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May 2004 Status Report
It is my pleasure to once again submit for your review and information the monthly status report. If you should have any questions about any of the items listed, or if I failed to mention an item for which you would like some additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
1. Water Referendum
As you know from an earlier e-mail, we have agreed with the parties in this issue that the City Commission will once again consider the proposed ordinance language. On the agenda Monday night is the proposed ordinance, and you will be asked to consider whether or not to adopt the ordinance. If you choose not to adopt the ordinance, then this matter would be placed on the November ballot. My recommendation regarding this matter is contained in the cover memo on the agenda.
2. Family Recreation Center
I want to take this opportunity to thank both the City Commission and the County Board of Commissioners for your approval to proceed to Phase II of this project. There are a number of steps to be taken in Phase II, and I would like to take this opportunity just to remind you of what some of those steps will be:
· Identify and recommend the most appropriate funding alternative and, if needed, a phasing strategy for development.
· Identify key partnership strategies to help support the development costs and operational costs.
· Develop a facility program, including identification of projected usage, size of program, components, and outdoor areas required.
· Develop conceptual layouts and building designs, including graphic representations of floor plans and exterior building elevations.
· For preferred facility option, develop a conceptual site plan.
· For preferred facility option, prepare an operational structure including program and building use plan.
· Develop a five-year detailed financial pro forma.
· Determine preferred site for the facility based on information from needs assessment.
· Prepare an implementation plan and construction schedule for the project.
· Prepare final summary of feasibility.3. Fire Funding
As you know from previous status reports, there is quite a bit of discussion about trying to find ways to fully fund fire funding at the State level. There was a proposal by the Governor that liquor taxes be increased and those taxes then be placed into fire funding to fully fund the program. There has been quite a bit of opposition by the liquor industry and even within both houses to this proposal. There is now a proposal that is being heard by the Senate that would call for full funding, but unfortunately it is not tied to a specific funding source.
The Mayor, Bill Yeagley and I attended a Senate committee hearing last Wednesday at which time there was quite a bit of public input on the reasons why we need full funding. At the end of the hearing the Chairperson of the Committee said he felt there was support for the concept of full funding, but unfortunately there were competing demands for limited funds available. We will continue to lobby for full funding, and remain ready to work with both houses and the Governor's office to find appropriate sources.
4. Budget
With the probable approval of the Capital Improvement Plan at Monday night's meeting, we will have completed the first phase of the development of the City's annual budget. Staff is now putting together their budget requests for 2005. We will be receiving those in the month of June, and then in June and July we will be meeting with the staff to fine tune the budget recommendations prior to the budget's presentation to the Commission in September.
In a previous status report I suggested that the Commission get together on an off-Monday in June to talk about the budget process and priorities. We also felt this would be an opportunity, as we discussed at our last goal-setting session, for the Commission to meet three times a year on issues. It was also hoped we could use these issue meetings to use the problem-solving model we have talked about in the past. Please let me know as soon as you can if you would be interested in scheduling a work session in June on budget priorities. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
5. Two Percent Requests
We anticipate that the Tribe will make its announcements on two percent allocations within the next week or two. If they follow the same pattern they have in the past, it will probably be announced the Thursday or Friday before Memorial Weekend.
6. Request For Curb Cuts Along Isabella Road At Industrial Park-South
As you will recall, George Dunn and I approached the Road Commission regarding curb cuts along Isabella at Industrial Park-South. Our hope was that this would then allow the property owners on the west side of the Park to develop their back lots for the construction of additional facilities and the attraction of additional industries to the park and the community.
Initially the Road Commission indicated they would not permit any additional curb cuts along Isabella Road. The Mayor, George Dunn and I attended a Road Commission meeting approximately a month ago and reiterated our request. They indicated they would take it under advisement. They also said they wanted to meet with the Drain Commissioner to see if he had any concerns about placing drives over the large drain that exists on the east side of Isabella Road. Approximately two weeks ago we received a call indicating that the Board would discuss it at their meeting and we were invited to attend. When we arrived we were told that they had tabled the matter for further consideration. I inquired as to whether or not they had any additional questions. They said they did not, but gave no reason why they delayed action on our request. I do not have a date for when they will discuss this again, so we will have to follow up with them.
7. Mt. Pleasant Center
A few weeks ago representatives from the Mt. Pleasant Center Committee, City Commission and County Board met with representatives of the State Department of Community Health including the Director, Janet Olszewski. We believe the meeting was productive and in the words of Commissioner Roby, "I believe we were listened to." We spent some time explaining the issue and the community's concern about the walkaways. We also reiterated the suggested solutions to address the problem. They provided information about the Center, clientele served, and federal and state regulations they operate under.
We discussed at some length the Committee's major recommendations including fencing, electronic tethers and reactivation of the siren. The State indicated they would explore in more detail the idea of a fence and reactivation of the siren. They also indicated though that they could make no promises since there were state and federal regulations regarding clients' rights they would have to take into consideration. They promised they would get back to us in the near future. We will keep you advised.8. Mt. Pleasant Realty
I have been told by Jack Neyer that they will be constructing a two-story building on the old site. As you may have noticed, they have already started construction, and we have had to close off Franklin Street while they do their initial clearance work on the old basement. I have not seen any specific plans for the building, but I am sure they will do a very nice job with the reconstruction.
9. Borden Building
The only new information that I can share with the Commission at this time is that the developers did meet with the State History Division a couple of weeks ago regarding what they can and cannot do with the current building. One of the questions they had was whether or not the small building on the west side of the facility must remain or could that be torn down. According to the State, that is an integral part of the building and therefore must remain.
10. Project 2000 Tax Case
As you will recall, you authorized Attorney Dick Figura to file an appeal with the Court of Appeals on this matter. Dick has e-mailed us a couple of times indicating that he has ordered a transcript of the hearing from the Tax Commission and is in the process of preparing the briefs that must be submitted within the next few weeks. He will send us a copy when completed, and if you would like to see them please let me know. At this point in time I don't know when the case will be heard.
11. Bill McCracken's Pending Retirement
As you know, Bill McCracken will be retiring the first week of June. If you have not had an opportunity to stop in and wish him well, please do so as I am sure he would like to see you. We have begun running ads in the appropriate journals for his replacement.
12. Capital Projects
As you know, Duane Ellis prepares a very comprehensive status report on all of our capital projects, so I will just mention a few things here.
· Washington Street. Work has begun on the street, and it is to be completed by the end of the summer.
· Broadway Sewer. As you know, we had some major issues with the sewer, including having to replace the manhole at University and Broadway, and the line has been relined by Insituform under the emergency purchase order you approved at the last meeting.
· Sidewalk Construction. J.D. Phillips was hired as the contractor this year and has begun work on various projects throughout the community.13. House Bill 4234, Personal Property Tax Exemptions
As you know, this bill would exempt the first $7,500 in personal property tax. Local governments have been lobbying strenuously in opposition to this bill. It is my understanding that the bill did pass the House with a provision that would grant the exemption, but with the requirement that the State would have to make up the shortfall to local units of government. The matter is now being reviewed by the Senate. We will keep you advised of the status of this legislation.
14. Fire Chief Search Process
Our search for a Fire Chief is continuing. The earlier searches have not proven fruitful. At this time we will continue until we have the best person for the job.