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.
Today’s the last day on the job for Plymouth Airport Manager Dave Lattimer. He’s retiring after seven years on the job.
The City of Plymouth is a step closer to getting state funding for street improvements. An updated pavement asset management plan was approved by the board of works Monday.
Plans for road maintenance in the City of Plymouth will be considered during tonight’s board of works meeting. Earlier this month, City Engineer Rick Gaul gave board members a preliminary version of a pavement asset management plan. Tonight, he’ll present the final plan for 2017, as well as a five-year plan.
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.
Officers with the Plymouth Police Department will be getting a raise.
Councilmen Don Ecker, Jr., Gary Cook and Bill Walters conducted a wage study with other departments around the area and found that Plymouth isn’t as competitive with wages as surrounding departments. The base salary was one of the lowest in departments comparable to the Plymouth Police Department.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works will discuss a lease of two parking spaces in the southwest corner of the Water Street parking lot when they meet tonight. They will also have reports from the department heads. A request to put a duck crossing sign by the pond at Jackson Heights Road will also be considerd by the board
The Plymouth Board of Public Works will meet at 6 p.m.
The Plymouth City Council entertained a request from David Fortin from The Very Nice People business downtown for a revitalization project.
“We want to reroof the building that is at 101 N. Michigan Street,” said Fortin. “It’s on the northwest corner of the intersection of Michigan and La Porte Street immediately across from the Rees Theater. We have two quotes and the lower one was $63,480.”
The Plymouth City Council was presented a resolution this week that updates a policy from 2004 when the EMS and fire services combined and those employees join the 1977 pension fund.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi said the resolution focuses on civilian paramedics and their specific retirement fund.
The Plymouth City Council members approved an ordinance that could help entice employees to apply for firefighter positions.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi presented a document for approval Monday night that would fix the salaries for fire personnel as well as police officers and appointed officers and employees.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will meet tonight where City Engineer Rick Gaul will have several times for the board’s consideration.
A representative from the Plymouth Community School Corporation will discuss a financial guarantee memorandum of understanding for the football field turf drainage project. The Troyer Group will present a construction contract for consideration. Several work requests of projects in the city’s right-of-way will be offered including several service line installation projects and the installation of a monitoring well.
