Category: News

Great Egg Scramble is March 24

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Hop your way to Finch Fieldhouse (Campus of Central Michigan University – between Bellows and Preston streets) and join Mt. Pleasant Parks & Recreation, 95.3 WCFX and Graff of Mt. Pleasant for the Great Egg Scramble on Saturday, March 24. The celebration begins at 12:30 p.m. and admission is free. Canned goods will be collected for the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen.

Youth ages 2-10 will scramble for plastic eggs, candy and prizes. The event will also include crafts, games, refreshments and the opportunity to meet Peter Cottontail!

Scramble times are scheduled by age group: Ages 2-3 at 1 p.m., ages 4-5 at 2 p.m., ages 6-7 at 2:30 p.m., and ages 8-10 at 3 p.m.

The Great Egg Scramble is made possible by Mt. Pleasant Parks & Recreation, 95.3 WCFX, Graff of Mt. Pleasant, Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel, Isabella Bank, Morey Courts, DuHadaway Dance Dimensions, Cornerstone Church and Celebration Cinema.

For more information, call (989) 779-5331 or visit www.mt-pleasant.org/recreation.

City to offer free brush chipping service week of April 9; reserve your spot today!

The City is offering up to 150 households within the City limits 30 minutes of free brush chipping during the week of April 9. The service is first come, first served, and residents must make a reservation by contacting the Division of Public Works no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5.

Brush chipping will be performed once per address at no cost for a period of up to 30 minutes. Residents may not transfer a portion of the 30-minute maximum to another resident. If residents have more brush than what can be chipped within the allotted 30 minutes, they have the option of being billed $1.82 per minute for each additional minute, or, at the time the reservation is made, can request crews stop at 30 minutes.

Residents must adhere to the City’s regular brush chipping guidelines. A letter outlining the guidelines will be sent to registrants in advance.

Brush chipping will be completed at curbside only. No chipping will occur in the alleys.

If 150 reservations are not made by the April 5 deadline, reservations will continue to be accepted to fill the remaining spots. For reservations made after the April 5 deadline, brush chipping services will take place the week of April 23.

After the completion of the free program, the City will offer brush chipping services for a fee. Residents may also take yard waste and brush to the Isabella County Materials Recovery Facility at 4208 East River Road.

To make a reservation or to learn more, contact the Division of Public Works at (989) 779-5401 or publicworks@mt-pleasant.org, or visit the office at 1303 N. Franklin Street.

Sign up online! You can also make your reservation online! Click here for the online submission form.

 

Summary of the Feb. 26 City Commission meeting

The video of the Feb. 26 City Commission meeting is available here. 

Summary of Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held Monday,
February 26, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Commission Room.

1. Director Mrdeza presented Parks & Public Spaces Director Bundy with the Parks Resource Leadership Award.

2. Assistant Fire Chief Dunham gave a presentation on the City’s Neighborhood Resource
Unit (NRU).

3. Received petitions and communications.

4. Approved the following items on the Consent Calendar:

  • Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Commission held February 12, 2018
  • Minutes of the special meeting of the City Commission held February 13, 2018
  • Bid of Spartan Distributors of Sparta, MI for the purchase of a Toro Groundmaster 7200 Mower and appropriate budget amendment
  • Bid of Krapohl Ford of Mt. Pleasant, MI for the purchase of a Ford F-350 cab and chassis
  • Resolution in support of MDOT Contract 2018-0227 for Replacement of AWOS Ceilometer and budget amendment
  • Budget amendments from the assigned fund balance of the PSD Board
  • Warrants and Payrolls.

5. Received proposed amendment to Title XV, Chapter 150, §150.02 of the Mount Pleasant City Code regarding private swimming pools and set a public hearing for March 12, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. on same.

6. Approved the adoption of Resolution Nos. 1 and 2 to commence the proceedings for
Special Assessment District 1-18.

7. Approved the adoption of the Resolution to approve the Fifth Amendment to the Central Business District Improvements Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan proposed by the City of Mt. Pleasant Tax Increment Financing Authority and to provide for the collection of tax increment revenues as presented. (CC Exh. 2-2018)
Appointed Tim Driessnack to City/CMU Student Liaison Committee.

8. Held a work session to discuss a potential property maintenance/blight ordinance.

9. Adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

 

Special Meeting – Feb. 27, 2018

A special meeting of the City Commission was held Monday, February 27, 2018, at 9:02
a.m., at Veterans Memorial Library, 301 S. University Ave., Mt. Pleasant. to discuss goal
setting. The meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.

Message from the City of Mt. Pleasant

The suspect in yesterday’s incident on the campus of Central Michigan University was apprehended early this morning. We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of dedicated law enforcement personnel who worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to find the suspect.

The Mt. Pleasant community is safe and no threat from this incident remains. We encourage all of our residents to resume their normal activities.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department will continue to assist the Central Michigan University Police Department with the ongoing investigation.

Thank you for your cooperation and support throughout this matter!

Search continues for shooting suspect; City reminds residents to lock doors and report suspicious activity

Update – March 3, 12:50 a.m.:The suspect in the shooting on the campus of Central Michigan University has been taken into police custody without incident.

Thank you to the community for their help and cooperation throughout this situation.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 2, there was a shooting on the campus of Central Michigan University. The suspect, 19-year-old James Eric Davis Jr., fled northbound and was last seen in the area near Maple and Cherry streets. He is considered armed and dangerous. Residents are encouraged to stay inside their residences and lock the doors of their homes, outbuildings, garages and vehicles.

More than 100 officers from multiple police agencies continue to search for the suspect and will be conducting door-to-door checks in the vicinity of Maple and Cherry streets until dark. Law enforcement helicopters will continue to assist in the search through the evening.

Community members are reminded to remain vigilant of their surroundings. Please do not actively search for the suspect or engage anyone matching the description of the suspect. Instead, please call 911 or 773-1000 to report suspicious activity or someone matching the description of the suspect.

For continuous updates, please sign up for CodeRed alerts. Sign up information can be found at www.mt-pleasant.org. You may also download the CodeRed app on your mobile device.

URGENT SAFETY INFORMATION

UPDATE March 3, 12:10 p.m.: Click here to read a message from City Mayor Allison Lents.

UPDATE March 3, 7:47 a.m.: The suspect in yesterday’s incident on the campus of Central Michigan University was apprehended early this morning. We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of dedicated law enforcement personnel who worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to find the suspect.

The Mt. Pleasant community is safe and no threat from this incident remains. We encourage all of our residents to resume their normal activities.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department will continue to assist the Central Michigan University Police Department with the ongoing investigation.

Thank you for your cooperation and support throughout this matter!

UPDATE March 3, 12:50 a.m.: The suspect in the shooting on the campus of Central Michigan University has been taken into police custody without incident.

Thank you to the community for your help and cooperation throughout this situation.

UPDATE 6:10 p.m.: Click here for an update from Central Michigan University, confirming the identities of the victims of this morning’s shooting on the campus. The suspect is still at large.

UPDATE 12:25 p.m.: The person of interest is James Eric Davis, Jr. He is a black male, approximately 19 years of age, 5’10” and 135 lbs. He was last see wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. He may have removed the blue hoodie.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach the suspect. Call 911 immediately.

Shooter

UPDATE: 10:43 a.m.: Click here for an update from Central Michigan University: https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/Pages/shots-fired-on-campus-march-2018.aspx 

UPDATE 10:23 a.m.: The suspect is a 19-year-old black male who is approximately 5 foot 9 inches tall. He is wearing mustard yellow jeans and a blue hoodie. He may have taken off the blue hoodie. He is considered armed and dangerous. If you see the suspect, do not approach him. Call 911 immediately.

There has been a report of a shooting on the campus of Central Michigan University. The suspect is a black male and considered armed and dangerous.

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is assisting Central Michigan University PD with the situation. The shooter has not yet been apprehended. A CodeRed alert has been sent to the impacted neighborhoods.

Please remain aware of your surroundings and call 911 to report suspicious activity.

All City buildings are currently locked down and not accessible to the general public.

More information will be shared as it is received.

Two arrested after police chase

At approximately 12:59 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2018, an officer on general patrol at the intersection of Broomfield and Mission Street observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation.

The suspect vehicle accelerated quickly eastbound on Broomfield. The officer attempted to catch up with the vehicle and activated the emergency lights. The vehicle approached the intersection of Broomfield and Isabella and disregarded the flashing red light. The vehicle again accelerated quickly reaching speeds of over 100 mph while traveling down Isabella road. The vehicle abruptly stopped at the intersection of Isabella and High. The driver, Gonzalo Alaniz, a 23-year-old Mt. Pleasant man, was taken into custody without incident.

The front seat passenger, a 19-year-old Mt. Pleasant man, was arrested for open container and cited for minor in possession of alcohol.

Alaniz is lodged at the Isabella County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding; driving while license suspended; reckless driving.

5 things to watch at the next City Commission meeting

Here are five things to watch at the Feb. 26, 2018 City Commission meeting:

  1. Parks Resource Leadership Award: The City Commission will recognize Director of Parks and Public Spaces Chris Bundy as the 2017 recipient of the Park Resource Leadership Award. Presented by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, recipients of this prestigious award demonstrate outstanding contributions in the area of maintenance practice, equipment management, resource development and environmental stewardship. Read more here.
  2. Private Swimming Pool Ordinance Amendment: An amendment to the ordinance regarding private swimming pools will be introduced. Currently, private pools are not allowed to be emptied into the sanitary sewer system. To align with federal and state requirements, the proposed amendment would state that all discharge from private pools should be emptied into the sanitary sewer system. If that method is not possible, the amendment offers two additional options. It is recommended the City Commission set a public hearing on the topic for March 12, 2018.
  3. Ceilometer Replacement at the Airport: The City Commission will consider a resolution authorizing a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the replacement of the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) ceilometer at the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport. The associated budget amendment will also be considered. Vital for the safety of pilots and passengers, the AWOS provides accurate and timely weather information to pilots who fly within range of the airport. One component of the AWOS instrumentation is the ceilometer, which is used to measure the height and thickness of cloud cover. MDOT will pay for 90 percent of the cost of the new ceilometer.
  4. Special Assessment for Alley Reconstruction: Discussion on the status of residential alleys occurred during both the 2016 and 2017 budget work sessions. As a result of those discussions in 2016, a letter was sent to property owners whose properties abut alleys that might benefit from reconstruction. The letter outlined the process for petitioning to have the City Commission consider a special assessment to pay for the cost. DPW received a petition in January for the reconstruction of the alley between Fancher and Kinney, from Locust to Wisconsin. The City Commission will consider resolutions #1 and #2 to begin the proceedings for a special assessment, tentatively determine the necessity, and set a public hearing for March 12 on the need for the project.
  5. Downtown Fire Protection Grant Program: The City Commission will consider a resolution to amend the Central Business District (CBD) Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) plan to add the Fire Protection Grant Program as an eligible project. The program is intended to provide funding to property owners in order to assist them with installing fire protection systems including suppression systems, sprinklers and fire alarms in existing commercial and residential buildings in the downtown historic district.

To see the full City Commission agenda and packet for Feb. 26, 2018, click here.

Mt. Pleasant City Commission meetings are held at City Hall on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.