october 16 meeting agenda and minutes

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I. Meeting called to order by President Ron Huster at 7:01 pm.

II. Attendance: 20 members and 4 board members others: Guest Jeff Troyer and one firefighter

III. Acceptance of prior meeting minutes: As presented, by voice vote without dissension

IV. Agenda items: as presented without additions

V. Agenda

A. Status of cooperative relationship with elected officials: There is a pending meeting with the   City Commission candidates, though a date has not been set or announced at this time.

B. Contact with other associations

C. Status of public safety: Car break-ins are increasing. Members are urged to lock their   vehicles and report any problems. There have been five apprehensions of possible   perpetrators recently. 

A flier was presented re speeders in the neighborhood. We have some signs which say   “Watch Your Speed….We are”. Residents can request these be posted in areas of the   neighborhood where speeding is a problem.

D. Status of sustainable commercial growth: There is no new information about Grand Prairie   Golf Course, other than that it is not closing in the foreseeable future despite financial   concerns. 

The empty KFC building has been sold to an unknown buyer.

Demolition for the incoming Chick Fil-A building has not started. Time line is unknown.

Demolition of the BP gas station has not started, time line also unknown.

The empty Carriage Cleaners building is being remodeled, purpose unknown at this time.

The party store at the corner of Ravine and Nichols has another hearing pending on 9/5,   seeking approval of their proposed plans.

E. Status of preserving property values: As above

Don Martin, Kalamazoo Township Supervisor introduced Jeff Troyer, Director of Kal County Central Dispatch, our speaker for the evening. Jeff shared the following information with an appreciative audience:

Central dispatch was created following a vote of support in 2014. It is made up of 5 entities;

Kal City, Kal Township, Kal County, WMU and Portage. Prior to the consolidation, all jurisdictions had their own 911 response systems.

The Board of Directors is comprised of 13 members: 2 representatives from each entity plus the following representatives; Fire Chief, County Medical, and State Police. The Board of Directors is responsible for policy, finances, and hiring the director of operations.

The first Director was hired in 2016.

The voters in 2017 turned down a proposal to fund the services. It would have placed a $2.30 service charge on each telephone line. Short term funding for 5 years is currently in place. It is comprised of a percentage of each entity's prior spending plus a factor for their population. Currently this yields 4.3 mills. They are currently 1 and ½ years into the 5 year funding plan, with the 5 entities covering the bulk of the expenses.

911 services are not state mandated. The consolidation went live with all new systems and procedures in Oct. 2018, so is not yet a year old. There continues to be progress made with all the changes.

Full staffing would include 54 dispatchers. The new system started with 34 and is now up to 40 positions. Hiring is currently occurring. A recruitment flier was distributed for interested parties. The deadline to apply is Sept. 13. There is a scheduled open house for candidates on Sept. 5.

Don added the following comments: This concept was first tried 30 years ago. Now they have state of the art equipment which is more cost effective than previously. The 5 entities hope to stop contributing operating funds and use those monies for other purposes.

Currently they are fielding 170,000 emergency calls per year, plus 280,000 non-emergency calls. Of these, 220,000 calls resulted in a responder being dispatched. Dispatchers work 12 hr shifts, with 8-9 dispatchers on each shift. They are housed in the former Consumers' Credit Union building at the corner of Stadium Drive and 8th St. The building was purchased and renovated to their specific needs at an expense of $2.3 million. There is a surcharge of $0.42 on each phone in use by the public.

Our group is looking forward to touring the facility in the future. There is also an Observer Program where a citizen can spend 4 hours with a dispatcher to see what the service and job entails.

Jeff received an appreciative round of applause for his presentation.

VII. Public Comments (limited to 3 minutes per person): None in the interest of the late hour.

VIII. Meeting Adjourned: 8:24 pm. by voice vote without dissension.

Next meeting date: Weds, Sept. 19th at 7 pm at Westwood Fire Station.

Respectfully submitted: Penny Thompson, secretary/ treasurer pennythmpsn@charter.net

Westwood Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2019

I. Meeting called to order by President Ron Huster at 7:00 pm

II. Attendance: 19 members and 3 board members others: no guests or visitors

III. Acceptance of prior meeting minutes: With corrections as follows: Regarding the meeting about changing the M 43 corridor. The meeting was hosted by MDOT, not Oshtemo Township. Approved with this change via voice vote.

Introductions: Those in attendance introduced themselves and stated their street of residence.

IV. Agenda items: as presented.

V. Agenda

A. Status of cooperative relationship with elected officials: 3 seats are open for Kalamazoo City  Commission. Candidates have expressed a desire to come and speak to our association. In order  to maintain impartiality, we will not have them speak before the election.

Kal Co road commission and Republic Services will be at  meetings in August. Ron will report  to Republic about all the problems encountered in our neighborhood during the winter and seek  their possible solutions to prevent recurrence.

Meeting with the Drain Commissioner will occur in September. Ron will announce the dates  when available.

B. Contact with other associations: None reported

C. Status of public safety:

We are continuing to build positive relationships with KDPS and Township Public Safety.

Angie's street is having a block party next weekend. She will distribute fliers about our WNA.  

Bob reporting about his monitoring of “Neighbors App”. There were 9 crimes reported in our  neighborhood  from 7/2 to 7/9. Resident does not need to have RING to report on this App.

D. Status of sustainable commercial growth:

The dog park proposed for W. Main and Grand Pre was defeated 5:1 at the township meeting.  Issues cited were lack of parking, possible safety issues on such a busy street, traffic and  supervision. Denise reports the commissioners were in favor of the park until they heard our  input and concerns expressed.

Westwood Christian Reformed Church: there is a pending meeting on 7/23. They still need to  resolve the non-compliant sign issue and parking issues in order to be able to sell the excess  property.

Movement on the proposed Chick Fil-A will likely be in Sept. The vacant BP station adjacent  will likely be razed to increase the available property. There is also the possibility of two  unoccupied storefronts in the small strip mall (by Penn Station and Coney Island) also being  razed to increase space for Chick Fil-A.

An upscale car wash called Drive and Shine is being built on the former site of Davenport  College. It will be attended and have a detail shop also.

VI. Committee Reports

A. Communications: Potential speakers might include the Road Commission. Don reported  about the chip seal project currently occurring in our neighborhood. Each application lasts 3-4  years and can be repeated 3 times before repaving needs to occur.

Central Dispatch will be our guest speaker(s) in August. Members signed up to tour the new  facility in the future. 

VII. Public Comments:

Denise reports she is seeing neighbors planting new trees and is encouraged by this.

Don reports KalSEC may request a new traffic light at W. Main and Cherokee.

There was a meeting with Oshtemo Twp. regarding sidewalk grant.

Amtrak has halted the new sidewalk construction on Drake at their crossing. Not know how  long the delay will last.

VIII. Meeting Adjournment 8:04 pm approved by voice vote.

Next meeting date: August 21, 7pm at Westwood Fire Station.

Respectfully submitted: Penny Thompson, Secretary/ Treasurer. pennythmpsn@charter.net

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEETING AGENDA            DATE: JUNE 19, 2019

Place: Westwood Fire Station 1310 Nichols Road Time: 7:00 PM 

I. Call to order

II. Roll: Officers present and number in audience

III. Discussion and approval of minutes of May 15th meeting.

IV. Additions and deletions to Agenda

V. Agenda:

A. Status of Public Safety 

              1. Westwood Safety Program – Where we are going. Current Safety Issues and thoughts to counter-act. Volunteers Needed!

              2. National Night Out August 6thWestwood Fire Station. Volunteers Needed!

B. Committee and Board Member Reports:

              1. Communications: Face Book pages & Web page. How all are needed & used. Neighborhood Event presence. Volunteers & Ideas Needed!

              2. Money – How do we get it and what do we do with it? Ideas Needed!

VII. Public Comments – Please limit to 3 minutes per person

VIII. Close meeting. Next meeting date: July 17, 2019. Volunteers Needed!