2008 Woodie Awards
Group asks tribe to finalize numbers; funds to go toward public safety, works
By: Nick Persons
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has been asked to allocate $934,062 to the city of Mount Pleasant.
The request, which is part of the bi-annual two percent allocation agreement, was approved by the City Commission on Monday at City Hall, 401 N. Main St. This spring's funding will go toward public safety and public works, among other departments.
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe Public Relations Director Joe Sowmick said the tribe will decide to approve or revise the request May 18.
"We look at the benefit to the city of Mount Pleasant and the benefit for the tribe and how it's going to serve the community as a whole," he said. "The tribe reserves the right to look at the different allocations and to make the approvals as they see necessary."
Sowmick said the tribe is under contract to surrender the funds, but still has some leeway in determining the final agreement.
City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said the money goes to several governmental units.
"This year we have requested funding for 14 different projects," she said. "The tribal council will look at all those and its pot of money and make decisions about which ones of those to finance."
The request is minor compared to the November 2007 allocation request which totaled more than $3.7 million.
Sewer replacement
The commission also approved a $117,000 bid to renovate and improve existing sewer lines.
The bid came from United Survey Inc. from Ohio. Construction will occur on West Broadway Street from Washington Street to the Chippewa River, said Public Works Director Duane Ellis.
He said the sewers, which have not been improved in more than 60 years, are in need of maintenance.
"We try to keep ahead of the curve because by the time they collapse - now you've got a problem," Ellis said. "We want to rehabilitate them before they fail."
Library gets millage relief
The Chippewa River District Library was granted its request to have parts of its new millage proposal be exempt from tax capture.
If its May millage request to help fund Veterans Memorial Library renovations is passed, it will make it easier for the library to finance the project. Some of the money that would otherwise go to governmental departments will now go toward encouraging economic development.
"We'll be able to put the money back into services for the community," said Rob Wang, the library's Programming and Outreach coordinator.
news@cm-life.com
The request, which is part of the bi-annual two percent allocation agreement, was approved by the City Commission on Monday at City Hall, 401 N. Main St. This spring's funding will go toward public safety and public works, among other departments.
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe Public Relations Director Joe Sowmick said the tribe will decide to approve or revise the request May 18.
"We look at the benefit to the city of Mount Pleasant and the benefit for the tribe and how it's going to serve the community as a whole," he said. "The tribe reserves the right to look at the different allocations and to make the approvals as they see necessary."
Sowmick said the tribe is under contract to surrender the funds, but still has some leeway in determining the final agreement.
City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said the money goes to several governmental units.
"This year we have requested funding for 14 different projects," she said. "The tribal council will look at all those and its pot of money and make decisions about which ones of those to finance."
The request is minor compared to the November 2007 allocation request which totaled more than $3.7 million.
Sewer replacement
The commission also approved a $117,000 bid to renovate and improve existing sewer lines.
The bid came from United Survey Inc. from Ohio. Construction will occur on West Broadway Street from Washington Street to the Chippewa River, said Public Works Director Duane Ellis.
He said the sewers, which have not been improved in more than 60 years, are in need of maintenance.
"We try to keep ahead of the curve because by the time they collapse - now you've got a problem," Ellis said. "We want to rehabilitate them before they fail."
Library gets millage relief
The Chippewa River District Library was granted its request to have parts of its new millage proposal be exempt from tax capture.
If its May millage request to help fund Veterans Memorial Library renovations is passed, it will make it easier for the library to finance the project. Some of the money that would otherwise go to governmental departments will now go toward encouraging economic development.
"We'll be able to put the money back into services for the community," said Rob Wang, the library's Programming and Outreach coordinator.
news@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story