By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A 1.39-acre parcel in Dowagiac's industrial park City Council sold to Wolford Electrical and General Contracting Services will be used to construct a new building for the business at 26433 Nubour Road in Wayne Township.
City Council approved the sale Monday night for $1,250 per acre, or $1,737.50.
The property, Lot 4, is at the northwest intersection of Woodhouse and Industrial Park drives.
Don Wolford said the property would be used by his electrical contracting business for vehicle and parts storage and offices.
Three-year
extension
given note
Also Monday night, City Council authorized a three-year extension of Dowagiac's promissory note with James and Dawn Kladis for the downtown buildings at 227 S. Front St. which house a doughnut shop and the Marketplace.
The original agreement when the city sold the Alford KFC property provided for a balloon payment after three years.
Kladis asked that the note be extended under the same terms for an additional period.
As presented, the agreement will be extended for one year with an automatic renewal for two additional years if all terms are met.
The note may be paid off in full at any time.
The renewed agreement continues existing payments of $995 per month, with a projected Sept. 7 balance of $117,295.45 owed on the original loan.
The interest rate is 8.5 percent.
City fuel costs
rise 100 percent
In updating City Council on the budget, City Manager Bill Nelson noted gasoline has gone up 100 percent.
"As a result, we have had to provide an additional $50,000 to pay for gas. Just like state revenue sharing, I don't see an end in sight on that issue, either."
Revenue sharing is projected to be on par with 1998-99.
Between construction of the apartment complexes in the commercial center and the medical arts facility, Building Department fees are on a pace for a record year, however.
Eagle's Trace
getting play area
Excel Realty, developer of Eagle's Trace apartments behind Eagle's Wood is also constructing a playground for the development.
"It's going to be a real nice addition," City Manager Bill Nelson said Monday night. "My thanks to Excel Realty for stepping up to that."
Postcards theme
for second calendar
City Manager Bill Nelson said work is starting on the second annual community calendar, which will have an historical postcard theme.
Second Ward Councilman Bob Schuur, who collects Dowagiac postcards, is working with Polli Ryder, who prepares the calendar.
Mayor Lyons reappoints
O'Konski to parks board
Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Comstock offered Mayor Don Lyons' reappointment of First Ward Councilwoman Donna O'Konski to a five-year term expiring in August 2011 on the city Parks and Recreation Board as council representative.
New assessor of
record designated
In June 2005, Dowagiac City Council replaced Assessor Rick Ryker with Van Buren County Equalization Director Edward VanderVries.
VanderVries had been Van Buren director of equalization and land management since July 2003.
VanderVries, former Portage assessor, employed Patti Sampley of Kalamazoo to be the assessor of record for Dowagiac.
She was assessor of record in Kalamazoo County's Texas and Prairie Ronde townships and Van Buren County's Paw Paw Township.
Sampley formerly worked as an appraiser for the Kalamazoo Equalization Department.
Sampley is shifting her focus to other jurisdictions in the other two counties and VanderVries, as principal of VanderVries Assessing, will be assuming assessor of record duties in Dowagiac.
Dial-a-Ride bus
free to the city
City Council Aug. 14 authorized an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to replace a Dial-a-Ride bus this year.
The proposed agreement provides for $49,500 in federal funding and $12,375 in state funding for a total of $61,875 for the purchase of a new 11-passenger bus with hydraulic lift.
It will replace the existing 1999 El Dorado National bus currently in service.
There is no local financial match for this program.
The old bus is city property that can be sold, with the proceeds going back to the DART budget.
In a related action, the council by resolution approved an amendment to the city's agreement with MDOT relating to the fiscal year 2006 Dial-a-Ride operating grant.
State operating assistance will increase from 15 percent ($27,735) of operational costs to 17 percent ($31,443).
"Every $4,000 helps," Nelson said.
No fly-in this year
due to airport project
The council authorized execution of a grant agreement with MDOT related to the construction of airport runway improvements expected to start Sept. 18.
The city received grant funding and executed agreements with MDOT for construction engineering and supervision.
Now that the project has been bid, an agreement relating to construction of the $1.025 million project needed to be adopted.
Under its terms, Dowagiac receives grant funding with an 80-percent federal share ($820,000) and a 17.5-percent state share ($179,375).
The city's local match is 2.5 percent, or $25,625.
City officials acknowledged that due to the uncertainty of airport access with the work expected to be going on, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) elected to hold off having its annual fall fly-in breakfast in 2006.
The council formally approved Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce's permission request to host the 16th annual Rod and Roll Classic Auto Show downtown this Saturday, Aug. 19.
Council members authorized the finance director to pay out $537,480.56, including $421,315.48 for bills and $116,165.08 for payroll.
First Ward Councilman Dr. Charles Burling was absent.