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Council Corner
The Council Corner is a monthly newsletter in which our elected officials communicate news and events to residents in an effort to ensure a well informed community. Village staff also provide updates and information regarding all municipal services via the newsletter.
Current Issue
Council Corner
January 2012
Where has time gone? It seems that I
greeted you with a “Happy New Year” just
yesterday, and now it is time say “Happy New
Year” again! May the year 2012 hold many
wonderful things for you and your family.
Many things have been happening within the
Village this past year. I will try to
highlight a few of those events in the
following paragraphs.
This past June, we said goodbye to long-time
employee, Betsy Brooks, who spent over 23
years with the Village in various
capacities. While her duties were many,
including Village Clerk, Betsy was a
wonderful employee who knew the Village &
cared about the people and the employees.
She is deeply missed by Village staff, and I
am sure by many of the residents, who she
would greet with her smile when they visited
the office. Betsy and her husband are
enjoying each other traveling and busy with
family. We wish Betsy the very best.
Mr. Tim McLean, who is now the Assistant to
the Village Manager, was hired to fill
Betsy’s position. Tim comes from the Grand
Rapids area via Bowling Green State
University & a stint with the City of Troy.
We welcome Tim to the community, and we wish
him well.
The DDA (Downtown Development Authority) &
Village Council have approved reconstruction
of the downtown parking lot behind the
stores on the North side of US 12. Bonds
will be issued for the reconstruction, and
work should begin by early spring. The DDA
has also approved a water splash pad for the
G. Carl Fast Park. This should be in place
by mid-summer.
The DDA & the Jonesville American Legion
worked together making improvements to the
GAR memorial & new flagpole in the G. Carl
Fast Park. Rededication was this past
Veteran’s Day, November 11th.
The former Kiddie Brush & Toy building lies
within the DDA district. The DDA, along
with the Village Council, have been working
with a developer from Ohio on the possible
redevelopment of the building. If approved,
the building would be completely renovated,
allowing 46 units affordable housing units,
some for senior housing, and some for 1 & 2
bedroom family housing. Through June, July
& August, presentations were made to the DDA,
Planning Commission & Council. The site
plans were approved. In August, MSHDA
reviewed projects throughout the State, and
the Jonesville project missed the cut. The
developer will be resubmitting the project
to MSHDA in February again for review. We
are hopeful that The State will approve the
project this round. If approved,
construction should start within one year.
Our LDFA (Local Development Finance
Authority) and council approved several IFT
(Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption
Certificates) which gives industrial
businesses a 12-year tax credit on funds
invested. IFT’s were issued to Martinrea,
Jonesville Paper Tube, Alphi Mfg, and
Jonesville Tool & Mfg, for significant
investment. Martinrea also received a
significant tax credit from the State of
Michigan. These companies are reinvesting in
our community. Martinrea is now one of the
largest employers in Hillsdale County.
Significant investment was made by the State
of Michigan with the reconstruction of US 12
from Village limits East to West, along with
M-99 North to South. The Village also
reinvested significant dollars with the
reconstruction/resurfacing of Murphy, Case,
Craig, Franklin, Fayette, and Bowman
Streets.
One of the council’s main goals this past
year was to look at Cityhood for
Jonesville. An independent committee was
established to review the possibility. After
months of review, the committee presented
their findings at the October Council
meeting, supporting Cityhood. They cited the
following advantages:
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Streamline Government for Village
residents so they only deal with one
Government, not two. This eliminates
the double tax duplication of services.
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Residents, businesses, and property
owners
will no longer pay Township taxes.
Property tax bills will be reduced
by.9011 mills.
-
City assumes responsibility for
assessing property, preparation of tax
roll, collecting taxes, and elections.
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City retains the existing 1% tax
administrative fee, to cover the cost of
those additional responsibilities.
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Continue to collaborate with surrounding
business and units of government.
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With incorporation, residents are able
to develop their own city charter to
meet current and future needs of
government.
The Village Council is in full support of
this activity, and invites the residents of
the community to review the brochure
“Village to City Incorporation Information
Sheet”. One can be picked up at the Village
Hall, or by contacting any of the Village
Council members.
In September, after the suggestion of the
Village Manager, the Village Council was
introduced to “Sustainable Energy Financing,
LLC” to review the possibility of using
solar electricity at our Waste Water
Treatment Plant. A review of this
possibility will be forth-coming at our
January Village Council Meeting.
A very important part of our community is
our summer recreation program. The program,
run by Mrs. Cindy Means, had over 400 young
people involved in the program this past
year. We are told that this program is the
largest in the county with kids coming from
various locations throughout Hillsdale
County.
Finally, enough cannot be said about the
Village staff. Our Village Manager and
staff have been very busy this past year
with all the projects, but many are also
behind the scenes, keeping an eye on your
local tax dollars. We are blessed to have a
wonderful group of people working for the
Village. They care greatly about our
community, and it shows in their everyday
efforts in the operation of the Village.
As I did last year, I invite you to contact
any of the department heads of the Village.
We encourage you to take a tour of the Waste
Water Treatment Plant or the Department of
Public Works. Visit with the Village
Manager & staff at the Village Hall, as all
would be more than happy to share about
their activities.
We invite you to take an active part in your
community by getting involved in many of the
organizations that help Jonesville be the
wonderful community it is. Rotary, Lions
Club, JABA, PTA, American Legion, or one of
the many churches!
This truly is a wonderful place to live,
work, and play.
Wishing you all the very best for 2012.
Bob Snow
Village President
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