a few items that were damaged in the demo process, hand railing and sidewalk. Contractor agreed to fix.

SMARTrail Committee Report: McPherson reported the meeting was cancelled.

Bear Lake Improvement Board: McPherson reported no report, no meeting. Next meeting is on May 17th.

Two Lakes Sewer Collaborative: President Bair reported a grant was received for the Preliminary Engineering Report, PER, Wade & trim will do this. Next meeting is May 22, 4pm at BL Township or Onekama Hall. The map for the sewer lines are done, available at Bear Lake Village offices. Bair would like to send out a questionnaire to residents
regarding the sewer project.

Planning Commission: Clerk McPherson reported on Redevelopment Ready Community – Self Evaluation was done and sent in, waiting for their response.

Ad Hoc – Policy, Resolution & Ordinance Committee –Clerk McPherson reported, volunteer Julie, has finished index for Policy Book and working on Resolution Notebook.

OLD BUSINESS
Community Clean-up Day – President Bair stated he had received a $50 gift card from Meijer to use toward lunch at the Clean-Up Day. Clerk McPherson will have posters printed and put around the village.

NEW BUSINESS
• Flag banners – President Bair reported he was asked by the banner group if the village would be interested in splitting the cost of the flag banners for the downtown section, the village cost will be $500. $400 from the seasonal account and $100 from the Blight account.
Motion to pay half the cost for the flag banners in the downtown section, $500 by Evans seconded by Ronning, motion carried.
Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson
• Audit dates – June 6, 7 & 8 dates are scheduled.
• Motion to change the motion from May 14, 2018 Special Meeting for signature on the Water closing documents by Ronning seconded by McPherson, motion carried. Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson [as the May 14, 2018 Special Meeting Minutes were approved as corrected we have no indication what was changed]

• Motion to change the motion from Monday 14, 2018 special meeting, for signature on construction contracts on behalf of the village by Evans seconded by McPherson, motion carried. Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson [as the May 14, 2018 Special Meeting Minutes were approved as corrected we have no indication what was changed]

• Motion to approve the 2018-2019 Budget & levied millage rate of 10.3108 as presented by McPherson seconded by Evans, motion carried. Aye: Bass, Evans, McPherson, Ronning, Ware, Bair
Nay: none
Absent: Johnson

COUNCIL COMMENT:

• None
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COMING EVENTS
• Community Dinner Thursday, May 17, Bear Lake United Methodist Church
• Girls Softball tournaments
Meeting adjourned at 8:55p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Cindi McPherson, Clerk

Two Lakes Sewer Meeting: 7 PM June 6, 2018

It is assumed the meeting will be held at Bear Lake Township Hall at the corner of US31 and Virginia Street. The only notice is at https://www.onekama.info/township without the required contact or ADA accessibility information.

Wade Trim Agreement – see May 2018 letter – https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/111d5a_992c4639ab8f4a69a0434237c9d0366a.pdf
New Business
 Meeting Conduct
 Communication RFP
 Jurisdictions Next Steps
 Key Q & A

No information is available at http://www.bearlakemichigan.org/sewer-project.html

or http://bearlaketwp.com/

or http://www.pleasantontownship.org/sewer.html which is still showing 2017 information.

No mention is made of a responsible management entity.