Bridgeport Township Board Meeting December 16th, 2014

On tonight's agenda -
New Business -
1.  Equipment Pool Budget for 2015 starts at 2:45 in the video.
2.  General Fund Budget Amendments for 2014 starts at 3:37
3.  Cancel Public Hearing Date for Cemetery Ordinance Revisions starts at 4:27
4.  Cancel Public Hearing Date for Water Ordinance Revisions starts at 5:22
5.  Appointments for Boards and Commissions starts at 6:40
* they moved the Accounts Payable segment to here on the agenda.  This starts at 9:00
6.  Appointment for Township Board Trustee starts at 10:26 
* the interviewees were in order - John Altz, Jennifer Gutierrez, Roberta Placher, Tom Coates, Robert Brown, and the last candidate I believe was Anna Mayer.  Some of the names I knew because the people are on other boards here in Bridgeport, and I also got the names from a article in the  Birch Run/Bridgeport Herald.  It is hard to understand the names here in the video.

Board Comments start at 42:25

I don't have much to say about the meeting except Congratulations to Jennifer Gutierrez on her appointment to the Bridgeport Township Board!  And like Darlene Miller I am also glad to see one more woman on the board!
I think the Christmas Lights on display in Bridgeport are just beautiful!  Now all we need is a little snow just in time for a White Christmas.

Bridgeport Township DDA Board Meeting December 10th, 2014

On today's agenda -
Under New Business -
1.  Former Carpenter's Plaza discussion starts at 2:00 in the video
2.  Christmas Lunch starts at 7:20
3.  2015 Meeting Schedule starts at 8:05
Under Old Business -
1.  Canoe Launch starts at 8:38
2.  Great Lakes Discovery Center starts at 16:07
3.  Beautification Update starts at 17:08
4.  Review of 4422 Williamson starts at 18:30
5.  I-75 Billboard Update starts at 44:20
6.  6137 Dixie Highway Update starts at 46:00
DDA Coordinator's Report starts at 52:18
DDA Board Member Comments start at 1:05:51

There were some exciting things discussed at the meeting.  I am excited about the plans for the property located at 4422 Williamson, the former B & S Heating property.  It will become a park type area that ties in with the historic State Street Bridge and the walking trail.  The proposed plans call for restoring the facade of the front building back to the time when it was the Bridgeport Oil & Gas Co.  Many Bridgeport residents have fond memories of that business and the owners.  They would also include restrooms inside the building.  The back garage building would be torn down and a pavilion would be placed there with tables, grills etc..  There would also be a fishing/wildlife viewing platform overlooking the Cass River.  The projected cost for the project is $395,700.00.  They will start submitting grants to help obtain monies toward the cost.
When I look towards the future and the possibilities with this project, I see a truly beautiful attraction for Bridgeport; a beautiful part of Bridgeport and our history.  I had become too old and cranky and had lost my vision to see possibilities and the beauty in so many things.  Thankfully we have Tanya Moore and Steve Dobis, they can see the future and the possibilities then put them onto paper and into action!  They first presented this plan back in September along with Carl Hamann, a former Bridgeport resident and son of the last owner of Bridgeport Oil & Gas Co., you can view that meeting by clicking here -Special Meeting of the Bridgeport DDA Board
Here is the development master plan for the site done by Tanya Moore of Spicer Engineering.
*click on photo to enlarge it

 

Here also is the preliminary cost estimate for the project - 

There was some other good news.  The canoe launch project is moving forward.  So far Parks and Recreation Director Bill Wheeler has raised money from the DNR Trust Fund in the amount of $121,100.00 for the project.  Also from the Anderson Foundation - $30,000.00 over 3 years, Wickes Foundation - $10,000.00, McNally Foundation - $45,000.00 over 3 years, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative - $20,000.00, Morley Foundation - $5,000.00 and from Bridgeport Township - $10,000.00

And lastly I was amazed to hear that Bridgeport had been able to obtain a very nice piece of property for the sum of $10.00!  The property is known as Carpenter Plaza, or known to those of us that grew up here as the former IGA and Hoffman Drugs property.  This property has been sitting vacant for years now and and is a eyesore.  NOW, there is a possible future for that property other than continued deterioration and vandalism.

Bridgeport Township Building and Grounds Meeting December 9th, 2014

The meeting this evening was to discuss plans for the special assessment that was passed for the fire department.  They discussed current and long term plans and ideas.  The next Building and Grounds meeting will be held on January 13th, 2015.

At the special meeting that was held on November 17th to discuss the police and fire department special assessments, there were people who got up and spoke about their concerns and opposition to the assessments.  At tonight's meeting there were no Bridgeport residents there except myself, my elderly mother and several of the firefighters.
I would think that if any of our residents were seriously concerned about the assessments and the future of our police and fire departments, that they would have shown up at this meeting.  People can get up and talk about "hidden meetings", "I'm not blowing smoke" etc... etc... all they want, but if they really care about and want to work towards a better future for Bridgeport Township then maybe they should show up at meetings, keep informed about all events, and try working towards a better future.  Get involved in ways other than just putting up stupid signs and bitching about everything.
I am still working on trying to clean up trash in Lyle Park and could always use some help there.  Only in my Utopian Dreamworld would any of the complainers ever show up to help me clean up the trash.
I will keep posting video's of all the meetings that I can attend and hope that Bridgeport residents will watch them and get involved and I will keep picking up the trash in the river and parks.  I may not make much of a impact in our community but at least it is better than just being negative all the time.

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting December 2nd, 2014

On the agenda:
Under New Business - this section starts at 3:20 in the video.
1. Resolution R-14-23 Saginaw Area Storm Water Authority
2. Set Public Hearing Date for Cemetery Ordinance Revisions
3. Set Public Hearing Date for Water Ordinance Revisions
4. Police Department Budget for 2015
5. Fire Department Budget for 2015
6. Water Department Budget for 2015
7. Waste Water Treatment Plant Budget for 2015
Board Member Comments begin at 10:52

The meeting was short and sweet.  Not many residents in the audience, just the usual handful that show a interest in what goes on.  At least we didn't have to listen to anyone rambling about hidden meetings and hoodwinking the public!
The public hearing dates were set for the cemetery and water ordinance revisions, they will be on January 6th, 2015.
They approved the 2015 budgets for the police, fire, water and waste water treatment departments.  Copies of the budget reports were provided to the public at the meeting. 

There will be a Building and Grounds meeting on December 9th at 6pm where they will discuss the assessment for the fire department.
There will be another Township Board meeting held on December 16th.  They will be interviewing the applicants for the trustee position at this meeting and making appointments for other boards also.