End of summer review and more
End Of Summer Review: It was another terrific summer here in St. Johns. We were blessed with sunny skies and warm temperatures. The City was filled with activities both downtown, at the Railroad Depot grounds and at the City Park. There were bands and barbeques, gaming events, car shows, music in the park, another successful Mint Festival in August, special events at the Briggs Library, sports leagues—you name it, the City had it. The community support of these activities, as always, was readily apparent. I want to extend my thanks to the many volunteers and organizers who give of their time to make our city such a vibrant and attractive community in which to work and live.
Grant Project/Resident Survey: This month the City of St. Johns will conduct a door-to-door survey of residents to determine the average gross income of households within the City. Only a representative sample of residents will be polled for this purpose (500 households). The results of the survey will be used to determine if the City qualifies for certain Community Block Grant funds. To so qualify, the City must be designated as a “low/moderate income community”. If the City becomes eligible for these grant funds, they will be used for infrastructure improvements such as streets, sidewalks and public utilities. The households will be selected randomly and the information provided will be anonymous and confidential. City staff conducting the survey will have picture ID with them at all times. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this survey please contact Steve Wagner at 989-224-8944 ext. 231.
Completed Summer Road Projects: The City completed road projects on Lansing Street, two blocks of Park Street and Oakland Street from Sturgis to M-21. The City took advantage of very competitive bid prices to perform these heavy road maintenance projects. The City has now exhausted the remaining 2007 bond monies it had available for projects of this nature.
Rails-To-Trails Presentation: Department of Natural Resources and Environment representative Jim Radabaugh made a presentation to the St. Johns City Commission concerning progress on the proposed recreational rail trail which will eventually stretch between Shiawassee, Clinton and Ionia Counties. Mr. Radabaugh, the section manager of the Recreation and Trails section of DNRE, indicated that the Mid-West Trail Authority is meeting on a regular basis to address issues related to the installation and maintenance of this trail. Mr. Radabaugh also indicated that a three million dollar endowment for trail maintenance has been received from the Fred Meijer Foundation. It is anticipated that sections of this rail trail will be installed for use within an approximate three year time period.
Depot Grounds Property: Related to the development of the Rail Trail, the City is moving forward with the acquisition of property east of the old Railroad Depot. This property will be used as part of the overall development of the Depot grounds as a major trailhead for this recreational trail. The City Commission approved a bid for a required environmental assessment of the subject properties. The City will receive grant monies from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund related to the purchase of this land.
Back To School: With the school year having just begun, please remember to drive safely in school zones. During the fall season you will see more students walk and ride bikes to their schools. Be especially careful at crosswalks and along bike paths.
As we embark on the 2010-11 school year, we wish all the students, teachers and support staff a successful and rewarding educational experience. Go Redwings!