By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Clare City Manager Jeremy Howard introduced the new School Liaison Officer at Monday night’s City Commission meeting. He said:
“After the recent full-time retirement of School Liaison Officer Brian David, the
City began the search for a replacement for that role. After reviewing and interviewing several
candidates, Steven Sentz was selected as the new School Liaison Officer for the City of Clare
to begin work in Clare Public Schools.”
He continued, “Steven is a graduate of Bullock Creek High School and attended Ferris State University where he obtained a degree in Criminal Justice. He served 6 years in the US Army as a Military Police Officer and then worked full-time for the Coleman Police Department and part-time for the City of Clare as an officer for several years. He has served the last 11 plus years with the Clare County Sheriff’s office where he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant.”
“We are excited to have Steven serving the community and the school here in Clare,” Howard said.
In another matter, the EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) DRRGP Grant was supported and approved.
Howard explained, “The City has been working with EGLE on several grant applications
to further the Lake Shamrock Dam replacement project… After working with our dam engineers, GEI, the City of Clare was awarded a $600,000 grant to further the project with funds to be added to current State grants/allocations to complete this important project. We have now received the formal grant award documents from EGLE that require approval by the City Commission to allow us to accept the grant award and proceed with this next portion of the project. The Commission is asked to approve the grant agreement as presented, and authorize the City Manager to sign any and all necessary documents, and the City Treasurer to make any and all budget amendments that may be necessary.”
He added, “The total grant budget for this portion of the dam project (engineering for the next phase in the design and work on the dam) is $670,000. The EGLE DRRGP (Dam Risk Reduction Grant Project) grant will contribute $600,000 of that cost, and the balance of approximately $70,000 is the responsibility of the City as matching funds for the grant. The matching funds will be taken from the $6.8 million grant/allocation for the lake dredging/dam award that we have been using for the overall project.”
In connection with the Shamrock Lake Dam Replacement Project, Howard recommended approval of a change order (amount of $670,000) of the grant funds plus the City match of $70,000, for the next phase of design and work.
Also, the Commission approved the low bid of $108,300 from GEI Consultants of Michigan and award the bid for the Lake Shamrock Dam/Emergency Spillway/Walkway Project, which includes feasibility and design in the first phase, before the final design, construction bidding, construction oversite and construction of the structures.
In other business at the City meeting:
Family Night out is on October 1st with activities, prizes foot and more . Events will be around town and under the tents in the Wood’s Household parking lot.
City Parks and Recreation Director Joy Simmer reported the Recreation Complex Raffle will be hosted by the Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation. The drawing will be October 12. She reported that October 1 will be Community Night Out at the Pere’ Marquette District Library with Magician Gordon Russ.
The Commission heard that there were 32 “runs” in August for the Clare Fire Department.
Howard reported that the Rail-Trail extension is nearing completion with the Trestle Bridge now complete. Paving the first course of asphalt on the unpaved portion of the trail is tentatively scheduled for September 27. After that the whole extension will be paved with a top coat.
Simmer also updated the City on the Pere’ Marquette Rail-Trail extension with a ribbon cutting tentatively planned for October.
Trick or Treat will be held in the City on Thursday, October 31st from 6 to 8 pm. On October 19, Medilodge will hold their Haunted Trail; The annual Pumpkin Run registration will begin at 9 am at Emerald Isle Rec Complex. Tract-or-Treat will be from noon to 2 pm.
The Commission approved the payment of bills totaling $168,835.62.
