City commission addresses changes in fire department equipment, airport staffing
Mount Pleasant City Commission meets in person for its Jan. 24 meeting.
Mount Pleasant City Commission approved a bid to supply the Mount Pleasant Fire Department with upgraded radio equipment, and approved staffing and fee changes for the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport at its Jan. 24 meeting.
The commission approved a bid from ProComm Inc. and Michigan’s Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS) Programming which will provide the fire department with 28 portable radios, 14 mobile radios, 30 pagers and a base station radio.
MPSCS is a communication system used by local, state, federal, tribal and private first responders.
The Fire Services County-Wide Radio System is made up of four separate radio towers that use analog VHF. The goal is to transition to 700/800 MHz radios that use MPSCS.
The current system provides a "patch" between digital VHF and 800 MHz frequencies. This means that "fire departments can hear vital information but also be able to communicate with agencies utilizing the MPSCS," according to a letter from the Department of Public Safety.
However, this equipment is "unreliable" and will no longer be supported by Isabella County Central Dispatch.
"We came to a pretty strong consensus that this was something that was really important to invest in," Vice Mayor Olivia Cyman said. "It's important for the workers in our city and our county to be able to hear what's going on from other parts of the county or other parts of state (and) to get that information."
The project’s total cost will be $218,460, which would be paid for in part by a grant contribution from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe for $111,299. The remaining $107,161 would be paid for using the city’s capital improvement fund.
Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport discusses concerns with staffing and fees
Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport Manager Bill Brickner went before the commission to request approval to airport staffing and fee changes, as well as a budget amendment for $12,600.
The current method of corporate fees at Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is a flat fee that all companies must pay at the same rate.
Brickner said the airport should move to a size-based fee system for the runways and corporate hangers to allow for more revenue. This would also include a new usage fee for larger aircrafts.
Currently, Brickner is the only full-time employee alongside two part-time employees. He is looking for more help to operate the airport after hours and on the weekends as traffic increases.
“In 2016, we were somewhere around 45,000 gallons (of fuel sales) total,” Brickner said. “This past year, we were almost to 60,000 gallons total. As you can see traffic is increasing (and) the need for additional staff is increasing.”
The proposed changes in fees will "help offset the cost" of promoting one part-time employee to full time, Brickner said.
The city commission approved of these changes and the budget amendment.
When considering a change like this, Cyman said she wants to make her decision with the knowledge of those impacted.
"Personally, as a commissioner, I try to do a lot of background information (by) seeing what other cities are doing or talking with our city manager," Cyman said. "But, you know, I don't have really any experience at an airport or operating the airport. So what we really try to do is refer to the experts. They're going to be the ones who know... the problems (and) the best path forward."
Contract extends for testing the city's former landfill
The commission voted in favor to extend a contract regarding its testing and monitoring of the city’s former landfill site with Mannik Smith Group (MSG). This site is required to be tested by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
The new contract extension would cover installing groundwater monitoring wells, soil lab testing and groundwater sampling analysis.The total contract will not exceed $90,000.
The entire city commission meeting can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel.
