Village of Vicksburg Regular Council Meeting, 7:00pm, Monday, January 29, 2024. 126 N Kalamazoo Ave, Vicksburg, MI 49097.

Meeting is at Village Hall (entrance off of Richardson) next to Vicksburg Water Tower

Limited Parking – overflow parking on Kalamazoo Street or Davis St.

AGENDA

Village Council Action Items:
- State of Michigan listed Act 51 Street Administrator for Village of Vicksburg DPW Director Jimmy Meyers. Village Manager is recommending a motion, support, and roll call approval of naming Jimmy Meyers the Street Administrator under Act 51 for the State of Michigan. (Mallery Present)

- Village staff is recommending, and the Planning Commission supported via a unanimous vote at the 12.13.2023 PC meeting, to modify the Schedule of Regulations pertaining to the Industrial Zoning Districts. This will update our zoning regulations related to Industrial Zones with similar communities within SW Michigan. (Mallery Present)

- Village staff is recommending a motion, support, and roll call vote for resolution 01292024-02 that approves a goose round-up program take place for Sunset Lake in the calendar year 2024. (Mallery Present)
- Village staff is recommending a motion, support, and roll call approval to authorize the Village Manager to enter into a contract with Concord Excavating to be the General Contractor for the watermain/lead-line project that has been commonly referred to as “North of the Vicksburg Middle School” in the amount of $2,005,566.93 and Prien Newhof to provide engineering services for this project in the amount of $379,000.00. The Village of Vicksburg received a $1.2M grant award from Kalamazoo County reference this project. It was originally estimated at $3.1M and the total amount for the project is $2,384,566.93. This is over a $700K under estimate. We are going to deobligate approx. $570K from the USDA loan to a total of $1.075M. We will use $300K from our ARPA Funding. (Our ARPA Total $384k – balance used in item f below)

- This project has already been calculated for water utility rates. It was recommended that a 20 % rate increase occurred for the 2023-2024 FY. Staff recommended and Village Council unanimously approved a 10% rate increase for the 23/24 FY with the understanding that the additional 10% would be recommended in the 24/25 FY budget. This will replace approximately 110 lead-lines which fall under the unfounded State of Michigan Mandate to have all lead-lines replaced by 2038 at an average of 5% per year. (Mallery Present)

- Village Staff is recommending a motion, support, and roll call approval to authorize the Village Manager to enter into a contract with bakertilly to provide water and sewer rate analysis/management, as well as Road Funding analysis for the fiscal years: 23/24. 24/25, 25/26, and 26/27 for the following not to exceed amounts (Total): 23/24: $10,000, 24/25: $10,000, 25/26: $18,000, 26/27: $18,500. The increase between 24/25 is due to the fact that in the 23/24 (water) and 24/25 (Sewer) the Village has previously approved analysis done by bakertilly related to specific USDA utility projects. This will ensure that an analysis is conducted each year on the utility rates and road funding. The funding source is our Water, Sewer, Major Street and Local Street funds and there is sufficient revenue in these funds for this commitment. (Mallery Present)

- Identified in the 2015 SAW Analysis’ $31M of critical needs was a section of sewer pipe on Park St., between Michigan Ave. and Main St. We have been actively monitoring the section since Fall of 2016. The pipe has deteriorated to point that it needs immediate replacement. The DPW previously would have to unplug the section once or twice per year and in the past 60 days has had to over 15 times. The clay sewer pipe is simply crumbling apart and materials are entering the pipe plugging it. All indications are that there is a sever break in the clay pipe. Multiple solicitations were made to contractors to bid on the project and H&K submitted a fair proposal. Staff is recommending a motion, support, and a roll call vote to approve the Village Manager to enter a contract with H&K Excavating in the amount of $66,000.00. This will be funded with ARPA dollars and not impact utility rates. (Mallery Present)

Chamber of Commerce IceBURG Festival – will not occur to the level that occurred in 2023. The Village will purchase 8 pre-made Ice Sculptures and distribute through the downtown area and the retail establishments will announce an organized program via the Chamber social media. It is proposed that the Village take over the Winter festival for downtown.

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