By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Village Council approved a proposal for a new website provider at its November 3 regular meeting.
After considering proposals from Townweb and Munibit, the Council unanimously approved a proposal from Munibit for an annual charge of $1548 (Ben Moore, Carolyn Kelly and Denise Pyle were absent).
There is no contract.
Both website hosts work with municipalities.
The Townweb proposal was for $1500 a year but Village Clerk Linda Coburn said the Munibit proposal offered more built in tools that would be usable for the Village. She adds many municipalities that have hired Munibit have populations up to 3000 and the company is also U.S. based. Coburn said training and overall website operation is customer friendly.
Coburn told the Council the person who has assisted the Village with its website has informed the Council will no longer be performing website assistance services. She noted the person was very gracious with help and price, adding she was unable to locate anyone who would perform the same service at the price the previous person charged the village.
Road Commission Invoice Discussed
After the Village discovered the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County invoiced the Village $10,000 more then what an estimate for four chip seal projects originally came in at, Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson and Village President Bill Lewis met with RCKC officials October 23 and came to a resolution that reduced the cost approximately $3200.
Gibson said RCKC provided an estimate of $22,000 to chip seal Cherry, Sheldon, South Church and East Hancock Streets, however the invoice was for $32,000. Lewis said two of the projects were invoiced seven percent over the original estimate.
Gibson said RCKC officials explained after RCKC provides an estimate, actual costs can vary based on material and equipment used when a project is completed.
Lewis said RCKC performed some services in the chip seal process the Village was unaware would be performed, increasing the cost.
Gibson said RCKC used a piece of equipment that cost more to operate on the four chip seal projects.
Lewis and Gibson also discussed ways to work with RCKC on ways to prevent the issue from occurring again, as well as other options to reduce cost on projects and still be effective in the future.
Village Alerted About Water System Hacks in Other Municipalities
Village President Bill Lewis informed the council he was alerted by a T-Mobile official about water system attacks that have occurred in Michigan and Minnesota.
A government accountant for T-Mobile told Lewis about water systems accessible through the internet, that are being targeted. He said communication from the T-Mobile official notes Minnesota had 31 water systems targeted last July 26 and 27 and Michigan had nine water systems reported targeted in early August. He said nationwide utilities in at least 12 states have reported incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with more then 100 internet exposed systems targeted in July.
Options to Update Burning Ordinance Provided
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairman Nick Ludwig said because some village ordinances are outdated and the Village recently received a complaint about burning items in the village, he felt it would be a good opportunity to discuss the ordinance surrounding burning in the village.
Ludwig provided the Council some burning regulations from the City of Galesburg’s ordinance book to review. He referred to two items in the City of Galesburg Fire Prevention and Protection ordinance he felt should be considered by the Council.
The first refers to location. The ordinance states “no open bonfires shall be within 30 feet of an existing building or property or property line.”
Ludwig also noted under Galesburg’s nuisance ordinance, which states: “no burning shall be done at any time or place of any materials which when burning gives off foul or obnoxious odors or a dense smoke or when wind conditions will create or be apt to create a nuisance to anyone or the property of anyone in the vicinity thereof.”
Ludwig also informed the council there have been some reports of mail theft in the Scotts area.
In other items covered at the November 3 meeting:
• Village President Bill Lewis said a link to the Village’s payment option online does not currently function properly. He said there is a process where a user can go to the service tab in the water billing system, and click the link that provides an option to pay a utility bill on the village’s web page. Lewis said the Village is working to resolve the issue, but the option to pay a water bill online is still available.
• The Council unanimously approved the 2027 meeting dates of the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
• Because Flegal and Melnik, who performs the village audit, will no longer be performing audits for municipalities, Clerk Linda Coburn said she reached out to three firms Flegal and Melnik recommended. She had a meeting with one auditor, communicated with another and will meet with the third company. She would like to have a new audit firm in place before the end of the calendar year.
• Village President Bill Lewis said the terms of outgoing trustees end on the last day of November.
David Dell, Joshua Fleisher and Mark Waterhouse were elected to four-year terms November 3.
The terms of Joline Chaney and Carolyn Chaney and partial term of Ben Moore expire.
The Climax Village Council approved a proposal for a new website provider at its November 3 regular meeting.
After considering proposals from Townweb and Munibit, the Council unanimously approved a proposal from Munibit for an annual charge of $1548 (Ben Moore, Carolyn Kelly and Denise Pyle were absent).
There is no contract.
Both website hosts work with municipalities.
The Townweb proposal was for $1500 a year but Village Clerk Linda Coburn said the Munibit proposal offered more built in tools that would be usable for the Village. She adds many municipalities that have hired Munibit have populations up to 3000 and the company is also U.S. based. Coburn said training and overall website operation is customer friendly.
Coburn told the Council the person who has assisted the Village with its website has informed the Council will no longer be performing website assistance services. She noted the person was very gracious with help and price, adding she was unable to locate anyone who would perform the same service at the price the previous person charged the village.
Road Commission Invoice Discussed
After the Village discovered the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County invoiced the Village $10,000 more then what an estimate for four chip seal projects originally came in at, Village Department of Public Works Manager T.J. Gibson and Village President Bill Lewis met with RCKC officials October 23 and came to a resolution that reduced the cost approximately $3200.
Gibson said RCKC provided an estimate of $22,000 to chip seal Cherry, Sheldon, South Church and East Hancock Streets, however the invoice was for $32,000. Lewis said two of the projects were invoiced seven percent over the original estimate.
Gibson said RCKC officials explained after RCKC provides an estimate, actual costs can vary based on material and equipment used when a project is completed.
Lewis said RCKC performed some services in the chip seal process the Village was unaware would be performed, increasing the cost.
Gibson said RCKC used a piece of equipment that cost more to operate on the four chip seal projects.
Lewis and Gibson also discussed ways to work with RCKC on ways to prevent the issue from occurring again, as well as other options to reduce cost on projects and still be effective in the future.
Village Alerted About Water System Hacks in Other Municipalities
Village President Bill Lewis informed the council he was alerted by a T-Mobile official about water system attacks that have occurred in Michigan and Minnesota.
A government accountant for T-Mobile told Lewis about water systems accessible through the internet, that are being targeted. He said communication from the T-Mobile official notes Minnesota had 31 water systems targeted last July 26 and 27 and Michigan had nine water systems reported targeted in early August. He said nationwide utilities in at least 12 states have reported incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with more then 100 internet exposed systems targeted in July.
Options to Update Burning Ordinance Provided
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning & Development Chairman Nick Ludwig said because some village ordinances are outdated and the Village recently received a complaint about burning items in the village, he felt it would be a good opportunity to discuss the ordinance surrounding burning in the village.
Ludwig provided the Council some burning regulations from the City of Galesburg’s ordinance book to review. He referred to two items in the City of Galesburg Fire Prevention and Protection ordinance he felt should be considered by the Council.
The first refers to location. The ordinance states “no open bonfires shall be within 30 feet of an existing building or property or property line.”
Ludwig also noted under Galesburg’s nuisance ordinance, which states: “no burning shall be done at any time or place of any materials which when burning gives off foul or obnoxious odors or a dense smoke or when wind conditions will create or be apt to create a nuisance to anyone or the property of anyone in the vicinity thereof.”
Ludwig also informed the council there have been some reports of mail theft in the Scotts area.
In other items covered at the November 3 meeting:
• Village President Bill Lewis said a link to the Village’s payment option online does not currently function properly. He said there is a process where a user can go to the service tab in the water billing system, and click the link that provides an option to pay a utility bill on the village’s web page. Lewis said the Village is working to resolve the issue, but the option to pay a water bill online is still available.
• The Council unanimously approved the 2027 meeting dates of the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
• Because Flegal and Melnik, who performs the village audit, will no longer be performing audits for municipalities, Clerk Linda Coburn said she reached out to three firms Flegal and Melnik recommended. She had a meeting with one auditor, communicated with another and will meet with the third company. She would like to have a new audit firm in place before the end of the calendar year.
• Village President Bill Lewis said the terms of outgoing trustees end on the last day of November.
David Dell, Joshua Fleisher and Mark Waterhouse were elected to four-year terms November 3.
The terms of Joline Chaney and Carolyn Chaney and partial term of Ben Moore expire.
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