“Right now officers see very little information,” Lauria said. “Whatever the dispatcher puts in is what they’re limited to. If they come in contact with someone, they can do a simple file check by running their names, but they can’t search local records.”

“They would have to drive back to the police department and check records in-house.”

Lauria presented information about a management system to improve public safety by bringing outdated technology in line with the 21st century at Monday’s City Commission meeting.

The Regional Records Management System Project uses Sungard Public Sector, allowing police officers to gain more information about the people they encounter on a daily basis.

The project partners the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Central Michigan University Police, Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, Shepherd Police Department, Michigan State Police, Tribal Police, and several others and is used in 23 states and over 100 police agencies in Michigan.

“The primary priority was to procure technology advancements,” Lauria said. “Funding this project is going to be a primary concern, and it would have no impact from the city’s general fund, and we’re still on track for doing that.”

Lauria said finalizing contract negotiations is still in the works and he hopes to bring the program back to the board by the end of the year for approval.

Lauria said currently police officers enter the information of an individual six times to gain records, but with this new program one swipe of a driver’s license is all that is needed.

“The officer has all the information at their fingertips, allowing us to be cutting edge and have improved efficiency,” he said. “We’re getting rid of a lot of paper, and there’s a cost savings there.”

Lauria said the main benefits to the community are increased crime solvability, statistical analysis, available information, resource management and safer neighborhoods.

“The biggest value I see in this is the safety of our officers,” said Commissioner Nancy English. “You don’t know what’s going on, or who you pulled over.”

Other business

A public hearing was held about the Redevelopment Liquor License for the Gingko Tree Inn, 309 N. Main St., where a citizen expressed concern regarding an increased number of drunken incidents near his home on North Main Street.

Commissioner Jim Holton said choosing which businesses have the license is a careful process.

“It comes down to the character of ownership,” Holton said. “I don’t see this being a late night establishment. This is going to be a bed and bistro with casual dining. It’s doing exactly what the development license was supposed to do.”

The board also accepted a $99,743 grant from the Michigan Energy Office for Lighting Technology Demonstration, which will authorize Finance Director Nancy Ridley to complete necessary documents. Board members agreed this will reduce the carbon footprint and conserve energy.

“It’s always nice to have some extra money,” Commissioner Jon Joslin said. “I’ve been concerned that we’re not seeing the savings from Consumer’s (Energy) that we needed.”

City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said measurements are being taken now regarding savings in the new downtown lighting. The 250 watt bulbs will be replaced with 70 watt bulbs, creating a more white light with the same level of illumination.

Mount Pleasant residents gathered Monday evening to give input to the City Commission regarding the possible purchase of the sprawling property located along West Pickard Street.

After all input was heard, commissioners voted to pay $36,845 to have a phase II environmental study done to assess the conditions of the 120-year-old property, currently owned by the state of Michigan.

“Many of the buildings are in a sad state of disrepair and all the buildings have lead and asbestos,” City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said.

The city must make a decision about the property by mid-March to close on the deal no later than April 23.

If it does not buy the property, it could go up for public auction, competitive bids, sale to other governments or remain vacant.

Mount Pleasant is being offered the property for just $1, plus an estimated cost of $50,000 to prepare the sale. However, the potential costs and problems are more expensive, Grinzinger said.

Some of the buildings on the property also have collapsed roofs and floors, no water and no heat, she said.

“I think it’s a fantastic piece of property even if it does have some problems with contamination,” said Mount Pleasant resident Dave Demski, who spoke during the public forum. “I don’t think that’s too big of a hurdle.”

The estimated cost of destroying the buildings all at once is about $4 million.

If the property is purchased, there are different revenue options to cover various costs, including Project 2000 funds, the Brownfield Fund, the Economic Development Fund, a surplus savings account or a millage.

Grinzinger also pointed to a bond that will be paid off in 2016, which annually costs the city about $300,000. Once it is paid off, the money could be directed toward the Mount Pleasant Center costs if desired.

Pros and cons

Isabella County Commissioner and Mount Pleasant resident Jim Moreno was largely in favor of buying the property.

Moreno urged the city to move forward and was hopeful for possible new development for Mount Pleasant, or even the chance to sell the property and make a profit.

“I hope you take the leap and be brave to do a great thing for the people and jobs here,” he said.

Other residents came forward and gave various reasons to pass on the property, while more spoke about what potential projects could be built upon the property. Ideas included a homeless shelter, retirement community, community pool, aquatic park, organic gardens and concert halls.

Mount Pleasant resident Tony Kulick was against purchasing the property.

The city does not have the funds for the purchase with cuts in state revenue sharing, he said. He said officials should let other developers buy it.

“We can control the property through the Master Plan and zoning,” Kulick said. “We don’t have to own it.”

The rate was tentatively set in December and recommended by Commissioner Jon Joslin.

City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said that property values would decrease by at least $140,000.

Commissioner Kathleen Ling voted against the motion because she said the commission must return the millage rate to where it has been in previous years.

“The only reason it will work is because we’re cutting services,” Ling said.

No one from the audience spoke on the issue during the public hearing.

Other concerns

Some Mount Pleasant residents attended the meeting to speak out against the various “No Parking” signs on Highland Street.

“I look out my window and see six signs,” said Highland Street resident Cameron Lovett.

Lovett said the signs cost $680 and now is not a wise time to be spending money on such things.

Joslin said just because two neighbors have a problem with the signs does not mean they all do.

“As a temporary solution, we need to keep the signs up,” Joslin said.

Commissioner Sharon Tilmann and Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer also said that noise ordinances should be put in place during “Skate War III” taking place July 17 and 18 at Island Park.

Kilmer said the event is louder than anything to ever come out of Island Park.

Commissioner Jeffrey Palmer also announced that he will resign from serving on the City Commission at the end of May to pursue other employment.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission approved $300,000 of the general fund to go to low-interest loans for businesses along Mission Street for facade and site enhancement and new businesses. The proposal to approve the two reallocations was approved 4-3, with commissioners Jeff Palmer, Kathy Ling and Sharon Tilmann opposing.

The commission did, however, delay approving the reallocation of funds to the Downtown Development Authority for loans to purchase distressed property on Mission Street.

Commissioner David McGuire said he was uncomfortable with the DDA, a city-appointed board, having the final say over how taxpayer money is used.

“They could make a loan tomorrow on it,” he said. “I’d like to see some additional detail.”

The original motion to carry all three loan programs, made by Commissioner Jon Joslin, would have reallocated $400,000 to the Economic Development Fund. With the amendment, $300,000 was reallocated.

Ling said the timing of the reallocation is not appropriate with the city facing financial uncertainty.

“We are at a point of making some serious reductions,” she said. “I think taking $400,000, to transfer it before looking at other cuts … I’m just not comfortable with that.”

The purpose of the reallocation for zero-interest loans was to increase “curb appeal” of buildings that have stood vacant for a long period of time, such as the former Rooster’s, 1329 S. Mission St., according to a memo by Rich Morrison, director of community services.

Morrison said the effect in the delay of approval will be minimal, as there are no businesses interested in vacant property. He said the former laundromat at 1135 S. Mission St. was purchased between his writing of the memo and Monday’s City Commission meeting.

“I know the report to me was that it was no longer available,” he said.

Morrison said Monday he did not know who purchased the property.

Other business

The Commission also was presented with the final design for the Michigan Street redesign. The final plan will leave the driveway intact at 702 Michigan St. and the north side’s bumpout removed to increase parking spaces from five to six. The city is expected to begin construction in June.

The Commission also approved to hold a work session at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 to take a walking tour in regards to the campus connector with Main and Washington streets. The Commission will tour the area and discuss suggestions at a work session for the project.

Director of Public Works Duane Ellis updated City Commissioners about the development Monday during a presentation. The project aims to redevelop Main and Washington streets to make the drive from Central Michigan University’s campus to downtown more aesthetic.

“There’s nothing guaranteed at this point,” Ellis said, regarding funding.

Project plans were crafted after Dan Burden, of Walkable Communities, Inc., visited Mount Pleasant in October to give his insight on how the plan should be executed.

“We had very good participation from a good cross-section,” said Director of Planning and Community Development Jeff Gray, who also participated in Monday’s presentation.

The plan would make Washington Street a two-way from Bellows to Illinois streets, install lighting along the Main Street sidewalk and create bike lanes on Main. The city is also exploring adding more sidewalk space along Main, possibly extending the width from 5 feet to 8 feet.

Other business

Commissioners postponed a vote on the city’s withdrawal from the Michigan Main Street Program on Monday.

Although the withdrawal was scheduled, the commission decided after its work session with the Downtown Development Board that there still are issues that need to be sorted out before the city leaves the program.

One of the program’s requirements made Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller an employee of the DDB and not the City.

This move was not something the DDB wanted to do said DDB board member Kriss Roethlisberger .

“We’ve never been in charge of Michelle,” she said. “As volunteers of a board, that was something we didn’t want to do.”

The commission also approved a licensing agreement with the state to oversee the water and sanitary sewer lines at the Mount Pleasant Center, 1400 W. Pickard St. Because the center’s water lines supply the Mount Pleasant Public School Building, turning them off would stop supplying services to the building.

The temporary license expires July 28, 2010.

A work session on Mount Pleasant’s proposed 2010 budget and a decision on the city’s 2010 census promotion are also the City Commission agenda, held at 6:30 p.m. today at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway St.

The city previously visited the issue of deer removal at the July 13 commission meeting.

At that time, the city voted to enter into a contract with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services for a cost not to exceed $4,000.

Three neighborhood groups originally brought the deer population problem to the city: Center-Crescent Drive, Country Way and the South West Action Neighborhood. The commission voted the three groups to be responsible for $1,500 of the cost.

The first $1,000 has been raised by Neighborhood mini grants through different neighborhood groups, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger in a memo.

The additional $500 will be raised if approved by the city.

Tom Moffit, president of SWAN, said in a letter written Oct. 13 providing extra funds from specific neighborhoods would be unfair.

“The problem was recognized as of city-wide concern and should be dealt with by the city,” Moffit said.

2010 census promotion

Citywide concern of an incorrect census count for Mount Pleasant led the City Commission to create a complete count committee. The city cannot afford to dip below the 25,000 population count achieved in 2000, Grinzinger said in a memo.

“Despite the accomplishments of the last census promotion campaign, the U.S. Census Bureau still lists the city of Mount Pleasant as a ‘hard-to-count’ community,” she said.

The city is looking to enter into a contract with John Bailey and Associates, a Lansing-based planning firm at a cost of $19,000. The city is also looking into working with various campus and community groups such as the Central Michigan University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.

Other business

The commission will review an alternate design for a water feature at the Borden retention pond. The project has two options and if approved, would cost $20,000 from remaining Department of Environmental Quality funds.

The first proposed project would add fill to the area and would create a raised rock waterfall in order to hide the pond’s existing PVC tower. The second proposal includes reducing rock edges and would use plants to disguise the PVC tower.

The decision relies on whether the city receives a DEQ permit in the next week.

Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Bundy ssaid in a memo either plan will suffice, as the window for completing the project is closing.

The bridge, located between City Hall, 302 W. Broadway St., and Island Park, is believed to have been built around 1890. The debate over what to do with the bridge began in a City Commission work session in February.

Duane Ellis, the director of public works, said he had spoken with several potential bidders during the process and was surprised only one company submitted a bid to replace the bridge.

“I was pretty surprised when we didn’t get any bids,” he said.

Because of concerns from several members, the Commission unanimously voted to receive more information before making a final decision.

The commission also discussed other options, which include subcontracting different parts of the project such as steel work and painting to different contractors. The bridge has lead-based paint on it which could cause problems and make the project more expensive, Ellis said.

Vice Mayor Bruce Kilmer said factors including the age, size and condition of the bridge make him unsure the bridge can be refurbished.

“”It’s not even clear in my mind that it can be restored,” Kilmer said.

Commissioner Kathleen Ling said she wants to see the bridge restored, and said she needed more information before deciding.

“I’d also like to have a better idea,” she said.

Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said she also needed more information.

If the city decides to purchase a new bridge, the work will not be too time-consuming, Ellis said.

“The actual work won’t be too difficult,” he said.

Mayor Jim Holton said his personal decision would depend on the cost of all options, especially because the work will come from taxpayer money.

Commissioner Jeffrey Palmer said he also had questions about the proposals.

“I, too, have questions about whether we can rehabilitate (the bridge) and suit our needs,” he said.

The city began its work on the Oak Street Bridge in March by authorizing a feasibility study for rehabilitating the bridge without changing its historical significance. On April 21, the bridge was closed after a structural engineer deemed it potentially unsafe.

The commission authorized temporary repairs to the bridge in May and reopened the bridge in the second week of May.

In August, the city requested bids for both the rehabilitation and the removal and placement of a new bridge.

The city has permits for both options, Ellis said.

The City Commission will receive more materials including cost estimates and will revisit the issue at its next meeting on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.