February                   2001

Dear Hudsonville Citizens,

Having been appointed as the new Hudsonville Police Chief has so for been a great pleasure and honor. I would also like to express my gratitude for all the support and well wishes to my wife and I. Hudsonville residents will also find that the officers and staff are also very excited about the future of the Hudsonville Police Department and look forward to working with the community by providing the best service possible. 

We are confident you will agree that we have an outstanding police department. We are constantly striving to become more efficient and effective to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. We welcome any ideas, suggestions or comments you may have. If you have any questions that you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact me at (616) 669-0010. My office door is always open for the citizens of Hudsonville. 

Bob Stanberry, Chief of Police

WHAT EVERY CITIZEN OF HUDSONVILLE SHOULD KNOW

The men and women of the Hudsonville Police Department are committed to the prevention of crime and the protection of life and property, the preservation of peace, order, and safety, the equitable enforcement of laws and ordinances; and, the safeguarding of constitutional guarantees for all residents, businesses, and visitors within the City of Hudsonville. 
With community service as our foundation, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life, seeking solutions to community problems, and fostering a sense of peace and security in all people within our city. 
We will respond quickly to calls for service and strive to deter crime through aggressive patrol, identifying and eliminating conditions that provide opportunity for criminal action. We will relentlessly pursue criminals, thoroughly investigate criminal incidents, and professionally prepare cases for prosecution of criminal offenders. Additionally, we will facilitate and maintain the safe movement of people and traffic in the city. 
We will develop a close communication with citizens and community groups in our City to help determine their perception of problems and work with them to identify solutions and implement activities to address their concerns.

A NEW APPROACH IN HUDSONVILLE: COMMUNITY POLICING DISTRICTS 

Dividing Hudsonville into three geographical areas, is a new philosophy regarding Community Policing. In order to facilitate these efforts, patrol officers have been assigned to specific areas of the City. By working together, citizens and police officers can find ways to overcome crime and thus enhance the quality of life in this community. You are encouraged to contact your district policing officer if you are having trouble dealing with a community problem. If unable to directly assist you, your district officer will attempt to put you in contact with an agency who can.
The purpose of the area districts is to coordinate police services and other City resources to deal with that area’s problems and issues. Each district has two police officers assigned to decentralize police services and bring them closer to the residents in the district. The districts are more manageable areas, which allow the assigned officer to take an active role and become familiar with situations, residents and businesses in the officer’s beat. Community Policing will progress as you get to know the officer in your area’s beat. 

NEW PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT

WINTER SNOW RULES AND REQUESTS

Who would have thought that winter would have started with such a bang. The last several years we were so fortunate with minimal snowfall. We have been working diligently trying to keep the roads safe and free of snow. However, we are having an extremely heavy snow season this year and will probably go over budget with snow removal.
The City has two shifts working this year on snow removal. One shift works daytime and the other works in the evening hours. This has helped us keep the roads open for emergency vehicles at all hours of the day and night. 
Residents are reminded of several snow removal requirements and procedures!!

• Cleaning the sidewalk in front of your home is the resident’s responsibility. If we have time, the city will try to remove the snow from your walk; however, the streets come first. If the sidewalk in your area has been shoveled, it is much easier for the sidewalk plow driver to line up his path.
• Keep fire hydrant(s) clear of snow and ice. It is extremely important for the hydrants on your street to be clear of snow or ice because if there were a fire, it would take much longer for the firefighters to get water if they had to clear an area first.
• Do not shovel or blow snow into the street or sidewalk. If you use a private snow removal contractor, make sure the plower is insured and is licensed with the city. Commercial plow vehicles must have an oscillating or flashing yellow or amber light. Neither private property owners, nor private contractors, may push driveway snow on property that he does not own, without permission.
• Cul-de-sacs 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. 

ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES

The Commission’s primary duty consists of reviewing old and making new ordinances. Ordinances cannot contradict the federal constitution, acts of congress, federal rules, the state constitution, state statutes, and the city charter. Additionally, ordinances cannot contradict what federal or state courts have declared common law (accepted practice). 
An ordinance prescribes a general and lasting rule for persons or things within the corporate city boundaries. It is the most authoritative act of which the Commission is ordinarily capable, and is usually reserved for cases involving long-term policy. The City Commission receives the power to make ordinances from the state. 
To draft an ordinance, an individual must have legal skill and technical knowledge of the subject. The city attorney usually performs this task. Sometimes administrative or technical personnel in city departments assist the city attorney in drafting ordinances. Many charters make it the duty of the attorney to draft ordinances at the request of the Commission, its members, or other officers. When the Commission is considering an ordinance, the attorney should be immediately available for advice on its legal implications. 
To pass properly, all ordinances must comply with procedures specified in the charter or state law, and Commission’s rules. These procedural requirements determine: 

1. method of presentation of the ordinance; 
2. number of readings at successive meetings; 
3. public hearings; 
4. Majority of the Commission necessary for passage; 
5. officers, such as mayor and city clerk, whose signatures must be affixed; 
6. publication prior to legal effect; 
7. authority of the Commission to give emergency ordinances immediate effect; and 
8. provision for recording the ordinance on the book of minutes. 

Beyond these fundamental requirements the Commission determines procedure and regulates debate and the conduct of its members. 
Aside from ordinances, the Commission can use resolutions to make legislative action. Resolutions, which do not establish permanent local law, are commonly 
used for: letting contracts, ordering street paving, curb construction, and other public improvements; authorizing budget transfers; and performing most other routine actions. (In some states adoption of the budget takes the form of a resolution.) In most cases, Commissions govern procedures less formal for resolutions, than ordinances. Some governing bodies pass simple motions to express public positions. 

ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTES

With ordinances and resolutions, you can take formal action. But you need to know the differences between the two. 
Ordinances prescribe a general and lasting rule for persons or things within the corporate city boundaries. Similar to state or federal statutes, ordinances prescribe civil or criminal penalties for not complying. To enact an ordinance, municipalities must publish an ordinance summary in a newspaper of general circulation. Such newspapers must hold contracts with the municipalities for legal publication. 
A resolution is a statement of policy. Resolutions may imply, meet, or carry out the terms of an ordinance. Additionally, resolutions provide direction for contracts. Unless a resolution specifically authorizes a resolution, that resolution would not establish legal action with enforcement powers. Municipalities do not publish resolutions. However, municipalities do keep resolutions on public file. 
Minutes and records document the commissions proceedings and official actions. All minutes, records, and books must be open to public inspection. Unless specifically exempted, citizens should have access to such records. 
All minutes of all regular and special meetings, except closed sessions, must be promptly recorded. Minutes from closed sessions are recorded in compliance with Michigan’s Open Meeting Act 267, 1976, as amended. It’s helpful to use a standard format to record the minutes. Additionally, minutes record all commission actions, especially those involving expenditures. Votes in legislative and financial actions are recorded also. 

HUDSONVILLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

The Gary Byker Memorial Library now has 11 computers on the floor that allow patrons to use various on-line services, including public Internet access and on-line resource catalogs. I am also involved in the maintenance of the Library Guardian filter system.
If you haven’t been to the city’s web site lately, there have been quite a few changes there, also. Our main goal is to continually keep information that is useful to our citizens constantly updated. On the site you can find meeting agendas and minutes, a link to the city’s code of ordinances, helpful information regarding city government, announcements from the different departments, current events, even copies of this and the last few Salad Bowl Newsletters!

Regional Geographic Information Services (or ReGIS) is currently under development with other members of the Grand Valley Metro Council, to digitize and make available much of the information that until now was only available on large maps and in thick books. This information will be accessible by computer and will be in a "layered" format, with parcel, street, transportation, other assessing and planning information, "mapped" on top of aerial photos.

WINTER PROPERTY TAXES

The city of Hudsonville Winter 2000 Property Tax Bills were mailed November 30, 2000.  The due date for these bills is February 14, 2001.  Payments received after 5:00pm on February 14th, will be assessed a 3% late fee.  For the exact payoff amount, please contact the City Treasurer's Office at (616)669-0200.  After February 28th, real property taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer's Office.  The County Treasurer may be contacted at (888)731-1001 ext. 8230.

DOG LICENSES

Dog Licenses for the 2001 calendar year are on sale through February 28th at the City Treasurer's Office.  The fee for spayed/neutered dogs is $6.00 and $15 for male and female dogs.  After February 28th the fee for dog licenses doubles and licenses may only be obtained from the County Treasurer's Office at 414 Washington, Grand Haven, 49417.  To obtain a dog license, you must have a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and proof of the animal being spayed or neutered.

INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE HUDSONVILLE NATURE CENTER
JANUARY – JULY 2001

The Hudsonville Nature Center, which is located along New Holland, east of 32nd avenue, is a very diverse natural area with three miles of trails and 5 scenic overlook decks from which to view the natural beauty. The HNC is home to some 60 plus species of trees and shrubs, as well as more than 170 wildflowers and over 60 species of birds have been recorded there. The programs offered are intended to help you learn about these natural features and to help you better enjoy them and your time in the out-of-doors.

All walks begin at the end of New Holland, east of 32nd avenue and will be held except in the event of threatening weather. Come prepared for the weather and other natural elements. The Winter Ecology Hikes are a good opportunity to bring snowshoes if you have them and we have enough snow.

OTTAWA COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Has the arrival of an old fashioned winter left you chilled to the bone? Maybe what you need is more insulation in your home. The Ottawa County Community Action Agency provides attic and sidewall insulation in the home of low-income Ottawa county residents at no charge. If you qualify for the program, the Ottawa County Housing Specialist will make a visit to your home to see what type of energy improvements are needed. He will then recruit one of our licensed contractors to provide the work for you. Services include not only insulation, but sealing of air leakage around windows and doors and in any crevices in your walls. The inspector also includes a check of your furnace and other gas combustible appliances to be sure they are not emitting deadly carbon monoxide and that they have the correct draft for efficient operation. 
To be eligible for the program, your must have an annual income of 150 percent of poverty or less (for a family of four this would be $25,575. The annual income limits are based on your family size. In addition, you must be an Ottawa County resident. Both home owners and renters are eligible to apply for weatherization services. If rental property is weatherized, the landlord must agree to allow the worker on his/her property and will be asked to contribute toward the energy improvements. 
To find out more about the OTTAWA COUNTY HOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, call the Community Action Agency at 616-393-5697. 

HUDSONVILLE FOUNTAIN CONCERT SERIES

Join the City of Hudsonville and the Fountain Concert Series Committee in sponsoring the 2001 Hudsonville Fountain Concert Series!
The concerts, which are free and open to the public, are held by the fountain in the Hudsonville Shopping Plaza on various Thursday evenings during the summer at 7:30 PM. Programs offer a variety of musical entertainment, funded partially by the City of Hudsonville and partially through voluntary contributions from local businesses and individuals interested in promoting these excellent musical programs.
The 2001 Hudsonville Fountain Concert Series concerts are being organized now. If you would like to become a sponsor of this community event, please fill out the form below and return it to City Hall. 
Thank you for your help!

Last Updated: February 05, 2003