By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
About two thirds of more than 200 responses to the community survey contained in Dowagiac utility bills support city-sponsored trash collection.
Mayor Donald Lyons and City Manager William Nelson said at Monday night's City Council meeting that they expect responses to slow after today, which is the final due date for utility bills.
Copies of responses are being compiled by Nelson's secretary, Jackie Evans, and forwarded to council members for review.
The mayor also offered to make the comments available to the media.
In making the year's first amendments to the FY 2004-2005 budget, city Finance Director David Pilot said a number of issues need to be addressed or monitored in the next several months as Dowagiac's financial position continues to evolve, including: continued reductions in state revenue sharing of approximately $7,000 as Michigan's economy continues to perform worse than expected; low interest rates continuing to have a significant negative impact on the city's investment income, a composite rate of return of about 3.57 percent; and continued escalation of costs associated with employee health insurance.
Masons organizing
Memorial Day parade
Peninsular Lodge 10, Free and Accepted Masons, got the go-ahead from Dowagiac City Council Monday night to again host the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies May 30 as they have for the past four years.
Feb. 13-19 proclaimed
National Patriotism Week
Mayor Lyons proclaimed Feb. 13-19 as National Patriotism Week and urged all Dowagiac citizens to join with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 889 in expressing gratitude for the privilege of American citizenship with appropriate celebrations and observances.
The Elks promote "the ideals that the citizens of this nation live in freedom, won through the great sacrifice and many tribulations which have provided the foundation for a free, prosperous and independent life," the proclamation states. "We realize that each generation must work to maintain this freedom, otherwise, through carelessness or indifference, the rights and liberties enjoyed may vanish."
Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Comstock accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Elks.