Video: City Council Goal Setting November 15, 2008

This is the first of three and possibly four goal setting sessions. The meeting was led by Joe Ohren, Professor of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University.

Council and City Staff first introduced themselves. The discussion turned to what council and staff have for a vision of Ypsilanti and some of the concerns they have for the continued success of the community. There was a wide range of ideas from cleaner streets, involving EMU, transportation, walking to work, vibrant neighborhoods, regional transportation.

Bill Nickels (Dem, Ward 2) asked the question would EMU be here in 10 years. Bill said no one would ever think that GM would be considering bankruptcy. Fire Chief Jon Ichesco suggested the city reach out to local property owners as they bring a number of new people to the community each year.

Ichesco is correct, the landlord and property management business is the largest private employer responsible for over 500 full time jobs and is the third largest employer behind EMU and Ypsilanti Public Schools.

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Video: Ypsilanti City Council November 10, 2008

This was the organizational meeting of the Ypsilanti City Council held the first Monday after the November election. Three city council members were each sworn in for a four-year term. Lois Richardson (Dem, Ward 1) took the oath of office for to start her third term representing Ypsilanti’s southside.

Two new members also took the dais. Mike Bodary (Dem, Ward 2) from Ypsilanti’s westside replaced three-term council member John Gawlas. Bodary defeated Gawlas in the August primary.

Pete Murdock (Dem, Ward 3) from the city’s eastside bested Rod Johnson who was backed by Mayor Paul Schreiber (Dem) in the August primary. Murdock then beat two independent candidates to win the November election with 67% of the vote. Murdock takes the seat from Brian Filipiak (Dem) who decided not to run for a second term.

Murdock, a former Mayor and city council member, is beginning his fourteenth year on City Council.

But before new council members could be sworn in, MML Director Dan Gilmartin gave the old and new council a presentation on Place.

The biggest change will start this Tuesday as City Council meetings have been moved to 7pm.

During Council proposed business Murdock asked for a resolution to repeal the City Income Tax ordinance and to change the focus of Water Street to consider any proposal for the project that would not be a detriment to the City. This would be a change from previous plans that called for mostly residential condos at the site. Both resolutions are expected to be on the agenda for the November 18th meeting.

Video: Ypsilanti Depot Town DDA Oct 22, 2008

Brian Vosburg, Ypsilanti DDA Director, reminds the board that he still doesn’t have a job description.

Here is the Agenda for the meeting.

IV. Audience Participation
V. Approval of Minutes – September 24, 2008 Regular Meeting*
VI. Old Business
1. DDA Director Time Sharing
2. West Cross Organizing*
3. MDOT Cross St. Streetscape Grant
4. Ballard Lot Renovations
5. Signal Tower Maintenance Work
6. Depot Town Brochure
7. Holiday Lights*
8. Other
VII. New Business
1. Other
VIII. Reports
1. DTDDA Director
2. Financial Report
3. Depot Town Association
4. Depot Town Forward
5. Eastern Michigan University
6. Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse
IX. Announcements
X. Adjournment
* Indicates Action Item

Ypsilanti Twp. Church Choir wins $30,000 in competition

Video from regional competition held September 20, 2008

Burning Bush International Ministries of Ypsilanti Township has won second place in a national church choir competition.

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless, the competition is called “How Sweet the Sound.” The sing-off had narrowed the field of the 78 best chuch choirs in America to 11 finalists.

Burning Bush International Ministries, consisting of 67 singers and five musicians, won the Detroit regional competition held on September 20th in Joe Louis Arena with the song “Pass Me Not”. The Choir took home three awards at the regional competition including overall winner, People’s Choice and Large Category and netting $15,000.

The choir won an additional $15,000 as runner up in the Grand Finale.

Bonita Shelby, Music Department President at Burning Bush said they sang the same song at the finals though they made changes to the song including rephrasing certain parts.

The finals were held in Atlanta’s Phillips Arena over the weekend with an audience of nearly 10,000.

Shelby said the experience was incredible. She said that everyone was treated very well and it was an awesome, once in a lifetime experience.

Shelby said the money will be used at the church to continue their work of ministry and mission work.

Shelby said, “Great things are coming out of Ypsilanti and they were honored to represent the entire community at the competition.”

Ypsilanti City launches new website

The City of Ypsilanti unveiled a new website today. The site is largely unchanged from the previous site with most menu choices and navigation links the same as before.

New additions include a montage of photos across the top and left side of the screen. Five of the eight photos feature buildings or events on Cross Street and Depot Town.

The site appears to be a work in progress as some links are not working and the site has problems with larger high resolution monitors.

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