The Ontonagon Village Council met, via telecom, on March 22. Under unfinished business on the agenda was the matter of the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) obligation. It was reported that the village made a payment of $21,441.31 on March 16 which covered the payment that was due on Oct. 20, 2020.  The total amount past due is $104,308.23, and the intention is to continue “chipping away” at this past due amount. The past due amounts break down as follows: Nov. 2020, $32,350.08; Dec. 2020, $36,541.12; and Jan. 2021, $35,417.03.

The village was advised that this matter is now being referred to the MERS Legal Department for legal action, and late fees will be applied. Interim Manager William DuPont had a meeting on March 10 with the MERS representative to discuss options to reduce the payments. These could include freezing the current plan and negotiating different retirement options as well as possible buy-outs.

The council, among other business items, moved to the next needed step:

•  Resolution 2021-09: Authorization of the 2021-22 Tax Levy:  This item was considered absolutely necessary and is a first step in addressing the MERS obligation. After all available alternatives had been considered, the village council  adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14(1) of Act 621 of the Public Acts of 1978,  the Interim Village Manager, as the Chief Administrative Officer, has prepared and presented to the Village Council with a balanced budget; and

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2021, the Ontonagon Village Council approved a general appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2021-22 authorizing the expenditures of the Village funds; and

WHEREAS, the millage rate necessary to raise revenues for Village operating and debt retirement purposes:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to levy and collect the following millage rates for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year:

GENERAL FUND OPERATION & DEBT: 15.00 Mills

TOTAL: 15.00 Mills

This is a tax increase from the current 11 Mills to the maximum millage allowed without a referendum vote.  This resolution (tax increase) had to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the village council present and voting, which in this instance would require four out of the six council members present to vote for approval of the resolution.

It was moved by Trustee Sarah Hopper, supported by Trustee Mike Rebholz to adopt the resolution. The actual vote was unanimous in favor.

 •  Resolution 2021-10, Deficit Elimination Plan: This resolution was to address a deficit fund balance in the Marina Fund of $119,023. This deficit was reported in the recent auditors findings. The Michigan Department of the Treasury requires a deficit elimination plan to be in place and filed with the department.

The deficit was the result of a MDNR grant that was obtained to pay for the Marina Dredging project. Due to an oversight, the final grant report was not submitted on time, however, the MDNR agreed to extend the deadline and the grant funds recouped present a balance of $35,453 as of March 31, 2022.  Simply put, completion of the grant “paperwork” resolves the cause of the deficit.  The Deficit Elimination Plan will be submitted to the Michigan Department of the Treasury.

It was moved by Trustee Elmer Marks Jr, supported by Trustee Don Chastan to adopt the resolution and carried on a roll call vote.

•  Resolution 2021-11, Authorization of General Appropriations for April 1, 2021-March 31, 2022: This is the budget authorization, based on a millage rate of 15 mills. Without listing each fund, the bottom line is a total of $3,422,321 in General Fund revenue with $3,248,650 in total  expenditures.

It was moved by Hamm, supported by Chastan to approve the General Appropriations Resolution, and was carried....this constitutes the budget adoption for the forthcoming fiscal year.

The Council adopted a final resolution, designating March 31 as Jan Tucker Day in the village.

VILLAGE OF ONTONAGON

RESOLUTION NO. 2021 – 12

 

A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE MARCH 31, 2021 AS ‘JAN TUCKER DAY’ IN THE  VILLAGE OF  ONTONAGON.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has been a long-time resident of the Village of Ontonagon and has established herself to  be a beloved local personality, and

 WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has served for 60 years as a local newspaper reporter, relating local news stories to the residents of the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has worked diligently as part of the Labor Day Committee for over 57 years to ensure the success of the Labor Day celebration in Ontonagon, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has been an active member for over 50 years of the Ontonagon County Cancer Association that provides funding and support for local and                   Ontonagon County individuals and families living in Ontonagon County who have been afflicted with cancer, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has demonstrated her love and commitment to her community with her membership, in company with her friends, neighbors, leaders, and problem-     solvers in the community who see a world where people unite and take action to            create lasting change, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has demonstrated her personal values by serving her faith           community as a CCD instructor and as an Eucharistic Minister for Holy Family Catholic Church, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has enthusiastically been a part of  the Ontonagon Area High School Scholarship Committee that provides support and educational opportunities to our community’s younger citizens, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker participated in many other community activities and organizations that included the Ontonagon Golf Club and the Women’s Club, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has spent 57 years as a local radio personality providing recipes, commentary on local and national events, and personal insight on virtually every topic known to mankind, and is retiring from this unique service on March 31, 2021.

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Village of Ontonagon Council of Trustees declares that March 31, 2021 shall be designated as ‘Jan Tucker Day’ in the Village of Ontonagon.

 •  At 6:43 pm Council went into a closed session to discuss client/attorney matters regarding former Village Manager Joseph Erickson. Council returned to the open session at 7:11 p.m..

President Tony Smydra called for a motion to rescind the council’s termination of Joseph Erickson and this was forthcoming and carried.

At this point, President Smydra, acting on his authority as Village President, suspended Joseph Erickson, with cause, with pay, and declared the intent of taking up the matter of providing Erickson with a hearing and to afford the council the opportunity to consider his employment status. The meeting was adjourned at this point. It was 7:13 p.m.