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July 2002 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 any of the items listed or would like information on something that I did not cover, please do not hesitate to contact me.
1. Sidewalk Projects
As you may recall, we awarded the bid for sidewalk work to J.D. Phillips a couple of months ago. Since that time they have focused their activities on replacing old and unsafe sidewalks. They have also constructed the new sidewalk along Crosslanes. Trees have been removed on both Crawford and Russell streets, and installation of sidewalk along Russell has begun. As in the past, J.D. Phillips is doing very nice work, and we anticipate the sidewalk construction project to be completed sometime early this fall.
2. State Shared Revenue/Fire Funding
I am sure you have read in the newspaper about the budget discussions in Lansing. With the cigarette tax increase approved, it appears that state shared revenue and fire funding are safe for another year. Fire funding will remain at the same level that it was last year. With this year's discussion about fire funding, it will probably be even more difficult in subsequent years to get them to increase funding, but we will keep trying. According to the staff at the Michigan Municipal League, one of the reasons that state shared revenue and fire funding were left in tact was because of the intense lobbying effort that local officials undertook to protect this funding. It is my understanding that some legislators even complained on the floor of the House and Senate about the intense lobbying they had received from their local officials. It is obvious that this kind of lobbying is effective and our voices heard.
3. Budget Process
Staff is actively involved in the preparation of the proposed 2003 budget. The first meeting of the Budget Committee was held on July 10th. As we have done in the past, we will prepare minutes of those meetings and supply them to the rest of the Commission in your agenda packets. After reviewing the minutes, if you should have any questions about our meetings, please do not hesitate to contact either me or members of the Budget Committee. Minutes of the July 10th meeting are included in your current agenda packet.
4. Public Safety Building
The conversion of the old bays on the west side of the building is well underway and should be completed within the next week or two. Renovation of the main entryway and office space will begin very shortly, and with that work we will begin to see the last of the phases to renovate the current facility. As I have said previously, the contractor continues to do a very nice job for us and we are pleased with his work. We are still estimating completion for late this fall.
5. Wastewater Treatment Plant
Work continues as well on the last phases of construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Most of the work is now focusing on installation of the controls and electrical systems for the plant. They are also working on the offices for the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. They are in the process of painting the new concrete towers, and it is anticipated that all work should be completed within the next 60 days. We have heard nothing further from EPA on our permit. While we have received the draft permit, there are still some processes that the EPA must go through before they can issue our final permit. I have not heard whether or not the DEQ intends to file any appeals on the issuance of the permit. Just by way of a reminder, the draft permit is quite similar to the permit we have already received from the DEQ, which means we do not need to do any additional work on the plant over and above the current project.
6. Project 2000 Tax Case
I recently sent you a memo advising you of the meeting we had with the Assistant Attorney General on this matter a few days ago. As I indicated, we still anticipate that if we cannot settle this case we will go to trial sometime in mid-August. When the attorney was here he advised us that the Chairman of the Tax Commission had just resigned his position, and they did not know the time frame for appointing a new Chairperson. It is my understanding that this person not only serves as Chairman of the Tax Commission, but also as Director for the Commission. The attorney did not believe this would slow down the progress of this case, but currently there is only a two-member board instead of the normal three, so he wasn't sure what impact, if any, this would have on the process. Obviously I will keep you informed of the status of this matter.
7. Phone System
A meeting was held between staff and Verizon employees who will be handling the installation of our phone system. Staff has indicated they feel more comfortable with the level of commitment from Verizon for this project. All of the equipment necessary for the changeover has been ordered, and it still appears we are on track for installation in the fall.
8. High School Parking Problem
You may recall that there was an editorial a few weeks ago about parking around the high school athletic fields. Staff has been working on this issue, and hopefully within the next month or two will have some recommendations as to how to address this problem.
9. City/Township Joint Meeting
We have tentatively set a joint meeting between the two bodies for August 28th. Please contact Jana to let her know if you will be able to attend.
10. City/County Meeting
The most recently scheduled meeting with the County had to be cancelled due to vacations scheduled by both City and County members. Our next meeting will be scheduled in August.
11. Capital Improvement Projects
As you know, Duane Ellis prepares his own report, but I would just like to quickly summarize where we are on some of our larger projects.
Broadway Street Reconstruction has been completed. Crawford Road construction from Pickard to River Road is underway and should be completed within 30 days. We have completed a number of overlay projects throughout the community, including a portion of Main Street from Mosher to Broadway. We have also rebuilt a one-block section of Franklin from Mosher to Broadway. As I indicated earlier, our sidewalk projects are underway and should be completed by the fall.
12. Mt. Pleasant Center
I would just like to take a minute to remind Commission members who would be interested in serving with the Mayor on a committee to discuss the Center with the County to contact the Mayor. Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
13. Park Projects
You may have noticed that Porath has begun the pedestrian/bike trail through Mill Pond Park. Work on the observation platform overlooking the wetlands will begin next week. Work has also begun on the dam removal project. As of Monday morning a temporary dam had been put in place to stop the water flow over the big dam. They have begun driving the sheet piling for the new weirs. Greg Baderschneider is quite pleased with the work to date.
14. Skateboard Park
Bids will be going out next Monday for the base and the ramps. Hopefully we will be able to present the bids to you at either the first or second meeting in August. The DEQ permit allowing us to build the skate park in the floodplain has been received.