Minutes and Agendas

City Commission Staff Meeting Minutes

CITY OF WALKER
COMMISSION/STAFF MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Mayor VerHeulen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor VerHeulen, Commissioners: Parent, Kent, Holt, Deschaine, and Stek.

Absent: Commissioner Versluis.

Also Present: City Manager Vander Meulen, and Assistant City Manager Schmalzel.

Mark Koning, Department of Public Works, presented the bid results for the 2010 Heavy Duty Tandem Axle Cab & Chassis Truck and additional wing plow equipment. Western Michigan International was the lowest bid at $72,814.97 for the truck, and Truck and Trailer was the lowest bid at $75,083.00 for the combination dump/V box spreader body with 9’mid mount wing plow.

Motion by Stek, seconded by Holt, to approve the cash purchase of the 2010 Heavy Duty Tandem Axle Cab & Chassis Truck in the amount of $72, 814.97 from Western Michigan International and mid mount wing plow in the amount of $75,083.00 for a total amount of $147,897.97. Motion carried unanimously.

Bonnie Broadwater, Engineering Department, reviewed the Community Development Block Grant allocation approvals that we received from Kent County. The Commission can choose to reallocate funds that are not used to current projects or to rollover into next year. The Commission asked for more information on the Homeowner Rehab need in the City of Walker.

Scott Conners, Engineering Department, reviewed the Traffic Subcommittee minutes of August 10, 2009.

Motion by Deschaine, seconded by Parent, to approve the Traffic subcommittee’s recommendation to authorize the Traffic Committee to review the removal of "No Parking" signs in areas where the signage is not required by law to enforce parking restrictions. Motion carried 5-1, with Kent voting no.

The Commission also agreed to review existing speed limits throughout the city on a case by case basis rather than implementing a citywide speed study. Lastly, the Commission directed staff to explore using weight restrictions as a way to limit trucks without completely prohibiting trucks in three pilot areas. Those areas were on Bristol from 3 Mile Rd. to 4 Mile Rd., Walker Avenue from Northridge to 4 Mile Rd., and Butterworth Rd. from Veteran’s Drive to Maynard. Staff will bring a draft plan for these pilot areas back to the Commission for review.

William Schmidt, Fire Department reviewed the minimum staffing needs at each fire station.

Motion by Parent, seconded by Holt, to establish a recommended minimum staffing of 20 firemen at each station consisting of 8 firemen scheduled for days and 12 firemen scheduled for nights. Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion was held in regards to looking at the Department of Public Works employees at becoming paid on call firemen. Mayor VerHeulen suggested utilizing the DPW for daytime hours as paid on call firemen.

The Commission asked for a schedule of the limited school visitation they will be conducting. The Fire department will get back to the Commission with a plan for the amount of time they will visit schools.

Mayor / Commissioner Comments;

Mayor VerHeulen responded to the information received from our City Attorney on teleconferencing. Mayor VerHeulen would not recommend teleconferencing for City Commission meetings, if serving for the Community, one needs to be present at the meeting.

Discussion was held in regards to assigning substitute Commission members to fill in for another Commission member at a Committee meeting. It was concluded to forward this to the Commissioner Handbook Committee for further discussion.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah Bydalek

City Clerk

The City of Walker, Michigan
4243 Remembrance Rd. NW
Walker, MI 49534
(616)453-6311
City Hall hours: Mon-Thursday from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Closed Fridays
All information © 2012 City of Walker

Contact Us!
If you would like to leave general comments about the website, click here.
Click here to report technical problems with the website.