BUDGET WORKSHOP
MILFORD CIVIC CENTER
APRIL 7, 2010
The workshop was called to order by President Rusas at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Councilmembers Present
President Theresa Rusas; Councilmembers Elizabeth Heer, Kevin Ziegler, Mike Glagola, Jerry Aubry and Jennifer Frankford
Others Present
Arthur Shufflebarger, Village Manager, Becky Jacques, Treasurer/Financial Director; Robert Calley, DSP Director; Tom Mackenzie, WWTP Supervisor; Keith Hughes, Parking Authority
Parking Authority
Keith Hughes went over the revenues and requested budget. Parking projects included paving of east parking lot at an estimated cost of $75,000. The dumpsters are going to be replaced with trash compactors this year, which should reduce costs.
Water/Wastewater
Tom Mackenzie spoke to Council regarding the Wastewater budget. He stated the operating and chemical supplies, treatment plant equipment maintenance, and sludge disposal line items have continued to increase over the last few years. It is necessary to keep maintenance up because the plant is 22 years old. He added that they are working on ways to reduce electricity usage, which should result in a decrease in electrical costs. Tom added that an Engineering evaluation for the structure of the plant should be done in the near future.
Capital Outlay costs included clarifiers, SCADA system improvements (which control the machines) property acquisition, gate valves and a new truck.
The remainder of the budget session included discussion on the following departments:
Civic Center, DPS, Street Lighting, Refuse Collection, Fleet Maintenance, Parks and Recreation, Major and Local Road funds.
Becky Jacques updated Council on the personnel situations in DPS. Savings will also be realized through a decrease in pension contribution for employees, employee’s contribution to health benefits, and looking into different, less expensive health benefit programs.
Bob Calley stated he had requested funding to abandon the water main at Commerce and Summit Streets, but this was removed. He advised Council that this is something that needs to be done soon. Bob stated South Lyon was currently doing the Village’s water testing at a cheaper rate, with quicker results.
Ms. Jacques briefly covered the preliminary rate study she had received.
The Civic Center cleaning contract will be discontinued in July and DPS will take over this job, with help from office staff.
A baseball agreement is being constructed to establish maintenance of ball fields.
Council inquired whether both decorative and overhead street lights needed to be on Downtown.
Ms. Jacques discussed the need to add a fee or special assessment on taxes to cover shortage for refuse collection funding for the next two years. Council agreed with a special assessment and possibly going to the voters for a Headlee override. Discussion continued on possibility of having the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day every other year or sharing with other communities. There would still be costs if shared with other communities and there was concern people would not hold onto items for two years.
Mr. Shufflebarger stated Waste Management has come forward with cost savings options, which would require extending the contract two years.
It was questioned why the Christmas lights were being funded out of Parks and Rec rather than DDA. The budget included a gravel parking lot near the YMCA for trail users. Mr. Shufflebarger stated there would not be funding for concerts in the park this year.
Bob Calley stated there will be an additional cost in major streets the next few years to cover changing over all the street signs. He stated the State was requiring this change, but at this time was not providing funding.
Bob also planned to have a road study done which would give the Village an idea where the roads are on the “maintenance required curve”.
Contract Services budget listed in Major Street was to cover bills from Oakland County for traffic signal maintenance. He stated Oakland County does not give advance notice when they do work in the Village, and therefore it is hard to budget for this item.
Bob advised Council of work to be done on Peters Road to hopefully regrade the road for better water run-off, which would decrease maintenance codes. | 
