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1997 TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARD
Second Place for traffic and safety efforts (police departments 1-10 officers) Presented by Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police |
LOSS CONTROL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
for lowest 1997 worker's compensation experience factor of over 100 cities our size Also won in 1994 Presented by Michigan Municple Worker's Compensation Fund |
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CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 4, 1997
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| WARD 1 | Hudsonville City Hall |
| WARD 2 | Hudsonville City Hall |
| WARD 3 | Heritaqe Reformed Church |
Contact the City Clerk's Office for Absentee Voter Ballots.
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Jim is a member of Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church. He is a past president of the Hudsonville Jaycees; current president of the Hudsonville Community Foundation, and is a member of the Zeeland Community Hospital Board of Trustees. In local government, he has served the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission, Library Advisory Board, Downtown Development Authority, Grand Rapids Environs Transportation Study, and Grand Valley Metropolitan Council. He has served on the City Commission 's Public Works, CATV, Economic Development, Personnel, and Public Safety Committees. Jim's reported accomplishments include the city's first Master Plan and revised Zoning ordinance, a student representative program, capital spending and equipment replacement plans, goals and objectives plan, establishment of Hudsonville Community Foundation, revitalization of downtown, and new city hall. He also initiated a "Walk at- Talk" program to listen to citizens and helped locate the new Post Office downtown (November construction). In 1996. he received an American Hometown Leadership Award from the National Association of Towns and Townships ($5,000 given to City).
His goals are to continue managed growth, proactive planning for utilities and streets, good stewardship of public funds, support of the library, building tax base and employment, attracting new downtown merchants, and encouraging public involvement.
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 John Wallace managed Hudsonville's planning program for ten years. He prepared the City's first Master Plan and is currently assisting the Planning Commission with updating that plan, John owns and operates a local business, [DPM Design group, a planning consulting and graphic design firm.
John was a member of the Parks and Grounds Advisory Board, securing over $100,000 in grants to construct the Hughes Park basketball court, and adding 16 acres to Hudsonville Nature Center. John also prepared designs, promotions material and market studies for, much of the revitalized downtown. He is a member of the Hudsonville Community Foundation Board, Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. John 's goals include initiating a public information program to keep residents informed and to increase public involvement in major issues. He wishes to reduce turnover in the Police Department, continue downtown revitalization activities and create a strong retail and service center. He wishes to initiate a business recruitment program and create a full-time position of Fire chief, and maintain an effective library system. |
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SUMMER READING CLUB Over 1,000 children participated in "Be Eager About Reading" with 557 completing all 12 hours of reading. The program is sponsored by many local businesses and the Friends of the Library. Each finisher received a book!
STORY TIMES Four story times for 3-6 years old, and two "Wee Wiggler" sessions for 18 months-3 year old, will be held each week this fall.
PROGRAM REGISTRATIONS Children's library programs fill up quickly. We are now registering Hudsonville library card patrons only during the first week of designated registration periods. You are required to register in person with your library card. Other patrons are welcome - space permitting.
NEW SERVICES A second public terminal has been added - search the library catalog or print articles from a full-text magazine database. Health and business databases are also available. Coming soon will be access to the Internet and a set of databases including medicine, education, science and business.
32 DEGREE CLUB This popular winter reading club for adults is co-sponsored by the Hudsonville and Georgetown libraries. Read 32 books before March 28 and you will receive a coffee mug or book bag, plus a premium interest rate on an investment or consumer installment loan at West Michigan Community Bank.
ADULT BOOK DISCUSSION A new book discussion group meets on the third Thursday of the month, from 7:30 - 9:30 pm
HOME PAGE If you have Internet access. visit the library Home Page at:
DIAL UP ACCESS The new phone number is (616)454-5454 to access the on-line catalog.
BUILDING EXPANSION PLANNED Plans to remodel and expand the library from 5,500 to 16,000 square feet (including a basement) are completed. A $1.1 million dollar bond issue has been sold. Construction will begin in early spring and be completed late1998.
NEW FACES There are new staff members to serve you at the library. Ellie Mazor is our Children's Librarian (new position). Two new Library Assistants are Susan Borda and Vicki Kupres. Please welcome them!
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Friends of the Library are meeting November 13 at 7:30 pm at the library, to discuss a membership drive, a new adult informational series, book sales and other plans in conjunction with the flow library expansion. Please join us.
Hudsonville will celebrate its 125th Anniversary June 26 - 28, 1998. A volunteer 125th Anniversary Committee is currently planning this milestone in our city's history.
The celebration will begin on Friday with an historic/patriotic musical and conclude on Sunday with a community church service and ice cream social. In between will be many exiting events - community walk and historical tour, kids hands-on-arts, a barbecue, carnival, professional go-cart races, beard and costume contest, and more! It promises to be a weekend filled with community involvement and a renewed appreciation for our city's heritage.
The Historical and Genealogy Committee has published a 1998 calendar with old scenes of Hudsonville. They are available at city hall or the public library for $5.00.
The following volunteer positions are currently available:
VOLUNTEER POLICE OFFICERS NEEDED As Hudsonville continues to grow, additional Police Reserve Officers are needed. Reserve Officers are uniformed personnel who ride in cruisers with regular officers and assist with traffic detail. They also help at parades, festivals, and ball games (compensated).
D.A.R.E. VEHICLE ADDED The Police Department now has a D.A.R.E. van used by D.A.R.E. Officer Cora Goff as she travels to public and private school events, festivals, parades, and other uses.
Timmer Chevrolet/Geo donated the van, which was originally a parts delivery vehicle. Other businesses donating to the project of repairing and equiping the van include Ottawa Collision, Fleet Image, Hudsonville Body Shop, Weller Auto Parts, Sound-Off Safety Systems and NAPA Auto Parts.
TRAFFIC SAFETY To promote traffic and pedestrian safety, the Police Department now uses a large display board mounted on the roof of a cruiser. Big numbers show a radar read-out of each vehicle's speed. A cruiser may be occupied or non-occupied and is placed in strategic locations within the city. Public reaction to the use of speed inicators had been positive.
The City has been awarded an 80% funding grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation for installation of pedestrian signals at the Chicago Drive/36th Avenue intersection. Signals will be installed this fall along with extension of area sidewalks.
Bonds of $3.6 million for refinancing existing debt and $1.1 million for the library expansion were successfully marketed in October. Approximately $236,000 ($150,000 present value) will be saved on prior debt by refinancing at a lower rate. Combining the library bonds with the refinancing issue saved the library another $20,000. The AAA, 20 year bonds have an average 5.1% interest rate, only 2/10 of 1% off a 20 year market low.
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HISTORICAL MILLAGE CHANGES
(LAST 11 YEARS) Here is how Hudsonville's City millage has changed over the last 11 years:
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CITY BUDGET
Excluding utility funds and transfers, the FY98 city budget is $4,824,454. Of this, the General Operating Fund (which is supported by the property tax) is $2,296,395. The General Fund finances typical functions such as law enforcement, fire, administration, parks, street lighting, code enforcement, drains, etc. |
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1997 8AM - 2PM
Public Works Facility 5713 Balsam Drive Leaves and grass clippings Branches, small bushes, etc. Residential only - No commercial disposal City Residents Only - ID will be checked |
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This page last updated: |
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Jim is a graduate of Unity Christian High School and has a major in Political Science from Calvin College. He has served as a Congressional intern and is currently Information Systems Coordinator for ALTL, Inc. and is a sales agent for Lenger Travel Center.
