The resolution passed Monday would not finalize any purchase agreements. It would simply give the city manager support to pursue a purchase from the district, via emergency financial manager.
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In a prepared statement read during Monday’s meeting, Mayor Paige stated that the need for the committee was driven by the lack of new negotiations with Norton Shores and Fruitport.
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“Financially, this is something we can work with if we get off that four year clock [set by the Fruitport termination notice],” said city manager Natasha Henderson. “This is something we can plan with for now.”
Read MoreCouncilwoman McGlothin argued that starting with Fruitport’s notice in April 2011 that it was exiting its water contract with Muskegon Heights, the township’s authority to negotiate a new deal alongside Norton Shores ceased to exist.
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Dean sees blight fighting as his first priority, followed by increasing the customer service quality of the departments. Dean also suggested at Monday’s meeting that he hopes to make the inspections department a “revenue-neutral” area of the city government.
Read More“The Strand is older than the Frauenthal,” said councilwoman Patrice Johnson of the former Michigan Theater on Western Avenue in Muskegon, which is about 7 years younger than the Strand and received a renovation over a decade ago. “I think that’s a really big deal.”
Read MoreOn a recommendation from the city manager, the city council voted 5-1 to charge residents a 2 dollar “Transaction Service Fee” for payments made without bills present at the time of payment. The fee is meant to offset the administrative costs associated with locating the resident’s account and verify the payment amount on demand.
Read MoreNew fiber lines will not need to be run to city hall for the service, as the city’s police and fire departments already have the lines; this is a significant cost savings for implementation. New phone equipment will need to be purchased, and will cost $40,000 over 5 years. According to the city’s finance department, this will still save the city $7,000 a year for until the equipment is paid off; after that, savings of roughly $15,000 a year will be achieved.
Read MoreBefore Monday’s full council meeting, City Manager Natasha revisited the four focus areas the council defined in a planning workshop at the start of their 2011 fiscal year in January: fiscal responsibility, infrastructure, blight elimination and marketing. Tying into the marketing goal, Henderson spoke about economic development of the city and recommended the council assess their visions of the future of the city from an economic development perspective.
Read MoreBudget-to-actual expense documents obtained this week from the city indicate that three quarters of the way through the city’s fiscal year, the city’s expenses are only at approximately 66.3% of the year’s budget, below the expected 75% benchmark.
Read MoreWhile the city bills its residents for sewer services, it must pay that money forward to the countywide wastewater system. When the county elected to increase rates for use of its wastewater system, cities and townships across the county must now consider finding a way to pay for it.
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