Meeting was called to order at the Empire Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. by President Carpenter.

Present were members Diller, Payment, Gray, Sterling, Michener, Baja. Absent: None. After the pledge of allegiance a motion was made by David Diller and supported by Michener to approve the consent agenda including the minutes of the 1-31-08 Budget Work Session, 2-5-08 Joint Meeting and the 3-25-08 regular meeting with corrections and the bills in the amount of 8,266.20. All ayes.
Changes/Additions to Agenda: Add under Park Committee Sheriff Contract and under new business Committee discussion.
Presentation: Teletha Penny Youth League Coordinator with the Leelanau County Summer Baseball/Softball League has presented council with drawings for four dugouts as a volunteer project. The Volunteers are asking the Village to fund the materials of $5600.00. Motion Payment and supported by Baja to provide the $5600.00 requested by the Leelanau County Summer Baseball/Softball League and grant them permission to build four dugouts, at North Park through their volunteer efforts. After lengthy discussion, motion passes, opposed Baja and Carpenter. Motion Payment supported by Baja to amend the budget with the transfer of $5600.00 from the Memorial Fund to the General Fund to cover cost of the dugouts at North Park being built by the Leelanau County Summer Baseball/Softball League with the assurance that there is some accountability and checks and balances with Village Council and the DPW and final plans going to Len Shalda of the DPW to sign of on. Motion passes, opposed Baja. Motion Payment supported Diller to amend park activity to recognize the expenditure of $5600.00 from the General Fund for the dugouts at North Park. All ayes.
Public Comment on Agenda Items: none
Communications: 1) Letter from Michigan State University for class on Zoning and Planning Acts. Figura is willing to teach a class if there is an interest at a cost of $5.00 to $10.00 to cover cost of materials. Figura has presented council with several dates and the council has decided either May 14th or 15th, whichever Figura chooses. 2.) Letter from Jennifer Lee re dugouts. 3.) Letter from Melissa and Scott Okerlund re dugouts. 4.) Letter from Pamela Cooper-Lanham re dugouts. 5.) Letter from State of Michigan re Consumers Energy cost recovery meeting. 6.) Letter from Ben and Cynthia Weese re LaRue Street. 7.) Letter from Chapmans re sidewalks on M-22. 8.) Letter from United States Dept. of Interior re General Management Plan/Wilderness Study. Michener suggested maybe having someone from the National Park come and talk to the council about the plan. President Carpenter will check to see if someone can come out at our next meeting.
Zoning Administrator report and read.
Planning Commission: Karen Baja reported Russ Clark the Village Planner has submitted the Village of Kingsley Road Standards for review. There is a Public Hearing scheduled for May 6, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall for the Temporary Outdoor Use Zoning Amendment is available at the Village Office. Planning Commission recording Secretary received $1.00 per hour increase in salary.
Street Committee; MDOT had a Pre-Construction meeting for M-22 project, Elmer’s was awarded contract and have a tentative date to start of August 18, 2008. MDOT will hold a public meeting mid to end of July. Three grading easements still needed. After lengthy discussion motion Gray supported by Payment to stop M-22 sidewalk at Michigan Street. Motion passes, opposed Baja, Michener and Diller. Baja stated that the survey and topographic for LaRue has been done and is moving forward. Baja will research cost of moving utility poles on LaRue. Baja gave an update on the purchase of a Sidewalk Machine. Bell Equipment brought out a machine for demonstration cost is at $85,000.00 with attachments. Bell Equipment also brought out a used 1993 machine including warranty for 6 months for $3000.00. After lengthy discussion President Carpenter will study labor cost for machine.
Personnel Committee; Susan Michener reported that the committee is now working updating job description.
Ordinance Committee; Susan Michener reported that the next meeting council will have 2 or more Ordinances to look over for possible approval. The Firearm Ordinance was discussed and the committee recommends no change.
Park Committee: Linda Payment reported that we have been awarded a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation for $1000.00 for trees at the beach park and are match is $1000.00. Motion Payment supported by Diller to sign and accept the DTE Energy Foundation Tree Grant. All ayes. Motion Payment supported by Michener to amend budget with a transfer of not more than $1000.00, less any in kind work from the Memorial Fund to the General Fund to cover the cost of our 50% match, less any in kind work. All ayes. Motion Payment supported by Diller to amend park activity to recognize the expenditure of not more than $1000.00 from the General Fund for the purpose of matching the grant money to purchase trees. All Ayes. Payment gave update on Beach Park, concerns are- standing water in tear drop, two bollards need to be secured, hairline cracks in concrete near restrooms and quality of paint striping. All items should be resolved by May 1st, 2008 with the exceptions of the hairline cracks. Kal Excavating will warranty sidewalk for two years in case of problems. Village Engineer will begin work on updating Village Recreation Plan. Payment reported that a clone of the Norway Maple Tree on Front Street is being donated in the name of Dave McClary Motion Payment supported by Baja that we ask Charter Communication to bury their wires and to take them to the new Consumers pole as soon as possible and remove old pole. All ayes. Motion Payment supported by Gray to transfer $1700.00 from Cable Franchise Fund to the General Fund to cover the cost of burying the cable line from old pole to new existing Consumers pole. All Ayes. Motion Payment supported by Diller amend park activity to cover $1700.00 to cover burying the cable by bringing forward prior surplus of $1700.00 from Cable Money in general funds restricted funds. All ayes.
Motion Baja supported by Sterling for a 5 minute recess. All ayes.
President Carpenter called meeting back to order. President Carpenter stated that we have received the Sheriff’s Contract for the summer of 2008 and it has increased to$16.70 from $16.35, $16.70 per hour plus $1.28 per hour for Social Security and Workmen’s Comp at $1.05 per hour for a total of $19.03 per hour. Motion Baja supported by Sterling to authorize President of Empire Village Council to enter into contract with the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department for a part time sheriff or sheriff’s to uphold the laws of the Village from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. All ayes.
Old Business; Motion Baja supported by Sterling to adopt the Conflict of Interest into the Village Council’s By-Laws. All ayes. Motion Baja supported by Michener to authorize the DPW to purchase the computer not to exceed the $3000.00. After lengthy discussion, motion passes opposed Payment, Gray and President Carpenter because it’s not being requested by the DPW. Radios, Motion Baja supported by Gray to authorize Hal Pendleton to purchase radio not to exceed $1000.00. All ayes. Steve Lewis Bill, Motion Payment supported by Gray to pay the $340.00 bill for the purpose of the additional grading that was require due to the excessive use during the month of June by the South resident therefore by allowing the Village to totally close the South entrance. Roll Call vote Sterling no, Payment yes, Gray yes, Baja no, Michener no, Diller no and President Carpenter yes, motion fails.
Beach Parking; President Carpenter stated that this has been carried over of what we would do with the over flow parking, the bollards and the deputy will also prevent the illegal parking. Council will continue to evaluate this over the next few meetings.
Forever Stamps, Baja stated that we would save approximately $60.00 a year, we roughly spend $1235.00 for the different departments. Motion Baja supported by Diller that the Village purchase a years worth of Forever Stamps before the increase in May. All ayes.
Motion Diller supported by Sterling to extend the meeting to complete the agenda. All ayes.
Baja asked if under new business item # 2 Holiday Tree/Decorations and item #3 Seasonal Banner be tabled until next months meeting.
Committee Discussion; Council reviewed and discussed roles of its committees.
Public Comment; Robert Scott has informed the Council that the Nation Park Service has now closed off a majority of their beaches to dogs.
All business being concluded the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Above minutes are condensed and may be seen in their entirety at the Village Office.
Darlene Friend Deputy Clerk