VILLAGE MANAGER REPORT: DEC. 20, 2021

VILLAGE MANAGER REPORT: DEC. 20, 2021

  • Post category:Village News

Check out the updates from the desk of the Village Manager, Bryan Gruesbeck. This update was received by Village Council at the December 20, 2021 regular meeting.

This report includes updates on:

  • Wind Damage: High winds created havoc across northern Michigan, causing power outages in the Village and throughout Antrim County. DPW picked up street and private yard debris and are planning additional pickups (weather permitting) early during the week of December 20, 2021. Unfortunately, some of the Christmas decorations (the River St and Ames St trees) were damaged. The decorations vendor (Christmas Décor) will be making repairs and getting the trees back into place over the next few days.
  • Rotary Park Improvements: The Village Council approved the agreement with Paddle Antrim to engage their assistance to secure funding and help manage the proposed improvements to the Village’s Rotary Park. The next step is to work with Paddle Antrim to develop the grant application to the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Trust Fund. We anticipate the completion of the Trust Fund application by February 21, 2022. I am recommending Village Council hold a public hearing on March 7, 2022 in time to submit the application by April 1, 2022. 
  • Ames Street Improvements: The MITTIN project was not selected in this round of EDA funding. I will revisit MDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) that I had mentioned as an earlier possibility.
  • Upcoming Holidays: The Government Center will be closed on December 23-24 as well as December 30-31 in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
  • Island House Property: According to an email sent from the Township attorney to the Village Attorney, Elk Rapids Township voted to reject the Village’s proposed Land Transfer Agreement which was submitted in response to their proposed “Tenancy in Common” document on December 14, 2021. The email from the Township Attorney doesn’t mention any request to meet with Village officials, but I suspect something to this effect could be forthcoming.