Spring remains elusive on April 11 this year.
City Commission Newsletter
Annual Operating Budget: The City Commission Sub-committee for Finance is currently working with the administrative staff to develop the City’s Annual Operating Budget for fiscal year 2019-2020. The proposed budget will be balanced, and will fund a number of capital improvement projects as well as significant payments to the City’s retirement fund to pay down the unfunded pension liability that currently exists. The budget also includes over $600,000 for street repairs and upgrades.
2019 Road Restoration Program: This year’s road restoration budget of $600,000 will restore a number of City streets including; paving, curbs, gutters and drainage facilities. The following roads will be completed this year: Euclid, Elm, Baldwin, Oak, Bond’s Alley, Kibbee, Bill’s Lane, Searles Estate Drive and Randy Lane.
New Police Facility: The St. Johns Police Department recently moved into their new facility at 407 S. Whittemore. The former Courthouse, funeral home and church had been vacant for a while when the City purchased it to be renovated into the new police station. The 11,000 square foot building is nearly ten times larger than the previous space and now includes; individual offices, a squad room, locker facilities, a modern evidence holding area and a large training room. The adjoining parking lot will be re-paved in the near future. An Open House is planned for May, so watch the City’s web-site for more details.
Railroad Street Projects: Beginning in mid-May, renovation work will begin in the first and second block of E. Railroad street between Clinton Avenue and Oakland Street. The roadway will be narrowed and repaved, curb and gutter will be replaced and brick paved “eyebrows” will be added to the intersections. New lighting matching the rest of the downtown will also be added.
This work is being done in conjunction with a major ground contamination remediation project that Consumers Energy is undertaking around their facility at the corner of Spring and Railroad Streets. All work should be completed in approximately 6-8 weeks and prior to the annual Mint Festival.
Glanbia and Proliant Update: The Glanbia project continues to develop with the building currently under construction. The drain relocation portion of this development is nearly 100% complete and we have been very satisfied with how well it is performing.
The Proliant development will be starting soon. The City has been working with the Proliant team and final design plans were recently approved. Road work planning for Walker, Zeeb, Tolles and Technical Drive continues, and the work should commence in August.
His Cup Runneth Over Mobile Soup Kitchen starting 5th season
Suzie Brown, the new president-director of His Cup Runneth Over, is excited to be starting the 2019 season of Free Meals.
His Cup Runneth Over provides nutritional meals at no cost to everyone who stops by. A meal typically consists of a bowl of soup, bread, fruit and dessert that are all served in a lunch bag that can be taken to go or eaten at our table outside. In 2018, we served over 5,000 free meals.
They are excited to announce that this year their season will be kicking off on Tuesday, April 30. They will be at the following stops in St. Johns and serve meals thru October 31.
Every Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 110 Maple Ave.
Every Thursday: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Meadows of St. Johns, 2265 W. Parks Rd.
1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursday of each month: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church/Beacon of Hope (Salvation Army Produce Distribution), 512 S. Whittemore St.
2nd Thursday of each month: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Suntree Apartments, 1100 Sunview Dr.
*No meals served week of July 4th.
His Cup Runneth Over is a non-profit 501(c)3, licensed food trailer, funded by donations and ran by hardworking volunteers. Volunteers are needed for 3 hour shifts to assist with prepping and serving meals each week. If you’d like more information, or would like to get involved as a volunteer please call Suzi Brown at 517-388-2005.
Sparrow Clinton Hospital Auxiliary Fundraiser is April 15
Swany’s in downtown St. Johns will host a Soup and Salad fundraiser for the Sparrow Clinton Hospital Auxiliary on Monday, April 15 from ll a.m. – 8 p.m.
Your choice of soup and side salad will be available for a $6 ticket. The ticket price does not include beverage or gratuity. Take-out Orders are available.
Purchase tickets at the door, from the Sparrow Clinton Hospital Gift Shop or from an Auxiliary member. 10% of other meal purchases on April 15 also benefit SCH Auxiliary.
Profits fund continuing education and special equipment needs at Sparrow Clinton Hospital.
Ducks Unlimited 38th Annual Spring Wetlands Conservation Banquet is April 26
Ducks Unlimited has the perfect tonic for those who have suffered through a long, cold and snowy Michigan winter. Break your “Cabin Fever” with a night out on Friday, April 26 at the Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) 38th Annual Wetlands Conservation banquet. Join with friends and family to have a relaxing evening with complimentary beverages, hors D’oeuvres, and a catered dinner.
There will also be door prizes, a silent and live auction, and raffle tables that will include limited edition art prints, wildlife sculptures, firearms, crafts, collectible items, decoy carvings, and many other special DU and local craft items. There will also be a special “free” raffle for the youngsters who are under 18.
Chairman Ben Rosek wants everyone to know that the Clinton County DU banquet is for the entire family. He encourages dads to bring their wives and youngsters, and/or a special friend.
For tickets, to become a sponsor, donor, a DU volunteer or for banquet information, contact;
Kurt Hufnagel at 989-224-2072 or Chris Mikula at 989-640-7104 or log onto the internet and check out our Face Book page at; Clinton County Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Don’t wait, tickets go fast, last year we had a sell-out crowd! To order tickets online, go to: https://www.ducks.org/michigan/events/57954/clinton-county.
Your membership and attendance at the banquet has a direct impact on preserving North America’s valuable and important wetland resources. Ducks Unlimited is the largest private non-profit wetlands conservation organization in North America. It has been through local DU banquets, like the ones we have in St Johns, that since 1937, DU has preserved or enhanced over 14 million acres of wetlands in North America with the over 4 billion dollars raised at these wetlands conservation banquets throughout the United States.
Working with a variety of partners, DU’s Michigan conservation program has invested more than $43 million in the state to protect, restore or enhance 83,900 acres of wetlands and adjacent habitat, $3.19 million was spent in Michigan in 2018 alone! Michigan’s conservation projects are designed to maximize the amount and quality of waterfowl nesting habitat as well as improve habitat conditions for migrating waterfowl.
Free Easter Egg Hunts on April 13 and 14
Children ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult are invited to the Briggs District Library for an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 13 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. They will provide a decorated egg carton for the children to find a dozen eggs with prizes inside hidden somewhere in the Library. This program also includes a story, craft and game.
Registrations is required and opened on Saturday, March 16.
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Pilgrim Methodist Church is hosting a free community Easter Egg Hunt at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 for ages 1 year through 5th grade.
The event will be held indoors in case of bad weather. The church is located at the Corner of DeWitt and Parks Roads south of St. Johns.
Eureka Christian Church plans Easter activities
The Eureka Christian Church has planned some Easter activities for the weekend of April 20-21. On Saturday April 20 at 1:00 p.m. there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children ranging from grades 6th on down to preschool. Included in the day will be refreshments, games, and a craft.
On Sunday April 21 they will be celebrating Easter with a Sunrise Service beginning at 8:00 a.m. followed by an Easter Fellowship Breakfast, and Easter Service at 10:00 a.m.
The Eureka Christian Church is located on E Maple Rapids Road in Eureka, just a few miles east of US-127.
Ashley Schools planning Flea Market, Craft and Greenhouse sale May 11
Ashley Community Schools have announced plans for their upcoming Flea Market, Craft and Greenhouse sale to be held on Saturday, May 11.