Group discusses boarded up houses

Flint City Councilman Jim Ananich (Ward 7) told the group a burned house on Gold Street has been demolished and the process is underway for one on Greenfield Street. He said the city has already cleared 1,000 abandoned or fire-damaged homes in Flint. There are 3,000 more that need to be cleared.

Vice President Mike Keeler suggested that picking and choosing which parks to mow could reduce the city's park mowing problems. He suggested mowing a path around the perimeter of some parks to provide walking paths, but leaving some areas uncut.

Candidates for Seventh Ward city council in the Nov. 3 election, Denise Smith-Allen and Dale Weighill, shared their visions for the city.

Smith-Allen, a 30-year resident and probation officer for the circuit court, said her concerns include uniting the Seventh Ward and ensuring that city codes were enforced. Park maintenance was another concern.

"Our young people need a safe place to play," she said.

Weighill, a part-time teacher at Mott Community College and president of Resource Genesee, said he would work with the city council in supporting the new administration to ensure the budget was maintained.

"We don't want to go back to the old ways of spending more money than we've taken in," Weighill said. "I'm looking at neighborhood renewal on a budget," he said.

A neighborhood enforcement team hotline, 237-6812, has been established to allow neighborhood people to report any nuisance. To maintain the caller's anonymity the hotline does not have caller-ID and the police do not have to come to a caller's home. People can also call the MCC Public Safety Office, 762-0222, anytime.

Michael Kelly, MCC public information director, reported current enrollment of about 12,500 students and two new degree-programs beginning in January - an entertainment and media program and a logistics program.

The entertainment and media program will incorporate a new $1.5 million lab using the old Channel 28 television station in the Mott Memorial Building. The logistics program is an inter-modal design aimed at using Flint's unique position in international transportation.

Kelly also reported that the college bought the former Army Reserve Center on Kearsley Park Boulevard from the city for $1.

MCC plans to use the center as a shipping and receiving hub after renovations.

State Representative Lee Gonzales told the group the 2009-2010 state budget negotiations are attempting to deal with the $2.8 billion deficit with spending cuts and federal stimulus money, but no tax increase. Some of the cuts being discussed include Medicare, grants, higher education, correctional facilities and revenue sharing. He said there are hopeful signs for Michigan's economy including the new four-cylinder engine GM will be building in Flint.

The group elected Cindy Robinson treasurer following the resignation of their former treasurer who moved out of the area.

The group will meet next at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the MCC Regional Technology Center Auditorium, RTC 1005.