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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022
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New Buffalo City Council adopts new millage rates, approves 2022-2023 budget draft BY THERESE DONNELLY
ity property owners may Area Recreation Authority, the council see a drop in their property approved vacating an undeveloped taxes after the New Buffalo right-of-way between Clay and Detroit City Council approved new streets, alongside New Buffalo Area millage rates for the 2022Schools’ track and football field. The 2023 fiscal year. NBARA stated in its request that the During the May 16 regular meeting, trees in the right-of-way pose a potential city manager Darwin Watson told the threat to people using the west end of council the city was using a new, “better the field. calculator” to set millage rates. Under Councilmember Roger Lijewski said the new system, the general operation when he served on the New Buffalo Area millage, originally set at 20.0 mills, will Schools Board, tree be reduced to 9.7631; roots from the right-ofThe council also the parks millage, way caused damage to approved the 2022-2023 originally voted for at budget draft. Watson portions of the track. .4599, will be .4391 said this year there will The NBARA is and the streets/roads be a planned deficit, due also in the process millage, originally to Covid-19 restrictions of updating a fivevoted for at .2431, will that caused delays in year recreational be .2386. several projects due plan, as the current to supply chain issues The council also one runs out in and difficulty hiring approved the 2022August. Abonmarche contractors. Humphrey 2023 budget draft. noted the city has Engineering Watson said this more than nine months submitted a proposal year there will be a of operating costs in to do update planned deficit, due to surplus- much higher work on the plan. Covid-19 restrictions than the recommended Abonmarche’s total that caused delays in three-month surplus. proposal is $34,500, several projects due to with each entity in the supply chain issues and difficulty hiring NBARA paying one third of the cost. contractors. Humphrey noted the city The council approved the proposal, has more than nine months of operating with the city’s portion totaling costs in surplus- much higher than the $11,500. recommended three-month surplus. In order to improve its technology To comply with the State of Michigan system, the council approved a contract Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, with the City of South Haven for IT the council approved the 2021-2022 services. Police Chief Rich Killips amended budget. explained that the current IT contractor Watson informed the council that provides good service, but is not the city council meeting procedure familiar with the specialized needs rules needed to be amended as some of a municipality. South Haven has a pertinent state laws have changed dedicated staff that knows government since the rules were last updated in requirements, he said. 2016. The rules were compiled to give As part of the contract, South Haven councilmembers a reference guide. will provide up to 16 hours of onAt the request of the New Buffalo
site work per week, and use of some hardware assets. The city will pay South Haven $42,500 for the annual contract. Killips said the South Haven staff has experience in dealing with government technology issues such as ransomware. The city will renew its lease with New Buffalo Development Properties, LLC for the use of four lots in the downtown area. As part of the effort to alleviate parking issues, the city will change existing parking on East Mechanic Street to three-hour parking. One of the leased lots will be used for paid parking and another as parking for employees at downtown businesses. The other two lots will be used as parks or event space. The lease is at no cost to the city. The Department of Public Works has reported issues with unauthorized people coming onto the Jefferson Street lot. Humphrey said there has been damage, including a stolen catalytic converter. To deter trespassers, the council approved a $6,642.12 bid from Fence Masters to install a gate on the north end of the site. Watson said the fence would not completely encompass the property but would prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering.
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he council approved a bid from Payjay Construction in the amount of $164,450 to construct a sediment basin to address the city’s part in a sediment deposit into a boat slip. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources identified the city sewer system as one source of heavy sediment deposit in the marina. Tony McGhee of Abonmarche told the council the contracted work will resolve the problem.
As a way to streamline the process the city uses for commercial boat launches, the council approved a non-exclusive license agreement with Service 1 Marine. Rather than paying each time the business launches a boat, instead it will pay the city $7,500 at the beginning of the season and another $7,500 at the end of the season and pay $20 per boat per day for staging at the transient marine. Service 1 is estimated to launch 150 boats each season. The contract does not include electrical or water hookup. Councilmember Brian Flannagan asked that the contract stipulate when enterprises can and cannot launch. Lijewski asked if the contract will affect other commercial launches, with Watson explaining other businesses will receive similar licenses. Watson informed the council that there has been little response to the city’s request for proposals for a new city attorney. He suggested contacting some firms directly, as at least one had stated it did not receive the city’s RFP. The council spoke about complaints many councilmembers had received about speeding on residential streets. The council discussed possible measures including additional signage and enforcement. Humphrey asked Killips to increase patrols along some areas.. Lijewski asked if steps were being taken to lighten city clerk Amy Fidler’s workload while Deputy Clerk Nancy Griffin is on personal leave for several months. Watson said the search has begun for a temporary, part-time employee, and with election in August and November he hopes to find someone with a specialized skillset.
