Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter For October 16, 2009

October 16, 2009
 
LIBRARY DONATION

 Pat Schnaffer, a board member of the Friends of the Library, worked with Rosalinde Parsons to make the Friends a part of her estate.  When Rosalinde passed away recently, she remembered the library in her will, which resulted in a donation of $25,233.07 to the Friends.  It is the expectation that this donation will be added to the Fremont Foundation account and be used for library programs, books and other needs of the Community library.  Thanks to Mary Ryan for the wisdom to begin to fund this account over 10 years ago so that such donations may be applied to good use to help the library programs!

WOLVERINE BOOTS

 Dean’s Excavating is testing a new line of boots for Wolverine World Wide at the wastewater plant construction site.  Wolverine World Wide will be filming a video of the workers at the site wearing the boots.  The City is cooperating fully with this opportunity to help local industry!!

SEAN SHANTZ

 Sean has completed his 52 days of training in Texas and will be moving on to Iraq later this month.  He will have an additional 2-3 weeks of training in the Mid-East after arriving there before taking on ‘regular duties’.  He will be located about 90 miles South of Baghdad.  He will be flying missions in support of the 100,000 troops and 14,000 vehicles located in his jurisdictional area.  His Iraq address is Sgt. Sean Shantz, Camp Adder Tallil, Charlie Co.  3-238 Avn Reg,, APO AE 09331.  Letters sent take only a regular 44 cent stamp! Sean will have intermittent e-mail access at sean.shantz@us.army.mil

CVB – MCDC

 The two agencies met with the City to review the idea of renovating the Depot.  The City now has a drawing from Marlies Manning for the exterior drives, parking and landscaping.  Connie Koepke and Bill Mrdeza encouraged the City to plan a visit to Lansing to discuss the potential plans with the DNR and MDOT.  Mark Gifford will be scheduling this meeting and will include the Chamber and other players in the outing.

RECYCLING FERRIS

 Mark Gifford and Steve Sobers met with the Ferris administration and the Ferris recycle club to begin the initiative for recycling.  Republic Refuse Service will be bringing polycarts for recycling to Campus for use in four locations.  If successful, this will be expanded to other areas across the University.

CONSUMERS ENERGY

 Consumers is removing the electrical substation on fourth avenue.  This equipment is outdated and no longer needed to complete the grid in the community.  Work started this week to rewire this location.

COLOR FLIGHTS

 Mike Lafferty reported that Roben Hood has been given approval to take ‘tourists’, on flights to enjoy the fall colors around Big Rapids from the air.  Persons interested should call Roben Hood to make these arrangements.

 Roben Hood has also been cleared to provide fuel to military aircraft as needed.  This is yet another effort of Mike’s that takes time to gain the ‘permission’ to be a fueling depot and will help the City increase its fuel sales and therefore, profitability at Roben Hood.

DISTRICT LIBRARY

 Dick Butler, Mark Warba and Steve Sobers attended the School Board meeting to make a presentation on the legal provisions of establishing a district library.  The presentation went well with many questions from the board.  The board also agreed to a second meeting (probably after the first of the year), to hear from individuals from other towns/schools/libraries who have formed district libraries, so that they may understand the challenges of going in this direction.

BIG RAPIDS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION (BRPOA)

 The City and BRPOA are working together to computerize the inspection process and upgrade the recordkeeping through the purchase of new software, which is capable of ‘recording’ the floor plan of a building, including the electrical and gas service, hydrant locations (including pressure and flow), and many, many other features.  It is a VERY impressive program, which would substantially assist firefighters in fighting fires with greater efficiency and personal safety.  This is a quantum leap for the department, if implemented. The BRPOA is considering financial assistance to help with the purchase of the software and two laptops to manage the programs.

WATER PLANT

 The dehumidifier recently purchased as a used/refurbished product has been installed.  It is cycling less that previously and has received operational praise from the plant staff.  There is value in the careful purchase of such used equipment.

ENERGY AUDIT

 Tom Crandell at Ferris has advised the City that the energy audit group has selected the Big Rapids City Hall for the spring review of a government building.  We will be supplying a year’s power bills and other associated documentation to the review team.

ACTIVITY

- Warren Hanson participated in Leadership Mecosta training
- Memorial Services are being conducted in Hemlock Park for ‘Officer Jesse’ this
     Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
- The aerial ladder cylinders on the old truck were repaired and it is hoped that they will
     last for another two months until the new ladder truck arrives!!
- A side issue with the decision not to purchase a new truck for the Water Treatment
     Plant, the City will be keeping the present vehicle there rather than gain the $2,100
     Trade-in value on the deal, which was anticipated.

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES

Streets –
ï‚· Graded gravel streets and alleys
ï‚· Moved last years leaf compost to provide for the new
ï‚· Made modifications to civic sign near the airport
ï‚· Blacktopped patches on River and Chestnut Street, Ives Avenue and Ridgeview Drive
ï‚· Fixed water service shut-off stack for 1321 Elm Street
ï‚· Cleaned 300 blk. of W. Spruce St. and 100 blk. of Winter Ave. for asphalt overlay
ï‚· Wonsey Tree Service, per contract, cut and trimming right of way trees
ï‚· Installing hot tape around manholes and water main valve road boxes

Parks –
ï‚· Maintaining City’s park system and the downtown
ï‚· Getting ready for winter
   
Sewer –
 Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties

Motor fleet –
ï‚· Fall services:
ï‚· Vehicles 101 and 102, sanders ready to go
ï‚· Vehicles 104, 105, and 106, ready for snow plowing season
ï‚· Vehicle 306, Ford tractor ready to begin leaf pick-up, October 26
ï‚· Vehicle 215 was serviced

Water utilities –
ï‚· Performing Miss Digs
ï‚· Reading water meter finals
ï‚· Checked for high consumption of water usage
ï‚· Checked for leaks
ï‚· Repaired touch reads at various locations
ï‚· Checked newly installed hydrants by FSU contractors
ï‚· Worked with Contractor at 14372 Northland Drive, Michigan Works

Stephen Sobers, City Manager