At its Feb. 7 meeting, the South Haven city council agreed to find a Boy Scout looking for an Eagle Scout project to install the city?Äôs donated playground equipment in the spring. Councilor Norm Bodeker will be the contact person for this project.
The council also granted an off-sale 3.2% beer, wine license to South Haven Sports LLC for April 1, 2017, through March 31, 2018, contingent upon meeting all state requirements for the new license (including providing certificate of liquor liability insurance, and paying the fees).
A citizen filed a concern with the city clerk about Windstream ceasing to provide cable network to South Haven customers as of March 31. The request was for the city to find new companies to come in, but the council agreed that they are unable to do anything about it at this time.
Chief Laney and current officers were all reappointed in the Fire Department. Laney reported that there were six rescue medical calls and one fire call during January 2017. They may need to order an extra set of firefighting hoods, as they need to be cleaned often to remove toxic chemicals. The department?Äôs infrared camera arrived.
The city is starting to look into replacing all water meters within the next few years. They will repair those that need it now. Current meters were installed in 2001.
Roads will be repaired this year with crack-filling and chip-coating instead of overlaying. Some street signs are in need of maintenance as well.
Two councilors have received complaints about snow removal on city sidewalks near the city hall, at the emergency exit for the community center, and the walkway to the book huts; shoveling needs to be done in a more timely manner.
City clerk Carol Banken presented the year-end 2016 city financial statement. The Muni bar funds are closed out, and the city?Äôs extraordinary expense loan (to remove it) has been paid in full. The only remaining long-term debt for the city is the wastewater construction loan repayment to USDA Rural Development.
The clerk will check on land value for the three now-vacant lots downtown on Oak Avenue. It is felt that a purpose should be found for them, or they should be sold.
A March workshop will be scheduled to brainstorm projects, including ideas to improve the attractiveness of the city, and to promote the city, as well as making long-term goals.
The next regular meeting of the South Haven city council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7.