The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, April 19, 2006 in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner David D. Veramay, Chairman
Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Vice-Chairman
Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Member
Joanna Johnson, Assistant Managing Director
Pixie Coats, Human Resource Director
Kevin Henning, Finance Director
Also Present: Joe Bramble, Convis Township
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Tiffany Eichorst, Calhoun County Solid Waste Director

Chairman Veramay called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of March 15, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Received a letter from the American Public Works Association (APWA) congratulating the Calhoun County Historic Bridge Park for being selected as one of the American Public Works Association’s “Public Works Projects of the Year for 2006”.

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Commissioner Veramay stated that having one of our projects selected as the American Public Works Projects of the year is a very big thing. I would like to see Mr. Randolph accept this award because the Bridge Park has even been in European publications and now it’s a nationally recognized project. This is an accomplishment we should all be proud of.

Commissioner Travis stated that this is a very honorable award.

Mrs. Johnson stated that she believes that Mr. Randolph would like to attend this and she also wants to thank the Board for their support for Parks and Public Works. Mrs. Johnson also said kudos’ to Annette Chapman and Dennis Randolph for putting a lot of time towards this effort.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mrs. Johnson provided the Board with the following information:

Duck Lake Update:
Met with our consultant regarding Duck Lake and they will forward the plans onto the DEQ for review. Hopefully a permit from them will be reviewed. We are still on track to do that work and will try to bid it out this summer.

Ms. Eichorst stated she was working on the Rural Development Authority application for the funding for Duck Lake. Also working on the Emergency Response Plan for Duck Lake. We bid out our environmental services and received four bids. We are now reviewing them to see who will be doing the testing at the facilities.

Mr. Henning stated that they have a few townships that are looking at refinancing bonds which is part of what we do through Public Works. The City of Marshall had two bonds we are still managing through Public Works. We have never really discussed what the cost is for us to manage those bonds. We originally talked to Pennfield Township when they wanted to refinance, we said we would not charge the original 3 ½ % for a new bond, but we would manage it for $50.00 per transaction. We did receive a call from the City of Marshall and they said they were no longer interested in refinancing through the Board of Public Works. Dennis noted that was due to the $50.00 transfer fee.

Commissioner Travis noted the transfer fee was not the reason for the City of Marshall change but rather the overall county bond status.

Mrs. Johnson stated that we are updating the BPW policy to reflect the new refinancing charges and then the policy needs to be followed.

Mr. Henning stated that the reason for the refinancing fee is because the origination fee of 3½ % was never paid to the Board of Public Works to take care of the invoicing, paying, reporting, and auditing cost for several years for some of these bonds.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, 2006 immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Board of Road Commission meeting. There being no additional business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.