Real work has begun on the Coopersville 2016-2017 Budget. The many projects and their costs are coming in, ranging from a new basketball court at Vets Park to a more integrated IT design in order to better serve the city and its citizens. Of course, there is the ever lurking Water Project – Phase I and the WWTP upgrade options that require assiduous study and evaluation. The list continues to grow as do the needs and wants of the community. Many of the proposed expenditures will have to be weighed in terms of priority all the while knowing that many will be intentionally delayed due to limited resources. Meaning, there will have to be choices made.
 
Meanwhile, many of us awoke this morning hearing about the bombings in Brussels which have claimed 38 lives and more than 230 wounded at the time of this writing (New York Times). Two bombs exploded at the Brussels’ Airport with a third bomb ripping apart a car of a subway train at the Maelbeek station. The human carnage is reprehensible and is, and should be, the center of attention and the center of our prayers for those victims and their families. There are too many layers of this tragedy to examine especially the human toll, and obviously the global political ramifications that will grow in the forthcoming days, months, and years.  But there are a few observations worth noting and commenting on that provides a bit of perspective in our own lives and the state of this fine city.
 
Lower on the list, and often times under reported, is the loss of property both personal and real. After the human loss and wounded are removed, the aftermath of physical destruction of property has to be addressed.  The transportation aspects of the targets are obvious as is the importance of reconstruction of those targets in terms of their operation and the significant symbolic value of that restoration. There is no choice between repairing the departure terminal at the airport or “something else.” There is no choice between repairing the damage at Maelbeak Station or “something else.” Resources MUST be found to restore the tools that provide a lifestyle and a quality of life for the citizens of Brussels. Reconstruction must take place not only for the continued operation of the respective transportation centers, but for the reconstruction or the attempt to make life in Brussels “normal” again, if that is even possible.
 
Approximately 4,020 miles from Brussels is a place called Coopersville, Michigan. Later the same morning of the bombings in Brussels, people throughout Coopersville were going to work, dropping their children off at school, and business owners were preparing for a full day. City staff was busy answering phones and questions preparing a budget for the city council to review and eventually take action. Will the basketball court be constructed or how much IT upgrades will be approved for next year? Which sidewalks get repaired or built? How much salt and sand should be ordered for next year’s winter? There will be choices made. Many projects will be approved, many will not. But more the question, I wonder if we can consciously appreciate that we don’t have to shift scarce resources to resurrect the wreckage from the barbaric acts of terrorism or bury the dead of family and friends.
 
This morning before I left for city hall, I discovered water in my basement that shouldn’t be there and that the headlight in my truck has a short. Blessed are we…
 
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Wayne Pickler will be presenting the 2016 Report of Assessment Roll Changes. These numbers are in review at the County so if there are changes, which are unlikely, the updated numbers will be shared with Council on Monday evening. Remember we have a Budget Workshop prior to council meeting at 6:00 PM in the training room. This first meeting will be mainly a review of capital projects, preliminary revenues, and the process for eventual approval. 


Moody’s Annual Comments
Keri Rogers and I have received Moody’s Investor Service annual comment on Coopersville. It is included in the Council Info portion of this packet for you reading enjoyment. What is significant to me is that Moody’s rating for General Obligation matches Fitch’s rating. There are many in our business that place more value on Moody’s evaluation and because of that I’m very pleased at this point. If you have any questions on this evaluation and/or is there anything we can do to improve the rating please don’t hesitate to contact me.
 
 
Celebrate Coopersville
A friendly reminder that Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 PM our annual Celebrate Coopersville event will take place at Plumbers Hall; hopefully all of you have made your reservations for a great evening of fun, food, and celebration.
 
http://tinyurl.com/CelebrateCoops2016
 
 
Water Project Phase I
I’m meeting with the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) this evening to review some information from Prein&Newhof regarding the Water Project – Phase I. I’m also gathering information on the maximum amount the city could bond for if we chose to construct the bulk of the water project. Included in this discussion will be the practicality of also considering the inclusion of a reconstruction of a bridge within the city limits (more on that later). As always please contact me if you have any questions regarding this or any other issue of concern.
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WWTP Project Phase II
As stated above the UAC.  Tonight after our discussion on water projects, we will discuss the current status of the WWTP upgrade. I have been receiving a bit of pressure from parties interested in the WWTP to make a decision on a particular option. My response then and always is whatever decision we make it will be in the best interest of Coopersville, its residents, and business owners. As always, I will keep council and the Utility Advisory Committee updated as more information becomes available.
 
 
2016-2017 Budget
City staff and supervisors have their individual budget requests, including capital expenditures. We’re going to have our first council/staff budget workshop this Monday, March 28 at 6:00 PM in the training room. This workshop will be more of a review of Draft A and where our total projected revenues and expenditures will likely fall. There will be brief discussions on certain capital expenditures and what needs to be done and what project or purchases could wait. I know your schedules are very “tight” but please make every effort to attend.

Sometimes I wish Council members, residents, and business owners could, as they say, “look behind the curtain” to the everyday operations of city government in Coopersville. In my position, I have the privilege of witnessing the various departments operate, from performing daily routine tasks to the myriad emergencies and unexpected challenges that arise during the normal course of providing services to the community. One of those services is providing the mechanism to allow the residents to vote not only in presidential primaries but general elections and various school related elections as well. The amount of time, organization, training, and the physical logistics to properly conduct an election would be overwhelming for many; but not our staff. Thank you to our City Clerk Kim Borgman, Lydia Brown, the many volunteers that manages elections, and the DPW crew that assisted in the set-up of the two precincts. Nicely done.
 
The last couple of weeks we’ve had mechanical and electrical issues with our blower motors at the WWTP. The consequences of not overcoming those challenges could have been disastrous for the functioning of that plant. Through the collective efforts of many, especially Pat Bursley, John Barthels, and the rest of the crew, all three motors and blowers are up and running again. We have a dedicated and resourceful team out there, and we are all very fortunate for that and the daily success that occurs on behalf of the city. Nicely done!
 
I had an unscheduled visit at the DPW site the other day and noticed ALL the vehicles were parked outside. I walked in and noticed the entire floor of the garage had been washed including the steel barrier posts to remove the winter salt; this was done without prompting. Just about every day, the hot asphalt trailer has been used to fill the ever increasing cracks and pot holes that are born from winter’s freeze. The dump/snow plow trucks are clean and waxed along with the various pickup trucks used throughout the city. This shows a sincere respect for the property that has been purchased by the taxpayers of Coopersville.  Bryan, Pat, Jeremy, and Steve have become a very GOOD team. Nicely done.
 
Every day, and I mean every day, I witness the professional, creative, and smart service performed by our administrative staff. The eclectic, complex, unique, and routine issues the staff deals with from walk-ins to telephone requests makes me proud, makes me smile to part of an organization which, for the vast majority of the time, works as a dedicated team and has each other’s back. I wish the community at large knew how fortunate and how lucky they are to have these individuals in place. Thank you all and nicely done!
The expectations of city department heads and their staffs have increased noticeably in the past many months. Most employees push themselves and have a sense of pride about their own work and the work done by their fellow employees. I don’t write these words lightly. This year all the employees were asked to nominate an Employee of the Year to honor at Celebrate Coopersville. I don’t exaggerate when I say that it will be a tough decision in recognizing a single employee as there are many worthy individuals that have earned that honor. It will be tough because residents and business owners have personally thanked me for the professional performance of a number of our employees from all the departments. Feel very proud of our employees, I know I do.


​Water Project Phase I
I’ve instructed Prein&Newhof to prepare a proposal to begin the design and engineering for the 60th Avenue booster station. I received the proposal this afternoon but I’m not including in this packet until I review the details myself and with the Utility Advisory Committee.  As clarification and a reminder, the proposal to inspect the 16 inch water main under the Grand River is no longer being considered for a variety of reasons. As always please contact me if you have any questions on this project or components of the project.
 
 
WWTP Project Phase II
I have received some preliminary numbers from Ottawa County regarding the Grand Rapids option on their proposal to accept waste from Coopersville. I had a number of questions that still need to be researched and answered.  As always, I will keep council and the Utility Advisory Committee updated as more information becomes available.
 
 
Celebrate Coopersville
A friendly reminder that Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 PM our annual Celebrate Coopersville event will take place at Plumbers Hall; hopefully all of you have made your reservations for a great evening of fun, food, and celebration.
 
http://tinyurl.com/CelebrateCoops2016
 
 
2016-2017 Budget
City staff and supervisors are finishing up their individual budget requests, including capital expenditures. We’re going to have our first council/staff budget workshop March 28th at 6:00 PM in the training room. This workshop will be more of a review of Draft A and where our total projected revenues and expenditures will likely fall. There will be brief discussions on certain capital expenditures and what needs to be done and what project or purchases could wait. More on this subject will be forthcoming.