After a lengthy discussion at Monday’s regular meeting, the Belleville City Council voted 3-1 to store a portable stage in the DPW yard if someone else would buy it and manage it.
Councilman Jim Shrove, who voted no, said Belleville doesn’t have any city events for it.
“If an organization wants it, they should buy it and pay for it,” Shrove said.
Councilman Rick Dawson was absent and excused from the meeting.
Purchase of the portable stage, a deal at $4,500, was proposed to the Downtown Development Authority by DDA member Ken Voigt last week, but the DDA said the city should own it. DDA members informally agreed to purchase it, if the city would assume ownership.
When Voigt appeared before the city council with his proposal, however, the council was less than enthusiastic.
The stage, which is in Alabama and Voigt proposed to buy sight-unseen, is a customized 20 ft. cargo box which unfolds to a 17×24’ roofed stage. The front section can be expanded to 25’.
The suspension has just been replaced, Voigt said he was told.
Voigt said the stage comes equipped with a plug for a portable generator, over 20 electrical outlets, overhead stage lights, rope curtain lighting, built in electronics, drum riser, and cushioned flooring. At the front of the stage there are four high-speed cooling fans and 20 more performance lights.
While the council was discussing with Voigt about who should own the stage, Kay Atkins and Barbara Miller of the Belleville Area Council for the Arts were whispering to each other in the audience.
They came up with a proposal to present to BACA that would use the $5,000 Moriatory fund as a revolving loan fund, as it has in the past when it fronted money for the community band and later for the community chorus, who both paid the fund back.
Atkins said they could rent out the stage and earn the money to return to the fund.
Voigt said a lot of communities own stages. He thought Belleville could get the stage and make it available to any nonprofit groups in the 48111 zip code to encourage more events.
“We’re the only community in Southeast Michigan that has a downtown on the lake,” Voigt pointed out, adding the music festival he ran in 1999 on the lake was very successful and made great use of the lake.
“You’re splitting hairs about who’s putting on an event,” Voigt said. “We need to act like a community. It’s our thing.”
Most agreed that buying the stage sight-unseen was risky business, but Voigt said even if it needed upgrading, it was a deal since new stages cost about $100,000 and a similar used stage on eBay cost $19,000.
“It’s well worth it,” said Chief Gene Taylor. “It could be used … or could sit like the Santa Claus Shop and go dormant.”
Don Bluhm told of his experience with antique car purchases and said while the stage would be good for the community, “Don’t buy a pig in a poke. I haven’t seen many good ones.”
Voigt said he is satisfied with the photographs he’s been sent.
“It’s not new, but it’s a start,” said DDA member Mike Colletta.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:
* Voted to raise the sewer rate by 8%, a 45-cent increase, because the city’s rate has been increased. Water rates remain at the current rate of $5.56;
* Approved a clerical correction of a utility rate resolution passed last June to modify the ordinance to match what the city has been doing since then, according to city attorney John Day;
* Approved accepting the low bid of The Jeffery Company of Gibraltar for $19,733 to resurface the alley running south from West Columbia Avenue, near Five Points. There is only $17,000 in the budget for the project, so cutbacks in the scope will bring it down to the budget price. City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said they would like to have the project done before Main Street is torn up for construction, so it can be used as an alternate route for some motorists;
* Set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, to consider an ordinance amendment regulating electronic message signs. Both the Van Buren Public Schools and the City of Belleville would like to erect such signs;
* Approved the request of Girlstown to hold car washes from noon to 6 p.m. on June 30 and July 21 (rain days July 1 and 22) next to the fire hall at Second and Liberty, as it has done for the past two years. Kay Atkins suggested the girls do some community service to give back to the city that is paying for the water they use and Autumn Ross said she would take the idea back to her supervisor;
* Heard Mayor Richard Smith say that a year ago a committee came up with suggestions for park usage fees, but he wants to sit down with the new members of the parks & rec committee to discuss the proposal. City Manager Kollmeyer said while they are at it, the 1999 parks ordinance needs cleaning up, too;
* Approved the 2009/10 fiscal year budget amendments, with just two weeks left in the fiscal year. The amendments were recommended by Plante Moran consultant Molly Goike, who explained the changes and noted the fund balance will be about $50,000 less than expected, bringing it to $170,180;
* Adopted revisions to the city’s drug-free workplace policy, as recommended by City Manager Kollmeyer;
* Approved accounts payable of $291,605.60 including the following purchases in excess of $500: Birchler Arroyo, $654, planning services; Hennessey Engineers, $2,592.75, survey/alley improvements; Jack Doheny Supply, $847.67, sweeper repair; Mich. Ammo Co., $828, ammunition; and Midwest Backflow, $814, inspections;
* Witnessed Don Bluhm show water samples from his tap on Brain Street and ask for help with the water quality, so his wife can do the laundry and brush her teeth. He said DPW Director Keith Boc said he would be flushing the hydrants every 10 days, but since that promise the flushing has occurred only April 29, May 11, and June 10. Bluhm asked if he should go to the board of health, saying his family has to buy bottled water for cooking and drinking. The city will look into it; and
* Voted to change the next meeting date to July 6 at 7:30 p.m., since the July 5 date first set is inappropriate because City Hall will be closed that day because of the July 4 holiday.