City Council to review SMCAS resolution tonight

Published 12:30 pm Monday, July 14, 2008

By Staff
NILES – Among the action items at tonight's meeting of the Niles City Council, council members will take under consideration a special assessment resolution for the Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS).
The resolution outlines a cost of $20 per occupied parcel over a period of eight years. The assessment for SMCAS is normally set for a period of just four years. With the current state of the economy, however, supporters of the special assessment say that by adopting the resolution, the costs per parcel are locked in not to exceed $20 – even as gas prices continue to rise and the economy continues to suffer.
Though the idea is to lock the limit of $20 in – should SMCAS find themselves in financial hardship – they actually would still be able to go back to the six municipalities needed for approval to ask for an increase in that amount. The resolution has already been by the Niles Charter Township board with a vote of 4:3.
Also on the council's agenda for today, members will consider approval for a "Cruise-In" car show to be held on Saturday, July 26. The show would be the first and would run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The request comes from the Downtown Development Authority and Niles Main Street. Barricades and electric service would be needed for the event.
Also up for approval, a request to purchase wood poles for the Electric Division at a total of $9,920, as well as approval for 7,500 feet of underground primary cable, a total of $12,232.50.
Finally, the council will take under consideration the appointment of Bill Thislethwaite to the Downtown Development Authority. Thislethwaite would serve a term of four years beginning immediately and expiring in December of 2012.