nNo bikes in the village skate park – The village council forwarded a letter, without action, to Township Recreation Director Fred Waybrant which was drafted by students requesting permission to use bikes in the village skate park.
Village President Sue Bess commended the young group for taking the initative to use proper channels when appealing for bike use in the park.
Bess confirmed to council that bikes should not be allowed in the park as the park is too small to accomodate both the size and speed of bicycles.
According to Fred Waybrant, Director of the Brandon Recreation Department, the insurance company covering liability on the park absolutely prohibits the use of bikes in the park.
‘Although I tried to set up a bike-night for the kids the insurance company said no way’no bikes,? Waybrant said. ‘The insurance company says no.?
Waybrant reported signs at the park has been defaced and he is looking into bids for sturdier replacements. Zelenak told council he was unsure of whether the village or the township recreation department would pay for the replacement. Waybrant, however, said the signs will be paid for by the recreation department with funds from the maintenance budget.
Although opening the skate park is not scheduled until April, Zelenak said because of the recent warm weather the kids should be able to use the park, so it has been unlocked.
nSouth Street Bridge – Easements that were being negotiated in order to move utility poles along the South Street Bridge are signed and complete. Street Committee Chairman Harold Batten said the next step in rebuilding the bridge is to bid out for a contractor.
nGrand Conference – Council approved the reservation of a room at the Grand Hotel for council members who will attend The Michigan Municipal Conference from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2.
nElection workers compensation – Council approved to pay election works Karen McArthur, Kerry Borst, and Evelyn Renard $9 per hour for the 15 and a half hours they worked during the village election on March 8.
nDowntown Development Authority – Council motioned to support DDA efforts to applying for a re-issuing of an outstanding 15-year bond to reduce interest rates.
Should a new bond be issued, the DDA hopes to save a total of $21,000 in interest over the life of the loan, however should the application be accepted a bond council will have to be hired to research and write the bond, which could cost the DDA more than $5,000-$6,000, reducing the interest savings to $16,000 over the next seven years of the loan.
The bond was originally issued to the DDA in 1996, in the amount of $280,000, to improve the downtown streetscape such as bricking, lamp posts, and trees.
There is currently $215,000 left on the original bond.
Village Clerk/Treasurer Mary Clark obtaining a new bond is not extending or borrowing more money, just replacing the existing bond at a lower interest rate.
At a special DDA meeting on Tuesday, March 23, the DDA voted to submit the application and prepare to proceed with the project.
Clark said that if everything goes perfectly the bonds will be issued May 13.
nManagers report ? Zelenak says that Senator Mike Rogers will have a constituent at the village offices on a monthly basis to listen to citizen’s federal concerns. The next visit will by April 19.
Zelenak will meet, again, with a firm to discuss the village web site.
The manager also reported that post and beam work, as well as mold remediation, should begin within the next week at the Old Mill.’Teri Stiles