Ferndale to hire Bruner away from City

(December 31, 2006) The City Council of Ferndale, Michigan has voted to hire Robert “Bob” Bruner Jr. as their new City Manager. Bruner, 30, is currently the assistant city manager for the City of Ypsilanti and is also the human resource director.

Bruner said he expects to start his new job in about four weeks. Bruner is expected to get about $100,000 a year plus a car and other benefits. Bruner said he is currently making $64,000 a year at the City of Ypsilanti.

Bruner is the 11th department head or manager to leave the City of Ypsilanti in the last 30 months. Managers that have left include Former Assistant City Manager Shannon Stumbo Bellers, Human Resources Director Shari Kirby, and Public Works Director Harry Hutchison. Former Police Chief George Basar retired to become Police Chief in Howell. Fire Chief Jim Roberts is leaving in January 2007 to become fire chief in Superior Township.

Also jumping ship were the chief architects behind the Water Street Project, Jenifer Goulet and Megan Gibb. Goulet who was the Downtown Development Authority Director and before that Planning Director took a job in Chelsea. While former Planning & Development Director Megan Gibb left for a planning job in Portland, Oregon.

Former HR director Bill Johnstone parted ways before his probation period was up and City Clerk Cherry Lawson, who recently resolved her legal dispute with the City of Ypsilanti, quit to become Clerk in Sedona, Arizona. While not a manager, long time City Assessor Carole Claire, also retired this year.

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Ferndale unanimously selects city manager
Ferndale hires new city manager

Is there a glut of condos in SE Michigan?

(December 30, 2006) According to a recent real estate report, Southeast Michigan is being slammed with a glut, they even call it a bloat, of condo developments.

Mark Gilman wrote in the December edition of RealView that “the inventory of unsold condos is far exceeding the inventory of unsold homes in Michigan. For example, in the Downriver area there is a 20-month supply of condos – about 500 existing condos and 164 new construction units — compared to an 11-month supply of homes on the market.”

What is the effect on Ypsilanti? It could be one of the drivers for Freed pulling out of Water Street. However Gilman points out that Condo sales and interest in downtown living is strong in Ann Arbor because for too long, the only housing options were rentals.

Gilman quotes Shawn Nelson, president of the Down River Association of REALTORS when she says, “The builders may only list one or two units, but they may have a 28-unit supply they’re trying to sell on their own.”

The article goes on to say, “In the Downriver area, Nelson attributed much of today’s condo glut to the building boom of several years ago when builders were trying to get the most bang for the buck on expensive land they purchased.”

Gilman tells readers that fifty percent of the previously-owned condo inventory was built in the past three years, and list prices for condos are down 10-20 percent from those of two years ago.

Click on the link to read the rest of Gilman’s article.

Oasis Cafe to close

(December 29, 2006) Ypsilanti is losing another downtown business as Oasis Cafe is set to close at the end of the year. Joy Inkton, manager of Oasis, said, “It has been a really tough year and half.” Long time customers have been stopping by over the past week to say good bye.

Oasis Cafe originally opened in 2000 and was managed by Paul Metler. Oasis was famous for their Cuban sandwiches and Caesar Salad. Struggling to make ends meet, it closed in 2004. After retooling the menu and redecorating, it was reopened in June of 2005.

Oasis Cafe was operated by Hope Clinic and Prayer Outreach Worship Education and Restoration. The building is owned by Hope Clinic. Besides food, Oasis Cafe was the very first business in Ypsilanti to offer free wireless Internet service to patrons.

In 2003, Oasis Cafe was profiled in a Eastern Echo story that talked about their mission of serving people and the community. Oasis Cafe was the central location of the 2006 Ypsilanti Christmas Dinner put on by Leonardo Christian. Serving hundreds of meals, police even closed off the street and over a thousand toys were given away to local families. Hope Clinic has not announced any plans for the building.

Ypsilanti Fire Chief to retire and take post in Superior Twp.

(December 15, 2006) Long time Ypsilanti Fire Chief James “Jim” Roberts will be retiring from the city of Ypsilanti Fire Department in January 2007. Chief Roberts began with the Ypsilanti fire department in 1969 as a fire fighter and has been with the city for 37 years.

It is expected that Chief Roberts will be confirmed as the new Fire Chief for Superior Township on Monday, December 18.

William “Bill” McFarlane, Superior Township Supervisor told YpsiNews.com the Superior Township administrative staff had unanimously recommended Chief Roberts to replace outgoing Fire Chief Garvin Smith. Smith is retiring after being a fire fighter for 50 years.

Roberts will begin work on February 1, said McFarlane. There would be an overlap of one month as Roberts transitions into the job. Outgoing Chief Smith will retire on March 1, 2007.

McFarlane had high praise for Roberts. “Chief Roberts is well respected in the county,” said McFarlane. “We had nine candidates interested in the position and from everyone we spoke with, we heard nothing but accolades for Chief Roberts.”

Superior Township has nine full time fire fighters. The chief and fire marshal are part time employees, each working 20 hours per week. Ypsilanti has 23 full time fire fighters plus a full time fire marshal and chief.

Roberts is the 10th department head at the City of Ypsilanti to retire or leave the city in the past 30 months. The planning director, the DDA director, the police chief, two HR directors, the DPW director, the City clerk, the assistant city manager, and several other key employees in the clerks office, DPW, police department, and assessors office have all recently left the city.

Ypsilanti is struggling with continued budget problems, the stalled Water Street project, continued problems at the Housing Commission, the threat of Visteon/ACH leaving in 2007, and an exodus of department managers and senior employees from the city.

The City of Ypsilanti’s solvency plan calls for cutting three fire fighter positions in 2008. Ypsilanti Council will be meeting on Saturday to begin work on the 2007-2008 budget.

Assistant City Manager Bob Bruner could be the 11th manager to leave Ypsilanti. Bruner is scheduled for a final interview on Saturday, December 16, with the City of Ferndale. Bruner is one of six candidates competing to be Ferndale’s next city manager. Ferndale is expected to make their announcement on a new city manager as early as Monday, December 18.

Links
Superior Township Fire Department
City of Ypsilanti Fire Department

Ypsi High Coach inducted into Hall of Fame

Track and Field Coach Tom “Mick” Micallef will be inducted into the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Hall of Fame in February 2007. Micallef has been coaching track at Ypsilanti High School for 27 years and is one of five Michigan coaches to be honored.

This is the third year for the ceremony and inductees are determined on a point scale, in part determined by longevity of service and the success of the program on the local, regional and state level. The YHS girl’s track team has been state champions numerous times, most recently in 2000, 2004 and 2005.

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