THE BENZIE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The Benzie County Board of Commissioners met in a finance meeting on Friday, at 9:00 a.m., in the Commissioners Room, Government Center, Beulah, Michigan. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Pitcher. Present: Absent: Commissioners Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse The pledge of allegiance and invocation was given and lead by Commissioner Kelley. Approval of the agenda: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Smeltzer, to approve the agenda as amended, adding IX.D. Zoning Administrator Position/Wages. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and 9:05 a.m. Public Input Eric VanDussen, asks that the clerk record the meetings; would like to see them uploaded to the web site for the public when the web site is complete; Should pass a resolution to ask the AG to investigate the Sheriff employee prank; Chorley issue is on the agenda. 9:08 a.m. Public Input Closed Approval of the minutes: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Damm, to approve the minutes of January 12, 2007, as presented. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Claiming Reports: Monthly Commissioner Report: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Roper, to approve the claiming report as presented. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Weekly Report: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Roper, to approve the prepaid bills as presented. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and General Finance Issues: District Court: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Kelley, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to allow the District Court employees to have Benzie County longevity with a cap of $1,280. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse Nays: Assistant Prosecutor: Motion by Roper, seconded by Kelley, to deny the request for additional wages for the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney as requested. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman and Smeltzer Nays: Walterhouse Building Dept Refund Policy: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Roper, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to adopt the refund policy for the Building Department as
Page 2 presented, effective February 20, 2007. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse Nay: 9:45 a.m. Break 9:50 a.m. Resume Kountry Side Pet Salon Refund Request: Motion by Roper, seconded by Smeltzer to deny the request of Roger & Cindy Chorley for reimbursement of fees associated with Kountry Side Pet Salon as requested. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Budget Issues: General Fund Budget Status: Chuck is getting ready to submit comprehensive budget changes; Circuit Court expenses & revenue; adjustment for union contracts from contingency; Health insurance is under funded at this point; retirement looks OK. Auditors will do a debriefing within a couple of weeks and will present the audit at the March 20 meeting. Equipment Replacement Fund: Motion by Roper, seconded by Walterhouse, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to amend the 2007 budget by increasing the revenues and expenditures as follows: Revenue: 425-429-674.00 Contributions & Donations $ 940.00 Expenditures: 425-429-970.00 Equipment $ 940.00 Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse Nays: School Resource Officer: Motion by Roper, seconded by Walterhouse, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to amend the School Resource Fund (209), extending to June 6, 2007,as follows: REVENUE: 209 000 540.00 GT Band Grant $ 10,000 $ 10.000 Total $ 10,000 EXPENSES: 209 000 706.00 Deputy Wages $ 9,988 $ 26,988 209 000 725.00 Fringes (2,410) 9,418 Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse Nays: Spending Issues: Area Agency on Aging: Motion by Kelley, seconded by Smeltzer, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to authorize payment to Area Agency on Aging in the amount of $3,219.00
Page 3 from fund 276. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Attorney Bedells Invoice: Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Smeltzer, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to authorize payment of the invoice submitted by David J. Bedells. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Sandman, Smeltzer and Walterhouse Nays: Kelley, Pitcher and Roper (Mr. Bedells will be asked to appear on Tuesday, February 20, 2007.) Probate Court Furniture: Motion by Roper, seconded by Smeltzer, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to authorize the furniture purchase for the Probate Judge s office and a lateral file with countertop work area for the general office, as presented, with funds to be taken from Buildings & Grounds. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Zoning Administrator Position/Wages: Motion by Kelley, seconded by Roper, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to authorize Mr. Clarke to work with Craig Segar to offer him the position of Zoning Administrator/Dept Head/Soil Erosion, at a salary not to exceed $55,000. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Sheriff: Simplex Board: Jeff Conquest, Jail Administrator, presents a request to purchase replacement security board for the jail. Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Smeltzer, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to upgrade the security system in the jail, with funds to be taken from jail contingency. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and 10:30 a.m. Break 10:40 a.m. Resume Reports: Chairman s Report: Comm Pitcher thanked all commissioners that were able to attend the MAC conference very good turnout; just a reminder for the former commissioners and information for the new commissioners that per diem is not paid for finance meetings. Treasurer s Report: Linda presents the cash fund summary report; recommends transferring $25,000 from the General Fund to the Child Care Fund; the general fund has borrowed $600,000 from the revenue sharing fund and it will be repaid when tax money comes in; 56 parcels were taken to foreclosure in circuit court this week and they have until March 31, 2007 to pay. Motion by Walterhouse, seconded by Roper, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to transfer $25,000 from General Fund 101 to Child Care Fund 292. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Controller s Report: Nothing additional to add. Commissioner Go Round (Finance Issues) Comm Damm has nothing additional.
Page 4 Comm Walterhouse inquires regarding legal bills for the Acker case. He also states that the MAC conference was very good and was surprised at the number of counties going to five road commissioners. Comm Smeltzer echoed Comm Walterhouse on the MAC conference; all counties have similar problems; Joyfield Twp does not support county planning & zoning; Blaine Twp is still waffling; if we have a good administrator, we will see better attitudes at the townships. Comm Sandman has nothing additional. Comm Kelley also states MAC was a good conference but wish Chuck could have attended too. Comm Roper states that he feels we could have 100% township participation in planning and zoning. New Business: Next meeting: March 16, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. 11:12 a.m. Public Input: Eric VanDussen commented on the status reports from attorneys and the Chorley s hiring an attorney; feels the liability is enormous with the sheriff employee prank there were two additional deputies involved too. 11:16 a.m. Public Input Closed Motion by Roper, seconded by Smeltzer, to adjourn at 11:16 a.m. Motion carried. Ayes: Damm, Kelley, Pitcher, Roper, Sandman, Smeltzer and Respectfully submitted, Dawn Olney Benzie County Clerk
Page 5 Motion by Pitcher, seconded by Walterhouse, that upon recommendation of the Finance Committee of the Whole for Consent Calendar approval: 1. To allow the District Court employees to have Benzie County longevity with a cap of $1,280. 2. To adopt the refund policy for the Building Department as presented, effective February 20, 2007. 3. To amend the 2007 budget by increasing the revenues and expenditures as follows: Revenue: 425-429-674.00 Contributions & Donations $ 940.00 Expenditures: 425-429-970.00 Equipment $ 940.00 4. To amend the School Resource Fund (209), extending to June 6, 2007,as follows: REVENUE: 209 000 540.00 GT Band Grant $ 10,000 $ 10.000 Total $ 10,000 EXPENSES: 209 000 706.00 Deputy Wages $ 9,988 $ 26,988 209 000 725.00 Fringes (2,410) 9,418 5. To authorize payment to Area Agency on Aging in the amount of $3,219.00 from fund 276. 6. Removed from Consent Calendar. 7. To authorize the furniture purchase for the Probate Judge s office and a lateral file with countertop work area for the general office, as presented, with funds to be taken from Buildings & Grounds. 8. Removed from Consent Calendar. 9. To upgrade the security system in the jail, with funds to be taken from jail contingency. 10. To transfer $25,000 from General Fund 101 to Child Care Fund 292.