Boat trailer storage an issue between private sector and city
Boat trailer storage issues had the attention of private sector members and city council members who were at odds at Monday night?s council meeting. Ed Lamb, representing his business interests, and Jeff Farmer, owner of Midwest Marine, told information to council.
Lamb asked for a reversal of a March council decision to allow storage of boat trailers at the wastewater treatment plant property. He said he spent the past last year preparing an extensive business plan, with the help of MSU Extension, for a marine storage business. ?I?m trying to participate with the harbor advisory committee on boat storage ? I wrote a business plan on marine storage,? Lamb said as he addressed the council holding up a three-inch thick loose-leaf book.
?OF MOST concern is the reversal of this policy (on boat storage at the wastewater treatment plant property),? Lamb added. Lamb said he had talked with Midwest Marine about security issues and found there were no problems with security regarding 50-60 trailers stored at his Parkwood facility. Lamb said he had not fenced off his facility across from the Do It Center because of US-23 roadwork last summer, and people using his property as a cut-through.
?Also the tribal net issue forced me to make decisions ? not knowing how the nets would affect boating ? I wanted to go slow,? Lamb continued. ?I?m just asking for some kind of hope here and consistency while growing my business.? Lamb said he is hopeful his business would help bring and keep people in the area longer, and that he already had investors interested in his plan. Mayor Beach Hall reminded Lamb that when the issue was on the agenda, it was published and posted and was originally an item to only handle a seasonal problem of several boaters who have requested a secure fenced and locked area for storage. Councilman Gary Nowak insisted on knowing what were the security requirements. Lamb said those requirements were not at all clear and also wanted to know what they were.
JEFF FARMER of Midwest Marine addressed the security issue before the council. ?Last year, I don?t remember security being an issue,? Farmer said. ?At our location on M-68 security wouldn?t take much more than a gate (because of the high incline of the property). ?What we?ve always done in the past for long-term outdoor empty boat trailer storage has been a simple chain and lock around the wheel of the trailer.? Farmer also said fencing would be quite an expense for empty boat trailers. ?We?ve been storing boats indoors and out for 12 years now, ?knock on wood,? and have had little or no incident of loss from people coming in ? actually, the worse problem is probably people coming in the night to pick up their own boats,? Farmer said. ?Security for empty boat trailers is real simple ? a chain and lock is all it takes,? he added. Councilman Karl Heidemann said, ?As of last year, private enterprise was not able to provide the service ? but now maybe they can. I?m not convinced they need fencing when maybe some concrete with a chain lockup would do,? he added. ?If private enterprise can provide that service, we have no business providing it.?
CITY MANAGER John Bruning promised council he would look into the security issues and work with Lamb, Farmer and the harbor committee. Nowak protested the route council had chosen to take on the matter, saying the proper procedure would have been to have the information brought before the council first; then council would send it on to the harbor advisory committee. Hall announced nothing would be done at Monday?s meeting but the matter would appear on the agenda at 10 a.m. on April 19. Hall also took the opportunity to address an earlier accusation by Lamb that council was working against the business community. ?I don?t think anybody has worked harder to support local business than this council,? Hall said before ending the matter and thanking both Lamb and Farmer for their input.
IN OTHER business: ?Approval was given to enter into a partnership with Huron Pines RC&D to look into funding for a stormwater runoff assessment study. If funding is available, Huron Pines will then work with the city to complete the assessment with the total cost estimated at $5,000. Brad Jensen of Huron Pines addressed the council and said grant funding likely would require a local match of 50 percent. The assessment would be the first step toward improvement of the stormwater system.
?Bruning announced the Rogers City Fire Department is seeking a grant source at 10 percent local cost share to replace a Class A pumper. The total cost for such a unit is approximately $200,000.
?A coffee with Bruning and Hall has been scheduled April 23 at Karsten?s Restaurant.
?Council decided the funds to be transferred to the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce from the He
?A mutual aid agreement was approved between the Department of Natural Resources and local fire departments. This agreement will allow the departments to be eligible for federal and state purchasing and surplus programs.
?An addendum to the central reservation system between the city and the DNR was approved. The harbor will be using the reservation system for the first time this year. ?Two parade requests were approved: the April 30 ?Focus On Fitness? parade and the annual May 15 opening day Little League Parade. The next council meeting will be April 19 at 10 a.m.