Lewton-Rich Neighborhood Association Minutes

May 15^th, 2008

1. Welcome –– 7:00 p.m.

2. Pledge

3. Introductions –– 21 persons

4. Minutes

a. Approved

5. Treasurer Report

a. $209.60

b. Donations are welcome

c. There will be upcoming expenses for Garage Sale and Picnic

6. County Commissioners’ Report.

Victor Celentino

a. Currently in budget, and exploring new ways to fund out county regions of road patrol.

b. Looking for volunteers for commissions, list available on Ingham’s web site.

c. Capital City airport has name change to “Ca????” known as Port Lansing.

                                                1. And awaiting funding for new construction for airport.

d. Question: New Terminal and Runway?

e. Response: New runway is needed for international status to increase cargo. To help replace loss of passengers and allow new planes for passengers. And Terminal is called out in airport master plan.

f. 1^st international flight will be Ireland in 2009.

g. Cargo has been successful and LAN outpaces other near by cargo.

h. Question: How to solve cost from LAN is more expensive from other ports.

i. Response: We need more direct flights.

j. NW Airlines and Delta merger will not be good for Lansing.

k. Discussion about smaller airlines.

l. Budgets were passed with the millage being the same.

m. Other Tri-County are still stubborn with Clinton and Eaton.

Councilman Derrick Quinney

n. Victor covered it.

7. City Public Safety HR person advertising and looking for applications to full time positions with the city (483-4009)

a. Currently Fire Fighter and 911 openings are open for new employees.

b. Training is done after hired and has stages.

c. With openings every two months.

8. Lansing Police Department: Frank Koenigsknecht

a. Speak about commitment level for 911 opening and its rewards.

Crime Map

b. South area by Dunlap had break-ins. On houses that were left vacant for medium time.

c. Lansing has a Vacation House Check Program, that will periodically check residences.

Other Item to think about when leaving town

i. Discontinue paper and mail. Don’t let it pill up

ii. Lawn care

iii. Light timers

d. Another break in off of Ingham street, where the house was left unlocked for several hours.

e. Please coordinate between all family members to ensure the house is locked when left empty. And don’t assume you are not the last person.

f. Please call for any items and persons who are suspicious

i. Recently a person was in Colonial Village asking for money.

ii. Follow up can lead to other concerns, such as persons looking through car doors.

g. LPD wants to prevent or minimize issues. LPD would prefer to receive calls before something happens.

h. South Precinct call list is available.

i. LPD becomes aware of community issues by calls.

j. If you don’t know if you should call, then you probably should. And LPD can then help.

k. LPD caught persons on south side smashing car windows.

l. Things don’t just happen after dark. A lot happen in late afternoon, while people are at work.

m. Vandalism at Lewton Elementary, is being investigate by detectives.

n. Police was at Lewton and Bedford late at night? No report was written up.

o. Q:  description of person by a neighbor from Colonial Village.

i. A: neighbor states that such description of person asking for rides and money through LRNA neighborhood.

p. Be careful (Call LPD) with persons asking to use your phone or restrooms.

q. Q: About home on Bedford may have excise number of unrelated residents.  A: directed to zoning.

r. Q: comment about car’s full tank of gas left on street was siphoned recently.

s. Comment: North’s LPD Pet Amnesty ends before end of work day.

9. Guest Speaker: Joan Bauer:

a. Thanks for opportunity to be your state representative and nearing end of 1^st term.

b. Still realizes that this is a new job and learning new things. And such a variety of complex issues.

c. Started with 1.8+ B $ deficit and practically a 3B$, with lots of philosophy differences.

d. And worked hard to make up the difference. And currently at a difference of 300M$. Which is manageable.

e. Still have some funding for new items, like helping schools. As K12.

f. Likely 2% increase for colleges and universities.

g. Recent survey shows that currently 30% of public does not believe after K12 education. And need to help promote + K12.

h. The House passed recent Energy Bill.

i. Tuesday, June 3^rd will have Town Hall meeting about Energy Bill. See pamphlet.

ii. Encourages renewable, 4% by 2010 and 10% for 2015.

iii. Initially the bill was four separate bills and then was consolidated into one.

iv. BWL rates will be lesser affected.

i. Sign up for electronic mailing

j. People are interested in Water Diversion.

i. All eight states and Provence’s signed a compact.

ii. Farmers are opposed. As they will be required to provide monitoring.

k. Smoking Bill:

i. Voted for it.

ii. But not amendments, which did pass. Allowing some areas such as Bingo, etc……

iii. Casino’s are pushing and Senate are firm on No Smoking.

iv. Show of hands show majority support ban on smoking.

v. Some owners silently support the ban.

vi. Q: Revenue sharing: Government recommendation is 4%. And may be able to keep that.

vii. Gas Bill; appreciate the crunch. But does not support tax exempt holiday. As it is doubtful that suppliers will pass on the credit versus the loss of revenue sharing income and K12.

viii. Q: Heathy Michigan: A: was funded fully and should pass as such.

ix. Invite for monthly coffee and or call and email.

10. New Business:

a. Capital Area District Library

i. Ballot Aug 5^th will have improvement plan serving the county and 13 branches and bookmobile. Except East Lansing.

ii. The plan will fund improvement through 2030.

iii. Circulation has more then two and 125K per year and tripled computer use in past ten year of existence.

iv. Need more space for different programs requested by public.

v. This neighborhood. Will see an expansion in South Library of 39,500 feet.

vi. Currently every new book must cause them to remove a book from shelf.

vii. Including space to be rented to Impression 5.

viii. Benefits such as more full time jobs and construction jobs.

ix. Want to provide resources to all self improvement and employability and entrepreneurs and small businesses.

x. Goal is a new 0.96 mileage to finance, new buildings.

xi. There is currently an operating mileage.

xii. Future expansion of operational mileage.

xiii. CADL does not currently own any buildings and want to take over such costs.

b. Code Compliance

i. 2408 Victor is sold. And working with them.

ii. 2229 is still vacant.

iii. Keeping up on trash and lawn.

iv. Checked up on new deck and referred to building inspection.

v. Request 2511 Bedford for number of residences.

vi. Q: are their codes for swimming pools. On Rositer. Response: will follow up.

vii. Container Issue –– initiate a trash and debris. Belaire & Lewton has until 29^th of May to remove.

c. South Side Coalition

i. Thanks for letter of support and awaiting response of grant.

ii. Letter for Peace Tent and resale fund raiser. See pamphlets.

11. Raffle

12. Adjourn –– 8:20pm

Michael P. Flaga

Michael P. Flaga, Secretary and Web Master