By Bruce Rolfe
While the Memorial Day parade and activities that followed were held just two weeks ago in the Village of Climax, the Climax Village Council expressed interest in having a follow up meeting that could help shape the direction for next year.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said the whole point would be to meet with event organizers and anyone in the public to discus what went right and if there were any areas where improvement could be made to reduce liability.
Lewis told the Council and audience at the Council’s regular meeting June 2, he felt having a meeting as soon as possible while discussion points are still fresh in people’s minds was important.
“As a whole, everything went very, very smoothly. I can’t say it was bad, it was just minor little things that caused problems,” said Lewis, who said the Run to Climax went very smoothly after experiencing some issues last year.
“There were a few things that we saw with the parade, that just happened. I’m not sure of what it was that the people who were starting in the parade couldn’t see what happened further down, we may be able to address with them and say, these things occurred. How can we help you or how can you guys set this up to solve some of those issues,” continued the Village Council president.
Village Council Trustee Denise Pyle said a barricade at the corner of Hancock and Main was moved by an individual.
A shortage of parking was also discussed.
Pyle felt in addition to holding a meeting soon, a planning meeting in November might be something to consider as well.
In other items covered at the June 2 Village Council meeting:
• A home is being built on a vacant lot at 329 West Maple Street. The Council unanimously approved a resident fill out a new drive way permit that will be forwarded to Safebuilt, the company that provides ordinance and permit services to the Village.
Council President Bill Lewis stated once the permit has been approved, the resident will have permission to build a driveway in a different location because the existing driveway does not match the planned building layout where the home will be located. The approved motion notes the new driveway cannot interfere with the Village water shutoff valve near the location.
• Lewis said the Council received permits from the railroad if the Village needs to bore under the railroad tracks to replace wire that was damaged from a storm last year. The electric lines that may need replacing impact the village’s water well house.
• Lewis noted he was contacted by a representative from the U.S, Small Business Association about potential low interest loans that might be available to local residents to assist with recent storm damage.
The Village Council president said the Village met with a Safebuilt official about improved communications, noting the Village has enjoyed better communications with the company when attempting to get issues resolved quickly.
Lewis adds the Village discovered fees with Safebuilt for site plans in a couple of incidents were double charged. He said the Village has contacted Safebuilt and the issue has been resolved.
He said the Village now has access to Safebuilt’s system to monitor permit activity, which he said has been helpful.
The Village Council president said the Village still has a few items that need to be closed out with Safebuilt but progress is being made.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning and Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said some residents are still placing leaves out by the side of the road. The DPW does not pick leaves up until October 1 and stops the Monday before Thanksgiving, unless there is snow to remove.
Village residents can use an area in the well field in the Sunnymead Plat for brush, tree limbs and grass clippings.
Kelly said there were about 18-20 residences in the Village where grass height has exceeded the ordinance violation height of 10 inches however that total was down to less then eight.
She reminded the audience and Council a nuissance grass ordinance goes into effect May 1 each year.
Kelly said there are about five addresses where trees have fallen from the storm near the Village right of way and grass is growing higher than the ordinance violation height of 10 inches.
She said the Ordinance Committee continues to work on policy to determine who is responsible for removing downed trees near the Village right of way, the Village or resident.
The chairperson offered a reminder that any residential pool containing 24 inches or more of water requires a permit and must be enclosed by an approved barrier or fence that is at least 48 inches (4 feet) high. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and open outward.
Fence installation requires a zoning permit.
Kelly said residents who have a pool should contact Safebuilt to discus their specific pool size to determine whether a permit is required.
Kelly reminds the public the Village has open hours on Monday and Wednesday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. to discuss concerns or help solve problems.
• It was noted the Climax Township Board will have a trash drop off day July 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scotts Elementary School. Village of Climax residents are eligible to utilize this service. This is a drop off site only.
Household Hazardous Waste, located at 1301 Lamont Street next to the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, is also available free of charge for Village of Climax residents. Residents will have to show identification.
Call 269-373-5211 for items that are accepted and not collected.
Household Hazardous Waste hours are Tuesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month except August and September from 8 a.m. to noon.
While the Memorial Day parade and activities that followed were held just two weeks ago in the Village of Climax, the Climax Village Council expressed interest in having a follow up meeting that could help shape the direction for next year.
Village Council President Bill Lewis said the whole point would be to meet with event organizers and anyone in the public to discus what went right and if there were any areas where improvement could be made to reduce liability.
Lewis told the Council and audience at the Council’s regular meeting June 2, he felt having a meeting as soon as possible while discussion points are still fresh in people’s minds was important.
“As a whole, everything went very, very smoothly. I can’t say it was bad, it was just minor little things that caused problems,” said Lewis, who said the Run to Climax went very smoothly after experiencing some issues last year.
“There were a few things that we saw with the parade, that just happened. I’m not sure of what it was that the people who were starting in the parade couldn’t see what happened further down, we may be able to address with them and say, these things occurred. How can we help you or how can you guys set this up to solve some of those issues,” continued the Village Council president.
Village Council Trustee Denise Pyle said a barricade at the corner of Hancock and Main was moved by an individual.
A shortage of parking was also discussed.
Pyle felt in addition to holding a meeting soon, a planning meeting in November might be something to consider as well.
In other items covered at the June 2 Village Council meeting:
• A home is being built on a vacant lot at 329 West Maple Street. The Council unanimously approved a resident fill out a new drive way permit that will be forwarded to Safebuilt, the company that provides ordinance and permit services to the Village.
Council President Bill Lewis stated once the permit has been approved, the resident will have permission to build a driveway in a different location because the existing driveway does not match the planned building layout where the home will be located. The approved motion notes the new driveway cannot interfere with the Village water shutoff valve near the location.
• Lewis said the Council received permits from the railroad if the Village needs to bore under the railroad tracks to replace wire that was damaged from a storm last year. The electric lines that may need replacing impact the village’s water well house.
• Lewis noted he was contacted by a representative from the U.S, Small Business Association about potential low interest loans that might be available to local residents to assist with recent storm damage.
The Village Council president said the Village met with a Safebuilt official about improved communications, noting the Village has enjoyed better communications with the company when attempting to get issues resolved quickly.
Lewis adds the Village discovered fees with Safebuilt for site plans in a couple of incidents were double charged. He said the Village has contacted Safebuilt and the issue has been resolved.
He said the Village now has access to Safebuilt’s system to monitor permit activity, which he said has been helpful.
The Village Council president said the Village still has a few items that need to be closed out with Safebuilt but progress is being made.
• Ordinance/Zoning/Planning and Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said some residents are still placing leaves out by the side of the road. The DPW does not pick leaves up until October 1 and stops the Monday before Thanksgiving, unless there is snow to remove.
Village residents can use an area in the well field in the Sunnymead Plat for brush, tree limbs and grass clippings.
Kelly said there were about 18-20 residences in the Village where grass height has exceeded the ordinance violation height of 10 inches however that total was down to less then eight.
She reminded the audience and Council a nuissance grass ordinance goes into effect May 1 each year.
Kelly said there are about five addresses where trees have fallen from the storm near the Village right of way and grass is growing higher than the ordinance violation height of 10 inches.
She said the Ordinance Committee continues to work on policy to determine who is responsible for removing downed trees near the Village right of way, the Village or resident.
The chairperson offered a reminder that any residential pool containing 24 inches or more of water requires a permit and must be enclosed by an approved barrier or fence that is at least 48 inches (4 feet) high. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and open outward.
Fence installation requires a zoning permit.
Kelly said residents who have a pool should contact Safebuilt to discus their specific pool size to determine whether a permit is required.
Kelly reminds the public the Village has open hours on Monday and Wednesday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. to discuss concerns or help solve problems.
• It was noted the Climax Township Board will have a trash drop off day July 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scotts Elementary School. Village of Climax residents are eligible to utilize this service. This is a drop off site only.
Household Hazardous Waste, located at 1301 Lamont Street next to the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, is also available free of charge for Village of Climax residents. Residents will have to show identification.
Call 269-373-5211 for items that are accepted and not collected.
Household Hazardous Waste hours are Tuesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month except August and September from 8 a.m. to noon.
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