City councilors
urged to attend ribbon-cutting events
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — For one city official, having officials representing the city at ribbon-cutting ceremonies is more than a photo op, it’s a way to show municipal leaders support and encourage the growth of business in our area.
Having municipal leaders at ribbon-cutting ceremonies was discussed during the Sept. 6 session of City Council, following City Councilor Dick Engels’ recommendation that some type of formal procedure should be in place to ensure a city representative be at all such events.
“This is another of my suggestions. City Council has gone on record in support of new businesses. I thought it odd to have stated such a policy, yet no one shows up to officially congratulate them. I thought there should be some kind of procedure to do what we can to ensure one of us (councilors) shows up,” said Engels, noting a ribbon-cutting ceremony he recently attended where he and City Manager Jim Bennett were the only city officials on hand representing the municipality.
Engels said he understood there were times councilors couldn’t do it, but that an effort should be made to do so whenever possible.
“We can work through my office. We’ll try to let you know as soon as we have information available when events are scheduled. Certainly, if Council wants we can try to coordinate efforts,” said Bennett, noting that he and Deputy City Manager Martin Puckett would try to make it to these events, “depending on our lives and schedules.”
“I think that will cover Dick’s intention,” said Bennett.
Engels offered clarification, stating, “I think if a City Council member can go, they should go.”
“Some people are reticent. I don’t expect Bruce (Councilor Sargent) to come up from Mars Hill,” where Sargent’s business is located, said Engels.
Sargent responded, saying “If there’s cupcakes and punch, I’ll be there.”
Council Chair Emily Smith recommended “being proactive in our e-mails, to say who can make it.”
City officials will be working together to make more of an effort to attend such functions in the future.
In other business, councilors:
• Approved an automobile graveyard permit for Fred Bonville, Jr. d/b/a Fred’s Auto & Salvage, 204 Chapman Rd.;
• Approved an automobile graveyard and junkyard permit for Geary S. Bonville, d/b/a G.S. Bonville & Son, 228 Chapman Rd.;
• Approved an automobile graveyard and junkyard permit for Cowett’s Used Auto Parts d/b/a C.A.R. Parts, 75 Davis St.;
• Approved a special permit for music, dancing and entertainment and a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license for The Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Event Center, LLC, at 150 Maysville St.;
• Approved a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license for Pat’s Pizza, 9 North St.;
• Held the first public hearings to amend Chapter 49 — Government of Administration Ordinance, Chapter 37 — Personnel Ordinance, and Chapter 13 — Litter and Illegal Dumping Ordinance, with the second public hearings scheduled for Oct. 1;
• Tabled amending Chapter 41 — Bike/Walkers’ Path Ordinance, to allow time to rework the document’s language;
• Approved consent agenda items;
• Discussed implementing a facade grant through the Presque Isle Development Fund, to assist businesses in making improvements to their store fronts;
• Heard public comment about fireworks, with councilors taking comments under consideration;
• Set the Strategic Plan Workshop date for Monday, Sept. 24, beginning at 5 p.m. at City Hall;
• Listened to a presentation on the status of the Community Center;
• Under the manager’s report, discussed the Cunningham property, with Bennett noting no bids had been received on the site and that he recommended the former school lot be placed with a realtor for sale;
• Bennett advised he’d have the first draft of the 2013 municipal budget available for councilors in October; and
• The city manager asked councilors to submit questions to him that will be answered by elected officials at a future Council meeting.
City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, with a workshop to discuss the Strategic Plan set for Sept. 24. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information, call 760-2785 or visit www.presqueisle.govoffice2.com. Council meetings are aired on Time Warner cable channel 16.
