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CASPIAN — At its reorganization meeting on Jan. 13, the Caspian City Commission voted to keep Matt Jacks as mayor.
Jacks will enter his second year in the position. Commissioner Mark Stauber nominated Jacks at the meeting with all present voting in favor, including new board member Robert Ketchum, who won a seat on the council in the November election.
Ketchum, Jacks and councilman Robert Remondini all were sworn in, the latter two as returning members of the commission.
Jacks was the lone member who was nominated for mayor.
Jacks appointed Ketchum to the cemetery board with all other seats on the various boards and committees remaining the same. City Manager John Stokoski and Jacks said they will work to find people to sit on the Recreation Committee, with Ketchum agreeing to sit on that board as well.
The board agreed to keep Polich/Tousignant Law Office as the city’s legal counsel.
In the regular monthly board meeting agenda, the commission approved payment of $15,508 for the yearly bill to Michigan Municipal League Liability and Property Pool for insurance. The motion was made by Stauber with support from Remondini. The motion passed unanimously.
Also in new business, Stauber motioned to put the city’s auditor position out for bids. Councilman Michael Stachowicz supported, and the measure passed without dissent. Stokoski has stated his recommendation to seek the bid during his report.
During public discussion, Stachowicz stated he attempted to purchase some land from the state once the dilapidated houses had been removed, but he said the process was difficult dealing with the state and won’t purchase land because of that.
In his manager’s report, Stokoski said the state has put forth grant money specifically for affordability and planning with grants of up to $500,000 for individual systems or up to $2 million for multiple communities. Stokoski said Craig Richardson of GEI Consultants will be spearheading this possible project.
“The state is pushing for regionalization, which I feel is a good idea for our area,” Stokoski wrote. “We are planning to meet with all municipalities on the west side of the county soon to discuss moving forward and obtaining grant funds in order to do some fact finding and whether or not this would be feasible for us all.”
Stokoski also said the police chief Terry Post has been in contact with the dealership about the new squad car.
“I have been keeping the USDA RD updated as to where we are with the new squad,” Stokoski added. “To date we have spent $11,187.03 out of pocket on equipment/fees associated with the new squad. USDA RD told me we technically have three years from the date of obligation to hold the funds for the project. Best practice is to spend the grant funds within 12 months, as that shows there was a true need for the grant funds in the community.”
The city does not expect to be questioned on the status of this project from state until May 2021, and “hopefully by then we will have the vehicle,” Stokoski wrote.
Also in his report, Stokoski added:
-- “During the week of Dec. 21, 2020, the guys found a water leak in the post office alley but our equipment was not able to dig through the frost, so we contracted out Hebert Construction and they got the job completed with us. On 1/4/21 they found another weak leak in Old Caspian, on the line that feeds our Berkshire location. Iron Mountain sent one of their guys here and located the leak. We are monitoring the water usage and plan to get Hebert here to make the repair.”
Also, “we have set the timer for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights for people to use our sledding hill and many people have been using it.”
This report is based on the unapproved minutes of the Jan. 13 meeting. Minutes are approved at the subsequent monthly meeting.