City Council - Regular Meeting

It's getting kind of annoying. That road is in the township, but I can teach you how to get in touch with them and with the sheriff's department. How about that? Cool. That's it. Yep. Stick around after and I'll talk to you. Thank you.

Do you take one of them energy drinks yet or not? No. All right. Go ahead.

So, uh, Prairie Beach 924 Riverside Drive. Uh couple things at at the I think it was the last council meeting. I know that you had uh Jim Salshe had mentioned about the wanting to see more traffic stops on uh Hudson everything and and I'm just going to say I don't know what the result was but the very next morning I saw our LOL police department were making stops on uh North Hudson. So again, um my comment is they do listen to what you guys have to say and uh thank you for making those uh stops. Um it I think it's just it safe. Uh the other is I I want to thank all the council. Um the we low lighting power is an independent board but we are all all board members are appointed through the city council. Um and so um I think you should um be taking some some credit also of how um good uh low light and power is because you um as council members uh appoint the board. Um so you have a direct um I I would say you have a indirect direct um causal of how uh efficient and how good low light power is. So again, I want to thank you. Um, and uh, I enjoy when we talk about volunteers and again it reads in here, you know, asking

people to volunteer. Um, I always feel like the volunteers usually get more out of it than the recipient of, uh, whatever you're volunteering for. So, um, thank you. You deserve it. I hope you know that.

Hi there. Wendy Price with White River Outreach Ministries. Um, couple things. first um we're celebrating and you all are invited to the ribbon cutting for our new construction on there. Um one thing I want to mention is just another kudos to the light and power. They've been a real pleasure to work with for the project. Um specifically our construction manager called out some of Charlie's team and just appreciative of that. Also, thank you for Harry who put in new carpet in the 524 apartment. So just a testament to his um volunteering. But um but tonight we and on May 20, you're all invited to attend our ribbon cutting for the new construction. We had um uh Terra Verde did our landscaping. So you can see how fabulous some wonderful trees that they put in. So it looks beautiful. We're looking for occupancy after Memorial weekend. So um early June. So hopefully you can join us. Thank you.

Very cool. Thanks. Anybody else? All right, let's move on to council comments. Eric, uh first I want to respond to Christie. Thank you for your comments. Uh first of all, the water rates are not going up 60% next year. Uh they are going up 9 the water is 9.6 6 and the sewer is 6 6.5 9 and 8 9.16.

Thank you. So and that's that's this year and next year and then the next. So all total cumulative it's 60% over that time frame but just a correction there. And I did meet with Microsoft with the fire chief and I I guess I should have made a comment here during my comments on that. I did put that on I have a Facebook account so I did write it there but I I know everyone doesn't see that. So I just want to tell you that the only thing that was discussed with Microsoft is that their website they've created a website to for for anyone interested it's devoted to LOL and Gaines Township and if you are interested in that I can get you that website address number one and then that's the first thing. in a second. The only other thing they mention is that they are willing to pay all the costs associated with bringing the water and the wastewater to their facility. And there were no nothing specifics, but those were the only two things really that I took away from that meeting. And I believe also the other council had had meetings with them. Um also um so that's that and if you have any if anyone has any questions on the any of my activities please please reach out to me. I love the calls and the texts and the emails. Thank you. And uh that's it. Thank you.

Yep. Martin. Well, I'll throw another at a boy with Perry. He has been at council meetings. He, you know, the volunteering. I grew up with him, so I've known him a long time. And I want to say thank you myself. Um had a lot of meetings over the last couple of weeks. They've been very productive. Uh thank you for coming to them, asking your questions. Uh we try to get answers. Uh we don't always succeed but we try. I just want to say thank you.

I have several things. One thing is a couple of these things came from the coffee with council. One of them is the American flag at Veterans Park that is sadly torn. It looks like it's been through a war. So I don't know whose responsibility is to take the re flag down here in Veterans Park and replace it. I don't know if that was a city park. Yeah. I don't know if that's a city park or what it is, but and I'd like to see that done before Memorial Day that so just just FYI.

Um the other thing that was discussed was EV scooters. What is happening in this town? I was um working my yard this weekend and two young ladies probably 10, 11, maybe 11, 12, I saw them coming down North Street heading in towards Jefferson. I knew they were not going to stop. They blew through that like it was nothing. Today, just before I got here, a young kid about nine was on an EV scooter. Exact same thing. I told the neighbors, "Watch, he will not stop." He did not. Sunday afternoon, I'm sitting on the front porch. There's a dad and a son on pedal bikes going downhill going at a pretty good cliff. I again said, "They are not going to stop." And they blew that stop sign. So last five kids and parents and we all saw that tape of what happened in White Hall, I believe where it was at where those kids tried to jump in front of that semi. Um I did see a news article. I was actually reading it online. A mother was arrested because her son on an EV bike hit and killed a pedestrian 91 years old.

She's now in jail. So I don't know how else to get the message out.

I agree. I mean, they brought it up and they just come down the streets just zipping and it's just not on those streets. It it's everywhere you go. So, you know, they have to obey the same laws that we do when it comes to stop, you stop, you know, stuff like that part of it. So, that that is on my mind a lot. The the other thing is um next to the showboat there's a about a twoft metal piece of fence that has been taken off and on several times. I don't have four screws or I would do it. What the kids are doing is taking that fence up, going fishing on the other side of the rod iron. And then one person came up said they actually saw kids near the paddle wheel like they had gotten onto them little barges to go across that and fish off of that. So I want to make sure that we do everything we can as a city to to get four screws to bolt that fence in at the top. There's two on the bottom, two at the top. So that's been that part and that's that's who's been doing it is the kids. The other thing is Perry, not only does he do what he does, but he but he helps mentor us as well, too. I've talked to him numerous times. I'm sure Craig has. There's not a person in the room that at one time has not been mentored by Perry somehow to keep things moving and and and do that part of it. And the last that I'm looking for is a monster truck. Uh we are having touch touch a truck, touch a boat day on July 24th. I tried to contact the people that were at the U ramp last year with their monster truck. Unfortunately, they they charge quite a bit of money and put some free. So, if anybody knows anybody that has a monster truck that want to give an hour and a half of their time on the 24th so that young kids can come and touch a truck, I would appreciate that. That's all I got.

That was quite an escalation, don't you think? What's that? That would be another one. Ebikes to monster truck. Yep. Exactly. All let me talk to you about that after actually. Okay. Thank you.

Uh yes on to kind of tag on to that one. We need blinds in this window. So Charlie and I can see I can't see you but that's okay. Um electric bikes. We probably should have a discussion on that. They're driving down the sidewalk really fast and I think we need to address that. So if we could kind of look into that. Um we Eric and I and I think Mike was there today uh for the Kent County uh quadrant meeting. Uh all the leaders from Kent County came in and presented what's going on in the county. Was really fascinating because I really had no connection to that phase of government. So, lots lots of information um including parks and roads and you know there's a lot going on and it it takes a lot to make uh our county go. In addition to that, we many of us are going to the municipal uh Michigan municipal league Bay City meeting next Friday and Saturday I believe for more training. So, looking forward to that. That'll be a good thing. And yes, I walk across the the floors that Perry finished in our house every single day. So, thank you, Perry, and thank you for all you do. All right. Um, to be transparent, I did not meet with Microsoft. Um, I'm trying to independently educate myself on all the different type of data centers and whether I'm for or against them. But ultimately, it's not my job to represent my opinion. It's my job to represent everyone's opinion in this community. So, I'm trying to do the best at that, but I did not uh meet with them. To follow up what Jim said about Perry being a mentor, um he's one of the people on a very short list where uh when I first got on council and it wasn't the best time I've ever had in my life. Um him, Roger Leer, Greg Campfield, there's a few others, Jim Hes

obviously, but I probably wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for them. So you can add that to the list of stuff Perry's done, I think, for all of us and for this community. So, um, yeah. And then Bay Day City, we already talked about. I want to thank Mike for and Mike's staff for putting everything together for the budget hearing. I feel like the way it's presented makes it easier to understand a little bit every year and also makes me glad I don't have to do it. Um, so yeah, that's all I have. Moving on to appointments in talking with Charlie. Uh Daniel would like to be reappointed for another term on Lane Power. And then Teresa, did you want to continue on the local officers compensation? Since you're here, I'll put you on the spot.

I thought my term was up. It is. But says you can keep going as long as you want. That's what my note says. Let's meet after this. Okay, we can do that. Definitely. Um and then I will have two three four five. We still have a vacancy on the airport board if anybody's interested in that. There's a whole lot of cool stuff going on there. No, we had two. Yep. Yeah. Replacement. So, uh well, that's all I have. Jim, um just I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You you already had your answer. If you want to meet afterwards, I'll be more than happy to sit. Okay. Well, I wanted to clarify where I got my number. Talk about that after meeting. We only have the one public comment period. Okay. With that, I'll make a motion to adjurnn at 804. I'll

second it. Motion and a second to adjurnn at 804. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. We archer.