Fulton County Council approves emergency payment for Mud Lake repairs, reappoints library board member and approves routine transfers

Fulton County Council voted March 18 to pay an outstanding contractor invoice tied to emergency repairs at Mud Lake, reappointed Daniel Bates to a four-year term on the Union Township Public Library board and approved multiple minor budget transfers.

The council approved a motion to pay the remaining contractor balance for Mud Lake repairs from the county's rainy-day fund. Seth, speaking about the site work, described a temporary dam that failed after heavy rain and said engineers and permitting work remain underway with the Department of Natural Resources, IDEM and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still to sign off. "We did pull all that to get that pressure off the rock link to hopefully save those problems too," Seth said. Council member Pete moved the payment; Patty seconded. The motion carried (vote recorded in the meeting as 7-0).

The council also approved the reappointment of Daniel Bates to a four-year term on the Union Township Public Library board. Charles Rood introduced Bates as the library's candidate and said Bates is currently the board president. "This is a 4 year appointment," Charles Rood told the council. The motion to reappoint Bates was moved by Pete and seconded by Steve Seggin and passed 6-0, per the meeting minutes.

Council members approved a package of small transfers and appropriations during the meeting that the clerk said were intended to cover consultant fees, office supplies and line-item adjustments until formal appropriations can be made. Transfers approved included money moved into appropriations for council office supplies, a transfer to county highway for equipment and stone, and a lump-sum transfer to the Oakland County Soil and Water Conservation District to cover an agreed payment.

The council also voted to table a separate invoice related to a regional planning council (regional planning council dues/membership) so staff can research prior minutes and confirm where the payment should be charged. The motion to table was seconded and carried 7-0.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Reappoint Daniel Bates to Union Township Public Library board, four-year term. Moved: Pete. Second: Steve Seggin. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 6-0. - Motion: Pay remaining contractor balance for Mud Lake repairs from rainy-day fund (amount discussed in meeting as $8,714.76). Moved: Pete. Second: Patty. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 7-0. - Motion: Approve multiple small transfers (council appropriations, county highway, Oakland County Soil & Water lump payment). Outcome: Approved. Vote: 7-0 (where recorded). - Motion: Table Regional Planning Council invoice pending review of prior minutes. Outcome: Tabled. Vote: 7-0.

The council president asked the auditor and county staff to prepare any required additional appropriations paperwork and to follow up with the engineering and permitting contacts for the Mud Lake repairs. No further motions were made on the Mud Lake permitting timeline; staff said engineer estimates and permit timelines are pending.