| NEW MANAGER SELECTED |
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| OZONE ACTION |
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| YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD |
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| 32nd AVENUE STUDY |
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| FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET |
all over the State of Michigan. The selection process was handled by the City Manager Selection Committee which consisted of the Personnel Committee, and City Attorney John Teeples, of Jenison. The process required two interviews with the final public interview by the City Commission.
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West Michigan is an ozone pollution area. The threat of too much ozone increases on hot, sunny days when the temperature reaches or exceeds 90 degrees F with bright sunlight and little wind. When you hear, on TV or the radio, that we have an “Ozone Action Day,” don’t refuel your car, avoid unnecessary driving, carpool, delay mowing lawns until after 6 PM, and avoid using charcoal and lighter fluid.
As you might have read from a previous newsletter, the City of Hudsonville has started a Youth Achievement Award for our students within the City school system. The purpose of this award is to reward youth that attends a school within the City who deserves recognition for an act or effort in Hudsonville that demonstrates good citizenship by making Hudsonville a better place to live. As of this writing, the City has given out four awards.
The first award went to Hillary Scholten. Hillary lives her life selflessly seeking to help those around her that are in need. Hillary has befriended students from Unity’s special education services by eating lunch with them and hanging out with them. She is involved with a group at Unity Christian called Supporting Persecuted Christians. Hillary commits herself to pray for and support in any way possible those people that are suffering or are being harassed for their faith and their decision to become a Christian. She is also a student leader for Hudsonville Young Life.
The second award went to Ryan White. Ryan was a student leader for Young Life. Ryan has shown wonderful leadership in starting a project of collecting pop cans in order to pay for other students to go to Young Life Camps. Ryan is helping to enrich the lives of others and make this community a better place to live in.
The third award went to Michelle Kraker. Michelle has been very involved as a Special Ed Aide at Unity. Michelle is an individual that can embrace people with differences with an open mind and loving heart. She has a gift of patience, creativity, and acceptance that others will notice and perhaps learn from as she works, lives, and socializes in society.
The fourth award was presented to Kendra Peterson. Kendra is a member of the Hudsonville Chapter of the National Honor Society. In addition to making the National Honor Society more visible in the community, Kendra has helped to raise funds for the Salvation Army. Kendra recruited members of the National Honor Society to staff the red kettles at various locations throughout the holiday season. Because of her efforts, over $8,000 was raised for the Salvation Army. Kendra used her organizational skills and willingness to share her time to enlighten the lives of others in our community.
We will be presenting more of these awards in the future and will highlight these in a future newsletter.
The City of Hudsonville contracted with URS, Inc. to do a traffic study on 32nd Avenue to review the changes that were being planned by the City in the near future. The results of the study are now in and the proposed changes will take place as follows:
Phase 1
Total project cost is estimated at $1,108,000. Federal and state grants have been secured for $760,000 of the cost. The city will sell bonds for the remaining $348,000.
Phase 2
Project cost has not yet been determined.
After public examination and a public hearing, the City’s FY 2001 budget (July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001) was approved at the City Commission meeting held June 13, 2000.
For the major Non-Utility operating funds (General Fund, Major Streets, Local Streets and the Library) the FY 2001 budget is $3,723,922. This represents a $148,358 (4.15%) increase over FY 2000. Most of this increase is due to nearly $63,000 budgeted for new warning sirens for Emergency Services and to over $200,000 budgeted for the widening of 32nd Avenue.
The chart to the right lists the Revenue sources for the major Non-Utility Operating Funds. Property Taxes provide 52% of revenue. The other sources are State Revenue Sharing (18%), State Gas & Weight Taxes for Roads (11%), Bond Sales for 32nd Street (8%), Interest and miscellaneous other revenue (11%).
Of total expenditures, 26% is used for police, fire and emergency services, 17% for streets, 10% for debt service, 6% for capital improvements (equipment purchases, sidewalks, etc.), 6% for Library operations and 35% for all other expenses.
The millage rate for FY 2001 remains unchanged from FY 2000. The millage rates are 11.6138 for City Operations, 1.0000 for Library Operations and .7404 for Library Debt for a total of 13.3542 mills. Most property owners will see there taxable values increase by 1.9% due to the cap imposed by Proposal A. The Consumer Price Index increase for calendar year 2000 was 2.6%.
Expenditures in the Water and Sewer Utility Funds will increase by $183,986 or 13.5%. Most of the increase is due to $104,000 being set aside to cover future capital needs and reduce the need for issuing bonds in the future. In addition, the cost of servicing the City’s debt in these funds is expected to increase by nearly $80,000.
NEW WARNING SIRENS WILL IMPROVE COVERAGE
The City’s outdoor warning siren system will be replaced during August and bring improved coverage and reliability. The warning sirens are used to warn residents of dangerous conditions such as tornadoes, sustained winds of 70 mph or higher, hazardous material incidents or other major emergency.
The rapid growth of the city has created gaps in our warning siren coverage area. Our current sirens date back to the 1950’s and ‘60’s and are well beyond their life expectancy. Existing sirens do not have battery backup and would not sound during power failures.
The use of warning sirens dates back to World War II and the threat of attack by enemies. A more common use of sirens is for the threat of tornadoes. Most longtime residents recall with vivid detail the Hudsonville/Standale Tornado in 1956 that left 13 dead, scores injured and tremendous property damage.
The City Emergency Services Department ordered three new sirens to be installed in new locations. The new sirens will provide a broader coverage of a one mile radius. The existing sirens only reach half that distance. The final locations have not been determined, but they will be near the intersections of Balsam and Springdale, Grant and Park, and New Holland and Valley.
The new siren system is fully digital, computer controlled and monitored, and has battery backup in the event of power failure. “The advantages,” said Mark Tans, Emergency Services Director, “include the ability to constantly monitor the siren’s status. We will know immediately if any problems develop or whether the siren is even sounding.” The new sirens have a life expectancy of over 20 years. Another new feature is the ability to activate the sirens from both the Hudsonville City Emergency Operations Center and from Ottawa County Central Dispatch.
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WHEN WARNING SIRENS SOUND:
DO NOT:
SIREN TESTING:
ABOUT THE SIRENS: Many of the cities and townships in Ottawa County have recently upgraded their emergency siren system. |
WHEN THEY WILL SOUND: The purpose of the sirens is to notify residents of any emergency situation. The sirens will sound for the following weather conditions: Tornado warning, sustained winds of 70 mph or more. They may also be activated to notify an area that a hazardous material incident has occurred. EMERGENCY PLANNING BEFORE THE EMERGENCY:
WHEN THE SIREN SOUNDS:
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Hudsonville Emergency Services Department volunteers provide vital information about approaching storms to city residents and the National Weather Service. Volunteers also assist police and fire at major incidents with traffic and crowd control.
The Emergency Services Department provides vital coordination in disaster preparation, prevention and response. The department has a part-time Director and is staffed by volunteers. Mark Tans became the new director last February and is working to increase the city’s disaster and emergency preparedness. According to Tans, “The previous directors established a solid foundation and strong support from the City Commission and Staff. As our community grows, however, emergency management becomes increasingly more critical. Police and Fire Departments respond to immediate threats to life and property. Emergency Services prepares our community for major disasters and coordinates our response and recovery.”
Emergency Service volunteers attend a monthly training and information meeting. Department services may be needed at anytime of the day or night and volunteers respond when available. Volunteers receive full uniforms and necessary training.
Contact the City offices (669-0200) for more information or an application.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR:
A new N.O.A.A. Weather Radio station is broadcasting in Ottawa County. Receive up-to-date weather forecasts and warnings specifically for Ottawa County on the frequency of 162.425 MHz.
The station was installed by Ottawa Co. Central Dispatch and Ottawa Co. Emergency Management Department. The $33,000 needed to install the transmitter came from contributions from local governments (including the City of Hudsonville) and area businesses. The station was needed because of the poor reception in Lakeshore communities from the Kent County station
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N.O.A.A. Weather Radios Save Lives! Make sure there’s one at home, work, church and school. |
Every Wednesday from the middle of May through the middle of October you will see the Farmers Market in the shopping Plaza in Hudsonville. Seven to ten local growers and other vendors are there each week beginning at 8 AM to greet you. Fresh fruits, vegetables, bedding plants, annuals & perennials, maple syrup, homemade bread and cinnamon rolls are just some of the products to tempt you. The market is sold out this year with spots for farmers to come and sell their produce. People have come from as far as Belding to see this market and are very pleased with it.
The downtown merchants are also receiving a spin off of the business as many stop in to see what our stores are all about. Keegstra’s even had a shopper come in and spend $500 as a result of coming to Hudsonville to see the Farmer’s Market.
On Tuesday, August 8, 2000, you will have the opportunity to vote in the State Primary Election. The precincts will be open from 7 o’clock in the morning to 8 o’clock in the evening. There will be three wards as before. Wards 1 and 2 are at City Hall and Ward 3 is at Heritage Reformed Church.
Locally, there are two issues that are on the ballot for residents of the City of Hudsonville.
One of the proposals would be to permit the retail sale of alcoholic beverages within the City of Hudsonville. The current City Code prohibits the retail sale of alcoholic beverages within the boundaries of the City. The City does not have a choice of providing the retail sale of liquor by the glass, only. If this proposal passes, it would permit the retail sale of alcoholic beverages by the glass in restaurants and taverns, or over the counter in grocery and party stores, subject to licensing requirements and restrictions of the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
The other proposal would restrict the distribution and dispensing of alcoholic beverages in the City. The proposal if passed, would only permit the distribution and dispensing of alcoholic beverages in public residences and religious facilities. The City is not certain that this proposal, if approved, is enforceable or legal and would seek a court ruling.
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