Regular Meeting - November 18, 1997 1. At a Regular Meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners held in the Board Chambers in the City of Monroe on Tuesday, November 18, 1997, the meeting was called to order by Chairman Zorn at 7:00 p.m. Roll call by Clerk as follows: PRESENT ABSENT Lehr Roe Richard Reed Gail Hauser-Hurley Dale Zorn John Funk (excused) Randy Ansel David Scott David Roberts Floreine Mentel A quorum being present, the Board proceeded to transact business. 2. Cara Calkins 4-H Member, Rabbit Rangers led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Reverend E.D. Landis, Wesleyan Church led the Invocation. 4. Motion by Chairman Zorn to amend the 11/18/97 Finance Committee Report, item A - Accounts Payable Current Claims Report In The Amount Of $301,772.13, pull items #6 under Communications due to the Treasurer being out of town and pull item #9 under Communications and refer to the Physical Resources Committee. Motion by Commissioner Funk the Agenda for the Regular Meeting, Tuesday, November 18, 1997, be approved with the amendment to the 11/18/97 Finance Committee Report and items #6 and #9 pulled. Supported by Commissioner Reed. Roll call on motion as follows: AYES NAYS ABSENT Lehr Roe Richard Reed Gail Hauser-Hurley Dale Zorn John Funk (excused) Randy Ansel David Scott David Roberts Floreine Mentel Motion carried. 5. Motion by Commissioner Scott the Minutes for Tuesday, November 4, 1997, be approved as proposed. Supported by Commissioner Mentel. Motion carried. 6. Citizens Time - Richard Micka spoke regarding the history of preserving historical ties with Montana and the Custer Battlefield. Mr. Micka introduced the author of the Little Big Horn, Robert Nightengale and presented a copy of the book to the Commissioners. 7. Special Tribute Recognizing Bronco McKart As The Junior Middleweight Champion With The International Boxing Association. Special Tribute read: SPECIAL TRIBUTE WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Monroe County Board of Commissioners offer the highest tribute to Bronco McKart, two time holder of World Boxing titles, first as the World Boxing Organization’s Junior Middleweight Championship Title and his most recent title earned as Junior Middleweight Champion with the International Boxing Association, which he won on October 7, 1997; and WHEREAS, Bronco McKart has brought honor upon himself and the Monroe community by his many titles and achievements, through both his outstanding amateur and professional boxing careers; and WHEREAS, Bronco McKart has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in his chosen career of boxing and, in his pursuit of being the very best, has devoted countless hours of training and practice toward perfecting his skills; and WHEREAS, Bronco McKart has set a positive example to Monroe County youth, showing that hard work and determination leads to the fulfillment of dreams; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that on this Eighteenth Day of November, 1997, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners hereby publicly recognizes and commends Bronco McKart for past and present achievements he has made in his chosen career and wish him the best in his future endeavors. The Special Tribute was presented to Bronco McKart by Chairman Zorn. 8. Resolution Recognizing November, 1997, As National Hospice Month. Resolution read: R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, HOSPICE care is the most human tradition of health service delivery in the United States, providing 24-hour palliative medical care and social, emotional and spiritual services for the terminally ill, as well as support for the family; and WHEREAS, HOSPICE care helps patients live fully during their final days by alleviating the fears associated with terminal illness such as dying in pain, alone and as a burden to the family, and by enabling them to remain in the comfort and security of home or home-like settings; and WHEREAS, more than 39,000 full-time professionals and 100,000 volunteers in association with an estimated 3,000 hospices work together to serve more than 390,000 individuals throughout the nation. These dedicated men and women form a valuable network of end-of-life support in our nation’s vast health care system and are deserving of special honor and appreciation for their many contributions; and WHEREAS, and increase in public awareness and understanding of HOSPICE care will better serve the families who are faced with a terminal illness in our community and help ensure that HOSPICE services are a guaranteed benefit for all citizens; and WHEREAS, the Hospice of Monroe has joined the Hospice Association of America, the National Hospice Organization and an estimated 3,000 hospice agencies in declaring the month of November, 1997 as NATIONAL HOSPICE MONTH and are calling on all Americans to observe this occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Monroe County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaim the month of November as “NATIONAL HOSPICE MONTH” in the County of Monroe and encourage the support and participation of friends, neighbors, colleagues and fellow citizens in associated hospice programs now and throughout the year. Motion by Chairman Zorn to offer the resolution Recognizing November, 1997, As National Hospice Month. Supported by Commissioner Funk. Roll call on motion as follows: AYES NAYS ABSENT Lehr Roe Richard Reed Gail Hauser-Hurley Dale Zorn John Funk (excused) Randy Ansel David Scott David Roberts Floreine Mentel Motion carried. 9. Resolution Opposing Any Jurisdictional Transfer Proposal That Does Not Address Adequate Funding From State And Federal Sources For The Local Roads That Remain Under Local Jurisdiction. Resolution read: R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, the economy of the state of Michigan and its counties is inextricably connected to the quality of its transportation infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the recent passage of an increase in fuel taxes, the first in this state since 1984, was a much needed step toward increasing the quality of the state’s transportation infrastructure; and WHEREAS, fuel taxes are equitably assessed as essentially a user fee in that the more a person drives and uses state and local roads, the more taxes they will pay; and WHEREAS, the discussion over passage of an increase in fuel taxes included a proposal that transfers the jurisdiction of county primary roads to the state; and WHEREAS, the jurisdiction proposal being offered now by the administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation focuses solely on jurisdiction and not the related funding issues and financial implications if such a takeover were to take place; and WHEREAS, the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) , in conjunction with county road agencies and the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM), believe no discussion of jurisdictional transfer can proceed without related funding issues and financial implications being addressed; and WHEREAS, it is MAC’s belief that the ultimate goal of the jurisdictional proposal is to capture federal revenue and force local road agencies to fund roads from local revenue sources, such as property tax millage; and WHEREAS, this goal undermines the equability of a user-based fee, such as the state fuel tax. WHEREAS, the issue of stranded costs, i.e., existing bond debt incurred to improve local roads, must be addressed in an equitable fashion in any jurisdictional transfer proposal; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Monroe County Board of Commissioners will oppose any jurisdictional transfer proposal that does not address adequate funding from state and federal sources for the local roads that remain under local jurisdiction. Motion by Commissioner Reed to adopt the Resolution Opposing Any Jurisdictional Transfer Proposal That Does Not Address Adequate Funding From State And Federal Sources For The Local Roads That Remain Under Local Jurisdiction. Supported by Commissioner Funk. Roll call on motion as follows: AYES NAYS ABSENT Lehr Roe Richard Reed Gail Hauser-Hurley Dale Zorn John Funk (excused) Randy Ansel David Scott David Roberts Floreine Mentel Motion carried. 10. Resolution Supporting A “Made In Michigan” Restructuring Of The Electric Utility. Resolution read: R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Michigan is considering plans to restructure the state’s electricity industry before being required to do so by the federal government; and WHEREAS, this important issue may very well be addressed by state legislators in the 89th legislature this calendar year; and WHEREAS, the Michigan Public Service Commission - - the utility regulatory agency - - has already issued an order with recommendations for electricity restructuring; and WHEREAS, restructuring the delivery of electricity will affect Michigan counties in many ways and improper restructuring poses a threat to Monroe County’s job force, economic development and revenues generated from power plants situated in our county; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS strongly supports a “Made in Michigan” restructuring of the electric utility that includes consideration of the following: • RATE CUTS and REAL CHOICE - Immediate rate cuts should be guaranteed to all customers through the securitization of Michigan utilities’ stranded costs; all customers, not just large industrial customers, should be given the opportunity to choose their electricity providers simultaneously; • SYSTEM RELIABILITY - Michigan’s high standards for system reliability must not be jeopardized by a sudden shift in the power delivery system; • CONSUMER PROTECTIONS