It has been a couple of weeks since Celebrate Coopersville, 2017 version, concluded. Celebrate Coopersville started approximately 19 years ago, as the “Mayor’s Award” part of the Mayor’s Exchange program between similar cities. Currently, its central purpose is to celebrate citizens, business owners, volunteers, city employees, and others who have contributed in some manner that has strengthened the quality of life for a person or organization, which in turn ultimately strengthens the quality of life here in Coopersville. There have been so MANY special, talented, and caring people with such humanity that have given of themselves to this urban island in Ottawa County and beyond. Which leads me into this…
I have a couple of bookcases in my office (yes, they still print books), and it just so happens that one of the books I pulled out yesterday was the “Chronicles of Coopersville” authored by our own James & Lillian Budzynski. “Jim” and “Lil” as many of you already know profoundly are the curators of the Historical Museum located on Main Street in historical downtown. It was a fortuitous choice, because as you read various passages of their book, you begin to realize the breadth and depth of those before us that laid the foundation of what is now one of the premiere small cities in Michigan. The book “celebrates” their contribution and lays the historical context of the evolution of Coopersville from a settlement to a business district to a village and finally to a city.
The historical roots of this community are still with us in various forms (excerpted from Chronicles of Coopersville):
The above events are just a few random picks from the book, but the point of this look-back-in-time is to acknowledge the foundation that history builds. As Sir Isaac Newton stated, “If I have seen a little further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” We are all standing on the shoulders of those that built the foundation of Coopersville as we know it today. The individuals that were honored at Celebrate Coopersville are now the shoulders that others will stand on in generations to come. The symmetry of this phenomenon has a certain purity beyond words, almost spiritual. And the most exciting aspect of this is, we’re all a part of the Coopersville experience of today. Who knows, Jim and Lil might be writing about your deeds and adventures a few years from; it could happen you know!
I have a couple of bookcases in my office (yes, they still print books), and it just so happens that one of the books I pulled out yesterday was the “Chronicles of Coopersville” authored by our own James & Lillian Budzynski. “Jim” and “Lil” as many of you already know profoundly are the curators of the Historical Museum located on Main Street in historical downtown. It was a fortuitous choice, because as you read various passages of their book, you begin to realize the breadth and depth of those before us that laid the foundation of what is now one of the premiere small cities in Michigan. The book “celebrates” their contribution and lays the historical context of the evolution of Coopersville from a settlement to a business district to a village and finally to a city.
The historical roots of this community are still with us in various forms (excerpted from Chronicles of Coopersville):
- Danforth Street: Named after George Danforth who opened a general store in the 1860s.
- The first meeting of elected council members was held April 8, 1872 in the home of W.G. Watson.
- In 1923 to 1953, the Village of Coopersville’s headquarters were located on the south side of Main Street where the Courtade Body Shop is today.
- The first ordinance passed set restrictions on billiard playing around 1872.
- Polkton Township at one time shared offices with the City of Coopersville on Danforth Street before they built their own facility on Arthur in the Township.
- We still celebrate Charles W. Westover – a.k.a. as Del Shannon every summer.
- In the 1890s, six inches of gravel was put on Main Street, and this improvement was supposed to be all that Main Street might ever need.
The above events are just a few random picks from the book, but the point of this look-back-in-time is to acknowledge the foundation that history builds. As Sir Isaac Newton stated, “If I have seen a little further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” We are all standing on the shoulders of those that built the foundation of Coopersville as we know it today. The individuals that were honored at Celebrate Coopersville are now the shoulders that others will stand on in generations to come. The symmetry of this phenomenon has a certain purity beyond words, almost spiritual. And the most exciting aspect of this is, we’re all a part of the Coopersville experience of today. Who knows, Jim and Lil might be writing about your deeds and adventures a few years from; it could happen you know!
We have Kevin Kieft from Prein&Newhof visiting our council meeting Monday to provide a brief update on the SAW Grant Project. Have an enjoyable weekend, they say rain but at least it’s not snow. Be safe out there and see all of you Monday night.
Recreation: Matt McKinnon
Folks: Coopersville Rec needs your HELP!!! – Please read and share!!!
We are in a CONTEST to WIN a $15,000 customized equipment grant from Let’s Play and Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.
We were selected out of a pool of over 200 entries. We made the top 15, now it is a VOTE to see who will capture the top prize.
Here is the prize structure
Grand Prize: $15,000 customized equipment grant
2ndPlace: $10,000 customized equipment grant
3rdPlace: $5,000 customized equipment grant
4th–10thPlace: $1,000 PE Kit (contains cones, basketballs, volleyballs, footballs, flag football belts, jump ropes, frisbees and scrimmage vests)
You can vote once per day on facebook…by following this link woobox.com/ho7j5g
Righgt is a picture of what I submitted….to assist you in recognizing which one to vote for…click on the link above.
Please help me show the WORLD that Coopersville is a force to be reckoned with….ROCK THE VOTE! (as of the publishing of this packet, we are holding onto a slim second place but need to keep it up)
Master Plan Update: Jonathan Seyferth
We are nearing the end of feedback window on the draft master plan which has been ongoing since mid-February. We’re asking that all feedback be in by Wednesday, March 29. The end of this feedback window starts a timeline that, if all goes according to plan, should allow the master plan to be considered for final adoption in June.
The timeline is as follows:
- March 29 – public feedback on the draft plan closes (the feedback window will have been open for about 5 weeks)
- April 7 – The Planning Commission will be provided with a finalized Master Plan.
- April 17 –The Planning Commission, if satisfied with the document, will vote to release it for distribution. This triggers a 63-day (9 week) feedback period for neighboring governments, the county, and regional planning organizations. (Distribution means that the city will send copies of our proposed master plan to these organizations and invite feedback.)
- June 19 – The 9-week window will close on June 19 which is also the June Planning Commission meeting date. At that meeting the Planning Commission would hold a Public Hearing on formal adoption of the master plan – step one in a two-step adoption process. If approved by the PC, it is sent to the City Council for final adoption.
- June 26 – At the second City Council meeting in June, the City Council will be asked to take the second step in the process with a final adoption of the master plan.
If there’s feedback that you’d like to get to the consultants before March 29, please visit www.plancoopersville.com and fill out the comment form. Draft documents are also located there.
WWTP Upgrade
Work continues with the design/engineering of the effluent pump upgrade that also included the addition of a UV treatment chamber. Updates will be provided as they are available.
Muskegon Waste Water Treatment Plant Option
At this time, there is a meeting scheduled for the early part of April. The agenda is yet to be defined but there will be a meeting nonetheless. As always, I will report on the progress of this project and the details of discussion that relate directly with Coopersville.
Water Project Phase I
The Utility Advisory Committee met with Jonathan and I and a number of concepts were discussed and somewhat decided upon, as well as a direction on how to configure costs for the construction. Later in the week we met with Prein&Newhof and defined the project more succinctly, the process by which to proceed, and a request for updated costs to each segment of the project. Prein&Newhof should have that updated information yet this week or early next. The most significant item to take from this memo is that the city has clarified the scope of the project in a more affordable package in terms of our short and long term goals. As always, please contact me if you have questions or comments.
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