Taxable Value Estimate
The total taxable value for the coming budget year is estimated by the Assessor to increase by 4.6%. This compares favorably with a 1.2% increase last year.

Village Hall Construction Update
The counter tops are being put in. The cabinets are being installed. The wainscoting is going up and a stain color of reddish brown was chosen for the red oak wainscoting, trim and doors. The quarry tile is going in. The sign went out to bid last week.

Health Insurance Cost Increase
The increase quoted this year is 6%. Priority Health will not write the same co-pays this year so we are having employee meetings next week to answer questions.

Strategic Plan and Joint Police Commission
This meeting is happening at noon on Tuesday. This is the formal review for the plan with amendments and then it will be recommended to the Ferrysburg and Spring Lake Council.

Wayfinding Signage Planning Meeting
The second planning meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 4 :00 PM. This is the third highest priority of the Recreation Plan and is funded to a large extent by TIF and will be, hopefully in the future, by the Public Improvement Fund.

Rotary Club Tour of Village Hall
This tour is scheduled for Friday about 1:00 PM. They are meeting at Old Boy's to begin with and I am invited to lunch. I will be passing out brochures on donations to the Village Hall History Project. Let me know if you are interested in being there too and I will make reservations.

Liberty Street Bid Date
This project has been advertised for bid and will be opened on March 5, 2004. The MPO federal grant money and the one mill, three-year tax increase are paying for this project.

Cosmetology School and Dollar Store
Construction in the old Rich's food store started this week.

Downtown Focal Point
I have been getting feedback on this element of the Downtown Master Plan. Some suggestions are to use Jackson at Savidge after business hours on Fridays for a TGIF type of outdoor entertainment or to buy the area next to the Phoenix Restaurant for a small spray park and a performing arts area.

Budget Reached on Sidewalk Plowing
Our $10,000 budget limit was reached this week. I am asking that the plowing that we added beyond last year be scaled back for now. Let me know if you would like it continued beyond the budget limits. Ironically, we got complaints from some of the residents along Savidge this year.new windrows they had to shovel through were the issue.and on Lake Avenue where the issue was a picket fence that got damaged from the windrow.

I am also thinking about scaling back the Tri-Cites Connector Path plowing so we would focus on the Downtown only for the rest of the winter.

I would be interested in your thoughts on these cutbacks, however.

Fiscal Year Estimate
It looks like we will end up about $5,000 in the red for the fiscal year unless additional expenditure changes are made. We are meeting this week to make cuts of professional services and other cuts. Our goal is to ensure a balanced year-end for the first time in four years.

Credentialing Continued
Last year I became an ICMA Credentialed Manager. An annual program of continuing education and report is required to maintain your credentials. I received notice this week that I was re-credentialed.

Good News - No Gypsy Moths or Spraying Required
The Ottawa County Conservation District so informed us recently.

Village of Spring Lake/City of Ferrysburg Police Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 10 at 12 Noon at Ferrysburg.

Wayfinding Signage Group:
This group is having its second meeting on Thursday at 4 PM in Barber School. Councilmember Hall is the Village Council representative.

That is all for the week. Call with questions: 842-1393, 844-2581 or 616-638-8910. Ryan Cotton, Village Manager