February                         2000
City of Hudsonville - Newsletter

Contents:

Historical Committee "Coffee" Scheduled Bicycle Path Planned on Barry Street
Why Library Internet Service Was Removed Reminder to Property Owners
Notes of Interest Board, Commission, and Committee Openings
Can Financial Mismanagement Happen Here? Nominations Sought for Fountain of Honor
Curb Lawn Tree Plantings Studied Again Important Message to our "Southbound" Residents
Snow Removal Procedures City of Hudsonville Youth Achievement Award
Is Bottled Water Better? Your City Commission and Administrative Staff
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Historical Committee "Coffee Scheduled

The Hudsonville Historical and Genealogy Committee will host a “coffee” on March 23, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Gary Byker Memorial Library. Over 700 pictures of Hudsonville families, schools, churches and businesses will be shown.
The Committee is seeking more pictures, artifacts and any memorabilia of early Hudsonville.
Year 2000 Historical Calendars are on sale at the library and at city hall for $5.00.

Why Library Internet Service Was Removed

In a 1996 article, we indicated that "some straight-forward, to-the-point, articles will appear in the Salad Bowl Newsletter - to answer the questions, to remove the doubts, and to provide the information necessary to reach good decisions". This is one such article!
When the Gary Byker Memorial Library of Hudsonville was expanded and modernized in 1999, the city added capability for utilizing advancing technologies, including access to the Internet (World Wide Web).
Some months ago, recognizing that our children might access sites harmful to minors, and that library staff could not always monitor their use of the Internet, the City decided to install a filtering system. A specific law allows filtering material deemed "harmful to minors". We spent $24,000 to purchase the Smart Guardian filtering system, recognized as the most technologically advanced filtering system available today. We would have been only the second public library in the nation to use this state-of-the-art technology.
The Smart Guardian system provides each patron with a plastic Smart Card (like an ATM card). It includes your photograph and a computer chip which permits adults to make their own personal choice of five filtering levels. Smart Cards for minors (those under 18) could be obtained only by a parent or guardian and, unlike adult Smart Cards, would not access sites which were deemed harmful to minors (although most communities are not restricting access to minors, the City did plan to require that filtering level). Parents or guardians could also choose even higher filtering levels to the point where only a 15,000 site "Safe Harbor" level was accessible. The City was also committed to making physical changes to protect library users -- recessing computer terminals or installing security panels between terminals as necessary to provide privacy.
The SmartGuardian system has other advantages. The SmartCard could eventually be used to access a variety of library services, including the many special programs we offer. It could also identify city residents (who pay the property taxes needed to support our library) and provide special advantages to them.
A few days before SmartGuardian was to become operational in November, the Michigan Chapter of the American Family Association and some local citizens, distributed an initiatory petition which would require that all computer terminals, except one, be filtered, not only to minors but to adults as well! The single remaining "open" terminal would require a sign (with half-inch letters) limiting its use to those over 18 and referencing words such as "obscene", "sexually explicit matter", and "harmful to minors".

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The City attempted to meet and discuss concerns with American Family Association officials and local petition circulators, but was denied such a meeting. Petitions requiring a city ordinance to implement these requirements were filed with the City on November 29. By City Charter provision, the City had only two options -- pass the ordinance or refer the question to a public vote. To do anything else would violate the City Charter.
The American Family Association gained local support for its efforts by engaging in very defamatory and questionable tactics. They aroused public emotion with sensationalism, innuendoes, and half-truths They publicly accused the City of withholding or destroying public Internet records they had demanded under the Freedom of Information Act and distributed such claims nationwide. In addition to area media, we even were contacted by United Press International and National Public Radio! In fact, the City had made every attempt to provide information requested. We even hired a computer technician to bypass computer security controls to gather information.
The American Family Association took a widely shared concern (protecting our children from pornography) and linked it to something else (Internet access for adults and children). They appointed themselves as moral arbiters for the community and assumed they knew better than parents, professional librarians or city officials. They ignored First Amendment concerns and branded those who opposed their position. They ignored the fact that Hudsonville was already planning to protect our children and allow adults to make their own private choices. Finally, they stated that the American Library Association in Chicago was going to funnel large sums of liberal money into Hudsonville to defend unrestricted access to Internet porn and asked local citizens to mail the largest check they could afford to the AFA.
On December 6, with extreme reluctance, the City Commission passed the ordinance. At the same time, it suspended most public Internet uses at the library. The reasons were:

  • We believe the filtering process that the AFA seeks is inferior and unconstitutional in that it violates First Amendment Rights (the Bill of Rights) assured under the U.S. Constitution. There will undoubtedly be legal challenges, perhaps in Holland (where a similar issue is pending) or elsewhere. Groups on both sides of this issue have indicated intent to challenge. We've spent enough in legal costs already, in addition to the $24,000 for the Smart Guardian system, and do not wish to incur the liabilities associated with a lawsuit. We are willing to wait for this issue to be resolved elsewhere and then determine our future actions
  • City officials hold those values and moral convictions that have made Hudsonville special, but only a few citizens stepped forth to support our leaders and to promote civility and trying to work things out together. This issue has divided the community. Continuing this debacle will only serve to further that division.
  • We will not place a 12"x18" sign (the size needed to meet the requirements of the initiative petition) on the single unfiltered computer. Regardless of what a patron might be accessing on that computer, such a sign would stereotype the user as one seeking access to unfiltered sites.
  • We will not lower our standards to those practiced by the American Family Association. We deplore its actions and its tactics and hope the community will, over time, recognize how AFA has harmed this community.

Although access to the Web has been removed, library patrons can still access the Lakeland Library Cooperative's Computer Catalog, Grolier's Online Encyclopedias, Hudsonville library pages, and some Library of Michigan databases.
We are sorry that you have been denied access to the world around you. We want very much to resolve this matter and hope that reason will eventually prevail. We remain committed to eventually using the SmartGuardian filtering system and restoring Internet services

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NOTES OF INTEREST

Note.gif (994 bytes)A new drive-up payment box is now available by the flagpoles in front of City Hall.
Note.gif (994 bytes)Have you signed up for our Automatic Utility Bill Payment Program yet? It is quick and easy and avoids a possible overdue charge. Your quarterly utility bill will be deducted from your checking or savings account on the bill due date. Contact the City Treasurer's office.
Note.gif (994 bytes)Our Police Department has a five-lane inside shooting range in City Hall. However, officers still need to train in inclement weather conditions and for use of shotguns. Hudsonville Truck and Trailer has provided us use of land for an outdoor range. Thanks for helping us meet this need!
Note.gif (994 bytes)Bids have been taken for purchase of a Quint (a pumper fire truck with a 75 foot ladder). Cost is expected to be about $400,000. Fire trucks are custom manufactured to meet each community's particular needs and take a year to build.
Note.gif (994 bytes)Eight residents of the Creekview Area have been appointed to a citizens committee to help plan for a new neighborhood park. Members of the "Southwest Neighborhood Park Study Committee" are Suzanne Gortsema, Ruth De Boer, John Van Regenmorter, John Baylor, Dan Van Ball, Pat Carlon, Tom Verkaik and Randy Katerberg. Chris Vlaardingerbroek, of the Parks and Grounds Advisory Board, serves as liaison and chair of the committee.
Note.gif (994 bytes)Library circulation for 1999 has increased 32% from the year before. 1999 circulation:147,740. 1999 patron count: 82,709.
Note.gif (994 bytes)The Friends of the Gary Byker Library donated $1,500 for Children?s books, from the proceeds of their Holiday Home Tour.

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Can Financial
Mismanagement
Happen Here?

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Numerous instances of financial mismanagement have occurred during the past several years in the West Michigan area. Could fraud, embezzlement, misuse of public funds, or poor financial practices occur in our city government?
Although we are fairly confident of our internal controls, we retained our independent auditors, Rehman Robson, to review our practices so as to find loopholes and suggest changes or additional procedures. When finished, our auditors found no substantive concerns and made only a couple of minor suggested changes (which we have implemented).
Our citizens need to know that city officials take financial stewardship seriously. We can't share all of our procedures, but here is a partial listing of some safeguards we use:

GENERAL

We retain an independent Certified Public Accounting firm to prepare an annual audit.
We prepare a detailed annual budget, identifying expected revenues, expenditures, and debt obligations. After adoption, expenditures must be within budget and the budget can be amended only by the City Commission.
Revenues and expenditures are individually accounted for. Expenditures are not "netted" from revenue. Cash revenue is deposited, not used for expenses.
Employees do not accept payments in the field. Business gifts over a minor value are not permitted. Gifts of cash or gift certificates are prohibited. Employees may not hold any personal investment which conflicts with official duties.

DISBURSEMENTS

Invoices are approved for payment only after being initialed by the department involved, review by the Treasurer's office, and counter-review by the Manager's office.
Disbursements are reviewed by the City Commission's Finance Committee (and later reported to the City Commission). A signature machine and check protector are used, all checks are accounted for and a verification log is signed by the Manager or Assistant Manager. Checks over $500 are also reviewed and approved by the Mayor (for propriety). Petty cash expenditures are limited to those under $50 and used only when payment by check, or charging, is not available. Receipts are required.

PAYROLL

Employee time cards are approved by department heads and reviewed by the Manager's office. A payroll report is reviewed and signed by the City Manager or Assistant Manager and the City Commission's Finance Committee.
Overtime and compensatory time is carefully monitored.
A performance-based compensation system is used for salaried department managers.

RECEIPTS

Cash registers are linked directly to the computerized accounting system.
Valuables (cash) are stored in a vault and deposited frequently (usually by a police officer).
Banking services are determined by competitive bidding. The investment portfolio and earnings are reviewed monthly by the City Commission's Finance Committee.
Local banks will not cash a check made out to the city.

DRUG BUYS, SEIZURES/FORFEITURES

Most drug cases are referred to the West Michigan Drug Enforcement Team.
Funds for minor drug purchases must be approved by both the Manager and the Mayor. A subsequent report on each incident is provided by the Police Chief.
Funds from seizures or forfeitures are deposited with the Treasurer - no separate cash fund is permitted.

PURCHASES

A comprehensive purchasing policy is used. The policymeets state law for competitive bidding. Additional procedures used include:

PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION


What does all this cost? Including the purchase of about 400 tons of deicing salt, winter maintenance activity costs the city about $80,000 each year.
What can I do to help? Don't push or throw snow into the street or on the sidewalk. Keep fire hydrants shoveled out. Avoid high snow piles at the end of your driveway. Place tall stakes along your sidewalk, as a guide to the sidewalk plow, if you're concerned about lawn damage. If you hire a commercial snow plower, be certain he's licensed with the city and thereby insured and knowledgeable of local laws.

The City Commission approves an "Employee Classification and Compensation Plan" which defines the number of employees and wage rates.
New or replacement employees (within authorization limits) are approved by the Manager with review by the City Commission's Personnel Committee.
A comprehensive Personnel Manual is used. Standard operating procedures/internal policies are issued by the Manager.
Labor negotiations are conducted by the Manager, Assistant Manager and legal counsel. Any agreement is approved by the City Commission.
Administration of labor agreements, grievances, arbitration and litigation issues are administered by the Manager and legal counsel.

BUSINESS/TRAVEL EXPENSES

Business expense/travel reports are required, are verified by the Treasurer's office and approved by the Manager or Assistant Manager.
If used for a meeting more than 75 miles distant, or more than $20 cost, written pre-approval is required.
Travel out-of-state is rarely permitted.

CREDIT CARD USE

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Credit cards are issued only to department heads at the discretion of the Manager. Current practice is for four credit cards, used only for business/travel expenses and purchases where a city charge account is not available.
Use also requires following purchasing procedures. Charge slips/documentation is required. If used for travel, travel report is also required.

CURB LAWN TREE PLANTINGS STUDIED AGAIN

Tree.gif (4968 bytes)A current issue concerns the planting of trees in curb lawns (area between the street curb and the sidewalk).
Historically, the city has prohibited such plantings so as to avoid implementation of a costly curbside leaf removal program. Curb lawn trees also damage adjacent sidewalks and curbs, interfere with overhead power and telecommunication lines, and compete with buried utilities. And, disposing of leaves from street trees is a difficult environmental problem.
Still, street trees do improve the appearance of a street and neighborhood, clean the air and enhance the overall character of the community. Recent studies have shown that the value of a residential property can be increased by $5,000 or more if street trees are present.
Although street trees are again being considered, expect some time to pass before a decision is made. The City Commission has directed that we must first address a better way to provide leaf removal and disposal service.

SNOW REMOVAL PROCEDURES

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When does the City remove snow? Snow is removed as it begins to accumulate. First, we concentrate on major streets, hills, hazardous intersections and school areas (church areas on Sunday). Then attention is given to residential areas.
Why do residential areas get plowed last? We must keep major streets open to allow buses and emergency vehicles a way to get to all parts of the city. Deicing major streets and intersections is also a priority. It does little good to clear residential streets if major streets remain snow covered. We have 12 miles of major streets and 16 miles of local streets.
Does it matter when snowfall occurs? It sure does! When snow falls early in the morning, the public works crew cannot complete plowing before significant traffic begins at 7 AM. Traffic and parked vehicles slow down plowing activity even more.
How much equipment is plowing at one time? We have 3 large trucks with plow equipment. At least 2 trucks (usually 3) must plow together in order not to leave a dangerous line of snow in the roadway. There are only four employees in the Public Works Department available for snow removal work.
What about cul-de-sacs? Cul-de-sac and dead-end streets have lowest priority. When plow trucks complete their routes, employees are reassigned to pickup trucks to clean cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets.
What about sidewalks? Removal of sidewalk snow is the property owners responsibility, but the city provides snow removal as a public service. Because of overlapping routes, over 100 miles are logged each time walks are plowed. Often, sidewalk plowing must be done with temporary, part-time help. The City uses a special sidewalk snow removal machine called a Bombardier, which has treads like a tank. It is fast and powerful. We also use a tractor with either a V-plow or a snow thrower. When adjacent snow depth exceeds theheight of a V-plow, the snow thrower must be used. A snow thrower takes about eight times as long to plow all the walks.
Why are streets and sidewalks plowed at different times? Priorities are different and the two tasks just can't be coordinated! Major streets are plowed before minor streets. Sidewalks leading to schools (churches on Sunday) are plowed first and they are often located on minor streets. If the sidewalk is plowed first, street snow might be thrown on to the plowed walk.
What about damaged lawns? Sidewalk plowing, especially when a plow driver can't see the sidewalk (a volume of snow, or blowing snow), does cause some lawns to be torn up. The city repairs such damaged lawns in the spring.
Do you pay to replace mailboxes damaged during plowing? No, unless they are actually struck by the plow truck or blade (very rare). Mailboxes in the public right-of-way can be damaged by snow propelled during plowing and the property owner is responsible for such repair.
Why did it take so long to plow my street and sidewalk during last year's blizzard? We had many telephone calls during that two-week storm in January. For the first few days, our employees were working 15-16 hour days just plowing major streets, over and over again. They also had to deal with burst water mains and helping police, fire and EMS crews reach emergency destinations. It took several days before we got all the residential streets plowed. And, by that time, sidewalks were blocked to such a depth that a snow thrower had to be used. It's a hard job operating a 35,000 pound plow truck. A sidewalk plow is much different than using your 5 HP snow blower. During major storms, we all need to be patient and understanding!
Why don't you use as much salt as they do on the highway? Actually, we do! There are two major factors in controlling icing -- temperature and friction. Highways (and major city streets) with high traffic volumes are usually less slippery because tire friction helps melt the ice. And, deicing salt loses effectiveness as the temperature drops. When temperatures fall below 20 degrees, especially when a wind chill is present, we often mix sand in with the deicing salt. At 0 degrees, salt has little or no usefulness. We need to use salt on majorstreets, hills and intersection approaches, but we try to avoid excessive use because of its high cost and because it damages trees and runs off into our streams.

IS BOTTLED WATER BETTER?

If you are an average American, you bought 13 gallons of bottled water last year. Is it better or safer? Here are some common questions?
Is it better than tap water? Not necessarily, although you may prefer the taste. Bottled water has to be as good as tap water, but not any better. It is usually monitored less frequently. If you drink bottled water, use that which is certified by NSF International or the International Water Association, which is tested annually.
Does it come from special wells or springs? Not all of it. 25% comes from the same place tap water comes from - municipal water facilities. Once water is purified, the manufacturer doesn't have to tell you where it comes from. 75% does come from protected underground springs or wells and is naturally free of disease-causing microorganisms and chemical contaminants. Look for words like spring, artesian, or mineral on the label - the FDA requires bottlers who use these terms to document the source they're claiming.
Is it completely pure? No water is completely pure. Most contains harmless substances including algae, fungi and bacteria. Once the bottle is open, bottled water will develop bacterial growth faster because it doesn't contain chlorine. It's not a likely health risk, but if you buy gallon-size containers of water, keep them in your refrigerator.

BICYCLE PATH PLANNED ON BARRY STREET

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Installation of bicycle path on the south side of Barry Street, all the way to 24th Avenue, is planned for summer, 2000. Barry Street is one of the few remaining streets where sidewalk or bicycle paths have not been installed. The delay was caused by the difficulty of construction, due to hills, drop-offs and lack of drainage improvements. However, safety concerns for pedestrians, especially children going to and from school, suggests that this improvement must be made.
This project will include not only an eight foot wide asphalt path, but tree removal, retaining walls, a pedestrian bridge, and storm and utility system modifications. Project cost is estimated at $146,116. Abutting property owners will be assessed for $48,683 for the pathway and the City will pay $97,433 for the other unusual construction costs involved.

REMINDER TO PROPERTY OWNERS

In Michigan, if the ownership of property changes, there is a state form that must be filed with the local assessor. This includes partial ownership changes, such as when additional owners are added (parents adding children, etc.) or deleted. It also is required when a change is due to the death of either an owner or a trustee of a trust.
Forms are available at the local assessor's office or title company offices. The deadline for filing is 45 days after the ownership transfer. If you have questions about whether or not to complete the form, please contact the City Assessor's office.
Also, if you purchase a home, don't forget to file a homestead affidavit with the City Assessor's office. If the home is your primary residence, you quality for an exemption from certain state education taxes. The exemption does not automatically carry over from the former owner.

BOARD, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS

The following boards, commissions and committees have openings for citizen members. Please contact Mayor Jim Holtrop or City Manager Leon Van Harn if interested.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR FOUNTAIN OF HONOR

Two more outstanding individuals will be honored in a spring ceremony (probably May) by adding their names to the Fountain of Honor in the Plaza Shopping District. The City Commission has approved adding: Homer Hudson (the founder of Hudsonville) and Jim Keegstra (downtown businessman and community promoter.
Nominations for occasional future honorees are always welcome. Send your nominations to Mayor Jim Holtrop or City Manager Leon Van Harn. Thank You.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO OUR "SOUTHBOUND" RESIDENTS:

Something important is coming in your mail, or will be delivered to your home, in March! It may come while you are still spending the winter season in Florida, Texas, Arizona or some other warm place!

IT IS THE UNITED STATES CENSUS 2000 QUESTIONNAIRE AND YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU TO BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS AS A RESIDENT OF HUDSONVILLE! YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE COUNTED AS A RESIDENT OF SOME OTHER STATE OR LOCALITY! YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE MISSED IN THE CENSUS!

Federal dollars supporting schools, employment services, housing assistance, highway construction, hospital services, programs for the elderly and more are distributed based on census figures. "Census 2000" is the tool used to insure that over $100 billion in federal dollars are distributed fairly and where they are needed.

Just your Hudsonville city government alone will receive about $700,000 in federal and state funds, distributed on the basis of the census, over the next ten years. This does not count those funds distributed to schools and other agencies.

State and local governments use census information for planning and allocating funds for school construction, public buildings such as libraries, highway safety and public transportation systems, new roads and bridges, location of police and fire departments and many other projects.
Community organizations use census information for developing social service programs, community action projects, senior lunch programs and child-care centers.
Businesses use the numbers to decide where to locate factories, shopping centers, movie theaters, banks and offices - leading to the creation of jobs in your area.
The U.S. Congress uses the census totals to determine how many seats your state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Likewise, states use the numbers to allocate seats in their legislatures.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with others, including welfare agencies, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, police and the military. Anyone breaking this law can receive up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. Millions of questionnaires were processed during the 1990s without any breach of trust.

Youth.gif (6439 bytes)The purpose of this award is to reward a youth who resides in the City of Hudsonville or attends a school within the City who deserves recognition for an act or effort that demonstrates good citizenship by making Hudsonville a better place to live.
The act or effort may be based on community service, a demonstration of leadership, a life saving action, a good deed, or action taken to turn their life around to become a good citizen.
Any youth who resides in the City of Hudsonville or attends a school within the City and is under the age of 18 is eligible for nomination.
A nomination is acceptable from any individual who can attest to the efforts of any youth who resides in the City of Hudsonville. For example, nominations could be accepted from a pastor, priest, a teacher, a relative, neighbor, and others.
The City Commission will select the youth from the applications received and present the award.
The youth will be recognized at a regularly scheduled Commission meeting.
The Superintendents or Principals of the Hudsonville Public and Christian Schools are aware of this program and give their support.
To nominate a youth please submit the following information:
Nominee’s name:_____________________________________________________________________
Nominee’s address:___________________________________________________________________
Nominee’s telephone number:____________________________________________________________
Nominee’s school:__________________________________________ Grade:_____________________
Your name:__________________________________________________________________________
Your address:________________________________________________________________________
Your telephone number:_________________________________________________________________
Your signature:________________________________________________________________________
Tell us how this youth has made the community a better place to live in the last year:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Nominations may be mailed, hand delivered, or faxed to: City of Hudsonville, Youth Award, 3275 Central Boulevard, Hudsonville, Michigan 49426 or Fax (616) 669-2330

YOUR CITY COMMISSION

Mayor Jim Holtrop 669-6523 jholtrop@gvmc.org
Commissioner - Ward 1 Gordon Krombeen 669-6638 crookedleg@juno.com
Commissioner - Ward 1 Gary Raterink 669-6191
Commissioner - Ward 2 Crystal Unema 669-9509 cupanda@iserv.net
Commissioner - Ward 2 Arlen Dykema 669-6249 adykema@iserv.net
Commissioner - Ward 3 Alden Jelsema 669-9408
Commissioner - Ward 3 Larry Brandsen 669-3365 soundman@iserv.net

  YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

City Manager Leon Van Harn 669-0200, Ext. 418 vanharn@gvmc.org
Assistant City Manager Pauline Luben 669-0200, Ext. 417 pluben@gvmc.org
City Clerk Sherry Yonkers 669-0200, Ext. 412 yonkers@gvmc.org
City Treasurer/Finance Director Marvin Hinga 669-0200, Ext. 424 mhinga@gvmc.org
City Assessor Linda Anthony 669-0200, Ext. 413
Planning Director/Zoning Administrator Dan Strikwerda 669-0200, Ext. 425 dans@gvmc.org
Police Chief Richard Honholt 669-0010 hupolice@iserv.net
Fire Chief (p/t) Pete Luyk 669-0200, Ext. 429 pal@kvi.net
Public Works Superintendent Steve Roelofs 669-0200, Ext. 431
Library Director Melissa Huisman 669-1255 hudmh@lakeland.lib.mi.us
Emergency Services Director (p/t) Mark Tans 299-7690 mtans@gvmc.org
City Attorney (contractual) Richard Wendt rwendt@dickinson-wright.com
City of Hudsonville Web Site http://www.hudsonville.org
Gary Byker Memorial Library of Hudsonville Web http://www.hudsonville.org/library
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