On Monday, June 6, the Belleville City Council adopted its 2016-17 general fund budget of $2,026,088 on a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Kim Tindall casting the only no vote.
She said the Downtown Development Authority’s tentative budget sent over was “unacceptable to me.” She said the cut from $100,000 to $65,000 for district maintenance is not proper. Also cutting from $67,000 to $15,000 for police and fire is unacceptable, “I don’t have the words… I’m baffled.”
She said she thinks flowers on Main Street are beautiful but putting $8,000 in the budget for flowers and just $15,000 in the general fund of the city for public safety doesn’t make sense.
The city budget is balanced by taking $52,060 from the fund balance, leaving an estimated $911,765.35 in the fund balance at the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The new fiscal year begins July 1.
At the budget discussion on May 23, the budget expenditures were more than $90,000 over revenues, so cuts were made.
Among the cuts were about $8,000 for salaries and uniforms for the fire department; one part-time person for the police department, $30,000; and about $16,000 for leaf pick up.
City Manager Diana Kollmeyer introduced the new city clerk treasurer Sharri Scharf, who will take over when current Clerk/Treasurer Lisa Long retires on June 24.
The council officially confirmed her appointment near the end of the meeting.
In other business at the two-hour-and-15-minute meeting, the council:
- Approved a street closing request by Grace Baptist Church for its annual Fourth of July Picnic. High Street will be closed from behind the church to the corner of Roys from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. He invited any city employees working that day, including police on duty, to stop by and eat with them;
- Approved the Fire Department’s request to upgrade the permit of the department from Medical First Responder to Basic Life Support level. EMTs will now, in addition to what they’ve done under MFR, be able check a person’s temperature, check blood sugar level, administer oral glucose, put in a combi-tube when person is in cardiac arrest, and administer an epi pen auto injector. “This gives us a chance to do the things we can do when HVA is further away,” said Fire Chief Brian Loranger who said these days HVA is often 15, 20 or 25 minutes away during emergencies;
- Opened one bid for the two police cars: $328 from Jim Schmenk for the 2001 model. “We’re still stuck with the 2000,” Mayor Conley said;
- Approved Scharf as the new signatore once Long has retired;
- Approved allowing the Strawberry Festival to have hospitality tents at Third and Fourth Streets if the Chamber of Commerce doesn’t move forward with use of those spaces. The council already approved Chamber use of those areas;
- Was introduced to two new fire fighters who had just completed probationary status: Matt Skender and Jessica Kelly, both EMTs;
- Heard Tim Smith strongly oppose recognition of the Honor and Remember flag. He said most of the money given to Honor and Remember is to promote the organization and Gold Star mothers just get a flag. He said there are already Blue Star Flags and Gold Star Flags to honor the families of those who fight and die. Cornell Anton was present to support Smith’s comments. Smith was deployed 10 times throughout his 20-year naval career to places including Iraq and Bagram, Afghanistan;
- Heard Randy Priest discuss leaf collection, which is no longer in the city budget. People in the council chambers suggested several ways to help people with leaf collection. After talking about how tight the budget is, Priest said, “If we cut leaf pick up, we can live without it. A lot of people will be disappointed”;
- Discussed why the Downtown Development Authority budget isn’t quite ready and must be amended later once it gets figures in for outsourcing some services. It was pointed out the city council has power over the DDA budget if it does not come in appropriately. DDA coordinator Carol Thompson was not present because she had retina surgery earlier that day. Mayor Conley said while the DDA revenue stream is there the cost of the bond payment increased, as was planned. “They came to the party a little late,” Mayor Conley said of the timing, adding the DDA is seeking bids for outside contractors for Victoria Commons and grass cutting and don’t have the figures. They put a budget together on what they thought they should pay. Mike Renaud said the DDA is dropping a bomb on the city for $45,000. It was pointed out this is not the first year the DDA has been late with its budget;
- Asked Police Chief Hal Berriman to look into the problem of a stop sign on Roys Street in front of the Methodist Church that regularly is disregarded by motorists. They also asked the chief to look into better markings on Main when High Street is closed;
- Learned the kayak rental business discussed for Horizon Park will not come this year;
- Heard Brad Manley say he will be coming to the council soon with a proposal to shut down High Street on July 23 or 30 for a craft show and water show as a fund raiser for Ken Roberson who is fighting cancer. He hopes to turn this event into an annual fund raiser. He plans ski jumping, jet skis, and a lighted boat parade with a spectator area at Horizon Park; and
- Approved accounts payable of $111,851.49 and departmental purchases in excess of $500: to Discount Tire, $780 for tires for the fire department; to Michigan Municipal League, $2,603 for annual dues, general fund; and to Wingfoot Tire, $2,667.39 for tires for the fire department.