**APPROVED MINUTES**
Mason, Michigan
December 13, 2007
The Board of Ingham County Road Commissioners met for a regular meeting on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 6:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Road Commission’s Austin E. Cavanaugh Administration Building located at 301 N. Bush Street, Mason, Michigan.
Present:
Larry R. Smith, Chair, Joseph A. Guenther, Vice Chair, and Shirley M.
Rodgers, Commissioner.
Also Present:
Sandra F. Montgomery, Interim Managing Director, Deborah L. Bellows,
Secretary to the Board, and Joseph D. Pulver, Director of Operations.
Others Present:
Duane Yerks, SEIU Unit President and Fleet Manager, Dan Chapman, OPEIU
Local 512 Chief Steward and Engineering Dept. employee, Bryan Wieferich, AFSCME
Local 1499 Chief Steward and Eastern District employee, and Will Comstock, Don
Hackert, Tom Doyle, Todd Hull, and Wayne Oglesbee, Eastern District employees,
and Mike Glenn, ICRC Retiree.
Absent & Excused: Robert H. Peterson, Director of Engineering.
Chair Larry Smith called the meeting to order and
asked for a moment of silence to honor former Road Commissioner and friend,
Kenneth A. Hope, upon his recent death.
Mike Glenn, ICRC Retiree, stated when he retired
from the Road Commission he chose not to take the prescription drug
coverage. He has planned his retirement
financially based on the fact that he did not have to reimburse the Road
Commission for the drug rider on his health insurance. He said the retirees were told this month
that this option is no longer available and that they will be required to carry
the drug coverage, even if they don’t need it.
Mr. Glenn said he does not think this is fair to force people to pay for
the drug rider if they don’t need it.
He said that as a taxpayer, he does not think the money should be spent
on coverage that someone doesn’t need.
Mr. Glenn continued that they were just informed of
this change last week. There are
currently 23 retirees who take the waiver on the prescription drug
coverage. He said he was surprised that
none of them were here to voice their opinions.
Interim Managing Director Sandy Montgomery stated
this issue is part of the currently pending labor contract negotiations and
that she did not think it would be appropriate to discuss this issue during an
open meeting.
AFSCME Local 1499 Chief Steward Bryan Wieferich
stated that they don’t bargain for the retirees and does not believe that
discussing the retirees’ health care coverage is a union issue.
Chair Smith stated that while he was aware that
retirees’ health care coverage is not an issue of bargaining, he understands
the concerns. He commented that many
businesses are doing away with health care coverage for their retirees altogether
and many people are currently faced with no health care coverage as they
retire.
Commissioner Rodgers stated she understands the
dilemma of the retirees, because as a retiree from the Lansing School District,
the cost to her for her health care coverage is more than when she was an
active employee, including many of the co-pays. She continued that while she knows how the retirees feel, she
believes that what is being offered now is a better and less expensive use of
taxpayer funds, not to mention a better health insurance plan. Commissioner Rodgers stated that to purchase
the drug rider separately is no longer cost effective for the Road Commission.
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the following items be approved under consent:
A. Agenda Item #5, Minutes.
B. Agenda Item #6, Permits.
C. Agenda Item #9A, Accounts Payable.
D. Agenda Item #9B, fill the vacant Class 7 mechanic position.
3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #5 – Minutes.
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the minutes of the meeting of November 29, 2007, be approved as presented. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #6 – Permits.
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that routine permits be approved as follows:
07-0724 07-0725 07-0726 07-0727 07-0728 07-0729
07-0730 07-0721 07-0722 07-0723 07-0731 07-0732
3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9A – Accounts Payable.
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the accounts payable for the two week period from November 26-December 9, 2007, be approved as follows: check numbers #89633 through #89729, totaling $950,687.12. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item #9B – Recommendation to Fill Vacant Class
7 Mechanic Position.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FILLING THE VACANT CLASS 7 MECHANIC POSITION.
RESOLUTION #175-07
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers. 3 yes, 0 no. Resolution carried unanimously.
BE IT RESOLVED that upon recommendation of the Interim Managing Director, the Board authorizes offering the vacant Class 7 Mechanic position to Mr. Jay Phelps of Charlotte.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW
MANAGING DIRECTOR.
Chair Larry Smith introduced Mr. William Conklin as the Road Commission’s new Managing Director. He stated that Mr. Conklin would be present at the December 20th service awards luncheon to meet everyone. Chair Smith stated the Board would also be having a daytime reception for him sometime in January.
AGENDA ITEM #7 –
INTERIM MANAGING DIRECTOR REPORTS.
A. The rail on the Hagadorn Road Bridge is done. It will be painted when the weather permits. Chair Smith stated he wished to offer congratulations to Clare Piepkow for the great job on the rail. Vice Chair Guenther stated he spoke with Clare personally today; but he would also like to thank the entire crew that worked on the rail – it is a great job! Commissioner Rodgers thanked Mr. Guenther for his design of the repair and his work on behalf of the Board to get the repair done.
AGENDA ITEM #10A –
FINAL PLAT OF CEDAR RIDGE NO. 2 IN DELHI CHARTER TOWNSHIP.
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT OF CEDAR RIDGE NO. 2 LOCATED IN DELHI CHARTER TOWNSHIP.
RESOLUTION #176-07
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.
BE IT RESOLVED that upon recommendation of the Interim Managing Director and the Director of Engineering, the Board approves the Final Plat of Cedar Ridge No. 2 located in Section 23 of Delhi Charter Township. The proprietor is Hiawatha Park Investment Company LLC. The Board also approved and signed a Bituminous Pavement Agreement in the amount of $21,000.
AGENDA ITEM #11 –
BOARD UPDATES/COMMENTS.
A. Vice Chair Guenther talked about the 2009 Federal Local Safety Program and wondered if we were going to submit any projects for those funds. He also asked about High Risk Rural Road project funding for which applications are to be submitted by January 14th. Interim Managing Director Sandy Montgomery stated she is certain that Director of Engineering Bob Peterson is aware of these possible funding sources.
Commissioner Rodgers stated that on the 2030 Transportation Improvement Program listing, the Road Commission has a number of projects listed. She said she hopes that we can use some of those projects for the funding sources Mr. Guenther mentioned and, thus, move them up on the list.
B. Chair Smith stated he had the Employment Contract for Mr. Conklin. He took a 15 minute recess so that the Board members could read through it. The meeting was recessed at 6:10 P.M. and reconvened at 6:25 P.M.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ENTERING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH WILLIAM M. CONKLIN TO FILL THE VACANT MANAGING DIRECTOR POSITION.
RESOLUTION #177-07
Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers. 3 yes, 0 no. Resolution carried unanimously.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby approves and authorizes the Chair and Secretary to sign, an Employment Contract with William M. Conklin to fill the vacant Managing Director position. Mr. Conklin will start on January 14, 2008.
Mr. Conklin thanked the Board and all those who were involved in the selection process. He said he has a lot to learn, but it was a great process and he is looking forward to coming to work for the Ingham County Road Commission. Mr. Conklin said he is looking forward to meeting and working with the union representatives, as well as all of the employees. He said he is also looking forward to working with other governmental officials and serving the citizens of Ingham County.
AGENDA ITEM #8 – 2008
PROPOSED BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
Chair Larry Smith called the public hearing to order and called upon the Interim Managing Director to review the proposed budget.
Ms. Montgomery stated this represents the status quo as we are operating with right now. Capital outlay and position vacancies are deferred to the new Managing Director, who will make an assessment of our needs the first part of next year. At that time, this will be reviewed with the Board and then, along with the Managing Director, the Board can decide how to proceed with capital improvements and filling vacancies. At the time decisions are made, appropriate budget adjustments can be made to accommodate the need.
There was no one present with public comment. Chair Smith closed the public hearing at 6:35 P.M.
AGENDA ITEM #11 –
BOARD COMMENTS.
A. Commissioner Rodgers stated she did not know the procedure, but that the Board would be setting its meeting schedule on January 8th, correct? Chair Smith stated this would be on the agenda for December 20th to set the 2008 board meeting schedule. He indicated the first meeting will be Tuesday, January 8th, and then more than likely every other Tuesday after that.
B. Vice Chair Guenther announced there would be no deer contest this year, but that he would start it up again next season (2008).
No public comment was offered. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
Larry R. Smith, Chair Deborah L. Bellows, Board Secretary