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February 2003 Status Report
It is my pleasure to once again submit my monthly status report for your review and information. If you should have any questions about the items listed here, please do not hesitate to contact me.
1. City Audit
The audit process began on February 18 when the Audit Committee and staff met with the auditors, who outlined their process and the areas they will focus on in this year's audit. The auditors will be at City Hall for about two weeks. Once the audit is completed the auditors will make a presentation on their report to the City Commission.
2. Mt. Pleasant Center Committee
As you recall, this past year we created a committee to look at the issue of walkaways from the facility and what we might be able to do to work with Lansing to try to ensure that this problem is addressed. The Committee has met twice and has invited Ken Longton, the Director at the facility, to our meeting on February 24 to obtain additional information.
3. State Budget Woes
On Wednesday the Governor announced an additional $158 million in budget cuts. There were no additional cuts in revenue sharing. As I stated in my annual report, I do not know how long she will be able to hold us harmless from future budget cuts, but obviously our concerns are being heard in Lansing, and particularly in the Governor's office. I anticipate that we will hear more about this issue when we attend the MML Legislative Conference in Lansing in March.
4. Project 2000 Tax Case
The briefs were submitted by our attorney and the Assistant A.G. by the January 31st deadline. Both attorneys now have until the end of this month to submit response briefs and then hopefully some time within the near future the judge will render a decision in this case. There is nothing further we can do until a decision is rendered.
5. Local Officers Compensation Commission
The Commission has finished their work and will make their recommendation to you at Monday night's meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Commission for its work. For your information the Commission members are: Letitia Costilla, Andrew Devenney, Kim Ellertson, Julie Fortino, Tom Moffit, Todd Olivieri, and Mike Ross. The Commission met on four separate occasions and even scheduled an additional meeting when concerns were expressed about the process and their recommendations. Once again my thanks to the members.
6. MML Legislative Conference
As you know, the Legislative Conference is scheduled for March 26. I believe four Commission members have signed up to attend and three have signed up for the training sessions to be held the day before the Legislative Conference. It is good to see this many people attending the Conference, as I think you will find it worthwhile.
7. Borden Building
The Property Committee met this past week to talk about the project with a developer who expressed some interest in the building. Further discussion will be held over the next few weeks.
8. City-CMU Student Liaison Committee
The Committee had its most recent meeting the week of February 10. One of the items discussed was the problem landlords are having with people who are not their tenants dumping waste in their large dumpsters. A letter will probably be coming from one or more landlords within the next few weeks asking for City Commission review and possible action on this problem. Our next meeting is scheduled for March, and at that meeting we will discuss program activities for next fall.
9. Skate Park
Chris Bundy has received prices for the sound-deadening project for the ramps, which will be presented to you Monday night. The work is scheduled for some time in late April or May depending on weather conditions. Obviously the weather has to be such that the foam insulation will adhere properly to the ramp structures.
10. Tribal Two Percent Requests
We are beginning to collect two percent requests from City staff. As you know we have a work session planned in March to discuss the process so that we will hopefully be in agreement as to the best way to review and submit the requests, which are due to the Tribe by the end of March.
11. 2003 Construction Projects
We have a number of projects proposed for 2003 that the Engineering Department is either in the process of bidding or designing for construction during the summer months. Some of the projects are:
Continuation of our sidewalk replacement program
New sidewalk construction on the west side of Bradley from Broadway to Pickard
Major street projects to include portions of Mosher, Gaylord and Bradley
Overlay of portions of Broadway, Brown and Michigan
Resurfacing of High Street from Washington to Bradley and resurfacing of the full length of Mission Street (handled by the State with a financial contribution from the City)
Local streets to include portions of Highland, Clayton, May, Vernon and McVey
Corporate Drive paving from Brown to Packard
Packard paving from Corporate Drive to Pickard
Main Street beautification project from Mosher to Pickard
Apron and taxiway improvements at the airport
Number of sewer replacement and relining projects, with the largest being relining of the Elizabeth interceptor
Reconditioning of Wells #18 and 19
Replacement of a number of water mains in various locations around the City of Mt. PleasantAs I have said on many occasions, I am always impressed with the amount of work that our Engineering Department puts out in a year considering that we do all the engineering, design, bidding and construction supervision for these projects. Only when we have a special project such as the wastewater treatment plant renovation do we seek outside consulting assistance.
12. Park Projects
One of the last phases of the trail project is the construction of a path from Bradley Street to Watson and the construction of a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the bridge on High Street just west of Watson Street.
13. Goal-Setting Sessions
We have tentatively set aside March 5 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. and March 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for goal setting with the City Commission and staff. You will receive more information regarding the sessions prior to the meeting dates, but I would ask that you put those dates on your calendar at this point in time.
14. City-CMU Liaison Committee Meeting
The next meeting of this group is scheduled for Friday, February 21. In my next status report I will report on what items were discussed at the meeting.
15. Fire Funding
I have nothing new to report on fire funding. There has been very little discussion in Lansing regarding restoration of fire funding. I will keep you informed if there is any movement afoot to try to restore the funding.