Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
Residents required to install sidewalks
By Betty Lawrence
COLDWATER - Land owners whose properties abut a portion of Hillcrest Drive and West South Street will be required to install sidewalks, curbs, gutters and driveway approaches as part of the village's street construction project.
Hillcrest Drive will be torn out later this year and replaced with a new base, along with the curb and gutters, which also will go in along West South Street.
Property owners will have the option of doing the sidewalk and driveway work themselves or have the village install the work with the expense then assessed to the property owner.
Council's transportation committee had met last week to address the street project and recommended the assessments.
On Monday night, village councilors heard first reading of a resolution to allow the action and slated a public hearing for 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the municipal center for the affected property owners.
The village's personnel policy manual on mandatory retirement was addressed at council's finance committee meeting, chairman Rob Fisher reported to councilors.
"Basically, we have two part-time park employees that will be reaching retirement age," Village Manager/Engineer Eric Thomas explained. "The manual says council action must be taken if their service is extended beyond retirement age. It's not a retire-rehire issue."
In his report to council, Thomas said a small problem with the sewer department's emergency generator continues.
"Possibly down the road we may need to look at a fixed generator instead of a mobile one," he informed council, adding a fixed generator would cost approximately $25,000.
Thomas also briefly spoke Monday evening on the state's stimulus package.
"They're looking for shovel-ready projects, those ready to go in 2009-2010. But, the need is always greater than the money," he said.
In other action, councilors learned that the village, for the sixth year in a row, has achieved Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation and will be presented with an award in April.
Also, councilors went into a 30-minute executive session to discuss personnel with no action taken.
