Council looking to survey streets in Trout River plat
The regular Rogers City Council meeting began Monday morning with a discussion about Bertram Street, which has caused recent controversy. City attorney Mike Vogler gave an update to council members, stating Bertram Street is open to public usage.
?BERTRAM STREET is part of a platted subdivision (1914 plat)?normally dedicated to the use of the public,? said Vogler. ?It is not a developed street, and the driveways were put in by permits issued by the city.? Vogler said, in his opinion, the street is an accepted, dedicated city street. ?There is nothing to stop pedestrians from walking there,? said Vogler. ?It should remain closed to vehicle traffic. The city has not developed it as a street open to traffic.? Council members Deb Greene and Gary Nowak both agreed that the street should be surveyed in order to define where pedestrians could walk. Greene also believed other streets within the Trout River plat should be surveyed to prevent any similar future problems. Council agreed to have city manager Mark Slown look into the cost of conducting three surveys to streets included in the Trout River plat. Slown suggested he investigate any access the city can show a right to that leads to Lake Huron waterfront.
?Numerous pieces of evidence show that the city has control of the property,? said Slown. ?The city controls this property (Bertram Street), and will continue to do so.?
IN OTHER city council news:
? City manager Slown announced three grants Rogers City might be able to benefit from, and that he is looking into. The grants are in market study, fa?ade improvements to the downtown area, and a signature-building grant. Council agreed the grants were great opportunities for the city.
? Birchwood Construction has filed a lien against Federated Properties on the Lakeview Property. Federated Properties has 30 days to respond. Slown recommended the CDA and the city allow the parties involved to settle the issue.
? The Presque Isle County Tourism Council wrote a letter to the city asking for its continued support of the upcoming tourism booklet. This year?s advertisement by the city would cost $1,100. Although council had expected a representative to be present at Monday?s meeting, no one was available to answer their questions regarding the booklet and advertising costs.
? Mayor Beach Hall said he has tried to ?build a bridge? between the city and the tourism council, and could not explain the absence of a representative. Councilman Gary Nowak said he believed the Presque Isle County Tourism Council had ?lost their mission,? and did not approve of spending $1,100 on advertising. The council was divided on what action to take regarding the advertisement. No action was taken at that time.
? City council accepted the Rural Urban Fire Board draft articles of incorporation, with the amendment that any new main fire hall constructed by the authority would be located in Rogers City.
? Council approved a $2,300 request from Anne Belanger regarding the Summer Concert Series for 2007. City manager Slown agreed to ask the CDA to cover half of the expense.