By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
The city council of South Haven held their regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 2. In its consent agenda, the council agreed to donate $500 to the Annandale Food Shelf (which serves South Haven).
John Bradshaw and Bill & Julie Madigan of Serenity Path attended the meeting. They own the building at 400 Oak Avenue, having purchased it with plans to open an addiction treatment facility there. The owners reported that they no longer wish to do so because of recent water leak damage and the infeasibility of repairing it. (The city had that property listed as having the water turned off.) James Theisen, owner of Bedrock Bar & Grill which adjoins that property; he indicated that he may be interested in purchasing the building.
The city has one commercial and seven residential water accounts that are more than a month past due. None of these property owners attended the meeting. The city received a letter regarding one of the properties. Most times, exceptionally high water bills usually mean a leak somewhere. The city’s policy is that it’s the property owner’s responsibility to repair the leak, and the city clerk has been authorized to make a one-time adjustment to the water bill, unless otherwise authorized by the council. Another property, not on the delinquent list, has an ongoing meter issue and have been billed based on average water use rather than actual readings; this needs to be resolved and the city will work with the owner.
Fire chief Laney reported eight rescue calls during September, and no fire calls. Seven firefighters have been re-certified. Four new members are off probation having served for a year.
There are complaints of drivers screeching tires and tearing up streets in the city. This has been reported to the county sheriff’s office which needs license plate numbers in order to proceed.
The Post Office flagpole will be moved because the flag hits the building when at half-staff.
The council set up a workshop meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22. No decisions can be made at a workshop meeting, and formal actions would need to be at a regular meeting.
A new residential home is under construction on Fairhaven Avenue. This is the first brand-new constructed house within the city in more than 20 years. There has been commercial construction, like the storage units, during that time.
The next regular meeting of the South Haven city council has been moved to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, to canvass the election.