A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Chippewa County Road Commissioners was duly held in their offices located at 3949 S. Mackinac Trail, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on April 17, 2008.

The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m.

Chairman MacDonald lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENT: Chairman MacDonald, Commissioners Holt and Carr, Manager Heckman, Office Mgr. Decker, Clerk McDowell, Foreman McConkey, Foreman Erickson, Foreman Pesola, Chief Mechanic Sibbald and Union President Hopper.

ABSENT:

MOTION by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr that the Payroll in the amount of $107,975.55 and Vouchers in the amount of $404,250.61 be approved and authorized for payment from the County Road Fund subject to audit.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

MOTION by Commissioner Carr SECONDED by Commissioner Holt that the minutes from the Regular Meetings held on March 20, 2008 and April 3, 2008 be approved and placed on file.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Jesse Knoll indicated crew on Sugar Island have been working hard to try and keep Village Road passable.

Chief Mechanic Sibbald gave an update on delivery of our new trucks.

Union President Hopper indicated union has not been able to meet to vote on proposed contract changes yet.

Foreman Pesola indicated his crews are working washouts and starting to try and drag up some of their roads.

Foreman Erickson stated his crews are also working on a few washouts, dragging on gravel roads and working on Soo Line project.

Foeman McConkey stated his crews are working on washouts, dragging roads and general equipment maintenance.

Office Mgr. Decker presented bid tabulation for an above ground storage tank system, which were received up until 2:00 p.m. on March 14, 2008. He indicated when the budget was approved we were looking at an above ground tank with a single wall, which would require us to build a concrete dike. Bids were taken for a Fireguard double wall tank which would eliminate the dike and would only require a concrete pad. Office Manager Decker reviewed spread sheet showing bidder comparison for various options and indicated the low bidder after all comparisons would be GreatLakes Petroleum with a bid of $52,457.47.

Manager Heckman indicated all site work and pouring of the concrete pad would be completed by Road Commission personnel. He indicated this would be a 12,000 gal tank, 10,000 diesel and a 2,000 for no lead. Manager Heckman indicated there are no DEQ mandates for the Fireguard tanks to date. Manager Heckman recommended award to GreatLakes Petroleum who is low bidder and also meets specifications.

MOTION by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr to award the bid for the above ground storage tank to GreatLakes Petroleum for a total bid price of $52,457.47.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

Manager Heckman presented Acknowledgement of Public Authority Responsibility with Sault Tribe. He indicated the original agreement was presented as a memo of understanding with Sault Tribe. This acknowledgment would add various county roads onto the BIA Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Inventory System, which would open these roads up for possible BIA funding.

MOTION by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr to authorize Manager Heckman to sign Acknowledgment of Public Authority Responsibility with Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

Manager Heckman requested authorization to continue the bulk chloride purchase program and cost share program of 1/3 up to $1,000.00 with townships for chloride.

Discussion on how this program has been working.

MOTION by Commissioner Holt SECONDED by Commissioner Carr to continue the bulk chloride purchase program and the cost sharing of 1/3 up to $1,000.00.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

Installment loan agreement with First National Bank of St. Ignace was presented for the financing of eight tandem axle Peterbilt trucks for a total price of $772,100.00 with an interest rate of 3.45%. Statement of Understanding and Agreement by and Between Peterbilt of Wisconsin, The Chippewa County Road Commission and the First National Bank of St. Ignace was also presented for signing. Statement of Understanding details each parties responsibilities in regards to the financing of the eight trucks.

MOTION by Commissioner Carr SECONDED by Commissioner Holt to authorize Chairman MacDonald and Vice-Chairman Holt to sign Installment Loan Agreement with First National Bank of St. Ignace and for Board and Manager Heckman to sign Statement of Understanding.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

Office Manager Decker reviewed proposal from Williams Office Equipment to trade existing 3580 copier with a reconditioned estudio 350 copier under the same maintenance agreement, which is currently set at $600.00 per year or 24,000 copies whichever comes first.

Office Manager Decker also reviewed upgrades to reconditioned copier for fax, print and scan capabilities for an additional cost of $795.00.

Discussion on cost of a new copier compared to proposal for a reconditioned unit.

MOTION by Commissioner Carr SECONDED by Commissioner Holt to approve the exchange of copiers and to add additional options as presented.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

MANAGERS REPORT

· Notice of 37^th Meeting to be held May 6^th 2008 at Audies in Mackinac City.

· Notice of MTA Meeting tonight to be held at Kinross Twp Hall at 7:30 p.m.

· Update on status of employees off on Workers Comp claims.

· Update on sink hole on I-75 and progress to fix it.

· Update on closing out of Strongs site being done by Mackinac Environmental. 80% of cost will be reimbursed to us through MUSTFA Fund.

· All temporary employees have been laid off and night operators are back to day shifts.

· Anticipate going to 4-10’s within the next few weeks.

· Update on proposed projects with various townships.

COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS

Chairman MacDonald indicated a lawsuit which was filed against the Road Commission for a snowmobile accident on M-123 in the winter season of 2006-2007 has been turned over to our insurance company.

Chairman MacDonald indicated at the county meeting there was discussion on possible legislation allowing northern counties to make a decision on the opening up of county roads to off road vehicles.

Manager Heckman inquired as to who would make that decision.

Chippewa County Board Chairman Earl Kay indicated the County Board had passed an ordinance a few years back that allowed each township to opt in or opt out of allowing off road vehicles to run within their township. He indicated the state is trying to institute legislation that would govern all township the same.

Chairman MacDonald indicated that union negotiations are progressing well and asked to go into closed session before adjournment to review some negotiation strategies with the full Board.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Office Manager Decker informed Board that the annual safety meeting has been set for Thursday, May 8, 2008 beginning at 7:30 a.m.

At 8:47 a.m. Chairman MacDonald asked for a brief recess after which they would enter into a closed session for union negotiation purposes.

Meeting reconvened at 8:55 a.m.

MOTION by Commissioner MacDonald SECONDED by Commissioner Carr to go into closed session at 8:58 a.m. to discuss union negotiation strategy.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

MOTION by Commissioner Carr SECONDED by Commissioner Holt to reconvene in open session at 9:54 a.m.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

No decisions were made in closed session.

There being no further business to come before the Board it was MOVED by Commissioner Carr SECONDED by Commissioner Holt that the meeting be adjourned at 9:56 a.m.

MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE.

___________________________ _________________________

Christine A. McDowell Louis N. MacDonald

Secretary for the Board Chairman