March 2022

VILLAGE of MECOSTA
115 W. Main St. P.O. Box 387 Mecosta, MI 49332 231-972-7614 ofc
PROPOSED Minutes of Regular Meeting on Mar 14, 2022 in office
Present: Ann Wrobbel, Colleen Beemer, Alice Ray, Katherine Snider, Kim Wernette, Joy Moorman, Melissa
Moorman, Kevin Stevens, Guests: Margaret Moore, Jerry Wallace
Meeting called to order by President Ann Wrobbel at 6:00 pm. The Pledge of Allegiance recited. Minutes of
Regular Meeting of 2.3.22 read. Change the word ‘supervisor’ to ‘president’. Motion by Kim to approve minutes.
Seconded by Katherine. Motion carried.
Public Hearing: Vacate land per Resolution 2022-001 (vacant land behind Coffee n Cream). No Public
Comments. Motion by Kim to approve Resolution 2022-001. Seconded by Colleen. Motion carried
unanimously.
Regular Meeting Public Comments: none
President’s Report: *President put forth a request for donation from Village for $1500 to pay for a band this
upcoming 4th of July weekend. This was tabled for more discussion. *Trustee Reduction (from 6 to 4 update: see
attorney’s recommendation email. Motion by Ann to move forward with the reduction of the number of trustees
from 4 to 6. Seconded by Kim. Roll call vote: Alice, Nay; Katherine, Nay; Ann, Yea; Kim, Yea; Colleen, yea. Nays: 2/
Yeas: 3 Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report: Printouts of reconciliations of all 6 accounts were dispersed to council at the budget meeting
detailing debits/credits and current balances. Melissa reviewed the current balances and handed out Feb bank recs.
Kim asked why we have received an additional $95.41 from the State: as noted at Feb meeting, it was because funds
were disbursed by Municipalities opting out of accepting the ARPA funds. Motion by Ann to approve Treasurer’s
Report. Seconded by Colleen. Motion carried.
Clerk’s Report: Asset fund: moving forward, the current $250 will be increased to $500 purchases per accountant;
Burnips can put up banner with a waived fee.; brought up at budget meeting: $0 in new budget for accountant as
that is not needed. Joy spoke of the need for training of some sort to close out year end properly. This issue was
table. Also brought up at budget meeting: quarterly budget amendments. At April 2021 budget meeting, the
budget was approved. Pat asked me if I’d be looking after it and keeping track of our budget. Clerk replied yes.
President said that it sounds good. That was the end of the discussion. So, Clerk did just that. At no point during
the past year was a quarterly budget amendment meeting brought up. We were all brand new and trying our best.
It was suggested by Clerk that moving forward we put this item on the agenda every three months. Everyone was
in agreement. *Email from accountant handed out: Laura at the accountant’s office had told clerk that there was an
adjustment needed in the payroll tax. A quick phone call would be in order. No decision made. Secondly, he offered
to do our chart of accounts, approximate cost of $500 to $1000. This needs to be done correctly to comply with the
State Uniform Chart of Accounts code by 12/31/22. No decision made. *Quickbooks invoice: annual fee – last year
$200 approximate; this year $850! Clerk needs to call- this requires numerous attempts and many hours of time.
*Admin fee should be adjusted to reflect current income. *Equipment Rental Rate process: this requires no
interruptions and approximately 2.5 hours. Clerk hopes to have time to do it this Th. *Clerk needs to do a more in
depth version of the parade permit due to both parades being longer than 15 minutes; waiting on info from VFW &
Ann. Note: with only 7 hours a week for Clerk to work, items/projects may need to be pushed forward to the
following Thursday or later. Motion by Kim to accept Clerk Report. Seconded by Katherine. Motion carried.
*Ann stated that she didn’t get paid for mileage suggesting that the Clerk calculated her check incorrectly, but in
actuality, it wasn’t turned in. *Ann questioned Clerk & Treasurer time sheets, would like more info moving forward.
Ann also questioned the need for more than one trip/mo. to go to the bank and suggested Treasurer might be
depositing funds into the Village accounts unnecessarily. There was no decision made on how and when this should
be done or how often or what to do with any and all funds brought to office.. Until motion is made, deposit process
is unknown; the question on checks and cash deposits is tabled until further notice. *On another matter, Kim said
that it was her assumption that the hired employees, Clerk & Treasurer (& the Street Commissioner) should not be
paid $60 for meeting attendance. When Ann hired former and current employees, she stated quite matter of factly
that the hired employees get $60/per meeting like the rest of the council. This is how we have paid former
employees (Ed Fountain, Lynda Pike). This matter has been tabled, thus hourly employees will not be getting the
annual paycheck in April along with everyone else. *CPA bill was questioned. This was work that was done at the
beginning of the year; it was questioned as to whether it is an accurate bill or was it for future work.
Motion to approve Bills, Expenses and Payroll by Ann. Seconded by Colleen. Motion carried unanimously.
Cemetery: Two people have requested info on plots. Katherine can come in Th and meet with Ann. *Woodbury
property: she pays taxes – shouldn’t her road be maintained; it needs dirt in that hole in front of the mailboxes;
Cherry St road straight is abandoned road – it’s graveled but not plowed. Why not? *April 1st is coming and we
need to start removing the items from the cemetery.
Pine Tree Park: : Horseshoe tourney: One more added Sept 10, 2022.
Bromley Park: *Alice or Joy will call around on well opening prices.
Pocket Park: nothing new Ordinances:nothing new
*Community Activities: Council as a whole to accept responsibility for this committee. Easter Egg Hunt Workshop
27th @ 2; Hunt 4/9/22; rain date 4/16/22; Joy offered to bring Graphic Specialties the banner for updating the date.
To be held at Pine Tree Park. Ann will call Randy’s Porta John to get delivery. Clerk can cross off getting porta john
bids from others; President said to keep it local.
Research & Info: Kim requested sponsorship for fireworks 2022. Fireworks cost has gone up 25%. Ann will call
company and tell them we would like to spend $7000. Motion by Ann that the Village sponsors the 2022 fireworks
not to exceed $1000. Seconded by Colleen. Motion Carried unanimously.
Street Commissioner: Truck purchase? Kim made a motion to purchase the 1988 pickup truck from Kevin Stevens
for $4500 less the $1500 he would pay for the old tractor of which he had won the bid last month. Alice seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments: None
Motion to adjourn at 8:00 by Katherine. Seconded by Kim. Motion CARRIED.