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Local News

Barry County commissioners hear drain commissioner's annual report

The Barry County Commission Tuesday heard Drain Commissioner Jim Dull’s annual report of activities in his department, with photos of completed drain projects..

The department received four petitions for drain extensions in the year and inspected 32 drains. Smaller obstructions were cleared by using chain saws and the mini-excavator, and larger jobs “were subbed out,” Dull said.

 

An administrative contract order that must be approved by the DEQ and the Attorney General’s Office on the Little Thornapple Drain, is 90 percent complete and at the attorney general’s office. It is expected back next week, Dull said.

 

Jobs using the mini-excavator is saving the department money he said, with the jobs using the recently purchased equipment costing under $1,000. Outside bids are typically $3 a foot, plus a mobilization fees of $1,000, so just a 1,500 foot section means substantial savings for the county by using the mini-excavator.Dull said he is finding many good people to work with and cooperation among neighboring counties is also good.

 

In a drain related issue, the commission approved the purchase of a new tracked Case loader for $29,500. Dull said it would be paid for by $15,000 from department funds, $7,000 to $8000 from the sale of a John Deere 625i Gator and a loan from the capital purchase fund for the rest.

 

The commission tabled Hastings City Barry County Airport Manager Mark Noteboom’s proposed three-year agreement with the Airport Commission that clarifies his status as an independent contractor.  The Airport Commision has approved the agreement, but the Hastings City Council, as part of a Joint Operating Agreement with the county, must also approve the contract and said they wanted some minor changes in the language. The council will review the matter at tonight’s meeting.

 

The commission acted on several recommendations from the committee of the whole meeting on March 20, and approved:

 

*Re-appointing Craig Stolsonburg to a one-year term on the Tax Allocation Board, with Commissioner David Jackson as the commission representative,

 

*Re-appointing Bob Becker, Deborah Hyatt, Linda Maupin and Gerald Pattock for three-year terms on the Community Health Authority Board,

 

*Appointing Frank Jesensek to the remainder of a three-year term on the Parks & Recreation Board,

 

*Appointing Joyce Snow to the Planning Commission for a three-year term,  

 

*Re-appointing Pam Strode to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term.

 

*applications for PA-116 for Jeffrey and Stacey Morton for property in Section 2 of Hastings Township and Robin Flessner in Sections 15 and 16 in Woodland Township,

 

 *a three-year contract for broadband internet and telecom services for the county with MEI Telecommunications, Inc. of Delton, and also the purchase of a 2018 Ford Escape for $19, 209.90 through MiDeal for the IT department.

 

The commission meeting was held Monday instead of Tuesday to allow commissioners to attend the Michigan Association of Counties Conference.

 

 

 

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