Village Manager’s Office

To:         Village Council, Web Page, Press and Staff

From:    Ryan Cotton, Village Manager

Date:     May 27, 2004

 Re:                 Council Information Letter 

 

Mel Is Still In Mercy Hospital:  Mel was transferred to Lifecare Hospital, north of Apple Avenue on Harvey last weekend.  His new number is 231-777-8430.  His room number is 310.  He has a staph infection in his blood that requires constant antibiotic infusions, 24 hours per day.  The prognosis is it will take four weeks to be completed.  It is a life-threatening condition if untreated.  Visiting hours are 9 AM to 9 PM.  Go to Apple Avenue and head east one block.  Turn north on the street next to Taco Bell.  It curves around for half a mile and becomes Harvey.  Right about at that point you can see a four to five story structure on the right.  That is the facility.  Park on the east side. 

 

Rite Aid Property on Lake Avenue and Demolition:  Our contact said he forwarded all the bids up the corporate ladder and expects demolition approval shortly.

 

Memorial Day Parade Line-up:  Come at 10:30 AM and ride on the trolley if interested in being in the parade this year. 

 

Village Hall Move:  The move went very well.  My hat is off to all staff that exercised a ton of initiative, enthusiasm and good humor to pull it off.  A few bugs with the HVAC and locks were worked out.  A larger bug with the locker room shower drainage is still being worked on.

 

Donations Coming In:  A total of $300 was received so far from our invitations to the rededication.  From Moore and Bruggink, Van Eck Construction and Steve Harvey.  This puts us to within $900 of our cost for the historic showcases and furnishings.

 

Rotary Club Purchases Two Grandfather Clocks:    The Spring Lake Rotary Club is reimbursing the Village for a floor model outside the EOC downstairs and a wall model upstairs.  The total value is $3,200 but is less cost to them due to a contact they have at Howard Miller.   We are covering a $90 difference.

 

Planning Commission Review of the Six Year Public Improvement Plan:  They recommended every item except one.  The discussion centered on the Old Public Works Garage.  On a split vote, they recommended deletion of the $170,000 allocated to its expansion.  On a separate split vote, taking the $85,000 out of the revenue column by its sale was defeated.  The group also advocated more local street repairs. 

 

Lake Avenue Asphalt:  This was done on Thursday.  This was about ten days late, mostly due to the rain.

 

Liberty Street Asphalt:  This was done on Thursday too.  This was about two weeks earlier than expected.

 

Spring Lake Farm and Garden Market Plans Progress:  Closing Church Street from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursdays remains the favorite location.  The Chamber is doing all the planning.  The group is looking to the Village to split the cost of a banner and the Village would provide trashcans.  I will use TIF dollars for the $150-$250 for the banner, depending on Council review at the next meeting.

 

Village Hall Punch List:  We have a final construction meeting on Wednesday at 9 AM to resolve a few items. 

 

First Concert at Mill Point Park:  This series is kicked off on Thursday night, June 3rd.   Put it in your calendar to come check it out.

 

In Line Skating Rink to Be Formally Used:  Practices for all Tri-City teams will be on the Central Park rink this year. This will occur three days per week starting in mid-June.   Next year, the smaller kids will play here and older kids at Mercury Park.  A contract for sale of advertising on the rink’s walls will be on your agenda at the next meeting. 

 

Survey Work on Exchange:  The Downtown Plan contemplates parking on the north side of Exchange.  More properties are being purchased on Exchange for commercial redevelopment.  I will be recommending that we get out ahead of these events by surveying Exchange and designing a new “Exchange Street Typical” to accommodate the parking and landscaping, trees, other landscaping, etc. in keeping with whatever our downtown design model becomes for Exchange. 

Use of the Interview Room for the Radio Club’s Equipment:  Chief DeYoung, Council member Fischer and I have been discussing the potential of building in emergency communications assistance from the radio club into our new building and our emergency management plan.  A meeting took place yesterday involving more members of the Club and more specifics.  It would be clearly advantageous to communications for the radio club to have a formal role and location in the building.  The best location appears to be a corner of the Interview Room.  When this plan gets fleshed out it will be forthcoming to the Joint Police Commission and to the Council for your review and consideration. 

 

 

***Upcoming Meetings***

 

Dredging Task Force:  Tuesday, June 1 at 8:00 AM at the Corps office.

 

Farmer’s Market Planning Meeting:  Tuesday, June 1 at 3 PM in upstairs Village Hall Conference Room.

 

M-104 Access Management Review Meeting:  Rescheduled to June 2 at 1:00 PM.  at SLT Hall.

 

Thursdays At the Point:  Thursday, June 3 at Mill Point Park.

 

Annual Business Recognition Lunch:  Scheduled for June 23 at SL Country Club

 

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