City Council Meeting Notes: Budget Discussion, Resident Water Bills and Farmer's Market Dates Set

Miss Clawson Pageant Winners Present Gift

The Feb. 15 meeting began with a donation to the Friends of the Library presented by the Junior Miss Clawson Elizabeth Kurkowski, Young Miss Clawson Alexis Stuart, and Miss Princess Saveah Peters.

“Thank you very much for your efforts and support for our library,” Mayor Luebs told the girls after they presented a check.

Council Discusses Library Millage and Budget

Later in the meeting, the council voiced their support for a library millage vote on May 3. will ask voters for a 0.3 mill tax increase that will cost the average homeowner an additional $16.30 each year. That calculation is based on an average assessment value of about $100,000 for Clawson homeowners.

City Manager Mark Pollock noted the city’s revenues have dropped roughly $1.2 million in the past year, which for a $7 million budget “it’s very serious,” he said.

“The millage is to support the operations of the library,” he said. “When it began in 2005, the one mil was sufficient to cover the costs, that mil is now about $70,000 short.”

Councilman Tom Palmer noted that the library’s heating bills have dropped this year.

“We increased the size of the library by 40 percent, and the (most recent) gas bill was less than last year, even with the cold weather, so the new windows and insulation appear to be paying off," Palmer said.

Clawson resident Travis Cochran told the council during the meeting he supports the millage for the library if the city’s finances are transparent, and quality services are provided.

“I’m looking at my bills and they’ve all gone up, except my property tax bill, which has gone down,” Cochran said. “I don’t think people should complain.”

Several council members voiced their support for the May 3 millage.

Water Bill Issues

While the city council was on the topic of budgetary issues, Mayor Luebs noted the results of the city’s annual audit.

"We’re doing pretty good, except for our unpaid water bill collection rate is high," Mayor Luebs said.

Mayor Luebs urged residents to pay their outstanding water bills and said the city will start cracking down on water bill scofflaws.

For those who do not pay their water bills, currently, the city turns their invoices over to the Oakland County Treasurer. In turn, the county can impose penalties and attach a lien to the property.

The city gets paid eventually, but losses continue as the city has to pay its own water bill with the City of Detroit Water and Sewage in the meantime.

“Each year, on average, 11 percent of our residents do not pay their water bills,” Mayor Luebs said. “That’s higher than average and we need to enforce the payment of this utility, which is what this is.”

Among the collection options, Mayor Luebs said the city will look at shutting off water service for those who do not pay.

City Attorney Jon Kingsepp said the city would review its ordinances to make sure shutting off water is a legally viable option to help collect on water bills.

Car Show and Farmer's Market

The city council unanimously approved the event application for the Clawson Lions Club "Down on Main Street" Car Show Aug. 13, which will close off the south portion of Main Street from 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

The council also unanimously approved the second year market dates for the Clawson Farmer’s Market to operate at City Park this summer.

The market opens May 22 for a flower day event and will continue July 17 every Sunday through September 18, (though closed on Labor Day weekend). Despite the first year learning curve, Farmer’s Market volunteer coordinator Travis Cochran said he received a lot of positive feedback from the merchants last year and expects an even better season this year.

“They really seemed to like it here and I think that’s a positive reflection on the city, which as many as 80 percent of our customers are from Clawson,” he said. “The vendors also like the paved areas to unload their produce, and they like that it’s very kid and pet friendly.”

Councilman Tom Palmer said he visited the market on several occasions last summer, and despite his concerns about low traffic, he was pleased to hear the positive feedback from the merchants.

Recognizing City Employees

The council acknowledged city employees during their meeting, particularly the Department of Public Works employees, who worked around the clock to clear the streets and city sidewalks during the recent snow storms.

Mayor Luebs also announced the Employee/Volunteer Picnic will be held on June 15 at City Park.

“This is a something we like to do to say thanks and to show our appreciation for all of their hard work,” Mayor Luebs said.