County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County

City Works to Improve Quality of Life: Vandals Destroy City, Private Property

Time for Residents to Keep Eyes Peeled for Nefarious Activities

Posted

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The last Harrison City Council meeting in July saw a visit from former Council member Dave Rowe. His concern was rain runoff flowing down his driveway and into his wood shop, where he said has resulted in rusty tools. Rowe said this lack of curb and gutter problem affects only his property as his driveway slopes down from the street while his neighbors on the opposite side have driveways that slope up. Rowe asked if the City could request the asphalt company it contracts with install curb and gutter at his driveway. He finished his request by saying he had long served the City of Harrison and thought he deserved the City helping him out in return.

Rowe also had said he would be having concrete repair done for a third of his driveway, and Sam Russell, DPW superintendent, suggested that the concrete contractor could actually fix that curb problem with the driveway. He said doing it with concrete would be a better plan than if the DPW cut out the area and patched it with asphalt. Russell said he would go over and show Rowe what he meant, again stating solving the problem with concrete would be ideal.

Also attending the meeting were Jim McBryde and Allison Heinrich of Middle Michigan Development Corp., who presented their most 2023 annual report, providing a detailed overview of business-growth related happenings in the county.

Reports of Committees and Department Heads began with Russell who noted that Weldon Drive was open and 25 mph speed limit signs posted. He also said he was hoping for an excavator to continue work on the former Remedy property. [See adjacent photos.]

On a far more serious note, Russell reported that one of his early shift workers had gone down to the Power Docks to check on something at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 13. Discovered there were six of the city’s chained/secured picnic tables were floating upside down and out into the middle of Budd Lake. Russell said someone had used bolt cutters to cut the chains, and thrown all six into the lake. He emphasized how dangerous that situation would be for boaters, and how fortunate it was discovered before they got out on the lake. Russell called the sheriff’s department, and the Marine Division sent their boat and two officers who went onto the lake and hauled the tables back to shore. From there the DPW used a backhoe to hook and retrieve them.

This all led to a discussion of the need for surveillance cameras, ones that can be operated remotely while not being subject to vandalism – which would mean hard-wired 4D. He said that the City doesn’t want to remove the tables, because people do use the tables, and it would be unfair to punish who do use them.

Russell further informed that the same morning, a mini van parked near the Amsterdam property had its windows broken out, along with windshield marks where rocks had been thrown at it. Noting it all is disheartening, and more than a bit fed up with it all, Russell said, “If it’s not the Power Docks, it’s the park; and if it’s not the park, it’s the splash pad. And that’s just our stuff, that’s not counting anybody else’s that they’re doing stuff to.”

Remy Lipovsky offered the fire report, noting there had been 206 runs year-to-date. He also reported the department had participated in a house burndown training the previous Saturday.

On a more encouraging note, Mike Freeman, code enforcement officer, reported having had a couple quiet weeks.

Treasurer Tracy Wheeler-Clay reported on the budget, adding that she had that day deposited $100,000 of tax monies into the city account. She also reminded that Aug. 14 is the tax due date.

Under New Business, Council approved several motions, moving to:

-Set a sale price of $27,500 for the 2002 Elgin Street Sweeper.

-Approve the use of ARPA funds for the purchase of bulletproof glass for the payment window at City Hall.

-Approve road closures for the 2004 Harrison Street Fair.

-Approve USDA Sewer Project Contractors Pay Request No. 3 [for work paid through the grant/loan].

-Approve USDA Sewer Project Pay Request No. 4 [to pay engineers for work done so far].

-Approve USDA Sewer Project Change Order No. 2 [in the amount of $5,750].

-Approve the expenditure of up to $15,000 for the purchase of a new zero-turn mower for the DPW.

-Approve the expenditure of $5,633.27 for the purchase of a GIS tool using ARPA funds.

The final motion was to approve Resolution 2024-14 Authorizing Subrecipient Grant Agreement with the Council of Michigan Foundations. This was the next necessary step in the process for the City in its participation in the recently awarded $757,500 DNR Spark Grant for Harrison City Park Improvements.

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