City Mgr’s Report 8/20/10

City of Hart, Michigan

MEMORANDUM

To:           MAYOR Ron Laporte & City Council

From:     STAN RICKARD, City Manager

Date:      August 20, 2010

RE:           CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

1. Generator No. 1 Runner Improvements at Hart Dam – The runner (turbine) will be removed the week of August 23^rd for recoating. 
2. Employee Health Care – A “request for proposals” was issued on July 30, 2010 for a new three-year health care package.  Proposals are due August 27, 2010 with Council action requested in September.  Upon successful implementation of this program, UWUA contract negotiations will reconvene.
3. Downtown Gateway Streetscape Project (3 State Street) – The City awaits additional rounds of soil and groundwater testing followed by site closure activities later this year.  Project engineers Fleis & Vandenbrink have commenced preliminary design activities in accordance with the recently approved agreement with the City.  The City and engineer will meet with MDNRE to discuss lakeshore issues; meeting scheduled for September 10, 2010.  Others meetings with utility company representatives are also on-going.  A preliminary design should be ready for Council review within 30 days.
4. Michigan Main Street Program – The Main Street Board received thirty (30) applications for the Main Street Manager position.  Finalists will be interviewed on September 1, 2010.
5. 26 N. State Street (lake front property) – The site has been cleared, graded and fenced.  Ground water monitoring will commence soon.  The developer continues to pursue the development at the State level but I anticipate that a project will not be approved until environmental closure is obtained.
6. Former Silver Mill (803 Griswold Street) – The City has requested another inspection by “hearing officer” Randall Miller to evaluate recent owner efforts to remove scrap materials and unsupported walls.
7. John Gurney Park Boat Launch Grant – The City awaits receipt of the grant agreement.
8. Hart Lake Weed Study – PLM Lake Management (Caledonia) will conduct the 5^th annual weed investigation the week of August 23^rd.
9. State Street Bridge Inspection – Scott Engineering completed the biennial inspection earlier this week.  Their report is pending.
10. Peach Street Reconstruction – Engineering is underway by Prein & Newhof.  Construction anticipated in 2011.
11. Upcoming Meetings – Committees, Boards, Commissions, Events & Conferences
    1. TIFA, Tuesday, August 24^th, 9:30 AM, City Hall
    2. Oceana County Fair, August 25 – 28^th
    3. Main Street Manager interviews, Wednesday, September 1^st
    4. Main Street Board, Thursday, September 2^nd, 8 AM
    5. Labor Day Bridge Walk, Monday, September 6^th, 8:30 Registration, 9 AM Walk
    6. Power Board, Monday, September 13^th, 7:30 AM
    7. Michigan Main Street Conference, September 13-14^th, Bay City
    8. Michigan Municipal Electric Association Fall Conf., Sept 15-17^th, Wyandotte
    9. Water-Wastewater Board, Monday, September 13^th, 7 PM (at Treatment Plant)
12. Upcoming City Council Action Items
    1. Approve preliminary plan for downtown gateway streetscape
    2. Decision regarding net metering program
    3. Development Agreement with Lake Pointe Elderly
    4. License agreement with Lake Pointe Elderly for ROW use
    5. Facilities Agreement with Consumers Energy for the Lambrix Substation
    6. Decision regarding projects identified in the Water System Reliability Study
    7. Review of upcoming State Street bridge inspection and decisions regarding bridge repairs and possible weight limits
    8. Decisions regarding Wood Street sewer separation and water improvements
    9. Ordinance approving a re-codification to include recent ordinance amendments
    10. Relocate former railroad depot to Historic District
    11. Peach Street Neighborhood Preservation Program pre-application w/OHP
    12. Extension to septage receiving agreement
    13. Transfer 3 State Street property to City from TIFA
    14. Collective bargaining agreement w/Utility Workers Union of America, Local 465
    15. Review proposals for employee health care & select plan
    16. Amend electric shut-off policies (if needed)