May 29, 2015
ZINNIAS
Today is the Zinnia distribution day. We have distributed over 200 tickets to residents
for flats of flowers. We expect by the end of the day to have 210 flats distributed to
citizens and another 30 to be used in City Parks and grounds.
DOWNTOWN FLOWERS
The pots of flowers are expected to be delivered on Monday.
SIDEWALK PROGRAM
The sidewalk replacement is underway across the community. This is a scattered site
fix to keep the overall existing sidewalks in good order.
BIDS
Bids have been received for the water line under the Maple Street Bridge (part of the
Baldwin bridge replacement project). These bids were substantially under the
engineer’s estimates.
Bids were also received for the Perry Street Water Tower Painting. They were also
under the engineer’s estimates.
The final bids this week was for the operation of the SCADA system at the water and
wastewater plants. These bids were in the form of ‘requested proposals’ and are still
being analyzed not only for low cost but also for credentials for the computer
technology.
POLICE UNION
Both the Officer and Supervisory unit contracts expire December 31, 2015. Staff met
this week to review positions to be suggested to the units for a more effective operation
of the Department of Public Safety. From the administration side, this would appear to
be the shortest list of suggested changes in over 20 years. Negotiations will likely
formally begin in the August/September time frame.
MECOSTA OSCEOLA TRANSIT AUTHORITY
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Thanks to the leadership of MOTA manager Ron Schallow, the MOTA board has
offered a comprehensive contract for MOTA and DART to work together. MOTA is
actually beginning a service of called response in the area around Big Rapids. They are
asking for permission to deliver their residential customers anywhere in the City and in
return offer DART the ability to take City residents anywhere in the MOTA territory.
They are also offering to, at busy times, to assist the City and the City assist MOTA to
provide the best service for residents! Another mutual aid victory for the residents of
Mecosta County!
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
The Police Division responded to 72 calls for service over the past week. There were
no real calls of significance. On Memorial Day the local honor guard took part in the
Memorial Day Parade and service. Over the past week, members of the Police Division
have had training on the new 800 MHZ radios.
The Fire Division responded to 26 calls for service over the past week. Nothing
significant in nature to report.
PARK AND RECREATION
Water Aerobics began this week. New summer hours for the morning water aerobics
class is 9 am -10 am Mon, Wed, Fri at the Student Recreation Center at Ferris State
University.
The IT department and Public Works have been working on the Bandshell to get power
to the Wi-Fi connection and security cameras in that portion of the Riverwalk and
Bandshell. This effort has been supported by the Muskegon River Safety through the
Jaycee’s.
The Charles E. Fairman Community Pool was cleaned and has been getting prepped
for opening on June 8. We are looking forward to another successful season with Pat
Horan directing the pool. Attached is the pool schedule.
Summer programs and special events will be inserted in this month’s water bills.
CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
Violations:
(7)
(1)
(4)
(2)
(1)
Blight
Garbage & Rubbish
Parking
Property Maintenance
Yard Waste
(6) Furniture
(27) Grass & Weeds
(3) Poly-cart Placement
(28) Signs
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PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
DIAL-RIDE –
229 Adult Riders - ($2.00 Fare)
400 Children Riders - ($1.00 Fare)
777 ($1.00 Fare) - Seniors (185) and Disabled (592) passengers of which 200 used the
wheelchair lift to board
78 Free Riders - Aides that ride with disabled passengers and children 4 and under
with an adult
54 No Shows - A person who calls for a ride and when we go to pick up and they are
not there for ride
0 Safe Riders - Free rides from local establishments to anyone in the community on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights 12:00 am to 2:30 am. Safe Ride ended May 2nd.
0 Ferris Shuttle Bus – Free rides to anyone on Campus, The new route has nine stops
on campus- Lot 28, Allied Health, Campus Community Center, Sports Complex, Lot 4,
Rock Cafe', Recreation Center, University Center, Arts and Science, 7:30 am -7:00 pm.
Ferris last day was May 8th.
1,538 Total Passengers
461 Out of City Riders - Anyone we pick up or drop off outside the Big Rapids City
Limits
STREETS & PARKS –
Safety Topic: Accident Prevention Manual, continued #10 “Materials
Handling - part 1”
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Sweeping streets
Grading alleys
Repaired electric box in Mitchell Creek Park
Dug out blacktop on Riverwalk
Black dirt new path on Riverwalk
Put up banner on S Warren and Maple
Filled tree hole
Installed handicap signs at Dog Park
Sawed parking lot at Wastewater Plant for new line
Cut trees at Bandshell and behind Dairy Queen
Painted historical sign post at Swede Hill
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Hauled scaffling and monument panels to Mitchell Creek
Put up barricades for parade
Put up flag holders
Cleaned drains
Set out Farmer’s Market signs
Checked and jetted sewers per normal daily and call ins
Opened and cleaned public restrooms each day
Mowing and weed cutting
Prepped ball fields
Picked up trash downtown and in parks
MOTOR POOL –
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Pickup Trucks:
 217 pickup truck, installed ladder rack on the topper
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Miscellaneous & Equipment:
 301 street sweeper, replaced rear motor fuel pump, and replaced belly broom
 306 tractor, removed rear 3-point hitch valve and cylinder assembly to
replaced broken spool valve
 314 roller, serviced
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Busses:
 903, replaced outer barrier pressure switch and threshold pressure switch on
the wheel chair lift
 904, serviced and did a safety inspection
 906, serviced and did a safety inspection, repaired switch in steering column
 909, serviced and did a safety inspection. Replaced a tail light and adjusted
wheelchair lift
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Police & Fire Vehicles:
 401 police car, serviced
 404 police car, serviced
 1-1 fire truck, serviced
MAIN MAINTENANCE 
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MISS Digs
Miscellaneous reads
WATER –
Safety Weekly: Dog Safety
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Treated 7 million gallons of drinking water this last week
Helped the Treasures Office read water meters
Filled a customer tanker
Ran guest samples in our lab
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Lubed the fluoride pump. This pump uses a special silicon lubricant and
experience has taught us that it needs lubricating more often than what the
manufacture normally recommends.
Made lab reagents
Maintained the lawn at the plant and sub stations (wells & Mitchell Creek)
Trouble shot a communication problem with the Mitchell Creek pump station. A
radio reset seems to have cleared the problem.
Stephen Sobers
City Manager
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