On May 19, Mayor Lyons, Jim Bradford and I met with landlords Vicky James and Paul Potter to review the deposit ordinance that has been tabled until the first meeting in July.

The goal was to see if mutual concerns expressed by the landlords and City Council could be worked into a revised ordinance.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it appeared that the following terms would be agreeable:

• Deposits would remain as is:

Home owners

Electric/water/sewer – $200
Electric – $120
Water or sewer – $80

Renters

Electric/water/sewer – $230
Electric – $150
Water or sewer – $80

• Home owners who pay on time for 12 months will get their deposits back.

• All new renters will be required to post an $80/$150/$230 deposit depending upon their level of service (sewer/water only, electric only, or electric/sewer/water). That deposit will be used to offset any unpaid utility bills upon that renter leaving their address of record.

Any balance in excess of unpaid utility bills will be returned to the renter upon leaving their address of record.

• All current renters will be grandfathered in without paying a deposit even if their landlord opts out.

• All future renters’ deposits will be held until their accounts are closed. Interest earned on deposits will be used to help offset losses for uncollected accounts that cannot be placed as a lien on properties.

• If a renter with no deposit gets turned off, they will have to pay a $150/$230 deposit to be turned back on.

Renters with a deposit will be assessed an additional deposit of $50 to be turned back on the first time, $75 the second time and $100 the third time.

• In every reconnect instance, we will assess a $25 fee for our direct out-of-pocket costs.
This is in addition to the $50, $75, $100 additional deposit requirement. There will be no additional deposit requirements after the renter’s deposit reaches a total of $455.

This approach assumes that customers will be good pay and requires a higher deposit only if someone proves they are not a good paying customer.

Under this concept only, the proven highest risk customers will be required to have a larger deposit.

I believe that the approach outlined above is consistent with the goals of the original proposal that came to City Council and will go a long way towards addressing the winter delinquency concerns that have arisen with the new state law regarding winter shutoff.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Vicky and Paul both indicated they thought this was a reasonable proposal that they could support and will be taking this information to additional landlords to get feedback.

At the May 24 City Council meeting, Vicky reported that the landlords had met and were supportive of the proposal as outlined above.

Staff redrafted the ordinance based on the above outline.

Copies will be available for the public in the City Clerk’s office.

327 cited

During the course of the year, significant time is dedicated to making sure properties are being maintained within City Code parameters.

The week before last, the Code Enforcement Department inspected the entire city and cited properties in violation of the city’s Weeds and Grass Ordinance.

This year, 327 properties were cited during the 15 days prior to Memorial Day.

Each property was issued a letter giving a specific time frame in which to bring the property into compliance.

Inspections will continue and follow-up on these citations is ongoing.

Energy-
efficient
light bulb
distribution – free CFLs

The Department of Public Services will once again be distributing energy-efficient light bulbs to residential utility customers as part of the Energy Optimization Program.

Two free Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs are available on a first come-first serve basis to customers who stop by the customer service counter at City Hall.

Quantities are limited, so stop in to City Hall to receive your free light bulbs at your earliest convenience.

CFL light bulb,
battery
recycling

The Department of Public Services is happy to announce it has signed up with Michigan Energy Options to provide a local recycling center for dead CFLs and dry cell batteries.

Dry cell batteries are typical household use batteries (e.g., AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt).
For recycling purposes, CFLs must be placed in a closed plastic bag and dry cell batteries must have the contact points covered with clear tape.
Residents may drop of their dead CFLs and batteries at the customer service counter at City Hall during normal business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

For more information regarding this recycling program and acceptable materials, please e-mail DPS_Service_Request@dowagiac.org or visit www.cityofdowagiac.com.

Update  –
Uneta Street
improvements project

Uneta Street construction is nearly complete, with asphalt pavement scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3 (weather permitting).

Paving operations will be performed by the Cass County Road Commission in our continuing effort to partner in sharing intergovernmental resources.

Thereafter, DPS crews will be completing restoration of the boulevard areas in an effort to get some green grass growing before the new nursing home’s grand opening in mid-June.

Wolf Street
pavement
removed

Department of Public Service crews removed the deteriorated asphalt pavement on Wolf Street.

Potholes continue to overwhelm this failed section of roadway, so temporarily reverting the road to gravel conditions makes sense – at least until reconstruction efforts begin this fall.

The Engineering Division is busy working out details for a new sanitary sewer lift station and gravity feed sewer system to be located along Wolf Street.

The project includes a complete reconstruction of Wolf Street with new asphalt pavement – a much more appropriate gateway to our community’s new Fire Station.

This $300,000 project is funded in large part by an Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement (ICE) grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC).

Pavement removal efforts by city crews will count as part of the city’s local match requirements.

– Kevin Anderson
City Manager