Posted by KCRC on April 22, 2002 at 11:17:41:
The rescheduled regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of Kalamazoo County was held at the road commission office at 3801 East Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Thursday, January 3, 2002. Chairperson Meeuwse called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.
Present: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
Also attending: Managing Director Ronald E. Reid, Traffic Services Director John Byrnes, Secretary Dolores Morton, Business Manager Daryl G. Perkins, County Commissioner John Zull, Climax Township Supervisor James Collins, Kalamazoo County Department of Planning and Community Development Senior Planner John C. Sych and Kalamazoo Gazette Reporter Nick Schirripa.
On motion by Commissioner French, seconded by Commissioner Youngs, the board approved the agenda as presented.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
On motion by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, the board approved the minutes of the December 18, 2001, regular meeting as prepared.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
On motion by Commissioner French, seconded by Commissioner Youngs, the board approved and signed the December 31, 2001 payroll and January 1, 2002 vendor accounts, respectively, as follows:
Payroll Account $ 109,936.83
Vendor Account __ 156,704.34
$ 266,641.17
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
On motion by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, the board approved expense reports for Chairperson C. Lara Meeuwse, Vice Chairperson Reed J. Youngs, Member William B French, and Managing Director Ronald E. Reid.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
Climax Township Supervisor James Collins expressed appreciation to the Kalamazoo County Road Commission for the superior job done by Roads Department employees in snow removal operations during the recent snowstorm. Chairperson Meeuwse thanked Mr. Collins for taking the time to attend the meeting and sharing his praise of our employees.
A letter was received from Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner Mary Powers outlining a number of issues that continue to be of concern to her office and issuing an invitation to the Road Commission to continue open communications with her office. On motion by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, the board accepted the letter and directed staff to arrange a meeting with Drain Commissioner Powers to discuss issues and the sharing of information about areas of mutual interest and concern.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
In response to a letter from Consumers Concrete, and on staff recommendation, motion made by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, to accept an offer from Consumers Concrete to extend its contract for the purchase of ice control sand for the 2002/2003 winter season.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
In response to a letter from Pavement Maintenance Systems, Inc., and on staff recommendation, motion made by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, to accept an offer from Pavement Maintenance Systems, Inc., to extend its contract for micro seal work into the 2002 construction season.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
John C. Sych, Kalamazoo County Department of Planning and Community Development senior planner, appeared before the board to present a proposal for the Road Commission to support the development of digital orthophotography in Kalamazoo County. The proposed cost share for the Road Commission to participate in the program with Richland and Schoolcraft townships would be $3,900. However, for participation in the plan, the Road Commission would receive digital orthophotography in CD format for Comstock, Cooper, Oshtemo, Pavilion, and Texas townships. On motion by Commission Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, the board approved the expenditure of $3,900 to participate in the digital orthophotography of Kalamazoo County, as part of the Kalamazoo Area Geographic Information System.
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
Dr. Reid shared a copy of 2001 goals and led the board through a discussion of possible goals for 2002. After lengthy discussion, motion made by Commissioner Youngs, seconded by Commissioner French, to adopt the 2002 Board goals as follows:
COMMUNICATIONS
General Public
- Continue to publish annual newsletter
- Continue to issue news releases on a regular basis
- Continue to hold and invite public to special project meetings
- Continue Customer Service Evaluation on specific requests for service
- Continue offering an internet "Web site"
Townships
- Continue to hold meetings in the townships, as desired by townships and as feasible
- Continue to schedule special project meetings in townships, as appropriate
- Continue to invite township supervisors to join monthly road tours, as appropriate
- Host Michigan Township Association Kalamazoo Chapter meeting
- Attend, as a board, at least one meeting of each township board
Kalamazoo County
- Continue to invite county commissioners to meet and tour facilities
- Continue to meet with the County Board of Commissioners at least three times annually
- Continue to invite county commissioners to take road tour
- Continue to actively participate in other appropriate groups, including:
o Intergovernmental GIS Coordinating Council
o Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study
o Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
o Kalamazoo County Board of Public Works
o Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce
o Kalamazoo County Chapter of the Michigan Township Association
o Kalamazoo County Coordinating Council (KC3)
o Kalamazoo County Council of Governments
o Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Advisory Committee
o Kalamazoo County Parks Commission
State
- Continue to actively participate in County Road Association of Michigan
- Continue to actively participate with the Southwestern Road Commission Council
- Hold special meetings with area legislators
- Continue to communicate on a regular basis with area legislators and key transportation personnel
National
- Continue to participate with appropriate national organizations (American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Public Works Association, National Association of Counties, National Roadside Vegetation Management Association, and National Association of County Engineers) and communicate appropriate information to constituents
- Continue to communicate with national representatives in government who impact transportation issues.
ADVOCACY
- Continue to provide financial, technical, and service support for the local road system
- Continue to actively support adequate funding for roads
- Continue to encourage employee involvement in service delivery and taking advantage of ongoing job-related educational opportunities
- Continue to actively support efforts to improve area transportation facilities
- Support coordination efforts related to permits
OPERATIONAL
- Continue Board's monthly on-site inspection of projects
- Continue formal system for recognizing employee contributions and service
- Continue focus on safety projects
- Review/update roadside issues, including drainage and enhancement
- Review practices and determine if improvements can be made
POLICY
- Review/update Board policies
- Review/update permit forms
LEGAL/REGULATORY
- Continue to work toward the transfer of roads in incorporated areas to the appropriate local road authority
- Review the possibility of the transfer of roads classified as part of the National Highway System to the Michigan Department of Transportation
Carried by the following vote:
Aye: C. Lara Meeuwse, Reed J. Youngs, William B French
Managing Director Reid shared a copy of the November 2001 media log.
Dr. Reid announced that information had been received advising that Kalamazoo County would be eligible for partial reimbursement of the approximately $500,000 in costs incurred following the severe windstorm of October 24, 2001. State guidelines limit the amount of expenditures for reimbursement to the worst (highest cost) five-day period after the storm, with a maximum amount of $30,000. According to the guidelines, the Road Commission's highest five-day costs were $184,973. For purposes of these emergency/storm declarations, road commissions are considered a sub-unit of the county. Accordingly, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners must adopt a resolution to authorize the Road Commission to be able to seek the $30,000 in funds. The County Board has tentatively scheduled the approval of this resolution at its January 15, 2002 meeting.
Commissioner French asked that the board be updated periodically about the Q Avenue and 8th Street project.
Commissioner French advised that he recently visited the West Port Plat recharge basin area and, although not down significantly, the water levels is reduced from what it was before caissons were installed in the fall of 2001. Staff is continuing to monitor the recharge basin.
Commissioner Youngs congratulated the Roads Department on the excellent job of snow removal during the recent snowstorm.
Chairperson Meeuwse reported receiving a telephone call from Mrs. Henry Scholten about potholes on MN Avenue and a call from a citizen concerning traffic at the Quail Run and Clayton Estates intersection. She also noted that she had received a phone call with concerns about M-43 and 9th Street and that the caller was referred to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Chairperson Meeuwse advised that she had received phone calls from residents in West Port and Rudgate plats reporting that their plats had not had any plowing during the recent snowstorm. Staff will investigate.
Chairperson Meeuwse reported that the Environmental Health Advisory Board is working to establish a model to encourage home owners to be more responsible for their septic systems and to reduce the number of failed septic systems in the county.
County Commissioner John Zull announced that Lorence Wenke was elected chairperson and Eva Ozier was elected vice chairperson of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners for 2002.
The meeting adjourned at 10:36 a.m.