A new library agreement between the City of the Village of Clarkston and Independence Township is apparently on the horizon.
The Library Committee for the city recently sent a draft proposal to the township for a new library agreement with a fixed rate of $30,000 for 2006 library service.
‘The only difference is the fee structure,? said Johnston when comparing the new draft proposal to the previous agreement.
The proposal came on the heels of a meeting between committee and council members Kristy Ottman, Cory Johnston and Steve Wylie and Township Supervisor Dave Wagner and Deputy Supervisor Chuck Herring on March 27.
Ottman announced the results of the discussion to the rest of the council at the March 27 council meeting. She described the meeting as ‘very cordial? and a good starting point. Ottman said Wagner seemed open to a proposed flat rate for the library.
‘Talks went excellent, they were very open. I believe by the end they felt as if there is a new partnership between the township and the city like never before,? said Wagner.
‘The township will look at anything, but they (the city council) need to show that they are looking at all expenses,? Wagner added.
‘Today they were very agreeable,? said Johnston at the meeting.
In an interview afterwards, Johnston highlighted the fact that neither the city council nor the township board had seen the draft and that he expected both bodies to discuss the proposal before the agreement goes any further.
During a phone interview, Wylie said he felt an agreement was close.
The city council expressed concern over the rising administration fees for services purchased from the township at previous meetings this year.
The last library agreement with the township ran from Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 2005. As reported previously in The Clarkston News, according to numbers provided by Manager Art Pappas, the city paid the township $37,109.70 in 2005 for library services.
In other council news:
? The council formally requested the Michigan Department of Natural Resources help in the implementation of egg programs and a program of entrapment, removal and relocation of geese from 2006 to 2011 at no cost to the village. The request was made on behalf of residents with property abutting the Clarkston Mill Pond.
? The council accepted the petition for the rezoning of 5 – 7 Holcomb to multiple family from single family residential.
? Clarkston Farm and Garden president Julie Piazza informed the council the club would like to post a temporary sign in Depot Park across from the Farmer’s Market area to keep track of the amount of funds received for the proposed Dandelion Bridge. The council responded positively to the request, but felt the ordinance should be addressed first and instructed Pappas to talk with the building inspector to determine what steps need to be taken before erecting the sign.