Ypsilanti City wants $820,000 refund on fire truck

(Photo courtesy Darrell Harden / darrellharden.com)

Ypsilanti City Manager told City Council in a letter dated December 2, 2008, that the city attorney has asked the manufacturer of the new aerial fire truck to take back the truck and return the cash. In the letter, City Manager Ed Koryzno told council:

Update regarding Aerial Fire Truck: The City Attorney has sent correspondence to KME, the manufacturer of the truck, and requested they take back the truck and provide us with our cash. As of this date, we are still awaiting a response on what action they plan to take.

The truck had a rocky start. After ordering the truck, the City learned it would not clear the doors at the city’s only fire station. The city paid nearly $30,000 to modify the station house so the truck would fit.

The trucks manufacturer, KME, was over 6 months late in delivering the truck requiring the city council to modify the purchase agreement to allow late delivery and avoid penalties.

The truck was finally delivered nearly a year ago.  Fire officials said the truck was not usable until April 2008, nearly four months after delivery. Even after entering service in April, because of continued problems, the city says the truck has not “serviceable for thirty consecutive days since delivery December 21, 2007.”

In October 2008, the city manager told council:

Aerial Fire Truck Update: We have had issues with the new fire truck and Chief Ichesco reports that the KME Aerial Platform (Tower-1) returned to service on October 1, 2008, with several defects that will require returning the truck to KME’s service provider R & R Fire Apparatus Repair. Tower 1 has not been serviceable for thirty consecutive days since delivery December 21, 2007. In fact, staff could not use the truck until April of 2008. Staff experienced multiple computer control and micro switch failures, engine control failure, and including the wrong coolant in the system causing a shut down. We gave KME 30 days from October 1, 2008 to correct all defects, make the truck serviceable, and comply with the agreement. If the truck cannot be corrected within the 30 days, we expect KME to take possession of the truck and return the $820,000 to the City so that we may find another truck. We rely on Ann Arbor Fire (first priority) and Pittsfield Fire Department ( second priority) for coverage during down time. Ann Arbor would respond based on dispatch information and Pittsfield response is mutual requiring confirmation prior to activation.

Grocery store coming to Water Street

Sources at Washtenaw County have told YpsiNews that plans for an Aldi Foods grocery store, Burger King, and a 1-story strip mall on Michigan Avenue are being finalized for the struggling Water Street project.

Aldi already has stores in Canton Township and Westland.

Burger King is expected to relocate from their store on East Michigan in Ypsilanti Township. No other tenants have been discussed.

The Water Street property had been divided into several smaller parcels for sale with the hope that it could attract interest in the project. Terms of the sale and the size of the parcel purchased have not been disclosed.

Water Street is 38 acres along US-12/Michigan Avenue and the Huron River in Downtown Ypsilanti. The City owes nearly $18 million on the project and has spent some $30 million of taxpayer money to acquire the property. The City has estimated they would need $80 million in development to payback the bonds used to purchase and clean-up Water Street.

Video: Ypsilanti City Council Nov 18, 2008

Gary Clark made a presentation about Give Local Ypsilanti.

Audience Participation

A number of residents spoke in support for Brandy’s Liquor store at 902 W. Michigan Avenue.

The City of Ypsilanti has filed suit in District Court asking the property be declared a nuisance. A court hearing had been set for December 14th. Neighbors have complained for years about chronic problems with crime, drugs, and trash as a result of the business operating on the corner of Summit and Michigan Ave.

Gary Hann spoke giving his appreciation for the police department, city clerk, and city assessor. Mr. Hann asked for his fine to remove trash from his property. This was Mr. Hann’s third request in as many meetings.

Resolutions and Ordinances

On first reading was a new ordinance called. “Adaptive Reuse Planned Unit Development Amendments”. This new ordinance was to try to ease re-use of non-conforming property in R1 and R2 districts. After significant discussion, more questions arose and the matter was tabled.

The council then approved a levy of all special assessments on the December 2008 Tax. A tax abatement was also approved for QC America which is a new business in the West Industrial Park off Michigan Avenue.

The council approved a agreement with Attorney Neil Lehto for contingency work from suing Comcast for franchise fees Comcast may owe the city for service provided for students on EMU campus. If successful, the City may get upwards of $70,000 after fee for Lehto.

Council then considered two Water Street resolutions. The first directed the staff to determine how much money the City has spent on Water Street up to the present. The resolution further directed the staff to track all new expenditures and to treat those expenses as loans to be paid back the City when the project is completed.

The second Water Street amendment directs the staff to consider all possible development projects for the property that generates the needed tax revenue and is not a detriment to the community. Previous plans called out for mostly residential development.

Water Street

Water Street update from April McGrath. The Planning Commission is meeting on Wednesday to continue discussions on making a planned unit development (PUD). Council is planning a special meeting in December to talk more about Water Street.

The EPA grant through the county has been submitted and is up to $600,000.

CBRE has up to 4 proposals that are in the works for Water Street. Housing plans including active senior, multi-family, and a possible grocery store on Michigan Avenue. McGrath said to expect any proposal to take a year or more after the city agrees to a buyer.

Council Proposed Business

Brian Robb (Dem, Ward 3) suggested the Human Relations Commission take a look at the issues surrounding Brandy’s. This was supported by Trudy Swanson (Dem, Ward 3). The COuncil also passed a resolution directing City staff to postpone the lawsuit against for 60 days.

Audience Participation

Mr. Hanna from Brandy’s Party store spoke again saying the City has been harassing their store and customers.

Video: Ypsilanti Downtown DDA Nov 20, 2008

The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority met on Thursday, November 20th. Peter Rinehart was elected to his third term as chairman of the board and John Coleman was elected vice-Chair.

DDA Director Brian Vosburg pushed for board members to take on the role as Treasurer and Secretary. Vosburg said the secretary would take on responsibility for getting board packets and minutes out per state law. The treasurer would each month with the city finance department to put together the financial reports for board review. These are tasks that have traditionally been done by the last four DDA Directors.

Vosburg has been criticized in the past by the DDA board and downtown business owners for late and last minute board packets. The DDA approved the hiring of a part-time recording secretary to take meeting minutes. The taking of notes was a task done by the previous DDA directors. The DDA also approved the hiring of interns to also ease Vosburg’s workload so calls would be answered at the office

Vosburg did not say during the meeting what he would do with his extra time if he didn’t have to be responsible for financial reports and board packets.

The board would have none of that and unanimously elected Vosburg as Secretary and Treasurer.

The DDA approved moving the DDA office to the second floor of the Jacobsen Daniels building at the corner of N. Washington and Pearl. The DDA office had, for over 10 years, been located on the first floor

The DDA Director Vosburg looked at office space at City Hall and the Centennial Building (former Huron Hotel). While the office at the Jacobsen Daniels building was the msot expensive option, that was the location Vosburg recommended.

It was somewhat surprising that the DDA director didn’t consider other office space in the downtown district. The GAR building on Pearl St (across the street from Congdon’s Ace Hardware) would have met the desire to have first floor visibility and the Key Bank building would have had cheaper office space than what was finally approved.

Darryl Daniels, current vice-Chair of the DDA and owner of the Jacobsen Daniel building, abstained from the discussion or the vote on the selection of new office space.

The DDA also approved the expenditure of $8,000 for Christmas lights which should be installed by the second week in December. The DDA had approved $5,000 for lighting this year. Rinehart said they we would be slightly over budget if they approved $8,000. Actually it is 60% over budget which would be hard to charcterize as a slight overage.

The DDA also discussed the approval of no-bid contracts by the DDA Director. Vosburg said the Director was authorized by the City Council to expend up to $20,000 without requiring a competitive bid. This is the second time in two days that Vosburg has said the City Council had granted him specific authority failing to realize it is the DDA and not the City Council that hires the DDA director.
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Video: Ypsilanti Depot Town DDA Nov 19, 2008

The Ypsilanti Depot Town DDA met this morning at Barnes and Barnes for their monthly meeting.

There was a “differing of the monds” between board members and the DDA Director Brian Vosburg. Brian Vosburg wanted to act as the point person with SEMCOG for the commuter train that plans to stop in Ypsilanti.

Vosburg told the board that the City Council had appointed him (Vosburg) to represent the City at SEMCOG and he said he was concerned about appointing someone else to represent the DTDDA at SEMCOG.

DDA Chair Dave Wheeler reminded Vosburg that he does not work for the City but works for the DTDDA and DDA and they decide which projects and committees he serves. Wheeler told Vosburg that the DTDDA board works at teh pleasure of the Mayor and Council but the DDA Director does not work for the City.

It was obvious from the discussion the DDA Director was looking at other possible locations for the train platform that could possibly be outside Depot Town. Vosburg said the issue is a city wide issue and it should be a city decision.

It appears the DDA director may be working against the best interests of Depot Town by advocating for the train platform outside the DTDDA district or at a location far from the center of Depot Town. Business owners in Depot Town have long wanted the train stop to be at the Freighthouse or the vacant Depot or the Maple Street parking lot.

Wheeler said Vosburg could attend the SEMCOG meetings, but he would represent the DTDDA at SEMCOG.

The DTDDA Board passed a resolution, unanimously, to appoint Dave Wheeler to represent the DTDDA in any discussions with SEMCOG regarding the train stop in Depot Town.

The Board also changed the meeting date starting in January. New meetings will be on the 4th Thursday of each month at 8:00a. Meetings will alternate between Barnes and Barnes on W. Cross St. and Utilities Instrumentation on N. River St. The Boar also canceled their December meeting.

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