To: Village Council, Press, Web Site and Staff
From: Ryan Cotton, Village Manager
Date: March 24, 2005
Re: Council Information Letter
E-Mail Down This Week: Next IT is up and running again. We are sorry if you did not get through with e-mails in the last
three days.
Brownfield TIF Chances: The good news is the Village qualifies for Brownfield funds for several of the developments going forward. These funds will not cover any infrastructure costs, however. They will address the demolition and environmental costs instead. The property owners and I will continue to meet and may bring an application or two to Council and to the Brownfield Authority next month.
ACE Hardware Open House: They are planning an open house for May 8th. For your calendars. Not sure what time yet.
Wrong Telephone Number Printed by SBC in 2004: The Village’s number listed is wrong. No one answers it when called either. FYI in case you get complaints about no one answering at Village Hall. It’s not true!
SBC says they will correct it in the next printing. Meanwhile, if we can find out from them
where the calls are all going, we will endeavor to get a recorded answer
directing them to call the correct number instead. The wrong number is 842-7936.
The right number is 842-1393.
Jim Whitwam’s Retirement: Jim indicated he would like to retire effective May 13,
2005. Jim started working for the
Village in 1974. We are especially
grateful for his many extra services on the Bike Path and odd jobs. We will be working with Jim on his various
accrued leave amounts and insurances.
Signage Enforcement: The process was widened to address non-conforming gas station signs this week. Next week should see the final letters going out. Some of the Banks may get letters also given excessive signage at the drive-throughs.
Anyone who calls and feels they have a better idea on sign ordinance language is automatically invited to attend a discussion with me set for Wednesday, March 30 at 9:00 AM.
Interviewing for a Replacement Full-Time Police Officer: The existing vacancy will hopefully be filled early in April. Interviewing will occur on April 12, 2005. A total of 70 applications were received.
Village Hall “Coping” is Up: It looks good except for a few tweaks needed. We will see if it eliminates the leaking problem.
NOWS Rate Increase: The NOWS Board voted for a $.04 rate increase in wholesale costs this week. After debating the matter on the grounds of more cost efficiencies possible, I reluctantly voted for it due to the undeniable cash flow issues the new intake and plant expansion studies have caused Grand Haven. They have gone negative in the “replacement fund” on numerous occasions trying to float these extra expenses. Nevertheless, all involved promise that they will look at “unattended operations” to reduce costs long-term once advanced water treatment controls are upgraded and in place in the plant expansion. The wholesale water cost was once around $1.30 and is now $.88.
Lakeside Trail Property Negotiations and Status: No go. Long story short – nobody can commit the land rights needed in time for the grant request. I will come back to you at the April meeting for your thinking on whether to construct it west of Christman this summer without grant funds or wait for the land rights to be resolved and apply next year.
Pre-Construction Meeting for East Savidge Streetscape: This took place on Tuesday. Once all the Redstone easements and maintenance understandings are signed, construction can begin in the first week of April. The complete plans are in my office if interested. We expect the Redstone agreements to be executed within a matter of days.
***Upcoming Meetings***
Village
Hall Closed Good Friday Afternoon: Friday,
March 25 from 12 noon to end of day.
Meeting
with St. Mary’s Church on Expansion Plans:
Tuesday, March 29 at 2 PM here.
Ad
Hoc Sign Research Committee: Wednesday,
March 30 at 9 AM at Village Hall.
That is all for the week. Call with questions:
842-1393, 844-2581 or 616-638-8910 or ryancotton@hotmail.com or
ryan@springlakevillage.org.
Ryan Cotton,
Village Manager