City approves purchase of new technology, will sell old fire truck

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

Chief of Police James Gibson was trained on equipment he received through the Byrne Justice Grant through the Michigan State Police. Monday evening he showed the Onaway city commissioners the equipment and explained to the m how the software will allow him to perform his duties more efficiently.

The total cost of the equipment was $16,665 with the grant covering $14,999 and the city?s match at $1,666. The equipment was purchased through ID Networks. The grant expires on Sept. 30 and if it was not closed out by that date the city would have had to pay the full $16,655 for the equipment. The new equipment includes a rugged laptop and software that will allow him to access data and do reporting in his police car. The city commission approved payment of the invoice with ID Networks and will be reimbursed from the Michigan State Police Byrne Justice grant.

A 1975 FIRE truck sitting in the fire barn in need of repairs will be going up for sale. The city commission has to transfer ownership of the truck to either the Onaway Area Fire Department (OAFD) or the new owner. Assets should have been transferred to the OAFD when it was formed but the title to the old truck was never signed over. The commission authorized having the mayor sign the title to the old truck over to either the new owner or the department.

IN OTHER CITY COMMISSION NEWS: ? The wastewater treatment plant operator?s trip to the Michigan Water Environment Association fall regional seminar on Sept. 29 in Gaylord was approved at a cost of $105 with the employee to take a city truck to the seminar.

? Blight patrol was done last week with c

ity manager Joe Hefele in the process of getting warning letters and/or citations to those in violation. Commissioner Ron Horrocks will be the next commissioner to take the trip with Hefele. ?The town continues to look better and better each trip. Some still have some work to do but even those who received warning letters in the past have made an effort to come into compliance,? said Hefele.

? Hefele and city attorney Mike Vogler will be working on a vacant building property code for the commission?s consideration. Hefele hopes they will have something for the commission to review and consider this fall.

? Vogler has drafted a purchase agreement with Midwest DG properties. The agreement provides that the property with the exception of the piece directly behind the building at the corner of State Street and Veterans Drive, will revert back to the city if development does not occur within a year. Hefele expects that the city will be executing the purchase agreement in the near future, paving the way for the development and the tax base and jobs that come with it.

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