The 2018 salary ordinance for the City of Plymouth appointed officers and employees, and fire and police personnel will go to a study committee.
The proposed salary ordinance was before the city council Monday night for second and third readings, but the ordinance died after a motion to approve a second reading was not put before the members.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members are anticipated to award a proposal for a short term lease at 220 N. Center Street when they meet tonight. They also plan to discuss a resolution that authorizes the transfer of equipment from the clerk-treasurer’s office to the wastewater utility and transferring equipment to the Plymouth Park Department. In addition, a few requests for street closures and a stop sign will be before the governing body.
A proposed permanent supportive housing project could become a reality in Plymouth.
Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager for The Bradley Company Mary Gibson told the Plymouth City Council that the focus is to stop the cycle of homelessness.
“The Plymouth Supportive Housing is considered long-term housing which ties in support services to homeless households so that they can be successfully independent,” said Gibson. “Without the support services, the same households that we’ve housed will go back and cycle through homelessness.”
Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi gave the city council members the proposed ordinance for a municipal excise surtax and a municipal wheel tax on second reading.
Surrisi recommended setting the maximum rate to capture money for the construction of roads and streets.
The Plymouth City Council discussed the proposed 2018 salary ordinance in a special session Monday night.
The ordinance was presented by Emily Kruyer-Collins who works as Human Relations for the City of Plymouth. It details the salaries requested for department heads and employees as given in a salary survey by employee and supervisor input. Supervisors and managers were then given that information to validate the information.
The Plymouth City Council members discussed the 2018 budget in a special session Monday night.
The budget is tightened up for 2018, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver. She said that every department worked diligently to cut their budget and department heads and managers are not to spend more than 95 percent of their budget.
The Plymouth City Council will meet in special session tonight.
The members will discuss an ordinance regarding a municipal motor vehicle license excise surtax and a municipal wheel tax. The ordinance was called as first reading during the council’s regular session on Monday, Aug. 14. The ordinance would help gather funds for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and streets. It was suggested that implementing a wheel tax could take some relief off of other line items in the budget to help with other General Fund needs.
The Plymouth City Council held two public hearings Monday night.
The Weir family requested the annexation of a portion of their property on Lake Ave. near the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The company, Weir Enterprises, is developing a daycare on the south and west end of the property and they would like to separate the parcels so the house would be separate entity.
The Plymouth City Council discussed implementing a wheel tax and excise surtax during their meeting Monday night.
A public hearing was held where Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver clarified that the wheel tax money can be used for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and streets. It was suggested that implementing a wheel tax could take some relief off of other line items in the budget to help with other General Fund needs. She provided a list of roads that she traveled that could use a facelift. Continue reading
The Plymouth City Council members will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposed ordinance for a municipal motor vehicle license excise surtax and a municipal wheel tax.
In order to close a significant funding gap within the budget, the city council is considering implementing a wheel tax. At the previous city council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver said the maximum amount that can be charged would bring in approximately $400,000. If the council wishes to adopt a wheel tax, it needs to be approved by Aug. 31. Continue reading
Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi updated the city council members this week on the progress of the renovations of the city building and the chamber of commerce building.
Bids were opened during the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission meeting last week. The lowest bid was submitted by Michiana Contracting for a total of $2,198,700.
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.
The Plymouth City Council members will gather public comments on a proposal to impose a wheel tax to help bridge a budget gap in 2018 and beyond.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver explained that the bond rating for the 2017 lease rental bonds was an A+, but Standard and Poor noted that the city’s decision to increase public safety salaries with reserves money this year will put the city’s budget in a $500,000 gap for 2018.
To remedy this, it was the Standard and Poor’s recommendation to raise new revenue.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members have quite a few items to discuss when they meet for their regular meeting tonight.
A bid will be awarded for the Richter Road water main extension project and Building Commissioner Keith Hammonds will discuss an order of action of an unsafe building at 1101 W. LaPorte Street. Police Chief David Bacon will talk about parking on the south side of Gibson Street and the members will be ratifying an executive order that restricts parking near the Mayor’s office on Garro Street and the alley. A speed limit change on Webster Avenue will also be presented to the board.
The Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 6 p.m.
The Plymouth City Council this week accepted letters of interest for the Hoham Drive project.
Road reconstruction is expected on Hoham Drive with the addition of a center turn lane, intersection improvements at Hoham Drive and Michigan Street along with Hoham Drive and Western Avenue, curb and gutter work, a controlled drainage system, and sidewalks.
The Plymouth City Council received paperwork concerning Marshall County’s wetland mitigation project and easement. The plan has also been presented to the Plymouth Park Board for approval.
The wetlands area is located at the end of Plum Street and Walnut by the river. The area is part of the county’s Hickory Road bridge project.
Steve Knies from DLZ said the plan includes the planting of trees along with shrubs native to that area. The plan includes a list of over 1,000 native grasses and other vegetation that is included there.
The Plymouth City Council considered a recommendation from Plymouth Fire Chief Rod Miller to purchase a new ambulance.
Chief Miller said two quotes came in after a request was made to gather figures for an ambulance chassis. He reviewed the specifications of each quote and both companies completed the required information on the bid sheets. Chief Miller recommended the lower quote from Crossroads Ambulance Service in Middlebury in the amount of $186,806. The council unanimously approved the quote.
Four bids were received by the Plymouth City Council Monday night for the Richter Road water main extension project.
The lowest bid was submitted by Haskins Underground, Inc. in Plymouth in the amount of $124,605. The highest bid was $257,812 from out of South Bend. The council voted unanimously to take the bids under advisement. They will be reviewed by City Attorney Sean Surrisi, City Engineer Rick Gaul and Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson. A recommendation will be brought before the city council during their next meeting on July 24.
The Plymouth City Council approved additional appropriations to compensate raises for police officers and to fund the city’s match toward the Community Crossings Grant should the city be awarded.
A public hearing concerning the appropriation requests was held with no comments from residents. The city council members went on to approve a resolution that covers the salary increase for the police department and the pension amounts. $10,000 was approved for the increase in pension and $80,000 for the police department salary increase.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety members will meet tonight where bids will be opened for the renovation of the city building.
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.
