City of Tuscola City Council met Jan. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Alderpersons Brace and Shoemaker participated virtually. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment
Jerry Jones, Tuscola resident, asked Dave Schaab, Waste Management representative, how many customers would be affected by the change to curb side pickup only. Schaab answered 548 customers out of a total of approximately 1400. Jones asked how streets with parking only on one side would be handled. Schaab answered as long as the trash tote was not blocked by a vehicle their trash will be picked up. Mayor Kleiss stated this could be an issue for most anyone in town. The trash workers will have to figure this out. Jones commented he appreciates the phone numbers posted, but neither works. Schaab answered the new 800 numbers will be publicized. Schaab invited Jones to call him personally if he wasn't able to speak to someone.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:
Minutes of the December 27, 2022 meeting
Payment of bills totaling $229,402.38
Pay request in the amount of $1278.34, from Donohue and Associates for engineering on the joint water agency main
Request from Adam Munds to include a monster truck demonstration at the end of the RC Fest planned for July 29-30, 2023
Hoey moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Day seconded. Munds addressed council about his request for the monster truck demo. Munds feels this is something everyone would come out for and gave council his plans and layout for the event. Munds also discussed safety measures that will be implemented. Munds plans to hold this event at the end of the final day (7/30), after the RC Fest is complete. After a question from Hoey, Munds stated everything will be cleaned up as well as it was last year. He could not guarantee the monster truck demolition area would not need re- seeding, though. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Rund moved to approve the consent agenda for January 9, 2023, as presented. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Mayor
Mayor Kleiss extended condolences to the family of Michael Smith, former Superintendent of the Tuscola School District. Smith passed away this past Saturday at his current home in Jacksonville. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family.
City Clerk - No Report
City Treasurer - No Report
City Attorney - No Report
City Administrator - No Report
Contracts and Agreements
Mayor Kleiss opened discussion on the agreement with Cross Construction for emergency water leak repairs on the railroad right of way at the intersection of North Central and Carico. Morris moved to approve the agreement with Cross Construction in the amount of $18,700, for the water leak repairs. Day seconded. Foreman Cruzan stated this is the second leak on this line and it will be good to get rid of the old line that runs under the tracks. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Phase II of the downtown street and alley improvements includes the completion of the alley behind the Community Building, the green space adjacent to the Community Building, and paving the two block of alley east across Main Street. Clark Dietz has submitted a proposal in the amount of $119,620, for the engineering related to Phase II. The proposal covers surveys, designs, permits, and bidding for Phase II, plus overruns from Phase I. Hoey moved to approve the proposal from Clark Dietz for engineering services on Phase II of the downtown street and alley improvements and Phase I of overruns, at a cost of $119,620. Slaughter seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Mayor Kleiss presented the agreement with Tuscola Chamber and Economic Development (TCED) to extend the agreement that contributes $100,000 per year towards the salary and benefits for Brain Moody, TCED Director through September 30, 2023. Administrator Hoel noted until December 30, 2022, TIF was the funding source for this contribution. Alternate funding sources are being investigated now that TIF has expired. Morris moved to approve the extension of the agreement with TCED for the Director salary and benefits of $100,000 (amount to be pre-rated) through September 30, 2023. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Other
Retired Police Officer Butch Hall has been filling in for the department on a part time basis. When wages were adjusted for the new budget year, the retired part time police officer wage was not changed because the city did not have anyone in that position. Now that Hall is filling shifts, the wage will be increased. Slaughter moved to raise the hourly rate for retired part time police officer to $25 per hour, effective today (1/9/23). Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Mayor Kleiss noted he, Administrator Hoel, and city staff has been in discussion with Dave Schaab, Waste Management, about the transition to curb side pickup. Schaab addressed council, stating they understand change is hard, but they plan to do everything they can to make this work. No one will go without trash pickup and Waste Management will work with each individual with an infirmity or hardship that prevents them from getting their trash to the curb. Administrator Hoel thanked Schaab for coming and asked if there would be any waivers for property layout. Schaab stated this would be determined on an individual basis. Individuals with concerns should not contact the city but instead contact Waste Management at one of the two 800 numbers on the hang tags. Hoey stated he wished Waste Management could wait until the end of the current contract before making this change. Schaab stated that due to rising costs and difficulty keeping employees, Waste Management has to increase efficiency since rates cannot be raised until a new contract goes into effect. Shoemaker asked if it was possible to delay the date of the change until Waste Management has their communications worked out. Schaab stated communications have already been sent out to everyone on the routes affected by the change. Jones asked if waiver forms for disability were ready. Administrator Hoel stated he is not sure there will be an actual form. Schaab added Waste Management will not put themselves on the line making decisions about disability. Attorney Bequette added the city will not be making waiver decisions either. Schaab ended by saying they know what they are getting into and they will work through this.
The motion to adjourn was made by Hoey and seconded by Morris. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.
https://tuscola.org/council-meeting-documents
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