New state stipulation will require Village to change cleaning
and inspection process on water tower tank
and inspection process on water tower tank
By Bruce Rolfe
While summer is months away, Village of Climax Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson updated the Climax Village Council at the regular meeting January 21 about new EGLE requirements for cleaning and inspecting the village’s water tower tank this summer that will add expense to the budget.
Gibson said previously, the Village hired divers to inspect the tank and partially drain the tank. However EGLE now requires the Village to drain the tank completely before the tank can be cleaned and inspected. Hiring divers was a cost saving measure.
The DPW Manager said previously when the water tank was partially drained for cleaning and inspection, the Village would use Pressure by Peerless, using a pressure truck that runs the entire water distribution system and is operated by a stand by generator. The process could cost $3,000-$7,000.
He told the council another option to consider is purchasing a variable frequency drive that could be installed on pump 3 to distribute water throughout the village during the process.
There would be an initial $5,000 cost, however the Village would own the equipment. The Village would have to rent a stand by generator when using the variable frequency drive during the cleaning and inspection process.
The DPW manager said the tank will not be operable for approximately 5 to 10 business days during the process, meaning the water hydrants in the village will not operate at full capacity during the cleaning and inspection process. Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith will be alerted when the process takes place.
Gibson adds cleaning and inspection is required every five to seven years, meaning the variable frequency drive equipment would pay for itself after two cycles.
Code Enforcement Process Explained by Safebilt Officials
Two representatives from Safebilt, the company the Village of Climax uses for Commercial and Residential code inspection services, updated the Council on current procedures.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said currently the Village operates under the International Property Maintenance Code of 2006, however one of the Safebilt officials suggested the Council update to the 2024 Property Maintenance Code now available. Any newer version of a Property Maintenance Code would have to be adopted by the Council.
The Safebilt official also said the Council is currently working under 2015 Michigan Residential Codes in the Michigan Building Codes and the 2021 Plumbing and Mechanical Codes, which are adopted and updated by the State of Michigan.
The Safebilt official said the company has two zoning administrators that reviews all zoning issues, which are based on a site plan.
The Safebilt official answered a handful of questions as well.
There was one inquiry about the average turn around time to obtain a permit for a fence. He said the application is typically processed within 24 to 48 hours after it is received. If a signed application, fee and site plan is provided it is put on a schedule for the zoning administrator to perform a site inspection. He said it typically takes 3-4 business days for a zoning permit to be issued. He adds with building permits, it is mandated the building permit is either issued or denied within 10 business days.
When told by Council trustee Denise Pyle about resident complaints of a long wait time for a response on a permit request, the Safebilt representative said if the complaint was filed with the Village, a Village of Climax representative would typically contact the Safebilt office manager to determine why there is a delay. He said the data base system Safebilt uses provides dates and times for the permit process.
Calls for Service Way Up for Climax Township Fire Department
Climax Township Assistant Fire Chief Sean Perrin said the local fire department ended the 2024 calendar year with 259 runs, the highest number of runs the local fire department has ever had in one year He estimates the high number of calls for service will continue in 2025.
DPW Employee Offers to Be a Volunteer;
Accidental Insurance Form Will Be Reviewed
After learning current part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith has offered to be utilized as a volunteer and would no longer be an employee, the Council unanimously approved to invite a representative from the Village’s insurance carrier to explain the volunteer accidental insurance form at the next Village Council meeting.
The volunteer accidental insurance form will come with a small yearly fee that covers up to 300 volunteers. The accidental insurance form will protect the Village from a lawsuit if a volunteer is injured performing work in the village.
Gibson adds the DPW may have to hire a part time employee in the spring and summer if Smith is no longer available.
Expense at West Maple Street Property Applied to Property Deeds
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis informed the council approximately $15,000 in attorney fees and demolition costs at 329 West Maple Street has been applied against the property deeds however there is no guarantee the village will fully recoup the expense. He adds the lien stays with the property, but how the property is sold will determine whether the Village will recoup any expense.
As of March 1, 2024 property at 329 West Maple Street was forfeited to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer for nonpayment of property taxes but the taxes were paid January 7, 2025.
In other items covered at the January 21 meeting:
• April 12 will be the Spring Cleanup date when Best Way will perform curbside pickup. There will also be a Fall Cleanup day October 4.
• Council President Bill Lewis said a list of fire hydrants in the village that are not functioning will be identified and the cost to fix the hydrants will be added in the 2025-2026 budget.
• Public Safety Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig said West Shore Siren planned to install the weather siren earlier this week. The current plan is to install the weather warning siren at the Village Hall, but it could be installed at another location in the village.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly felt the Village’s ordinance book should be updated.
• A contract from T-Mobile for equipment on the water tower was given to the Administration Committee to review.
• Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said he and DPW employee Forrest Cope have updated the cemetery map and placed it on the wall at the Village Hall. He said the last update was performed in 1965.
While summer is months away, Village of Climax Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson updated the Climax Village Council at the regular meeting January 21 about new EGLE requirements for cleaning and inspecting the village’s water tower tank this summer that will add expense to the budget.
Gibson said previously, the Village hired divers to inspect the tank and partially drain the tank. However EGLE now requires the Village to drain the tank completely before the tank can be cleaned and inspected. Hiring divers was a cost saving measure.
The DPW Manager said previously when the water tank was partially drained for cleaning and inspection, the Village would use Pressure by Peerless, using a pressure truck that runs the entire water distribution system and is operated by a stand by generator. The process could cost $3,000-$7,000.
He told the council another option to consider is purchasing a variable frequency drive that could be installed on pump 3 to distribute water throughout the village during the process.
There would be an initial $5,000 cost, however the Village would own the equipment. The Village would have to rent a stand by generator when using the variable frequency drive during the cleaning and inspection process.
The DPW manager said the tank will not be operable for approximately 5 to 10 business days during the process, meaning the water hydrants in the village will not operate at full capacity during the cleaning and inspection process. Climax Township Fire Chief Scott Smith will be alerted when the process takes place.
Gibson adds cleaning and inspection is required every five to seven years, meaning the variable frequency drive equipment would pay for itself after two cycles.
Code Enforcement Process Explained by Safebilt Officials
Two representatives from Safebilt, the company the Village of Climax uses for Commercial and Residential code inspection services, updated the Council on current procedures.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said currently the Village operates under the International Property Maintenance Code of 2006, however one of the Safebilt officials suggested the Council update to the 2024 Property Maintenance Code now available. Any newer version of a Property Maintenance Code would have to be adopted by the Council.
The Safebilt official also said the Council is currently working under 2015 Michigan Residential Codes in the Michigan Building Codes and the 2021 Plumbing and Mechanical Codes, which are adopted and updated by the State of Michigan.
The Safebilt official said the company has two zoning administrators that reviews all zoning issues, which are based on a site plan.
The Safebilt official answered a handful of questions as well.
There was one inquiry about the average turn around time to obtain a permit for a fence. He said the application is typically processed within 24 to 48 hours after it is received. If a signed application, fee and site plan is provided it is put on a schedule for the zoning administrator to perform a site inspection. He said it typically takes 3-4 business days for a zoning permit to be issued. He adds with building permits, it is mandated the building permit is either issued or denied within 10 business days.
When told by Council trustee Denise Pyle about resident complaints of a long wait time for a response on a permit request, the Safebilt representative said if the complaint was filed with the Village, a Village of Climax representative would typically contact the Safebilt office manager to determine why there is a delay. He said the data base system Safebilt uses provides dates and times for the permit process.
Calls for Service Way Up for Climax Township Fire Department
Climax Township Assistant Fire Chief Sean Perrin said the local fire department ended the 2024 calendar year with 259 runs, the highest number of runs the local fire department has ever had in one year He estimates the high number of calls for service will continue in 2025.
DPW Employee Offers to Be a Volunteer;
Accidental Insurance Form Will Be Reviewed
After learning current part time Department of Public Works employee Roger Smith has offered to be utilized as a volunteer and would no longer be an employee, the Council unanimously approved to invite a representative from the Village’s insurance carrier to explain the volunteer accidental insurance form at the next Village Council meeting.
The volunteer accidental insurance form will come with a small yearly fee that covers up to 300 volunteers. The accidental insurance form will protect the Village from a lawsuit if a volunteer is injured performing work in the village.
Gibson adds the DPW may have to hire a part time employee in the spring and summer if Smith is no longer available.
Expense at West Maple Street Property Applied to Property Deeds
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis informed the council approximately $15,000 in attorney fees and demolition costs at 329 West Maple Street has been applied against the property deeds however there is no guarantee the village will fully recoup the expense. He adds the lien stays with the property, but how the property is sold will determine whether the Village will recoup any expense.
As of March 1, 2024 property at 329 West Maple Street was forfeited to the Kalamazoo County Treasurer for nonpayment of property taxes but the taxes were paid January 7, 2025.
In other items covered at the January 21 meeting:
• April 12 will be the Spring Cleanup date when Best Way will perform curbside pickup. There will also be a Fall Cleanup day October 4.
• Council President Bill Lewis said a list of fire hydrants in the village that are not functioning will be identified and the cost to fix the hydrants will be added in the 2025-2026 budget.
• Public Safety Fire/Law Enforcement/Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig said West Shore Siren planned to install the weather siren earlier this week. The current plan is to install the weather warning siren at the Village Hall, but it could be installed at another location in the village.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly felt the Village’s ordinance book should be updated.
• A contract from T-Mobile for equipment on the water tower was given to the Administration Committee to review.
• Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson said he and DPW employee Forrest Cope have updated the cemetery map and placed it on the wall at the Village Hall. He said the last update was performed in 1965.
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