Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter For January 8, 2010

January 8, 2010

CENSUS

The City will be volunteering space for an employee of the Census Department at City Hall from mid-March to mid-April. We have purchased (thru a grant) some T-shirts and other advertising items to help with the Ferris Census. This employee should be valuable to the City and County as a resource for a proper census.

COSTS

As an item of interest related to the avigation easement costs, the City has incurred legal and engineering fees of $9,200 for survey, title and document preparation in order to complete these documents. Legal and engineering services and advice are a part of the cost of doing business, which should be expected. The user charge discussions consumed around $4,800 in costs. Recent requests by Big Rapids Township to employ the City to administer their Industrial Pretreatment Program and their Operation and Maintenance Program for the Wastewater distribution system cost the City around $1,000 in review and legislation generation.

VSCI

Wayfinding signs will be going up beginning today. These are the 12 foot signs that will help identify the streets that should be taken to ‘find’ the courthouse, museums, pool and other City offices and landmarks.

CMET

Liz West has taken the assignment to CMET as Danielle Brennan returns from her two-year assignment in this post. Liz will be the only lady on this important unit, which is felt to be valuable. Liz has special talents in computer technology, which should also be complementary to the unit. CMET has been quite successful in the past several years, and particularly helpful to Big Rapids.

FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Jeff Hoyt is becoming the grant specialist in the Fire Division having successfully written the grant for the new jaws of life. He is now writing an application for new turnout gear and SCBA’s.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

John Fribley has been promoted to the new IPP coordinator. John has worked with the City for many years in the plant and will be assuming this new role with the businesses and industries.

Paula Weipert is taking over the Administrative Secretary job for DPW. Paula first arrived with the City as Secretary for City Manager Steve Stillwell and will rotate into this important role with Public Works. Her personality, skill set and abilities will serve this division very well.

Gail Dolbee is taking over the assistant position in Assessing. Gail recently passed her level 1 training class and will join Dan Kirwin in helping to update and computerize the assessing records to a high level. Dan is part of the BS&A team that writes, implements and teaches assessing on a statewide basis. Gail is hopeful that working with Dan, and learning all she can, may result at some future date in credentialing her for a full time assessor position.

Jeff Jennings is rotating into the Administrative Sergeant’s position as Craig Brockette is returning to lead a duty shift. Citizens will now contact Jeff for paperwork, purchasing and administrative questions.

Periodically, the Safety forces rotate shifts and work with differing crews and different hours. The new alignment was established several months ago and is being implemented as the new year begins.

WOLVERINE

Meetings were held at the end of December with executives at Wolverine to begin to tabulate the equipment and structural improvements that are part of the Tax Abatement package that was pledged in the MEGA agreements with the State of Michigan and job creation. A report is expected within the next several weeks.

EROSION

Roger Schneidt, as Tim Vogel before him, has been working on some erosion issues at North End Park. Roger has ‘located’ a less expensive system and will be reviewing this option and looking for funding to help in saving the embankments. This looks very promising.


SNOW

The downtown has experienced snow piles since the onset of winter. There is always a balance between the costs of removal and the height of the piles. Time is also a part of this review and so this weekend DPW will be on the streets in the overnight hours hauling snow. The accumulation is quite hard, unattractive, and dangerous and difficult to walk on. We try to remember that the money spend in the winter is not available to pave streets in the summer and so judicious decisions and appropriate timing is important. The understanding of the merchants, for both conditions (paving and hauling) is important.

FIRE DIVISION TRAINING

Fire training this month included learning a new procedure for creating an airway for unresponsive individuals called a ‘King Tube’. This Advanced procedure will be used by the Big Rapids Fire Department as the first rescue unit in the state with this capability. Congratulations for being the first and the best!!!!!!!


ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ACTIVITIES


Code Enforcement
There were 8 violation notices distributed over the last couple of weeks (3 – Blight and 5 - Illegal Signs).

Permits
Two sign permits were approved for businesses. The permits were issued to replace existing signs.

Construction
There were three instances in which construction or demolition was occurring without the proper permits.

 Work was being done on a downtown business to add a small entrance roof. Because this work is structural, the county was contacted to ensure the proper permits were issued. Permits had not been issued – a complaint was filed.

 A resident was constructing a shed at their residence and had not filled out a zoning permit. A zoning permit is free, but it allows the city to review the project to ensure it complies with setbacks. The shed was less than 200 square feet so it did not require a building permit.

 An individual had been into the office to inquire about converting a business into a multifamily apartment complex. They were informed about the entire process and what we would require from them. While driving past this property it was observed that demolition had begun. The county was contacted to inquire about any permits that may have been issued. No permits were issued and a cease work order was posted on the premises.

Public Service
The fire marshal and I shoveled snow away from 36 fire hydrants. We also assisted in setting out the luminaries for Candlelight Shopping.

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES

Streets –
 Plowed City parking and streets, salt and sanded for two snow events
 Made repairs to street signs
 Repaired watermain break located in front of 510 Ridgeview Drive
 Cleaned up all equipment after watermain break
 Hauled snow from parking lots – City crew and trucks
 Picked up Christmas trees
 Replaced Dial-A-Ride’s mail box
 Install info box for Riverwalk
 Repaired park signs
 Made repairs at Community Library

Parks –
 Cleaned City sidewalks

Sewer –
 Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties
 Checked lift stations – City and Township
 Jetted and cleaned sewer mains on Mill Street and North Warren Street

Motor fleet –
 Vehicle 218, new dump truck, built new running boards and installed
 Vehicle 104, dump truck, replaced alternator for a charging problem, repaired exhaust leak and adjusted brakes
 Replaced under body scraper blades on plow trucks and needed
 Vehicle 225, pickup, replaced front brakes
 Vehicle 203, pickup, replaced front brakes
 Vehicle 214, pickup, replaced water pump for a coolant leak
 Vehicle 404, police car, performed service safety check
 Vehicle 402 and 403, police cars, repaired computer problem
 Vehicle 909, DART bus, performed safety inspection, performed a complete rake service

WWTP –
 The aeration tank pipe fitting continues
 The aeration tank channels formed and concrete poured
 ACO: UV Maintenance Program Template approval received from DEQ
 ACO Update for the quality assurance / quality control (QA/ QC) manual and written lab procedures submitted ahead of deadline
 The move to the new maintenance building continues
 The administration building has been enclosed and work continuing
 Plant process continues without major issues
 Sludge haulers finished clearing storage basin
 Replacement of plug valves completed.

Water utilities –
 Performing Miss Digs
 Reading water meter finals
 Meter reading
 Repaired/rebuild/Move touch reads
 Test meters
 Water main break on Escott
 Water main break on Ridgeview
 Assist contractor in Ives
 Check for high consumption
 Update hydrant lists for flushing/testing
 Update sop per new DEQ requirements
 Took four meters to WWTP
 Worked on Year End Report

Stephen Sobers, City Manager