Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter September 11, 2009

September 11, 2009

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

 LAST CALL FOR RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN SERVING AS A CITY MAYOR, COMMISSIONER OR A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION COMMITTEE MEMBER TO FILE THEIR PETITIONS, BY 4:00 P.M., ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

DAVID EISLER MEMORANDUM TO FACULTY AND STAFF

 Attached is a memorandum to the faculty and staff of Ferris. While it is a thank you to those individuals, it is also a very interesting analysis of the present direction and demography of the Ferris institution. It is also a reminder of the value that Ferris adds to all our lives and fortunes. A ‘best wishes’ to David and all the faculty, staff and students at the outset of a new school year is in order.

$1 HOUSE

 The City has acquired a foreclosed and unclaimed house through the Housing Commission for $1. Mark Sochocki has been exploring the ‘as is’ sale and/or the ‘demolition sale of the land’ options. He will be further exploring this with a listing. If agreement is reached, the Commission will need to be involved as the owner of the property. If there are any concerns on this approach, let me know.

LIBRARY BOOKSALE

 This year’s booksale was one of the smoothest on record!! Over 450 hours of volunteer time was donated to the sale by many individuals. Thank yous should abound to all those participating. At the library $4,273 in books were sold on Friday and Saturday. On Monday at Arts and Crafts Fair another $1,476 was earned. Huge thank yous to Mary Ryan, who once again chaired this event and raised nearly $6,000! The Friends of the Library plan to spend the booksale proceeds for library activities and the Labor Day event monies are invested in the Fremont Foundation as endowment needs develop.

BS&A

 The final surge to convert the City to accounting BS&A software is taking place. We should be operational by the end of the month. While costing $27,000 in the conversions exercises, the City will save equal numbers annually as maintenance of the software by BS&A is substantially cheaper than Eden. In addition, BS&A is a Michigan firm and will provide local assistance and training. Eden, located on the west coast, was always a challenge to communicate with.

LOW INTEREST LOAN

 The Senate committees will be taking up consideration of the USDA low interest loan program next Tuesday. If approved, it will be sent to the Senate as a whole – and then to the Governor. The journey continues, thanks to Darwin Booher and Patrick Teidt (from the House) and Michelle McManus on the Senate.

TREE REMOVAL PROGRAM

Jill Buse has put together the list of dead, dying trees for removal for this fall. Removal for these trees will begin soon.

ACTIVITIES

- Tuba Bach concert banners placed downtown.
- Shelter roof installed at swimming pool.
- School has started and Scott Paquette will be serving as the school liaison officer this year.
- Region 6 voted this week to support the Hazmat trailer housed in the DPS with $17,500 in equipment.
- Officers Higgins, Kuiawa and Coon are in Alert training at Kirkland this week.
- Discussions are being held concerning the possibility of training Firefighters for EMT status, and the possibility of housing a reserve ambulance at DPS.

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Streets –

Made repairs for a water main break on Clark Street
Asphalt patches, thin overlay, made on Waterloo Street.
Restored utility asphalt patches on Clark Street
Milled and overlaid south end of Willow Street
Removed asphalt shingles and installed new metal roof on Community Pool Pavilion. Materials were donated by Rosemary and Richard Jennings.
General maintenance work done at Community Library
Installed a three inches water supply on River Street for the new soccer fields irrigation system
Repaired potholes throughout the City
Removed City’s banner downtown and installed Tuba Bach banners
Picked up barricades for River Days
Parks –

Maintaining City’s park system and the downtown
Sewer –

Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties
Assisted FSU on sewer problem
Motor fleet –

Serviced vehicle # 219, water service truck ervice vehicle # 404 and 415, police cars Installed thermo-camera on vehicle # 402, police car Service Dial-A-Ride buses, #’s 903 and 906 Mechanics attended a Transport Bus Hybrid Prepping new garbage truck for service Water utilities – Assisted on water main repairs at Parkview Village Performed Miss-Digs Made a number of start reads for new water service tenants of rental units Issued temporary water meter to contractor working on 19 Mile Road Relocated water meter touch read Replaced meter at 726 Sheridan damaged by winter freezing Answered call for reported high water consumption at 302 S. Stewart Monthly water service shut-offs for delinquent payments
Stephen Sobers, City Manager

Helen Sobers
FSU Library for Information, Technology and Education
Room #140
Ferris State University
1010 Campus Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307
President's Memorandum to Faculty and Staff
Office of the President

 Our Founders’ Day festivities Thursday were extraordinary. From some of the most beautiful weather we have had all summer, to the faculty and staff picnic, the ice cream social, the history panels, the vintage  photo event, and all the informational booths and activities on the Quad, our celebration embodied the kind of vitality that is at the core of college life. It was wonderful to see true community in action with students, faculty, staff, emeriti, community, and family members all taking part.This event was a huge undertaking. I want to thank everyone involved in making the day such a resounding success. So many people and departments, committees and groups played crucial roles. I want to draw special attention to Mary Kay MacIver, Miles Postema, members of the 125th Anniversary History Task Force, and our Dining Services people. And to everyone who took part – from our security people, to celebrity ice cream servers to volunteers who staffed information booths on the Quad, to those who created signage and helped publicize the events – your contributions made this event truly memorable and special.Enrollment Beyond our strong desire and valued commitment to provide access for students to the opportunities a Ferris education provides, enrollment is critical to the financial strength of our University. At Ferris more than 70% of our revenue comes from student tuition. Given the unprecedented economic hardships in Michigan and the uncertainty over state support for promised student scholarships, there were many negative forces to overcome in recruiting and retaining students this fall. Thanks to your hard work, and by this I mean the efforts of everyone across our University, we have very good enrollment news to report. In sharing these data, I especially want to congratulate Dan Burcham and all of our people in Admissions and Financial Aid. At Ferris State University - Enrollment is again a record – 13,865 students system-wide In Big Rapids there are 9,865 students, an increase of 198 students At Kendall there are 1,385 students, also a record. These would be noteworthy figures at any time, but they are even more remarkable given the continuing challenges of our national and state economies. Fall enrollment figures also include some wonderful gains in diversity – African American enrollment has increased by 5.34% Hispanic enrollment has grown by 14.29% Native American enrollment is up 15.74% Thank you for working to make our student body more diverse. As expected, the number of new freshman students has declined this fall. We are now in the third year of declining number of high school graduates, a pattern that will likely continue throughout the next decade. Throughout the University system new freshmen enrollments are down by 6.7%. Our growth results from a – 5% increase in transfer students 7.26% increase in readmitted students 4.22% increase in continuing students. For the future we will need to continue to recruit a student body that is more diverse. We will need to become the transfer institution of choice in Michigan. And we will need to retain more of our students. Given the economic and other pressures our students face, I am especially pleased by the increase in continuing students. This is remarkable. As I tell students, the object is not to go to college, but to graduate from college. The 4th day enrollment report is accessible here - http://www.ferris.edu/president/memos/Fall2009Enrl.pdf  To better track the enrollment patterns of our students, these data for the first time this year include the breakout of Internet course delivery On the left side of the page (head count) on-line numbers refer to students enrolled in on-line majors. On the right side of the page (Student Credit Hours) Internet numbers refer to SCH produced by on line courses. This approach highlights stunning growth – on-line education student credit hours have increased sharply. Clearly, future success will depend upon not only adapting to changing student demographics, but also to changing expectations for the delivery of this education. At Ferris we place great emphasis on the importance of working together, and these figures show why that kind of teamwork is so important. As we begin our 125th year, I have been struck by the energy and optimism I have sensed on campus in the weeks leading up to the start of classes. This sometimes intangible quality contributes to our being a University where students want to study, live and thrive. Closing Thoughts Our 125th Anniversary Celebration continues! Today at 11 a.m., we will break ground on Helen’s Garden, in memory of Helen Gillespie Ferris. The ceremony, located between the Prakken and Alumni buildings, will kick off construction of the garden near the site of our original "Old Main" building. Thursday evening we will open "Ferris Through the Years," an exhibition of aerial views chronicling the development of our campus. Join us in the Rankin Center Art Gallery for this fascinating look back at our campus. Mr. Ferris was an opinionated man who did not mind sharing those opinions. As a result, he has a quote that fits nearly every occasion. In reading through some of his words in preparation for Founders Day, I was struck by his assertion that – I shall never cease growing. I am ever searching for truth. I feel confident this is the noblest attitude a human being can take. None of us here at the University knew Woodbridge and Helen personally; nonetheless, they continue to exert incredible influence at Ferris. Seeing the vibrancy on display at Founders’ Day made me think about how they are a real presence, a metaphor for the daily life of the University. As we strive to live our Core Values of Collaboration, Diversity, Ethical Community, Excellence, Learning and Opportunity, we are reflecting values the Ferris’ established from the very beginning. Growth and success during difficult times are part of the traditions of Ferris State University. Thank you for helping to make Founders’ Day not only a wonderful celebration of our past, but also a vibrant statement of our future. I look forward to helping create that future with you.
Sincerely,
David L. Eisler
President