Manager?s report for Erie Street sidewalk accepted; sidewalk program being considered
The proposed sidewalk extension from Hilltop Manor, along Erie Street to Glen?s Plaza, may be the first of more projects of its kind as Rogers City explores the possibility of establishing a sidewalk program. Council accepted the city manager?s report for the $12,895 sidewalk extension at Monday?s meeting and passed a separate resolution authorizing city manager John Bruning to talk with other city administrators to find out what type of sidewalk program would be best for Rogers City.
The extension of the Hilltop sidewalk, which was requested by a citizen a couple of months ago, will now be scheduled for a public hearing. The sidewalk in front of Hilltop ends abruptly at the western edge of the property. It would run westerly to the north drive of Glen?s Plaza. A substantial amount of fill would be needed because of the steep dropoff of the ditch.
THE COST WOULD be special assessed to two property owners: Erik Stone, who owns the vacant lot adjacent to Hilltop, and Universal Land Co., owners of the Bradley Highway strip mall. Ramps would be installed at the Erie/Wenonah Street intersection. Councilwoman Deb Greene said the Erie Street area between Glen?s Plaza and the high school probably has more traffic than anywhere in the city and there are many areas on the school property that don?t have sidewalks.
?It?s a safety factor and it really needs to be taken care of,? said Greene. ?I know it?s a lot of money, but we had decided during budget workshop that we were going to do something with our sidewalks this year and start a sidewalk program.? Greene said ?it seems awful strange? that the sidewalks ?stop just as you hit the school property and they don?t continue on.? Bruning agreed that ?a sidewalk program would be beneficial to the city as a whole.?
COUNCILMAN KARL HEIDEMANN said if a sidewalk program were in place, the needs of the community could be better analyzed. ?The presumption here is that this is a need for the community and I think we can all see, and we all have seen, people who walk on the sidewalk and then they have to go into the street,? said Heidemann. ?Shouldn?t we be looking a little beyond that little area of the street if our function is to be benefiting the community?? Greene said, ?We certainly have enough time to look into that because we wouldn?t be constructing it this year anyway. It seems there would be enough time between now and building season next year.?
IN OTHER matters to come before council:
? Bruning said the city received a consent judgment from the tax tribunal last week stating that the stipulation was accepted as submitted, after being rejected a couple of months ago. This finalizes the case with the city and Michigan Limestone Operations Inc. MLO has agreed to pay the 2001 assessment it originally challenged and the city?s $175,000 in legal fees. ?I received a notice from our legal counsel indicating that for all practical purposes, they were done with their work and the file would be closed,? said Bruning. ?We will be able to assess financial expenditures and probably be able to adjust the budget and realign some of those items that we had pulled out early on in the budget workshop.?
? The Christmas Tree Memorial at Westminster Park, initiated a year ago by the Optimist Club, will be on display again as council approved the request by the civic organization. Council members received a resolu
? A Rogers City Chamber of Commerce request to conduct the annual Halloween parade from Westminster Church, along Third Street, to the Rogers City fire hall, was approved. The chamber will be having its children?s Halloween party at the hall. Trick or treating hours will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Halloween.
? Coffee with mayor Beach Hall and the city manager will be Friday, October 24 at Karsten?s Restaurant at 9 a.m.