Village Manager’s Office
To: Village Council and Staff
From: Ryan Cotton, Village Manager
Date: January 4, 2008
Re: Council Information Letter
Postpone Goal Setting?: President Filber and I talked about this yesterday since Steve is not able to be here. I will put this matter on the next work session to reschedule at a time that is good for all.
Purchase Price for Savidge and Fruitport Road Area: The paperwork came through this week that shows the total purchase price was $1,260,000. That does not include the car wash that was purchased mid last year. FYI.
Homes are Being Purchased Cheaply: Due to financial problems, a number of homes are being deeply discounted. An example is 207 South Lake which sold for only $55,000
A developer is working a lot in town now to purchase some of these bargains and fix them up. His short-term interest is to rent them out with the long-term goal of getting people into “rent to own” contracts. Sounds like a win/win for the Village if he is successful. He has done about a half dozen so far.
St. Mary’s Parking: A letter went out to last week’s concerned citizen in the paper regarding the multiple Historic Commission, Planning Commission, Village Council and assorted special meetings with the Church officials on their parking and expansion plans since 2003 (about eight meetings were held with of some or all of the above).
Huntington Bank Interested in Helping Sponsor Some Community Events: Bill and I will be having a lunch meeting with them in two weeks.
South Street Neighborhood Letter to Go Out Next Week: This neighborhood will get a letter announcing plans to put in the sidewalk on the north side subject to our Capital Improvements Process policy. FYI in case you get any calls.
Average Water Bills Nationwide: The USA Today carried a story last week showing that the average water bill is $278. The average residential water bill here is about $175. The average sewer bill nationwide is 276. The Village average is about $160.
Code Enforcement Continues in the Winter: The MML magazine this week carried a major story on code enforcement and how it was increasingly necessary. They emphasized education. We are happy that Kathy is engaged in the very same efforts and even in the winter is acting on unlicensed and inoperable vehicles and rental inspections.
We also appreciate the efforts of the Police Officers when they call matters to Kathy’s attention. Sgt. Steinhauer has done a great deal of this over the years.
Out of 62 letters Kathy sent out since July, only one complaint back was received.
Second Formal Meeting of the Safe Routes to School Initiative: This Wednesday at Barber School at 5:00 PM. Refreshments will be provided.
Big Planning Commission Meeting: Barrett’s next expansion; the PUD at Savidge and Fruitport Road and Low Storm water Impact Development is on the agenda.
Dan Hoe Excavating Paid $2,000: The file is now closed.
Schedule for New Bridge at 120th Avenue: The County Administrator announced recently that property acquisition would begin by MDOT this fall. They hope to have construction begin in 2010. The route will no longer be known as the F/J1 option; rather, it will be called the “M-231 Grand River Crossing.” The initial traffic estimates from 1996 show that 4% of the traffic on M-104 will be diverted. My guess it is it will be greater than that.
Sewer Force Main Needs to Be Funded Eventually: The Sewer Authority identified the force main that is jointly owned and a mile-long for transmission of sewage from all of the North Bank to the treatment faculty on the south side of the Grand River needs replacement. This force main is 35 years old. Normal life expectancy is 30 to 50 years.
The administrative representatives of the North Bank got together recently and suggested we start a fund to save up this cost. The ideal time to start the fund is in 2009 when all of the sewer plant debt is paid off. The intent is to have enough funds by the time a failure becomes imminent to replace it. Testing will occur annually so as to be ensured of its integrity until then.
The Village’s cost share is 40% of the force main and 25% of the associated pump station improvements. (The Village used 40% of this capital asset in 1982 when the percentages were derived. I will be reviewing the contract and seeing if these percentages still make sense.) More to follow….
Avalon Floral Building Goes Up for Sale: Not sure why…more to follow…
Working on Smart Growth Principles for Region: I was asked by the West Michigan Strategic Alliance Board to work on drafting these principles for a presentation at their next Board meeting in mid-January. To that end, I am hosting a working committee of other interested Board members for lunch on Monday. Let me know if interested and have any suggestions. The County Administrator and other growth oriented officials are contributing as well as officials from the built-up urban areas.
***Upcoming Meetings***
Safe Routes to School: January 9th at 5:00 PM at Barber School.
Windsor McCay Meeting: SLDL at 4:00 PM on Friday, January 11th.
Historic Conservation District Commission: Tuesday, January 15 at 5:30 PM at Village Hall.
Planning Commission: Tuesday, January 22 at 7:00 PM at Barber School.
Douglas and Sagutuck Township Visit: Wednesday, January, 23rd. Leave Village Hall at 1:30 PM. First stop is Saugatuck
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