Grand Beach Village Council discusses speed bumps

APPROVES ASKING MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FOR SUPPORT IN PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LAWSUIT

Councilmembers approved you are, you cannot control the actions putting speed bumps in at two locations on Robin Lane, with the residents paying for them, after residents expressed concerns for safety at the Grand Beach Village Council’s expect the normal standards of quality Wednesday, July 20, meeting. Councilmembers approved the request in a 3-1 vote, with councilmember Deborah Lindley voting “nay.” Council president James Bracewell said the council received letters from Michael Barton Jr., Bill Callaghan Jr., Michael Moore and Lance Rezny asking for speed bumps in their neighborhood. Barton said there are currently seven houses being built in that area and the amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic has increased “exponentially,” tourism without the ability to generate as well as the number of short-term the additional revenue needed to cover rentals and truckers going by in the neighborhood. He added that there have also been “habitual offenders,” and Callahan had witnessed a truck that went through a stop sign. “This is in the interest of public safety – I’ve seen three events in the last six weeks and God knows how many other events have been missed,” he said. Councilmember Deborah Lindley said that the council gets requests for speed bumps regularly. Just last month, they had to turn one down for one on Station Road. She added that, when they approved the two speed bumps on Perkins Boulevard by the park last summer, she was concerned that they don’t become “speed bump city.” Councilmember Pete Doerr said that he was worried that, if they approved their request, they’d get calls for speed bumps by other residents every month. He added, though, that “safety is a

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

big thing” and the letters that were written indicates “something’s clearly going on.”

Police chief Ryan Layman, who said that he was unable to find a safe spot for the speed bumps on Station Road, said that he liked the idea of having them on Robin Lane and that it’s hard for police officers to camp out there and stop others from speeding.

Like the two speed bumps by the park on Perkins Boulevard, the bumps will be removed after Labor Day.

Councilmembers approved signing a resolution to request assistance from the Michigan Municipal League Defense Fund in the village’s involvement in its lawsuit with New Buffalo Township over its Public Safety Special Assessment District.

The village, along with the Village of Michiana, is appealing the decision made in the Berrien County Trial Court with regards to their lawsuit over the special assessment. At the New Buffalo Township Board’s Monday, June 20, meeting, New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit said that Berrien County Trial Court Judge Donna Howard ruled in the township’s favor and that she stated that the “language in Act 33 does not limit a special assessment to properties outside of a village and does not contain an exemption for properties within the village.”

Bracewell said that the 20-year special assessment, which just completed its first year, involves a “huge amount of money for onethird of the service that we’re already paying.”

He added that while Grand Beach needs fire protection and ambulance, it already has police coverage.

“Why should we have to pay double - that’s the question mark and why would the township not pursue a millage with the people who have a vote?” he said.

Councilmembers approved signing the Joint Prosecution Agreement and Retention Agreement to be a part of the lawsuit filed by New Buffalo Shoreline Alliance

The lawsuit filed by the New Buffalo Shoreline Alliance (NBSA) against the United States government claims the construction of the New Buffalo Harbor by the Army Corps of Engineers caused considerable erosion to the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan resulting in significant damages and an unjust taking of the landowner’s property. The landowners seek compensation for the lost property and intend to use proceeds of the lawsuit to nourish and restore beaches and protect against further erosion to the Lake Michigan Shoreline.

Bracewell said councilmember Paul Leonard, who has been involved with the NBSA, said he feels the village will be protected if the suit is successful.

Council members agreed that the Planning Commission should move forward with soliciting proposals for bids with regards to updating the Master Plan, with parks and beaches commissioner Pete Doerr said he can investigate grants for the Master Plan.

Councilmembers approved three documents regarding beach accesses.

One was what Parks and Beaches Commissioner Peter Doerr described as being a “benign” letter that will go out to all property owners who are adjacent to beach access explaining what is and isn’t allowed, if they happen to have encroachments now or in the future. Councilmember Blake O’Halloran suggested that it be made clear in the letter that they’d have to sign a license agreement. Another was the license agreement, which states that the property owners must indemnify the village against any claims made on something that happens on the owner’s encroachment into the village’s property.

Councilmembers also approved a beach access release and hold harmless agreement that will go to contractors who use the village access points for projects and to charge a $100 fee.

There’s also a letter that will be attached to the building permit packets letting people know that the village would like to have the sand left over from a construction project donated to them.

Councilmembers agreed with the village contribution of 6.72% of payroll to the MERS pension plan, which will begin Nov. 1, 2023.

Bracewell said that, with regards to the village’s pension payments, it’s at 105% funded. The village has already submitted $11,500 and has another $11,500 payment scheduled, which should put the village up around 110% to 111%.

Councilmembers approved the lowest bid of $69,410 from Merritt Engineering and Paul Oselka from Pay Jay Construction, Inc., with regards to the Wildwood/Ely water line relocation, with a completion date of Aug. 1, 2023, or sooner.

Lindley said the planned completion date is due to supply issues, as the contractors are saying its 44 weeks out before they can get the pipes and other materials.