Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter For September 25, 2009

September 25, 2009

CHAMBER FORUM

The Chamber will be scheduling a candidate forum for City offices, October 7, 2009 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

DAVE CAMP

 Dave Camp visited Big Rapids to tour Wolverine World Wide to see the consolidation efforts at the plant and celebrate this success in his district.  Wolverine announced that 125 jobs had been added in the past several months and another 150 would be added by the end of the year.  This was certainly confirmed by the overflowing parking lot and the number of employees working inside the plant!!!  Wolverine officials commented that they were working on the documentation needed to apply to the City for tax abatement of the equipment being moved to the site.  Those reports are expected by the end of 2009.

BOND RATING

 Julie Tetsworth, Don Greiner and Steve Sobers had a conference call with Moody’s bond rating officials concerning their look at the City’s water system for rating purposes.  A report is expected in the next few months.

EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT

 The Department of Public Safety - Fire Division has received the ‘jaws of life’ tool and the training in its use.  All are very appreciative of the support of the Commission, community and AAA in the added response equipment that now makes reaching individuals in major accidents a more rapid process. 

NEGOTIATIONS

 The Police Supervisors (Sgts.) union negotiations continue amicably.  Non-fiscal issues are nearly complete and discussions on pay issues are innovative and productive.  In this economic time, it is certainly appreciated that all sides are willing to look at a variety of ways to financially reward work that is being accomplished.

WWTP PLANT CONSTRUCTION

 The EQ Basin is back in operation, having been fitted with aeration equipment.  Construction continues on a timely basis.  The Fall sludge hauling operation has begun.

ACTIVITY

 Don and Steve attended the Big Rapids Township meeting to report on the month’s activities administering their wastewater collection system.  There were no significant problems this month!

 Blood drive at Public Safety for Red Cross anticipated 25 units – and received 35 units of blood. Cudos to the DPS.  This is the important stuff of life!!

 Training continues for all Police officers at Kirkland.  This week Jim Eddinger, Danielle Brennan, Jason Jakubowski, Jeff Miller and Brian Miller are attending. Scott Graham completed his medical/mental analysis and is preparing for the murder trial for Stella Lintemuth Eric Haluska and Tim Moslener are working with 911 to upgrade the computers, phone system etc.

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES

Streets – Cleaned catch basin drains of debris
Made repairs to a water service shut off for 321 N. Michigan
Maintenance work at the Big Rapids Community Library
Made repairs to the tire swing in Playscape
Picked up down tree limbs on the 300 block of Winter Avenue
Filled pot holes
Installed a drain for Public Safety site
Made repairs to Public Safety flag pole
Responded to three Big Rapids Township sewer lift station alarms
Made asphalt patches on Michigan Avenue and Grand Traverse Street

Parks – Maintaining City’s park system and the downtown
   
Sewer – Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties

Motor fleet – Our to mechanics, Cal and Chris, attended a class for the City’s salt truck broadcasting system
Installed new winch system of Vehicle # 110, the new garbage truck, for dumping the rear hopper box
Made repair to the hydraulic lines on the air compressor

Water utilities – Performed Miss Digs for City utilities
Read water meters for finals
Check fire hydrants on FSU campus for leaks and breaks
Install water meter for 215 Monroe
Checked operation of water service valve to 102 Division
Checked shut off location for county building south of town
Made a visit to dentist office on county property to identify reported cause of low water pressure
Verified usability of water main gate valves on South Street and Ives Avenue for FSU East Campus Development Project - new water supply line will be tied into City system on Friday
Worked with plumbing contractor at Super 8 for making corrections to water meter piping
Visited 115 E. Pine for high water usage call

Stephen Sobers, City Manager