City recognizes homes, businesses
for beautification, improvement efforts
Thirteen Grosse Pointe home and business owners were rewarded at this week’s City Council meeting for improving and tending their properties.
Each took home a 2009 city Beautification Award that included a custom-made Pewabic tile and a certificate and photograph of their house or business.
Winners were: John and Monica Barbour, 58-60 Cranford Lane; Bruce and Janice Macritchie, 612 Lakeland; Margot Ness, 615 Lakeland; Timothy and Vanessa Lindow, 753 Lakeland; Craig and Sheri Walworth, 820 Lakeland; James and Holly Kargula, 565 Lincoln; Keith and Susan Jackowski, 801 Lincoln; Cassandra Belenky, 3 Stratford Place; Patrick and Jennifer Dixon, 784 University Place; Charles and Michelle Becker, 315 Washington; and Patrick and Mary Mansfield, 3 Woodland Place; Treasure Trove at 16847 Kercheval Avenue in the Village and Dr. J. Richard Dunlap’s office at 18136 Mack Avenue.
In other business, city council members approved a sign for Pointe Fitness Elite Training for Women in the Village and several contracts for city improvements.
The council awarded a $21,540 bid to James Brothers Nursery to buy trees for a fall planting. The city initiated and coordinated a project with the Shores and Park to jointly purchase the trees in bulk, saving $95 a tree over last year’s costs. One hundred fifteen trees were purchased by the three municipalities; 50 are for the City. The city’s cost portion will not exceed $9,000. The trees will replace those killed by emerald ash borers, Dutch elm disease, traffic accidents and weather damage.
Insurance coverage for all city-owned property including vehicles, contractor equipment and buildings was renewed by the council for the Michigan Municipal League Liability & Property Pool, at a premium cost of $110,972, a slight decrease from last year.
Zuniga Cement Construction Inc. was awarded a $37,999 bid to make a group of intersection sidewalk ramps accessible. The project will allow the city to install tactile surfaces for people with visual disabilities. Also approved by the council was $94,386.75 to Pontiac-based Asphalt Specialist Inc. for resurfacing small sections of Rivard, north of Goethe; Lakeland, north of Charlevoix; University Place, north of Jefferson; and Maumee, west of St. Clair.
Finally, Rio Supply Michigan Meter was approved by the council to replace and update city water meters. The bid of $369,810 was accepted, despite it being the highest, because the Neptune meters were deemed the quietest and most dependable, council members said. About half of the meters in the city are newer Neptune meters and won’t need to be replaced.
“These meters are more efficient and we will recoup our costs in six years,” said city manager Peter Dame. “They require less manpower. We’re making this recommendation, not just based on cost, but on (several) factors.”
