Lakeside Trail Bike Path Public Hearing Notice and Letters
These notices went out this week to all neighbors and to the Tribune. Hopefully, we will get some feedback in advance of the hearing next Monday and at the hearing.

Landscape Architect Reviewing the Lakeside Trail Bike Path Route
A number of conceptual design decisions need to be made and also a determination if it will be grant competitive. I toured the site with Pam and we will discuss these decisions on Monday. The hearing above is needed regardless of the route, grants and timing. More to follow...

Concerns About Ponding Water at Parkhurst and Franklin
We received a call this week about excessive surface water at this intersection and a request to fix it. It appears the ponding has occurred for many decades due to lack of storm sewer. Nevertheless, I am working with John and investigating what can be done to reduce the situation. Any fix would affect our Local Street fund. FYI.

Police Commission and Cost Sharing Discussions
This meeting determined that the funding allocation had changed from 46% to 47% for Ferrysburg, and from 54% to 53% for the Village of Spring Lake.

Village Hall Progress
Carpeting is coming next week. They are just about done with the staining. A bunch of loose end items need to be addressed as noted below.

Village Hall Construction Costs
Now that the job is almost done quite a few details are being wrapped up. Most relate to changes that increase our costs and reduce our contingency. What follows is an accounting from our last Construction Meeting on Wednesday. Attached is the full detail on the costs of the project in general.

1.   Change lighting in VM and VC/T's offices to address lack of height to use the fluorescent lighting only: $708. (The original lights are in storage to use as replacement parts as others fail.)

2.   Install an electric strike to maintain security in west door from rental users: $141.

3.   Finish off the metal columns near the center stairway with wood trim, painted/stained to match the walls: $1,468.

4.   Install the knee wall to hold the original window, opposite the new semi-circular window: $600.

5.   Electrical and data outlet changes, less a credit, to address the location of the window above: $185.

6.   The net cost to replace a metal door planned for a formerly less visible location to a wood door due to design necessity that made the location highly visible (closet area behind Village staff on ground floor): $1,300.

7.   Data outlets for two police rooms to address an oversight: $129.

8.   Replace the ceiling in the closet of the Rental Space that was cracked and falling in: $398.

9.   Install an "electric strike" on the door from lobby to the Police Department so access is restricted to those permitted in by the Administrative Assistant: 1,003.

10.   Changes in electrical/data due to fin tube and furniture shift: 255.

The above totals $6,187. These changes are necessary.

Several additional changes are still being researched: the boiler inspector wants a switch for $646; security closures and combination door hardware from the copy room area to the Police Department is needed for $1,100; evidence room countertop, cabinets and electrical for $1,995 due to not being in the original plan; and $600 more than budgeted for internal signage. This potential is $4,341.

On the flip side, a credit of $2,000 will occur from donation of the dedication plaque by Wolverine and Fishbeck and $7,350 from TIF for the angle parking is pending.

The net total contingency including the above is $40,961 out of $147,797. The leftover contingency based on the above figures is therefore $106,836.

The Contractor and Architect are incredulous as to how little of the contingency has been necessary on renovation of such an old building with so many unknowns going into it.

The regular, more detailed cost accounting reports are elsewhere in the packet. Please call me with any questions or concerns. If there are none, I will approve the ones I noted that are unavoidable on Monday.

Budget Coming Along
Our budget models are holding up well against the strain of a new year and expected expenditures with the exception of the Local Street fund. We are seeing a cash flow crunch with their operating and maintenance needs. As a consequence, the five-year capital plan will figure the bulk of the TIF funding after sunset to go toward the Local Streets needing repair.

On the flip side the General, Police, Major Streets, Water and Sewer and other funds are looking good. More to follow at our Budget work session set for April 19^th. We will do our annual Budget Adjustments on March 15^th. These changes will be fine-tuning adjustments only, primarily to satisfy the auditors when they come at year-end.
Siren Test Change
They are doing these monthly siren tests at Friday at noon until the fall instead of Saturday at noon. FYI.

Village Hall Lobby Plans
The following is shaping up: we will purchase three rolling display cases to be located in lobby, EOC and upstairs hallway; a grandfather clock is being provided by Spring Lake Rotary, the first President's picture will be displayed next to the dedication plaque; the current President will be displayed on the opposite side of the lobby; historic pictures will be selected by the Historic Commission and reproduced, framed and hung wherever appropriate throughout the building; and the Tri-Cities Museum is developing plans for a built-in showcase that would be wide enough to display mannequins in various garb. More to follow as the plans progress.

Police Radio Meeting
Tom Fischer and his club are doing some work to save the Village costs and provide a better system. Roger and I are meeting with them today.

Spring Lake Township Eliminates Harbor Transit Service to Strawberry Point
We got formal notice of this last week.

Special Meeting of Village of Spring Lake/City of Ferrysburg Joint Police Commission on Budget:
On March 8, 2004, 12 Noon, Meet at Village Hall/Police Department for Tour and 12:15 PM at Barber School. Lunch is available.

Construction Meeting:
March 17 at 9 AM at Barber School.

Wayfinding Signage Group:
March 9 at 4 PM at Barber School.