Big Rapids City Manager Newsletter For Friday April 30, 2010

April 30, 2010

VSCI STREETSCAPE

The final portion of the VSCI project is underway. The lights have been removed downtown, sidewalk is being removed. The Kiosk has been moved to its new location in Mitchell Creek Park (to be taken care of by the Chamber).

POLICE NEGOTIATIONS

The first meeting of the Police Officer Union negotiations was conducted on Monday. There are several clerical items to improve. Pay will, of course, be a central issue, although the union has put only eight items on the agenda for review at this point.

AEROMED

Plans can be finalized on bidding the Community Hangar. It is anticipated that bidding will be conducted in mid-May. 

MSHDA

Mark Sochocki has coordinated a meeting with MSHDA to review options and ideas for improving housing in Big Rapids.  Amy Corp from the MSHDA office attended a meeting Friday to discuss programs in her office, which might be useful for rehab efforts. 

FERRIS STATE LANSING DAY

Mark Warba and Steve Sobers attended the Ferris Day in Lansing.  The time was well spent in networking with Ferris staff, legislators and other Big Rapids officials.

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ACTIVITIES

Code Enforcement
There were 10 violation notices distributed over the last week.  
1-Trash
1-Indoor furniture for outdoor use
4-Unapproved parking
4-Unregistered or disabled vehicle

Ten parking tickets were issued.

Permits Issued
1-Zoning permit issued to increase curb cut and concrete existing driveway.
  
Meetings
Good Neighbors Association
Band Shell Committee
Zoning Board of Appeals

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES

Streets –
Graded gravel alleys and streets
Removed fallen tree from Muskegon River behind Middle School
Filled pot holes
Sweeping City streets
Cleaned and shovel debris from parking lots where street sweeper can’t reach
Old pedestrian street light from Michigan Avenue unloaded at City Garage
Repaired drain at pool’s storage building
Hauled art work sculptures from FSU Welding to City Garage
Placed barricades for children’s parade
Swept sidewalks along BR 131, Maple Street, and Third Avenue

Parks –
Mowed parks
Replace stolen tennis court net
Planted trees
Graded ball fields
Sign repair
   
Sewer –
Cleaning sewer lines and performing other daily scheduled duties
Checked City and Township sewers and lift stations

Motor fleet –
Dart buses
903, Repaired seal belt
909, Serviced and performed safety inspection

DPW
106, Dump truck, finished installing new tarp system
Old garbage truck, took the truck to Reed City and remove the packer box

Parks
307, Tractor, repaired flat tire
319, Tractor, removed broom assembly
225, pickup, replaced battery and terminal
Public Safety vehicles
404, diagnosed and repaired radar system

Water, “Main Maintenance” –

Read Meters (with help from water plant and DPW)
Miss Digs
Finals
825 Sherman Locate shutoff (leak on owners side)
Check leak at 120 Hutchinson
Rereads
Repair Hydrant #251 (reset lead)
Turn water on at 315 Division for Inspection

WWTP

Digester tank wall poured and being aged, internal piping structure started.
Site work continues for Grease and Grit unit with footing being poured
Sludge haulers moving equipment to plant
Plant continues to meet DNR-E requirements

Stephen Sobers, City Manager