BERRIEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meeting Minutes December 20, 2018 CHAIRMAN TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER: Chairperson Jon Hinkelman called the regular meeting to order at 10:30 A.M. in the Board of Commissioners room at the Berrien County Administration Center in St. Joseph, Michigan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Commissioner Leahey led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. ROLL CALL: The Chair instructed the Clerk to take roll call with the following results: 12 PRESENT: William Chickering, Jim Curran, R. McKinley Elliott, Teri Freehling, Jeanette Leahey, Michael Majerek, Don Meeks, Debra Panozzo, Ezra Scott, David Vollrath, Mamie Yarbrough (Arrived at 10:34 A.M.) and Jon Hinkelman. 0 ABSENT. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 13, 2018 MEETING: Commissioner Meeks moved, seconded by Commissioner Scott, to approve the regular minutes of December 13, 2018. COMMUNICATION(S): County Clerk Sharon Tyler received and distributed the following communications to the Board: Resolution from the Wexford County Board of Commissioners opposing Senate Bill 1031, forest industry weight limit exemptions, received on December 19, 2018. Email from Mary Robertson, New Buffalo, opposing the three lane proposal on Red Arrow Highway, received on December 16, 2018. Resolution from the Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners opposing Senate Bill 396, seeks to amend the General Property Tax Act to exempt qualified utility personal property from the collection of taxes under the Act, received on December 14, 2018. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING RESOLUTIONS - Public comments at this portion of the meeting must be related to resolutions listed on today s agenda only. Those speaking during public comments may do so no longer than two minutes and shall identify themselves by name and city, township, or village. (Article III, 3.9B-C): Darrin Schaer, Pipestone Township, spoke about s #B1812392 and #B1812393. Darrin Schaer thanked Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo for their service. CONSENT CALENDAR: Commissioner Scott moved, seconded by Commissioner Freehling, to move all the Added Resolutions to the Consent Calendar: Resolutions # A1812395 B1812392 B1812393 F1812396 F1812397 Description Approve Andrews University Drug Lab Agreement 2019 Mileage Reimbursement Treasurer Financial Institutions 12 YEAS: Curran, Freehling, Elliott, Leahey, Majerek, Meeks, Panozzo, Scott, Vollrath, Yarbrough, Chickering and Hinkelman.
Chairperson Hinkelman read the following s #B1812392 and #B1812393: B1812392 - WHEREAS, Jeanette Leahey took office as a Berrien County Commissioner January 1, 2003; and WHEREAS, She has been a valuable and conscientious member of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and has contributed many years to ensure that positive and significant developments were made for the betterment of Berrien County and its citizens; and WHEREAS, Jeanette not only served on the Board of Commissioners, she represented Berrien County on several boards and committees including but not limited to the Local Emergency Planning Commission, 911 Advisory Board, 911 Technical Committee, Disaster Planning Committee, Workforce Development Board, Brownfield Development Authority, and the Berrien County Public Safety Communication Center Operations Committee; and WHEREAS, she has given freely of her time and efforts in this capacity for 16 years, representing District 6. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Berrien County Board of Commissioners formally thanks Mrs. Jeanette Leahey for her many years of dedicated service and wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Mrs. Leahey s life, actions, and contributions reflect most favorably upon herself, her family, the residents of District 6, the County of Berrien, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America. B1812393 - Respectfully submitted, BERRIEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WHEREAS, Debra Panozzo took office as a Berrien County Commissioner January 1, 1997; and WHEREAS, she has been a valuable and conscientious member of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and has contributed many years to ensure that positive and significant developments were made for the betterment of Berrien County and its citizens; and WHEREAS, Debra not only served on the Board of Commissioners, she represented Berrien County on several boards and committees including but not limited to the Berrien County Human Services Council, Community Corrections Advisory Board, Housing Resource Network, MSUE District 13 Advisory Committee, Substance Abuse Oversight Policy Board, and the Mental Health Authority; and WHEREAS, she has given freely of her time and efforts in this capacity for 22 years, representing District 7. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Berrien County Board of Commissioners formally thanks Mrs. Debra Panozzo for her many years of dedicated service and wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Mrs. Panozzo s life, actions, and contributions reflect most favorably upon herself, her family, the residents of District 7, the County of Berrien, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America. Respectfully submitted, BERRIEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Chickering moved, seconded by Commissioner Freehling, to approve today s Consent Calendar:
Resolutions # Description P1812012 Approve Per Diems F1812058 Approve Bills B1812106 Approve Requisitions F1812368 Approve Agreement with Equivant P1812386 Approve AFSME Contract A1812387 Approve Victim Witness Grant Amendment P1812388 Approve Orchard Hill Recycling Program Agreement P1812389 Approve Agreement with Berrien County Historical Association through June 30, 2019 A1812390 Approve Snowmobile Grant Agreement A1812395 Approve Andrews University Drug Lab Agreement B1812392 B1812393 F1812396 2019 Mileage Reimbursement F1812397 Treasurer Financial Institutions The Chair instructed the Clerk to call the roll resulting as follows: 12 YEAS: Curran, Freehling, Elliott, Leahey, Majerek, Meeks, Panozzo, Scott, Vollrath, Yarbrough, Chickering and Hinkelman. ADDED RESOLUTION: The Added Resolutions were moved to the Consent Calendar. BOARD APPOINTMENTS: Personnel & Human Services Committee Commissioner Leahey moved, seconded by Commissioner Vollrath, to approve the following Personnel & Human Services Committee Appointments: Area Agency on Aging Don Radde - 2 year term expiring 12/31/2020 Hillary Bubb, alternate 2 year term expiring 12/31/2020 Workforce Development John Janick 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Vail Harding 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Kathy Miller 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Finance Committee Commissioner Chickering moved, seconded by Commissioner Majerek, to approve the following Finance Committee Appointments: Public Works Board Bill Smith 3 year term expiring 12/31/21 Rachel Bernard 3 year term expiring 12/31/21 Glenn Zerler 3 year term expiring 12/31/21 Economic Development Corporation Gregory Vaughn 6 year term expiring 12/31/2024 Land Preservation Board Lois Foster 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021
Dave Chandler 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Trust Investment Advisory Board Joe Wasserman 3 year term expiring 6/07/2021 Planning Commission James Meister 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Les White 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 Rod Krieger 3 year term expiring 12/31/2021 COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Administration, Personnel and Human Services, and Finance Committees presented their Committee Reports. Committee minutes are available at www.berriencounty.org. COMMISSIONER REPORTS: Commissioners presented their outside committee reports. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS - Those speaking during public comments may do so no longer than two minutes and shall identify themselves by name and city, township, or village. (Article III, 3.9B-C): Information Systems Director Ken Hoffman thanked Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo for their service, and spoke about the GTL Free Holiday Calling at the Berrien County Sheriff s Office and Jail. They are offering two free five minute calls. The two free calls will be the first two calls placed starting December 21, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Chief Public Defender Christopher Renna spoke about Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo and thanked them for their service. Tony Dlouhy, Lincoln Charter Township, thanked the Board and the Sheriff for their service. Dick Barts (former County Commissioner), Berrien Springs, spoke about Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo and thanked them for their service. Sheriff Paul Bailey, Berrien Township, spoke about Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo and thanked them for their service. Darrin Schaer, Pipestone Township, spoke about soil erosion. Commissioner Debra Panozzo thanked everyone for their kind words, her husband Jim, and it was a pleasure to serve the people in Berrien County and wished them well. Commissioner Jeannette Leahey stated it was an honor to serve the people of Berrien County and thanked everyone. OTHER BUSINESS: Chairperson Hinkelman recommended to the Board to pick up on the Revised Bylaws in the beginning of the next year. Commissioner Freehling commended Commissioner Leahey on the hard work she placed on the Revised Bylaws. SWEARING IN COMMISSIONERS: Clerk Sharon Tyler thanked Commissioner Leahey and Commissioner Panozzo for their service. Clerk Tyler administrated the Oath of Office to the following newly elected County Commissioners:
David Vollrath, District 1 Jon Hinkelman, District 2 Donnie Meeks, District 3 Mamie Yarbrough, District 4 William Chickering, District 5 Christopher Heugel, District 6 Robert Harrison, District 7 Terri Freehling, District 8 Ezra Scott, District 9 R. McKinley Elliott, District 10 James Curran, District 11 Michael Majerek, District 12 ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: Commissioner Yarbrough announced no Land Bank Authority meeting today. Chairperson Hinkelman announced the following: County facilities will be closed on Monday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 25th in observance of the Christmas holiday. Board of Commissioners meetings will not be held on Thursday, December 27, 2018, with the exception of the Finance Committee who will be meeting at 8:30 A.M. County facilities will be closed on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 in observance of New Years Day. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:21 A.M. Jon Hinkelman, Chairperson Sharon J. Tyler, County Clerk Minutes are to be approved at the full board meeting on January 3, 2019.