Electric Charging Station, Sewer Credit and More on Tap for Saline City Council

Saline City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at city hall. The meeting will be preceded by a council workshop on recycling that begins at 6:30 p.m.

City Council will consider a motion approving the installation of an electric vehicle charging station in one of the parking spots in the municipal lot behind Comerica Bank. Council will also discuss whether or not customers should pay an hourly rate for using the charging station. The City of Dearborn has eight charging stations receiving minimal use. There is no charge for using the station, although that may change with the release of the electric Ford Focus. The City of Ann Arbor is planning 12 charging stations in a new underground parking structure being constructed but has not yet discussed  user fees.

According to a memo to city council from city manager Todd Campbell, an anonymous individual has offered to pay the city for the electric usage of the charging station until Dec. 31, 2013.

There are several other action items on the agenda:

• City Council will also consider a motion to adopt the 2011 Saline Master Plan.

• Council will consider a motion to wave $280 in sewer fees at the request of Ray and Barbara Pace for property at 731 and 733 W. Michigan Ave. The Paces received a bill in October of 2010 for 110,000 gallons of water usage. They discovered a leaking sink valve between the wood floor and original cement floor. With no meters on sewage, the city charges based on water meter readings. In the Paces' case, the excess water was drained into a rain culvert and not into the city drains for sewage treatment processing. The Paces have paid the bill and are looking for a credit on their next billing. The city once had a policy that allowed up to a $100 credit. At the recent council meeting, Councilor Pat Ivey suggested council raise that credit limit  to $300 and award the requested credit to the Paces, but council learned that the policy that allowed for the credit was canceled in 1996. A motion to award the credit was made but failed on a 3-3 vote, with councilors Ivey, David Rhoads and Linda Ter Haar voting yes and councilor's Glenn Law, Brian Marl and Dean Girbach voting no.

• The city will consider a motion to pay Spyglass $20,920.34. The firm did an audit of the city's telecommunications system and found $977 a month in savings as well as credits for $18,386 for unused services for which the city was being charged. In fact, Spyglass and the city determined that Verizon had charged the city $74,455.33 for land lines no longer in use. Verizon issued a credit that amount but when the land line service was sold to Frontier Communications, the firm refused to honor the credit. The company instead issued a credit for $16,000.

• Council will consider a motion to agree to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Michigan Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs program. The program was created to help communities help local entrepreneurs. There is no cost to the city.

The consent agenda includes:

• A motion proclaiming June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month and encouraging residents to fight prejudice and discrimination everywhere it exists.

• A motion to pay $185,861.94 in bills.

 • A series of motions to approve and adopt amendments to the 2011 fiscal year budget.

• A motion to approve and adopt a letter of commendation to Steven Charles Amori for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

• A motion to approve rate changes for water connection permits. The prices are rising.

• A motion to set a public hearing for the 2011/12 city budget. The hearing takes place June 6 at 7:30 p.m. The city is proposing an unchanged levy of 15.53 mills.