Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter For Friday February 26, 2010

February 26, 2010

AIRPORT

 Much activity has taken place this week.  The Airport Advisory group met and discussed the various projects at the airport including the 18 Mile Road improvements, the Community Hangar and the AWOS landing system.  Support for the airport continues strong in the Community.  Mark you calendars for July 17,  the date of the summer Airfest this year.

 Some lobbying with the FAA has resulted in tentative approval to apply some of the MDOT transportation funds to the hangar construction itself.  Previously, only the utilities serving the airport and the parking facilities were eligible for funding.  The new interpretation will require funding of the AWOS system ($50,000) before the hangar is eligible – but about $150,000 may be applied from these funds.

 Additional calls have been placed to the USDA for grant support for the hangar.  This request is being reviewed by the agency.  With one of the top priorities being health care delivery, Paul Bristol agreed to take an additional try at some grant dollars.

 The application for the MDOT funds and the logic for the USDA dollars require a written business plan for the hangar project.  That document will be due in Lansing at the first of next week. 

 Mike Lafferty delivered a preliminary packet on the hangar design to Aero-med and Frank Wheatlake this week.  A meeting with Aero-med to review the design and discuss the forward movement of the plans is being held today.

BIG RAPIDS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

 Meetings continue with the landlords group.  The major items of review are the proposal for every other year rental inspections and the fundraising efforts for the Big Rapids Fire Safety Program.  Funds are over half collected. 

DOWNTOWN

 The City welcomes Ken’s Sports back to the central business district!

AFSCME

 Lori Hamilton attended a grievance meeting over pay issues related to an interpretation over the date that pay should increase in the event of a water/ wastewater operator passing a new level of credentialing with the State.  The issue will be reviewed with John Gretzinger before final decisions are made.

PATROL UNIT

 The formal letter from the Police Patrol Unit was received this week.  Negotiations will likely begin in April after each side has a little time to review the existing contract and draft proposals to discuss.

LEADERSHIP MECOSTA

 Leadership’s annual government day is next Thursday.  Several officials and the class will be visiting Lansing for a tour of the capital and visitation from Darwin Booher and Michelle McManus.  Class activities take place both in Lansing and on the bus on the way there.

ISABELLA BANK

 Jerome Schwind advised the City that he will be pursuing an alternate location for Isabella Bank’s drive through facility in the downtown and thus has withdrawn his zoning request for Maple Street.

DOWNTOWN MEETING

 With the Streetscape potentially disrupting traffic this summer, Mark Gifford and Department of Public Works is sponsoring a meeting on March 9, at 8:00 a.m. with the merchants to discuss the project.  At that time, the contractor may be known and available to discuss timetables, parking, paving and other issue related to the project.

CENSUS TRAINING

 Department of Public Safety has been the center of Census education for individuals involved in the Census taking process. 

BLOOD DRIVE

The quarterly blood drive at Department of Public Safety netted the highest number of donors (over 40!)  The goal was 24.  Congratulations!

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ACTIVITIES

Code Enforcement
 There were 7 violation notices distributed over the last week.
  1-Blight
1-Illegal parking
  1-Nuisance x-rated snow sculpture
4-Unlicensed, Disabled or Inoperable Vehicle
 Two parking tickets were issued.
Meetings
Good Neighbors 02/22/10
Zoning Board of Appeals 02/25/10

Permits
1 – zoning permit
1 – sign permit

Misc.
Review of Mecosta Township Master Plan in accordance with the Planning Enabling Act.

 Review of a preliminary site plan for industrial property to add 3,000 sq. ft. of office space.  I explained that this project will need to go to the Planning Commission for approval.  They will also need to contact the county to apply for a building permit.

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Streets –
ï‚· Filled pot holes throughout the City
ï‚· Cleaning winter truck fleet and other equipment
ï‚· Salted and sanded streets
ï‚· Cleaned up fallen tree in Hemlock Park
ï‚· Fixed and straighten street signs
ï‚· Trimming street trees in the public right of ways
ï‚· Clearing storm drains of debris
ï‚· Fixed light fixture at Dial A Ride office

Parks –
ï‚· Working on park signs
ï‚· Plowed and salted public sidewalks
   
Sewer –
ï‚· Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties
ï‚· Checked City and Township sewers and lift stations
ï‚· Jetted and cleaned sewer main in the 1000 block of Marion Avenue  Vanbrocklins were having problems

Motor fleet –
ï‚· Dial A Ride buses
o Replaced clearance lights for one bus
o Service call for wheel chair lift
o Prepped and painted bus hoist
ï‚· Cleaning and painting shop safety areas and hoists
ï‚· Diagnosed oil light on vehicle 306, New Holland tractor, replaced oil pressure sensor
ï‚· Washing DPW trucks
ï‚· Vehicle 105, dump truck, replaced under body blades
Water, “Main Maintenance”
ï‚· Get final reads for Treasurers office billing
ï‚· Read meters for monthly utility billing for Treasurers office
ï‚· Update information on access program (meter locations)
ï‚· Shut off water at 104 S. Stewart and raised stack to grade
ï‚· Removed meter at 108 S. Third. -  Building to be demolished
ï‚· Moved meter at 827 Rose into basement and added touch read onto south side of house
ï‚· Miss digs
ï‚· Rebuild 2" meter

WWTP –
ï‚· Plant process continues without major issues.
ï‚· Work on aeration basins 1 and 2 continues.
ï‚· Ceiling and floor work being done in the Training room and the IPP office with completion and possession at the start of next week (March 1st). 
ï‚· IPP work garage being moved into following the completion of the sealing of the floor.
ï‚· Demolition of the upper structure of the original Waste Water plant has been
ï‚· completed and the continuation of the treatment tanks and basement demolition has begun.
ï‚· Monitoring of Big Rapids Township lift stations conducted.

Stephen Sobers, City Manager