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August 2000 Status Report
TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Paul Preston
SUBJECT: Status Report - August 2000
It is my pleasure to submit my monthly status report to you for your review and consideration. If you should have any questions about any of the items listed, or if I do not mention an item on which you would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
1. Main Street Reconstruction Project
This project, depending on the weather, should be finished next week. Due to rains the week of August 14th, the paving was delayed a day or two, but the road should be completed in time for the return of students.
2. Project 2000 Tax Case
The only thing new to report on this matter is that the Michigan Municipal League's attorney has submitted a brief in support of our position. I thought the brief was well thought out and I believe strengthens our position. Quite frankly, we are all baffled as to why no action has been taken on this matter or a hearing scheduled. As you know, we anticipated being called for a hearing in the second or third week of July. We are at the mercy of the judge and will just have to wait to hear from him.
3. 2001 Budget
Staff is putting finishing touches on the proposed 2001 budget. It will be presented to the Commission at your September 11th meeting. We will begin our presentations on the budget either the last meeting in September or the first meeting in October.
4. Project 2000
a. Industrial Park-South: As you may recall, there are 30 acres left to be marketed in the Park. George Dunn mentioned to me last week that there are three separate people interested in ten-acre parcels each. It is too early to tell at this point in time as to whether or not any of the sales will be completed, but if all three are, then the industrial park would be completely sold out.
b. Residential: Mike Hofer has advised me that he should close within the next few weeks on the five acres he is selling to MHT along Isabella Road. As you will recall, MHT is planning to build 48 additional low and moderate-income rental units on the property.
5. Park Grant
As you know, we received notification that we have been awarded $275,728 for the M-20 trail project, which will link the Mt. Pleasant Riverwalk Trail between the Mill Pond and Chipp-A-Waters Parks. This is the component along High Street and under the bridge. I wanted to take this opportunity to compliment Greg Baderschneider and Tony Kulick for their efforts and diligence in pursuing this grant opportunity. This year alone we have received a million dollars in grant money to help complete this project.
6. Let Local Votes Count Ballot Initiative
From the news articles I have read it would appear that the Board of Canvassers will certify the petition drive, which means the question will be on the November ballot. The League is preparing a position paper on the specific aspects of the ballot language, as there appears to be quite a bit of confusion as to what the proposed constitutional amendment would mean for future legislation. I have also seen some early poll figures which indicate that people strongly support the initiative. I am sure as the campaign heats up the poll numbers will get a little closer. I have attached for your information an editorial that appeared in the Lansing State Journal.
7. Wastewater Treatment Plant Project
We will be taking bids the end of this month for the media material that will go into the oxidation towers. As was the case with the water plant, we will be bidding some of the equipment ourselves so that we do not have to pay taxes or a general contractor's overhead on the acquisition of that equipment. We will be going out for bid for the entire project in September, with bids to be taken in November.
8. Tribal Two Percent Requests
We are now assembling the two percent requests from staff. We will present them to the City Commission at your first meeting in September so that you have two meetings to review them prior to the September 30th submittal to the Tribal Council.
9. Liaison Meetings
Because of the summer schedule it has been difficult to schedule meetings with either the Township or the County. We have the next two meetings with the University scheduled for September and December of 2000, and with fall approaching we will schedule our regular meetings with the Township and with the County.
10. Reception For Dr. Rao
The City and the Chamber of Commerce are planning a reception for Dr. Rao. It is scheduled for September 13th at 5:00 p.m. at the Embers. You will receive a formal invitation probably sometime the last week of August or the first week of September. We feel this would be an appropriate way to welcome Dr. Rao and his family to the University and to Mt. Pleasant.
11. Park Trail Project
As you recall, you authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign the agreement between the City and the state for the park trail project. Greg Baderschneider hand-carried the document to the state last week, and they signed it immediately. They are also currently reviewing the construction plans, and we feel more confident now that we will be able to get the railroad crossings between Island and Nelson Parks completed prior to the termination of the crossing permit at the end of the year. Again, I want to compliment Greg for his persistence in this matter, and also the state for their willingness to work with us in an expedited way to get this project moving forward.
12. Eastside Park Project
Staff is currently drafting an agreement between the schools and the city in line with what was approved by the City Commission and School Board last week. We should be able to complete the documents in the next few weeks and construction of the park will start yet this fall.
13. Income Tax Study
The study was begun on July 17. In a recent letter to Nancy, John Kaczor of Municipal Consulting Services reported that they were devoting substantial effort to collecting demographic information from as many sources as possible. They have also begun to develop the spreadsheet model that will serve as the basis for the final analysis. They have also reviewed the information we forwarded to them regarding taxable values, demographics and finances. This information is being included in the model as it is developed. It is anticipated that the study will be done by the first of November.
PLP/je