Pres. Carpenter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. on 3/25/08. Present: Sterling, Payment, Baja, Gray, Michener. Absent: Diller. After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance the consent agenda was approved including bills in the amount of $13,512.11. Clerk explained calculation error in adopted budget. Motion-Baja; support-Michener to adopt corrected budget resolution as of 3/25/08 in the amount of $751,744. Roll call – all ayes. Paul Skinner, representing Empire Chamber of Commerce, requested Council consideration for the Asparagus Festival: 1) Allow use of the Open Space next to the post office. 2) Waive vendor fees. 3) Close Front Street from Union to Larue from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Motion-Payment; support-Sterling to grant the requests. All ayes. Ann Arnold presented a report on the Regional Housing and Planning Conference. Paul Olson, Municipal Underwriters insurance agent, presented Village coverage and answered questions on various items. Communications: 1) Mark Polack, Huntington Bank manager, in support of the proposed improvement and paving of Larue Street. 2) Notice of Annual Joint Meeting of Leelanau Co. Planning Commission with townships, villages and county representatives on 4/16/08. 3) Request from “Meetings Up North” group to hire village maintenance personnel to clean the bathroom at the beach park during an event they are planning. Zoning Administrator reported no activity except review of the cable franchise agreement and reviewing and denial of a land use permit application from the Dunegrass Festival. Baja reported on Planning Commission activities and recommended that the Council may wish to adopt the Conflict of Interest policy and include it their by-laws. Payment gave an update on the beach improvement project and said that the grant needed to be amended to return the detail that had originally been a part of the description. Motion-Baja; support-Michener to adopt the resolution to amend the beach grant. Roll call: all ayes. Letter from Steve Lewis re repairs to Lake Michigan Drive was discussed. After lengthy discussion a motion by Payment to pay the bill died for lack of support and notification will be sent to Mr. Lewis. Payment announced that a grant for trees at the beach has been received from DTE Energy Foundation and MDEQ for $1,000 but the amount of local match is unknown at this time. A donation of a clone of the champion Norway maple on Front Street will be planted in memory of David McClary. It was announced that Elmer’s was awarded the contract for the M-22 improvement project. MDOT will arrange a public info meeting on the project. Motion-Sterling; support-Gray to authorize the president to sign and execute the contract between MDOT and the Village of Empire for construction improvements on Highway M-22. All ayes. Tour de Leelanau changed date to 5/25/08 (Memorial Day weekend) with no objection from Council. Street Commissioner Baja presented the proposals for paving of Larue Street, noting that it has been a top priority for the past three years. Pros and cons of various travel lane and parking lane widths were discussed as well as green space and sidewalk widths and location. A letter was read from Ben and Cynthia Weese and they also gave a visual presentation. Public comment on the matter was also accepted and discussed. Extension of the meeting continued the discussion and a motion was made by Sterling; supported by Baja to accept Amended Plan C. Roll call: Sterling-yes, Gray-no, Baja-no, Michener-no, Payment-no, Carpenter-yes. Motion failed. After further discussion a motion was made by Payment; support- Baja to adopt the plan with a 12’ travel lane, 8’ parking lane, 3’ green space, 5’ sidewalk. Roll call: Sterling-yes, Gray-yes, Baja-yes, Payment-yes, Michener-no, Carpenter-yes. Motion carried. The agenda item on beach parking will be tabled until the April meeting. All business being concluded the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. The minutes above are a condensation and may be seen in their entirety at the Village office during regular business hours.
Patricia L. Zoyhofski
Village Clerk