City Commission discusses water shut-offs, Mid-Michigan Aquatic Recreational Authority
The sun sets on City Hall August 25 in downtown Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pleasant City Commission extended authority for utility billing payment plans, reinstated utility billing shut-offs and passed a resolution to adopt the Articles of Incorporation for Mid-Michigan Aquatic Recreational Authority at its Oct. 26 meeting.
Utility billing payment plans and utility billing shutoffs
Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-28 in March, requiring municipalities to suspend water shut-offs and run water for residential properties that had been shut-off due to non-payment. However, with the governor’s orders being stricken down, Mount Pleasant decided to address the issue.
The city commission supported reinstating water shut-offs with notices starting in November as long as it is allowed by the state. Utility billing payment plans were also extended to March 31, 2021. Mount Pleasant has applied these orders to all utility members, both residential and commercial.
There are currently 266 delinquent accounts with a total balance of $50,113 that meet the criteria to receive shut-offs.
There is concern that there will be a significant increase in this year’s tax roll. Some landlords are concerned their tenant's delinquent utility account will be added to their tax bill, according to a memo from Finance Director Mary Ann Kornexl in the meeting's agenda.
Ridley stresses that the city is aware that COVID-19 is still affecting many financially and that action must be taken.
“The staff will be compassionate with individuals,” Ridley said. “It is not our goal to shut people’s water off, but we also don’t want the bills to grow to such a large amount that they can never catch up. We feel like we need to do something to start chipping away at that, and also provide them the tools to be able to possibly get some assistance.”
Articles of Incorporation for Mid-Michigan Aquatic Recreational Authority
The city commission passed a resolution to adopt Mid-Michigan Aquatic Recreational Authority, the next step toward the construction of an aquatic center or public pool in the area.
This authority will further look into the construction, operation, maintenance, rent and improvement of an aquatic center or public swimming pool.
Swim Friends of Mid-Michigan have explored the idea with a feasibility study that analyzes the needs for an aquatic center in the community.
“I know the Swim Friends group has worked for a really long time to get the study going and to get this in front of the local municipalities and school board,” Mayor Will Joseph said. “This has been a project a long time coming and, from the sounds of our work and what’s going forward, there’s still a lot of work to be done. “
The Mount Pleasant Public Schools have also approved this resolution. The last entity, the Union Township board, is scheduled to consider it at their Wednesday meeting.
“Assuming all three units approve it, the next step would be for each unit to make the appointments of members to the authority,” Ridley said. “The authority then becomes an independent entity who can apply for and accept grants and enter into contracts. That group would finalize any plans for an aquatic center and then decide to move forward with a millage vote which is needed for the construction of the facility.”
Commissioner Lori Gillis said that by approving this resolution, a pool or aquatic center is closer to becoming a reality.
“I really think the community is ready for this and I really think they are going to step up even in these dire times of this pandemic,” Gillis said. “I for one, think it's going to help so many of our generations here from toddlers learning how to swim all the way up to senior (citizens)."
The entire city commission meeting can be viewed on the city's Youtube channel.
