Plymouth Airport Manager Addresses Hazard Regarding Geese

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Plymouth Airport Manager Bill Sheley asked the city council this week for an exception in its firearm laws in order to address the hazards geese pose at the airport.

He noted that the birds cause a serious danger to aircraft due to the possibility of a mid-air collision. Sheley said the airport has maintained a federal migratory bird depredation permit for several years. The permit allows the airport manager to eliminate the threat of geese. Sheley said he is unable to take any geese as the airport is in the city limits and there is an ordinance regulating the discharge of firearms in the city limits.

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Urban Chicken Ownership Request Submitted to Plymouth City Council

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council received a request to allow urban chickens on properties within the city limits.

The current city ordinance prohibits chickens in city limits.

City Attorney Sean Surrisi said there were some property owners years ago who housed chickens on their property and the ordinance had to be enforced. It was then when a similar request came before the council, but several residents complained about having them in the city.

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Plymouth City Council Approves Building Lease

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
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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Plymouth BOW, City Council to Meet Tonight at Alternate Location

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will open quotes for a crack seal project and discuss the final change order for the Plymouth-Goshen Trail water main extension project when they meet tonight. They will also approve a resolution regarding Halloween and designating surplus property for sale at auction. The members will also receive an update on the Fourway computer product tower equipment.

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 6 p.m.

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Renovation Causes Relocation of City Meetings

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

The renovation of the Plymouth City Building on Michigan Street is set to begin soon. Once the state approves the paperwork, environmental testing will start.

The renovation project will prompt the relocation of city meetings. The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the Plymouth City Council meetings will be held at the Plymouth Fire Department Training Classroom beginning Sept. 11. Those attending are asked to use the entrance on the south side of the Plymouth Fire Department building at 111 N. Center Street.

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Plymouth City Council Approves Two Ordinances, Resolution

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Plymouth City Council members did approve two ordinances and a resolution on Monday night.

An ordinance to annex approximately one acre into the City of Plymouth was unanimously approved on second and third readings. The Weir family is annexing a portion of their property on Lake Avenue into the city in order to put all of the parcels into the city limits. The eastern portion of the property is in the county’s jurisdiction. The family hopes to sell the house that’s on the property and use the rest of the property for a proposed daycare facility.

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Municipal Excise Surtax, Wheel Tax Ordinance Dies

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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 BOW/Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

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.

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Supportive Housing Project Proposed for Plymouth

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.”

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Plymouth City Council Discusses Salary Ordinance

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Plymouth City Council to Meet in Special Session Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

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.

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Plymouth City Council Holds Public Hearings

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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.

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Plymouth City Council Holds Public Hearing on Wheel Tax, Excise Surtax

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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 →

Plymouth Council to Hold Wheel Tax Public Hearing, BOW to Meet

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

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 →

City Attorney Updates Council on City Building Renovation Project

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Plymouth City Building

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.

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Plymouth City Council Considers Proposal to Vacate Water Street

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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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