nSnow Emergency Ordinance: At the January 26 meeting, village council approved the adoption of a snow emergency ordinance, effective Feb. 9, 2004.
The ordinance will establish regulations and penalties for the removal of vehicles from public rights of way during heavy snowfall, in order not to impede snow removal operations.
The ordinance also allows for the village manager or the manager’s designee to declare a snow emergency alert during heavy snowfall.
nOld Mill repairs continue: The lowest bid was accepted from Blackstone Construction Services, LLC $30,365 for structural repairs to the basement, second floor post and beam connections, second floor post and beams, third floor post and beam, and attic floor post repair.
The repairs will be paid for with township Community Block Grant Development funds and township contracted planner Dave Donnellon, along with Village Manager Paul Zelenak will oversee the repairs.
According to Zelenak, a previous bid for the work proved to be too costly so the project repairs were revised and re-bid.
nRescue training approved: Council approved initial start up costs of $3,000 to the fire department for the North Oakland Mutual Aid Association which will assist in providing firefighter rescue training in hazardous material, trench, high and low angle rope rescue, as well as building collapse, ice and water rescue.
The North Oakland Mututal Aid Association is a 13 department Oakland County coalition with rescue teams available to Ortonville and Brandon Township.
nStation 3 drainage work approved: Council motion to approve a request for parking lot drains to be installed at Station 3, on Oakwood and Herd roads. Chief Bob McArthur of the Brandon Fire Department explained that the drains were in the original architectural drawings for the station, however, for cost containment, the final bid did not include the drains.
However, with a final construction bid under the budgeted amount, Chief McArthur is requesting the parking lot drains be included in the original construction of the parking lot, which would be less expensive than installing drains at a later date.
Council approved the $30,000 addition to the construction budget, which still falls within the budgeted bid amount.
nDPW workers in training: Council approved a request by Village Manager Paul Zelenak to authorize sending DPW Supervisor Shane Eliassen and Laborer Kevin Booms to the Michigan Municipal League Educational Program for excavation safety. Booms will also attend a confined spaces class. The total cost of registration will be $327.
nPathway happenings:
The M-15 Heritage pathway is planning on publishing a list of events that occur along the M-15 corridor. Events such as the Downtown Development Authority car show and Septemberfest will be included.
nMML leader: Paul Zelenak has been appointed to the Michigan Municipal League Finance and Taxation Committee.
nEngineering contract renewed: Instead of the usual one year contract with the village engineering firm Rowe Inc., Village Manager Zelenak recommended a two year contract due to the fact that Rowe is assisting the village with several projects, such as the South Street Bridge repair, which will extend past the usual yearly contract.