By Rosemary Horvath
Herald Correspondent
The City of Alma is left to cultivate alternative funding after learning its loan application for state-mandated projects was passed over by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
City Manager Aeric Ripley, along with public works and water department staffs, had created a list of projects totaling $14 million, including painting a city water tower, and submitted a loan request to EGLE’s Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund.
At last week’s City Commission meeting, Ripley advised holding a public hearing as the setback will trigger another water rate increase next year after already applying one this year. City officials had hoped EGLE financing would put off another sizeable increase.
Ripley will ask for an extension for painting the water tower until the city has enough revenue to get started.
As for Plan B, he expects to submit a loan application to the United States Department of Agriculture for capital projects this October.
Also expressing disappointment was Public Services Director Dave Ringle who commented, “We keep getting these mandates we don’t have the money for.”
Downtown trees
Ripley reported on a special Sept. 7 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority when the single topic was the 62 trees along Superior Street from Pine Avenue to Prospect Avenue and North State Street between Superior and Center streets.
As determined by a recent Michigan State University forestry student class project, the trees are in varying stages of health.
DDA members received a review from Department of Public Works Superintendent Jim Goodhall who outlined pros and cons of the MSU list of recommended species.
Mayor Greg Mapes directed Goodhall to develop a multi-year plan for replacing and maintaining trees.
The DDA is expected to recommend preferred species of trees for city commissioners to decide.
Considerations include lifespan, diameter of tree trunk, root depth, symmetry where different species are planted, overall appearance, and maintenance.
The trees currently lining sidewalks have grown too tall and require a high level of maintenance. Some trees are in bad health and ought to be removed. Others are in varying degrees of poor health.
Only three may stay indefinitely, advised the MSU study.
Ripley said a tree proposal will be presented to the DDA and finally to commissioners.
Commissioner Roger Allman emphasized tree removal will be over a three-to-seven-year period.
New committee on
blight enforcement
Mayor Mapes proposed creating a committee that reviews blight enforcement issues. He’s looking for fresh ideas and creative solutions, he said. Members will be from the public at large and a few city commissioners. After a brief discussion, the name chosen was the Code Enforcement Committee.
Commissioner Roxann Harrington moved in support and Commissioner Laurie Harrison seconded. All voted in favor.
During public comment, resident Les Rosan volunteered for the committee based on the amount of material he’s collected over the years drawing attention to local blight issues.
Last week’s meeting was not the exception. Rosan renewed a complaint about an abandoned, deteriorating building located on the east side of Court Street. He first called attention to the property several months ago.
Related to another matter, Rosan had filed a Freedom of Information request to determine if city police ever cite drivers for parking in front of a fire hydrant on State Street in front of Terry’s Cycle.
Some cars park all day and night. As more apartments open downtown, the city ought to enforce restrictions and erect no parking signs, Rosan advised.
The FOIA letter indicates police have not issued citations.
A break from tradition
A chair at the commission panel remained vacant last week and will remain so during most city commission meetings.
Mayor Mapes with commission support had directed the city attorney to only attend meetings when summoned. Mapes has weighed this option for several years to save dollars.
A meeting without a city attorney breaks with a tradition going back more than two decades when an attorney from the Alma law office of Fortino, Plaxton, Costanzo always was on hand.
But that Alma law firm was absorbed by Smith Bovill, and Adam Flory became city attorney.
Commissioner Laurie Harrison agreed with Mapes, stating having an attorney always present “was not money well spent.” Commissioner Dan Wernick added that Flory can be present as needed.