CASSOPOLIS – At the August meeting of the Cassopolis Village Council, the following actions were taken:

• Approved Ordinance No. 246 False Alarm Cost Recovery at second reading.

• Authorized Village President Clare Mallo to sign various USDA Rural Development forms for the possible future construction of a new fire station. The USDA will provide up to a total amount of $2,451,140.00 in the form of loans. There is a $62,670.00 grant that is part of this total funding package. In the event that the Village pursues this project, the loan repayment would be based on the actual total construction cost of the project.

Last month, Manager Kevin Gillette reported that a FEMA grant application for the possible construction of a Fire Station had been submitted. In the event that the FEMA grant is approved, the Village could opt out of the USDA loan proposal. This allows the Village to possibly have two options for the construction of a much needed Fire Station.

• Authorized Village President Clare Mallo to sign various USDA Rural Development forms for the future construction of a new DPW building. The USDA will provide up to a total amount of $1,320,000.00 in the form of loans. There is a $34,000.00 grant that is part of this total funding package. In the event that the Village pursues this project, the loan repayment would be based on the actual total construction cost of the project.

The submittal of these two applications only guarantees that funding will be available from the USDA Rural Development and the funds will be held on the Village’s behalf for a period of time.

•  Approved Resolution  No. 2009-12 which transferred $2,459 into the Local Streets Fund.
Village Manager Kevin Gillette reported that the final inspection walk through of the Rowland Street project took place on July 27. The only outstanding issue remaining to be resolved is the condition of the tree lawn seeding. Much of the tree lawn areas either did not germinate, or the growth is choked with various weeds.

Prior to the Regular Council Meeting, a Special Meeting was held for the purpose of a presentation of the FY2008-2009 Audit. Kenley Penner, of the St. Joseph Office of Plante & Moran, PLLC, reported that the audit was a clean audit and showed much improvement over previous years’ audit results.

However, although most of the Village’s fund categories now have at least small fund balances, rather than year ending deficits, the water and sewer funds continue to accumulate deficits.

For the year ending Feb. 28, 2009, the water and sewer funds had accumulated nearly $111,000 in deficits.