**APPROVED MINUTES**

Mason, Michigan

January 8, 2008

The Board of Ingham County Road Commissioners met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, 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, Member.

Also Present: Joseph D. Pulver, Acting Managing Director/Director of Operations, Deborah L. Bellows, Secretary to the Board, Robert H. Peterson, Director of Engineering, James L. Charles, Sign and Signal Manager, William M. Conklin, Managing Director, and Peter A. Cohl, Labor Counsel.

Others Present: Todd Hull, Eastern District employee, Will Comstock, Eastern District employee, Duane Yerks, SEIU Local 517M President and Fleet Manager, and Dale E. Arnett, Eastern District Supervisor.

The meeting was called to Order and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

AGENDA ITEM #4 – ELCETION OF BOARD OFFICERS FOR 2008.

Secretary Bellows asked for nominations for Chair of the Board for calendar year 2008.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that Larry R. Smith serve the Board as Chair for calendar year 2008. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Commissioner Rodgers and Supported by Commissioner Smith, that Joseph A. Guenther serve the Board as Vice Chair for calendar year 2008. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

AGENDA ITEM #5 – ADDITIONS/DELETIONS.

A. Delete Agenda Item #12.

B. Add as Agenda Item #16A closed session to discuss pending labor contract negotiations.

AGENDA ITEM #5 – CONSENT ITEMS.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the following items be approved under consent:

A. Agenda Item #9 – Minutes.

B. Agenda Item #10 and #10A – Routine and special permits.

C. Agenda Item #13A – Traffic Control Order.

D. Agenda Item #14A – Confirm Accounts Payable.

3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #9 – Minutes.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the minutes of the meetings of December 13, 2007, and December 20, 2007, be approved as presented. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #10 and #10A – Routine and Special Permits.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that routine permits be approved as follows:

07-0735 07-0736 07-0737 07-0740 07-0741 07-0734

07-0738 07-0739 07-0742 07-0743 07-0744 07-0745

08-0001 08-0002 08-0003 08-0004 08-0005 08-0007

3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that permit #08-0008 be approved for E.T. MacKenzie Company for its annual haul route on Chamberlin Drive in Lansing Charter Township. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda Item #13A – Traffic Control Order.

RESOLUTION APPROVING TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER FOR LOCATION IN MERIDIAN CHARTER TOWNSHIP.

RESOLUTION #001-08

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers. 3 yes, 0 no. Resolution carried unanimously.

BE IT RESOLVED that upon recommendation of the Sign and Signal Shop Manager, the Board approves Traffic Control Order #Y-S-10-08-001 requiring eastbound traffic on Silkwood Drive to Stop for northbound and southbound traffic on Alderwood Drive. Previous Traffic Control Order #Y-10-95-13 dated September 21, 1995, is hereby rescinded. This location is in Meridian Charter Township.

Agenda Item #14A – Accounts Payable.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the Accounts Payable for the two week period of December 10-23, 2007, be confirmed as follows: check numbers #89730 through #89851, totaling $1,073,501.45. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

AGENDA ITEM #6 – CONFIRM COUNTY HIGHWAY ENGINEER & SECRETARY TO THE BOARD.

Moved by Commissioner Rodgers and Supported by Commissioner Guenther, that the Board hereby appoints Robert H. Peterson to act as the Ingham County Road Commission’s County Highway Engineer to serve the citizens of Ingham County for calendar year 2008. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Commissioner Rodgers and Supported by Commissioner Guenther, that the Board hereby appoints Deborah L. Bellows to act as the Ingham County Road Commission’s Secretary to the Board to serve the Board for calendar year 2008. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

AGENDA ITEM #7 – 2008 CONSTRUCTION PUBLIC HEARING.

The Board set March 4, 2008, to hold the 2008 Construction Public Hearing.

AGENDA ITEM #11 – ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR REPORTS.

A. Mr. Pulver gave a report and costs of the New Year’s Eve/Day snow storm.

B. Mr. Pulver gave a report on the rain damage and road closures of recent rains.

C. The Road Commission’s Receptionist, Rahman Shareef bid for, and successfully obtained, the Account Clerk II/Webmaster position. The Receptionist position is now open. It is being posted within, and once that period has ended, if no one has applied for the position, it will be open to the outside. The Board was informed that Mr. Shareef currently has a Bachelor’s degree in Community Services, an Associate’s degree of Applied Arts in Theater, a general Associate’s degree, and is currently working on an MBA program through Walsh College.

AGENDA ITEM #13B – EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE LANSING BOARD OF WATER & LIGHT.

Sign and Signal Shop Manager Jim Charles presented the Board with a request to renew the five year Agreement with the Lansing Board of Water & Light for traffic signal emergency maintenance. Mr. Charles stated the Ingham County Road Commission currently maintains 60 traffic signals, 11 4-way flashers and 10 school flashers. The Road Commission employs one signal technician. He said that the Agreement with the Board of Water & Light is for emergencies in case there would come a time when emergency maintenance is needed and any of our signals and our employees are not available. In the past five years under the current Agreement, their services have not been used. But, the Agreement is in place just in case. Mr. Charles stated that since the Traffic Department has nearly been obliterated, the chances of us needing the services of the Board of Water & Light are high. He asked the Board to consider approval to renew the Agreement. Mr. Charles said he has requested an additional signal person in his 2008 budget because only having one person in the signal department severely affects his preventive maintenance program. The Board asked that Mr. Charles discuss this additional employee for his department with the new Managing Director.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE LANSING BOARD OF WATER & LIGHT.

RESOLUTION #002-08

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers. 3 yes, 0 no. Resolution carried unanimously.

BE IT RESOLVED that upon recommendation of the Sign and Signal Shop Manager, the Board approves the renewal of the Traffic Signal emergency maintenance Agreement with the Lansing Board of Water and Light for a five year period. The Board authorizes the Chair and Secretary to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Board once it has been approved and signed by the Lansing Board of Water and Light.

AGENDA ITEM #14B – APPOINTMENT OF CARTS COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES.

The Board was informed that the representatives of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission have asked that the Board appoint a delegate and alternate to serve on the CARTS Committee.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the Board hereby appoints Managing Director William M. Conklin to serve as delegate for the Ingham County Road Commission on the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s CARTS Committee. The Board also appoints Robert H. Peterson as the alternate for this Committee when Mr. Conklin is not available.

AGENDA ITEM #16A – CLOSED SESSION.

Moved by Commissioner Rodgers and Supported by Commissioner Guenther, that the Board enter closed session at 6:20 P.M. for the purpose of discussing pending labor contract negotiations with its labor counsel, Peter A. Cohl. Roll call vote: Commissioner Smith, yes, Commissioner Guenther, yes, Commissioner Rodgers, yes. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Commissioner Guenther and Supported by Commissioner Rodgers, that the Board return to open session at 7:15 P.M. Roll call vote: Commissioner Smith, yes, Commissioner Guenther, yes, Commissioner Rodgers, yes. 3 yes, 0 no. Motion carried unanimously.

AGENDA ITEM #17 – LIMITED PUBLIC COMMENT.

Mr. Cohl wanted to express to the Board, his compliments to the Road Commission’s staff on the great job they do with snow removal. He said he travels all over the state and Ingham County has the best road system by far, especially when traveling during inclement weather.

AGENDA ITEM #16 – BOARD COMMENTS.

A. Commissioner Rodgers stated that she thought the Board should send a letter to all of the Road Commission’s retirees with an explanation of the health care coverage and why the drug coverage can no longer be split off from the regular health care.

No public comment was offered. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 P.M.

Larry R. Smith, Chair Deborah L. Bellows, Secretary