The Whitehall city council gave unanimous approval Tuesday to a resolution proposed by city manager Dan Tavernier to issue municipal bonds to raise funds for various capital improvement projects in the city.
The bonds would raise an amount not to exceed $8.5 million, which under Tavernier's proposal would be paid for by money that currently goes to the Tax Increment Finance Authority and the Local Development Finance Authority over a period of 10 years. Tavernier said the bond money would "fast-forward our master plan," enabling the city to defray costs of several projects, including the West Colby Promenade, the Lake Street lift station force main, Lake Street resurfacing, resurfacing at the industrial park, a water/sewer rebuild in Swedentown, and others.
"It's a 10-year commitment, but I think it's worth it," Tavernier said.
The approval starts the clock on a 45-day period during which city residents, if they object to the proposal or want to put the issue to a referendum on the ballot, can collect signatures to do just that. The resolution states that 10% of city voters would have to petition the city clerk for a referendum to get one placed on the ballot.
The promenade will be further discussed at a city work session in November after the council unanimously approved doing so. Scott Brown suggested the discussion, saying he was unable to attend the Oct. 14 council meeting at which the bid to approve Clifford Buck as the contractor for the promenade and there were a couple of items (he did not specify which ones) in the plan that he felt were "just a waste of money as far as I'm concerned." Tavernier said approval of the contractor does not preclude the council from making changes to the promenade plan prior to the start of construction if it chooses.
Another unanimous approval was given to forming a committee to discuss the feasibility of leasing or acquiring property on Division Street that houses the Praise Center at the White Lake United Methodist Church. Council member Jeff Holmstrom proposed the committee, saying it could make a good site for the White Lake Senior Center as its current building in Montague is in bad shape. He added that he ran the idea by senior center director Christi Marsh, who approved of the possibility.
Holmstrom said the Praise Center is ideally suited for senior center activities given its kitchen facilities, which could also be used by Meals on Wheels. Other potential uses, he said, would include a satellite office for AgeWell, a new site for the food pantry currently located at Lebanon Lutheran Church, and a second community garden on the property's green space. Pastor Tim Dibble has expressed approval of the city potentially using the property for community benefit rather than for commercial development.
"We're foolish if we don't at least look at it," Holmstrom said.
The council also confirmed its election cycle change previously approved Oct. 14. The city had to host a public hearing to finalize the change, which it did Tuesday. No public comment was received and the change was again approved unanimously.
Council members praised Steve Sikkenga for his service as he sat in on his last council meeting. Sikkenga's term ends this year and he did not seek another term.
Amber Marks of the White Lake Community Garden gave a presentation about the garden's first year, calling it "really successful." The garden hosted several events and was part of the Whitehall Good Neighbor Day dinner. Marks said the garden benefited from over $2,500 of materials donated and have only used $185 of the $1,000 the city contributed to the garden so far. Other collaborators and donors have reached out to support the garden, including an excavating company offering to remove the old tennis courts, pending city approval, and another offering to provide fencing.
Mayor Steven Salter thanked Marks for her work and said he spoke for the entire council in saying it is delighted at the garden's success. The garden hopes to expand its current space in the future, Marks said, if there is enough support to do so.
Ron Russell, during public comment, offered a thank-you to an unnamed Department of Public Works employee who saw him completing some leaf pickup on his lawn and waited to complete his pickup until Russell could add his leaves to the truck, saying, "It might have seemed like a little deal, but to me it was a big deal."
