Central Park group discusses city updates, library millage

The Central Park Neighborhood Association June 10 discussed city council updates, a Flint Public Library millage request, a trash abatement program, the Investor's Committee, Sen. Deb Cherry's run for county treasurer and security tips.

City Councilman Dale Weighill said the city received a $1.2 million Mott Foundation grant to fund police foot patrols. Due to the size of the city there would be one on first shift and one on second in the Seventh Ward.

The city's plan wasn't "fully thought through," as it has been three months since the 12-month grant was issued and officers are not yet on patrol, he said.

Weighill said the six blight elimination officers the city committed to hiring by the end of May have not been identified, but an internal tribunal is being created to handle citation appeals. The 68th District Court is backlogged with citation appeals. The tribunal would allow for a 14-day decision period.

The Flint City Council has unanimously made changes to the mayor's proposed budget to cut mayoral appointees and use the recaptured funds for weekly trash pickup, additional law enforcement and to contract with surrounding jails. The city council would likely override any veto by the mayor, but the mayor has "different priorities" and may attempt to pay for appointees through their respective departmental budgets, he said.

Flint Public Library volunteer Jim Richardson asked residents to approve an Aug. 3 millage renewal and increase. The library is asking residents to approve 1.4 mils — .9 mils which are renewal funds. The millage period would be for 10 years.

Richardson said the library gets 90 percent of its funds from the millage. Declining property values mean it will see a 10 percent reduction in revenue even if the millage passes. Richardson said the library reduced 23 percent of staff in 2004 and employees have agreed to no salary increases and to pay 20 percent of their health care costs.

Edwin Custer asked about a merger with the county library system and county residents using the library without paying.

Richardson said the merger would have removed $3 million in funding and two-thirds of library patrons are Flint residents.

The Genesee County Land Bank is not going to achieve its goal of removing trash from all of the lots in the city three times this year, said Community Outreach Coordinator Raynetta Speed. She said trash abatement crews are picking up an average of 12 tons of trash daily using city equipment, but are behind schedule.

President Jerry Rule asked when five neighborhood properties were scheduled for demolition.

Speed said she did not know because arsons are taking priority, but the properties are targeted.

The Investor's Committee Chairman John Freeman said about 20 landlords attended the landlord conference June 5 and discussed making the neighborhood "UM-Flint country" for the expected 147 international students arriving for the coming school year.

Freeman also proposed a food and music festival to be held during September.

Cherry asked residents for support in her campaign to become county treasurer. This is her last term in the senate.

Cherry believes "we can create a community we want to live in." As treasurer, she believes she can help grow the city and attract businesses. She said she has spent 15 of her 30 years of public service working on programs to keep people in their homes. While in the senate, she focused on community health issues and finances.

Cherry represented the Central Park area on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners and previously lived on Crapo Street.

Though the treasurer cannot directly change home values, she said, she could help strengthen housing stock by working with the Genesee County Land Bank.

Debi Splaney distributed a property security checklist and tips on detecting suspicious behavior. She encouraged people to use jagged plants under windows and install motion lights to deter crimes of opportunity. Splaney said the Mott Public Safety Department response time to calls has slowed since the College and Cultural neighborhood increased the use of their services.

The association will meet next at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Court Street Village Neighborhood House, 727 East St.