Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Permitted to Carry out Year-End Financial Obligations

Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver sought permission to carry out year-end financial obligations during the city council meeting Wednesday night.

Clerk-Treasurer Xaver asked board members for the go ahead to make year-end transfers and encumbrances as necessary. She added that the figures will be added to the minutes from the meeting. Continue reading

Plymouth City Council Members Approve all Appointments as Presented

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and City Council members unanimously approved all appointments as presented during Wednesday night’s city council meeting. The council appointed Billy Ellinger and Mike Miley to the Redevelopment Commission. Each of them will serve a 1-year term, ending December 31st 2018.

The Mayor’s report included appointing Ken Houin and Joe Mersch to the Aviation Commissioners, Robert Listenberger to the Park and Recreation Board and Art Jacobs to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Each of those members will serve 4-year terms, ending December 31st 2021. Continue reading

Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and City Council to Meet Tonight

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will open bids for 2018 fuel and street supplies when they meet tonight at 6 p.m. ET. The City Engineer is scheduled to discuss 2017 Community Crossing Matching Grant Project contracts. Reports will be presented from various department heads, the City Attorney and the Secretary and Finance Officer. Mayor Mark Senter will also provide board members with a report.

Additional business includes a discussion over traffic on Plum Street and accepting November 2017 reports from the Water and Wastewater departments.

At 6:30 p.m., or immediately following the first meeting, Plymouth City Council members will convene. Members will first address any unfinished business including any tabled ordinances, resolutions or other items. Continue reading

Plymouth City Council Discusses Park Department Fee Schedule

The Plymouth City Council members reviewed the proposed park department fee ordinance when they met last week.

The park board approved the fee schedule two weeks ago. Park Superintendent Michael Hite noted that he meets with the executive board once a year to go over the fees. He said in 2011 there were increases, but lowered them in 2013 because a lot of the buildings were not rented because of the higher fees. He mentioned that the rates for 2018 are the same as 2017.

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Plymouth City Council Discusses Agreement with Marshall County Council on Aging

The Plymouth City Council members last week reviewed an agreement with the Marshall County Council on Aging for 2018.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that the agreement is unchanged from last year’s terms. It confirms the city’s contribution of $8,000 to help support the community cab program. The program is an effort by the county and the city to provide public transportation to residents.

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Plymouth City Council Discusses Resolution for Future Tax Abatement

The Plymouth City Council members Monday night reopened the public hearing from the last meeting that included discussion surrounding a resolution to consider the River Gate South Development, LLC as an economic development target area and an economic revitalization area. The approval of the resolution would set up the River Gate South housing development project for a tax phase-in for seven years, meaning no real estate taxes would be paid the first year but it would phase in until full taxes are realized after the 7th year.

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Plymouth BOW and City Council to Meet Tonight

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will meet tonight where the 2018 intergovernmental agreement between Marshall County and the City of Plymouth for planning services will be discussed. If that agreement is approved, Plan Director Ralph Booker will present the 2018 planning services agreement.

The board members will also consider the 2018 animal control services agreement.

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Plymouth City Council to Continue Public Hearing on Tax Abatement

The Plymouth City Council members heard public comment during a hearing Monday night about the proposed six-year property tax abatement for the River Gate South, LLC housing project.

Steve Guriel, who owns several rental properties, asked if any other housing units in Plymouth were granted tax abatements. City Attorney Sean Surrisi noted that this is the first time in the history of the city where this type of residential tax abatement was requested.

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Plymouth Water, Sewer Rate Increases Pass by Majority Vote

The Plymouth City Council members approved the second and third reading of ordinances that increase water and sewer rates beginning with December consumption, billable in January.

A public hearing was held on the matter Monday night which mostly gathered public opposition. Many cited senior citizens with fixed incomes and the impact it will have on those that may find an approximate $130 additional cost per year too costly once all phases come to realization in 2019.

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Plymouth City Council to Discuss Water, Sewer Rate Increases

The Plymouth City Council members are expected to discuss water and sewer rate increases when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m.

A public hearing is set to gather public comment on the matter.

During a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 30, the city council learned that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. To help bridge the gap, an ordinance outlining a one-time raise in the water rate of 12 percent to begin Jan. 1, 2018, was proposed. In addition, an ordinance detailing a three-phase wastewater rate increase was proposed. It would allow for a 10 percent increase in wastewater rates beginning Jan. 1, 2018, with another 10 percent increase on Sept. 2, 2018, and a third 10 percent increase in March of 2019.

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Plymouth City Council Considers Property as an Economic Revitalization, Target Area

The Plymouth City Council members heard a request from Developer Scott Sivan to create the property for the housing development River Gate South as an Economic Development Target Area and Economic Revitalization Area.

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Jerry Chavez said this is the first step in a process for the ultimate request for a real property tax abatement for the project.

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Plymouth City Council Passes First Reading on Water, Sewer Rate Increase Ordinances

The Plymouth City Council passed the proposed water and sewer rate increase ordinances on first reading Monday night.

During a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 30, the city council learned that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. To help bridge the gap, an ordinance outlining a one-time raise in the water rate of 12 percent to begin Jan. 1, 2018, was proposed. In addition, an ordinance detailing a three-phase wastewater rate increase was proposed. It would allow for a 10 percent increase in wastewater rates beginning Jan. 1, 2018, with another 10 percent increase on Sept. 2, 2018, and a third 10 percent increase in March of 2019. Continue reading

City of Plymouth Looking to Increase Water, Sewer Rates

The Plymouth City Council heard a proposal from Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver, and Eric Walsh from Umbaugh and Associates concerning an increase in water and wastewater rates.

Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi told MAX 98.3 FM News that with Bay Valley Foods and Del Monte closing at the end of year, the city council learned that water and wastewater treatment revenue losses are imminent. Surrisi said a proposal to increase water and wastewater rates to help bridge the gap was brought before the council in a specially-called meeting Monday night. Continue reading

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