05-17-2018 Hartford Schools holds special session for marketing consultation; Medical marijuana sit

Hartford Schools holds special  session for marketing consultation

By Jon Bisnett The Hartford School Board departed from the traditional workshop meeting format on Thursday, May 3 to host a joint meeting to hear an introductory presentation by King Media as to how a community marketing program might benefit the school, city and community at large. King Media

HARTFORD VISIT… Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (right) is greeted by Hartford High School Principal Dave Janicki during his Wednesday morning stop to address students on the Jobs for Michigan Grads program. Looking on (center) is Marian O’Neill, a member of Schuette’s entourage. Read more about the visit to Hartford in next week’s Tri-City Record. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Owner Colleen King joined by Marketing Coordinator Amanda VanLente presented a step by step approach to the marketing and rebranding techniques their company employs to reach goals identified by their clients in the interview process. King’s career in media sales led her to create her own firm to provide comprehensive services to her client base which includes many familiar names such as Tabor Hill, Lakeshore High School and the Michigan Association of School Boards. It also includes several state agencies like Michigan Works, Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University. Community marketing Representatives from the City of Hartford and Chamber of Commerce were in attendance. Hartford Township chose to opt out of even the introduction to the possibility of a joint community-wide campaign. King and VanLente were steadfast in the need for a complete buy-in by all components of any given community to sustain a successful marketing effort. They cited challenges faced within the Lakeshore School District and the rebranding strategies they applied to reunite a splintered group of stakeholders into a single forward vision. Following the meeting Mayor Rick Hall commented, “It’s going to take the entire community’s involvement to make such a campaign successful. It’s equally clear that change won’t happen overnight but with persistence in mind I’m optimistic for the future of Hartford.” Superintendent Report Superintendent Andy Hubbard closed the meeting with an update on the ongoing water issues at the Redwood campus saying that the decision to close all schools when the Redwood Gym/Multi-Purpose Room flooded was based on both transportation concerns and the local dynamic that many younger siblings are cared for by their older brothers and sisters. Also since over a third of the district students attend Redwood, the day would not have counted in the eyes of the state. Hubbard planned an appeal to the Michigan Department of Education for a special exemption for the recent day lost. Without such, the last day of school would be Monday, June 18. (Note: That appeal was indeed successful which now makes the final day of school Friday, June 15 with a half day.) Work is still in process to secure a solution on the part of both the architectural firm and construction manager. Hubbard hopes to have the permanent fix completed in the first few weeks of the summer break.

Medical marijuana site discussion will be continued by Watervliet planners Monday

By Annette Christie The Watervliet City Planning Commission will continue their discussion and debate on the subject of medical marijuana at their upcoming meeting on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. At their April meeting the Planning Commission packed City Hall as possible business owners, interested in property in the City of Watervliet, provided information to the public in attendance as well as the Planning Commission. Up until now, city officials have not taken a stand on the subject; however, with interest now in a vacant building it seems appropriate that the Planning Commission should come to some kind of consensus on the subject. While they may make a recommendation one way or the other, the ultimate decision making lies with the City Commission. Mark Smith, owner of The Green Door in Bangor spoke to the audience and the Planning Commission about the process before and after his business opened in December 2017. The Green Door is a provision center, or in a sense, a retail location. He and his business partners are planning on establishing a grow facility in Bangor as well. The question before the Planning Commission is whether or not to allow or “opt-in” for the purposes of having one or more types of businesses approved by law in the State of Michigan regarding medical marijuana. There are five different types of licenses that are allowed by statute: transportation, lab, provision center, grow facility, and processing where they make products like edibles. Municipalities across the state have the choice of opting in to allow these types of businesses in their communities or opting out. The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation (common spelling marijuana), a division of the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has produced an unofficial list of the communities that have opted in for Berrien County: Buchanan, Galien Township, Niles, and the Village of Eau Claire are listed and in Van Buren County: Bangor, Hartford, Porter Township, and the Village of Breedsville are listed. Included in the decision-making authority of the local municipality, also lies the choice of restricting or limiting the types of those businesses and the number. The next Planning Commission will be held on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Watervliet City Hall.

Girl Scout raises funds for start of Coloma Township dog park

By Annette Christie In line with her projected time frame, Coloma Township resident Caleigh Dahn has raised the funds needed to start a dog park in Coloma Township. She is undertaking the project in an attempt to obtain her Girl Scout Gold Award. Dahn told the board at their May 9 meeting that she has raised $10,000 to get started on the project to be a part of Washington Park, owned by the Township. The plans will be presented to the township as required and she is still on target for the grand opening to occur during the Glad-Peach Festival.

Local Girl Scout presented dog park project to Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club On Wednesday, April 21, 2018 the Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club hosted Caleigh Dahn as their speaker for the day. Caleigh, 16, is a Girl Scout and student at Southwestern Michigan College, and is working to create an area dog park on the site of the demolished Washington Elementary School in Coloma. She is working towards her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, with this project. Her mission is to create a safe environment for canines and their humans where both may enjoy a safe, happy and healthy life. This park named Amicus Dog Park (Amicus being Latin for “friend or companion”) is meant to be a safe and secure dog friendly environment that both locals and tourists may enjoy. By having both communities, Coloma and Watervliet, use the park will “build a pleasant atmosphere for the park and all who enter it.” To say that Caleigh impressed Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club with her passion, vision and work ethic is an understatement according to the club.

Public Safety Millage Increase In other business, the Coloma Township Board rescinded a previous approved action from the December meeting. In December 2017 the Coloma Township Board approved asking voters for their support of an additional 2-mill public safety millage. The township currently has one millage of 4.75 for public safety that expires in 2020. Police Chief Jason Roe had previously presented a very detailed and thorough public safety millage proposal for the Coloma Township Board at their October meeting. The Coloma Township Police Department was founded in 1969 and was initially a part-time department until the mid-70s when it became a full service 24/7 department. The cost of providing the police services was funded through the general fund until 1979 when due to public outcry, a special police millage was approved. The first police millage passed by a nearly two-to-one margin. In 1992, a millage increase was necessary. Initially, it was not approved by voters. Due to public response, it was placed on a second ballot and then passed. The separate police millage and fire millage have joined into a public safety millage with the police department receiving 83%. The two departments have operated through the millage funds coupled with general fund money. The public has supported the public safety millage at the polls every four years since 1992. Other factors have affected the incoming funds of both the general fund and the millage funds; the general fund due to the decreased revenue sharing and the millage funds because of decreased taxable values which the millage rate is based on. While the township and the police department has made concessions such as consolidating positions and pay freezes for the police department they are not sustainable. Based on budget projections, the projected revenues will not meet the projected expenses by the 2018/2019 budget year under the current funding model in place. Roe recommended a proposed millage increase that would make both the police and the fire departments sustainable and would provide a long term solution. Roe states, “The data shows that due to several factors, most of which are out of township and police department control, it will be necessary to seek additional millage funding to sustain the current Coloma Township Police Department professional service levels.” Roe said that the additional millage funding will allow the police and fire departments to continue to sustain at least 30 more years. When the board originally approved asking for a millage increase, there was some back and forth conversation of how much to ask for. Some trustees believed that 1.5 is what would pass and Roe told them then that it would be the minimum in his opinion. The board voted to put the issue on the ballot in August and ask for 2-mill. However, at this meeting, the board voted to rescind the 2-mill request and approved a 1.5-mill request instead. The people of Coloma Township will be asked to approve it for the future of the police and fire departments to sustain.