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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022
Local Government Meetings New Buffalo Times
Democracy Requires Transparency
CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH VILLAGE OF GRAND BEACH COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM
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New Buffalo City Council awards beach concession contract, approves purchase of new police department equipment BY THERESE DONNELLY
he New Buffalo City Council’s approved an extension until March 31, first meeting of 2022 was 2022. brief with no old business Watson explained to the council and very little new business that the move was a short-term fix to discuss. “ and a more sustainable solution This month’s meeting was Tuesday, would require discussion with the two January 18 due to city offices being employee unions. closed Jan. 17 in In preparation recognition of Martin for the summer, the The council also Luther King, Jr. Day. approved a motion to council awarded New Buffalo City allow city employees the two-year beach Manager Darwin to carry over unused concession contract Watson presented personal time accrued to Kona Dunes two separate items in 2021. Watson Leasing, Inc. Under regarding city staff explained that staffing the terms of the to the council. In the shortages and issues bid, Kona will pay first, he explained related to Covid-19 had $2,500 for the first prevented employees the city must year, $3,500 the from using up their annually renew a second year and time. Ordinarily, those resolution regarding $4,000 for a third unused hours do not its compliance with year. The concession rollover to the new Public Act 152. will operate from calendar year, but the Watson explained council approved an Memorial Day the act, enacted extension until March weekend to Aug. in 2011, caps the 31, 2022. 14 and Kona has amount a public the discretion to employer contributes operate weekends in May and through to employee medical benefits plans. September. The council voted to renew its current The New Buffalo Police cost split of 80-20. Department’s dashboard and body The council also approved a motion cameras have reached the end of their to allow city employees to carry over useful life and are no longer supported unused personal time accrued in by manufacturers. Police Chief Rich 2021. Watson explained that staffing Killips requested approval to purchase shortages and issues related to new equipment from Midwest Public Covid-19 had prevented employees Safety LLC for $10,544. Killips told from using up their time. Ordinarily, those unused hours do not rollover to the council the new system will the new calendar year, but the council incorporate the department’s body
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cameras, in-car cameras and in-car computers. Councilmember Mark Robertson noted that technology can quickly become obsolete. Killips agreed and said the new purchase will bring the system current. In his written report to the council, Killips announced that Dave Capron has been hired to the department full time. A veteran of the Buchanan Police Department, Capron will join New Buffalo Feb. 7. During the public comment period, resident Carrie O’Donnell stated through recent court rulings she had copies of emails between New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey and Watson. She said the emails disparaged property owner Edan Gelt and expressed a desire to “publicly humiliate” her. Later in the meeting, Humphrey said if such emails existed, they were after one of “numerous instances” where Gelt slandered himself or his family.
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esident Sean Callahan asked the council if the city offered an interactive map of short-term rental properties. Humphrey said there is a map but it’s not currently interactive. In response to a separate question raised by Callahan, Humphrey said the Planning Commission will discuss marijuana ordinances at its Feb. 1 meeting.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. — Martin Luther King, Jr.
