City Building Renovation Project Moving Along

Plymouth City Building

The renovation project at the Plymouth City Building in its second month and things are progressing at a good pace, according to City Attorney Sean Surrisi who updated the Plymouth City Council on the progress last week.

“They’re still in the demolition phase,” reported Surrisi. “We’ve run into a couple of things. When you tear open an old building you run into things that you don’t anticipate. For the most part, we’re doing really well with the budget. They found some sort of unidentified well, or something, where they’re digging the elevator shaft. They brought the soil scientists back out and they examined it.” Continue reading

Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety Approves Resolution

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety considered a resolution on Monday night pertaining to the ability to write off delinquent and uncollectible water, wastewater, garbage, and stormwater bills.

Board member Jeff Houin made a comment that City Attorney Sean Surrisi handles several small claims issues in court and he is working to collect what is owed to the city. The write-offs amount to just over $1,800.

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Van Vactor Farms Looking to Amend Land Sale Proceeds Agreement

David Miller of Van Vactor Farms approached the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety Monday night to discuss an amendment to a land sale proceeds agreement.

Miller reminded the board members of the donation of 20 acres of land out in the techFarm area on Miller Drive and Pioneer Drive back in 2004. Miller stated that the donation of land was a partnership with the city to build a techFarm on the northwest side of town. The original agreement called for a split of proceeds between the Van Vactor Farms and the city as land is sold for development. According to the original agreement, the money split would be used to help development infrastructure and other projects at the techFarm.

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Plymouth City Council Approves Building Lease

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth City Council discussed a lease in order to house the mayor’s office and the clerk-treasurer’s office while the city building renovation project is in progress.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that the offices were going to stay in the city building during the project. However, during a pre-construction meeting with the contractors it was felt that moving the offices would be the most effective way to get the project done in a timely manner.

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Municipal Excise Surtax, Wheel Tax Ordinance Dies

A proposed ordinance that would help raise revenue for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and streets within the City of Plymouth died for a lack of a motion Monday night.

The Plymouth City Council members held a public hearing on a municipal excise surtax and municipal wheel tax ordinance earlier this month and called a first reading on the ordinance. The ordinance was up for second reading during a specially-called meeting last week during budget discussions. It was tabled and brought up for discussion on Monday night.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Finalizes Paperwork for Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

Three members of the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission approved a mountain of paperwork Tuesday night to prepare for the renovations of the city building and chamber of commerce building.

The bonds sold for the project on Tuesday and will be closed today. 1st Source Bank will be the bond trustee until the project is done and payments are needed.

The lowest project bid came from Michiana Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $2,198,700. The commission members approved that bid.

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Plymouth Police Chief Addresses Traffic Flow around Lincoln Jr. High School

Plymouth City Police Chief David Bacon presented the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members with a solution to a traffic flow issue on school days around the Lincoln Jr. High School.

Chief Bacon said Mayor Mark Senter and City Attorney Sean Surrisi met with the Director of Safety and Security and the Transportation Director from the school corporation to address traffic issues. He said traffic gets snarled around the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up portions of the school day at Lincoln Jr. High School.

“Traffic gets backed up on Gibson onto Liberty so we looked at ways to remedy that,” said Chief Bacon. “One solution is no parking on the south side of Gibson from Liberty Street to the circle drive. That will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days only.”

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Plymouth City Council Considers Proposal to Vacate Water Street

The Plymouth City Council members held a public hearing Monday night to hear comments on the proposed vacation of Water Street.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi mentioned that the city’s action is for the benefit of the River Gate South housing project. The road would be vacated from the Yellow River to east Lake Ave. Surrisi said the city owns all of the adjacent lots in the area, but the only concern is the utilities under that road.

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Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Housing Project in Plymouth

Dignitaries from the City of Plymouth and the Marshall County areas of economic development and government welcomed the start of a new housing project in Plymouth on Tuesday morning.

The River Gate South housing project broke ground yesterday. At the corner of Michigan Street and Lake Avenue, three apartment buildings will be built. The east and west buildings will have 15 apartments consisting of one, two and three bedroom apartments. The center building will have nine condos with two and three bedroom units. Ground level parking will be available under each building as well as an outdoor lot. Continue reading

Plymouth Board of Works and Public Safety Takes Lease Proposal Under Advisement

Emanuel Reese submitted a proposal to the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety for his business this week.

According to Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi, Reese has added new BBQ grills to his operation at Reese’s Family Ribs at 208 Water Street. He asked the city to formally lease the two parking spaces that he is currently using for his grills. Surrisi says Reese has agreed to pay $10 a month to rent the parking spaces plus semi-annual taxes, as the city-owned property becomes taxable once it is put to commercial use. He asked that the lease begin July 1.

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Next Step Approved in Plymouth City Hall Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth City Council took action Monday night to take another step closer in the city building renovation project.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi presented a resolution that would approve a lease between the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority and the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission and the issuance of lease rental bonds by the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission to Move Forward with Renovation Project

Plymouth City Building

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission held a public hearing last night to gather opinions on the proposed city building renovation project.

The project includes construction of improvements and expansion of the city office at 124 N. Michigan Street including the clerk-treasurer’s office, mayor’s office, city attorney’s office and the council chambers.

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Plymouth BOW Ratifies Designation of Underground or Buried Utilities Area

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter signed an executive order at the end of April that restricts the placement of small wireless devices and the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety took further action on that document.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi said a state law passed in the final days of the General Assembly broadens access to government-owned right-of-way for the placement of cell phone antennae on poles of 50 feet or less. There was a provision in the law that the city wouldn’t have any review process over the location of those poles unless it is in a designated area for underground utilities.

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