City of Lansing yard waste collection will end week of Nov. 30

From the city of Lansing through the Lansing Neighborhood Council:

The collection of leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste materials for City of Lansing residents will end the week of November 30, 2009.  Residents should set out yard waste on their normal collection day that week.

City of Lansing residents must use paper bags for leaves and other organic yard waste materials and/or bundle brush with string or twine.  Brush may be up to 4 feet in length and 2 inches around.  Bags and bundles should weigh no more than 30 pounds each.City

Background: Obstacles to consolidating police and fire services between governmental units

The city of Lansing is looking at a huge budget reduction for this fiscal year.  There are concerns that our police and fire services will be affected.  Is there any financial advantage is combining services with East Lansing and other governmental units?  The Grand Rapids area is looking at this possibility, but is finding obstacles in state law, according to a Grand Rapids Press story. Does such consolidation have any relevance for the greater Lansing area?

How do our property tax rates compare with other mid-Michigan areas?

When I paid my property taxes here in the city of Lansing (MI) on my birthday, Aug. 31, I wondered how my bill would compare to other areas.

I looked online and found this state of Michigan PDF–153 pages– which lists the millage rates for each governmental unit.  Check how we compare.

Does anybody feel they’re paying too little?  Too much?  Anbody have trouble getting together the money to pay it?

How would you vote on paying additional CATA millage to pay for local buses?

With the little information, I have seen so far about the CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority) request for 0.787 in additional millage on the General Election Ballot on Nov. 4, I’d probably vote against it.

How about you?

The new millage request from CATA means that I’d pay 78.7 cents additional on each thousand of valuation on the taxable value of my house.

To explain the need for more money for buses with many seeming to travel through the area with few passengers, a CATA official explained in the Lansing State Journal this morning:

• “Right now CATA’s revenue sources have fallen short of its expenses,” said Debbie Alexander, assistant executive director for CATA.

• ” … We’re having monthly increases (in ridership) by double digits for nine months out of the year.”

Go to the CATA website and you find nothing about the millage proposal.  Only thing I’ve seen is a mention here and there in the local paper.  But, it’s always a brief mention.

What’s the status of the Southside (Lansing, MI) Community Center?

Several months ago or more, city officials were slapping high fives because the southside of the city of Lansing (MI) was finally going to have a community center.  Money was set aside and plans were underway, supposedly.

There’s been no word about it since.

If it was in the local media, especially the Lansing State Journal or the City Pulse, I missed it.  There’s been no buzz about it at our last several meetings of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association.

Anybody having the latest-greatest about the southside community center is invited to leave a comment.

Do you use the city of Lansing (MI) dog park?

I didn’t know the city of Lansing had a dog park until I read this morning’s letters to the editor in the Lansing State Journal.  Do you know about it?  Do you use it with your dog?  Has it’s size changed it recent months.

The letter from L. Maxwell from Lansing expressed sadness “at the demise of the Lansing Dog Park.  The writer said it was one of the best in the area and that its size was cut in half alledgedly by Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

“Here is yet another reason to live somewhere else,” Maxwell added.

I found this information about a dog park at Hawk Island funded partially by the city of Lansing and Ingham County.

Does anybody have more specifics about what happened?  How much it cost?  How much was it used?

Lansing (MI) Third Ward discusses controversial city market proposal

Third ward Lansing City Council member Robinson opens city market discussion

Third ward Lansing City Council member A’Lynne Robinson led a discussion with her constituents today about the controversial proposal for a new city market and surrounding residential and retail development.

In this video on my personal blog, Daily Grit, developer Pat Gillespie explains his vision for the downtown project.

Meet Emma Koppelman, neighborhood liaison for Lansing Mayor Bernero

If you attend any of the many neighborhood functions in the city of Lansing, chances are you have met Emma Koppelman, a staff assistant to Mayor Virg Bernero and is assigned to be a liaison to neighborhoods.

She’s a recent college graduate and anxious to help city residents with neighborhood issues and questions.

Here’s her phone number and e-mail: (517) 483-7651 and ekoppelm@ci.lansing.mi.us. She’s a good resource person.

Lansing (MI) City Council gives preliminary nod to southside community center money

Concerns about getting City Council funding for the new southside Lansing (MI) were expressed by Melissa, an Averill Woods Neighborhood Association leader in a post.

Today’s Lansing State Journal reports that the City Council gave preliminary okays for the money transfer for the new facility with the final approval on the agenda at next Monday night’s council meeting.

Melissa also comments about the approval and about the status of the Fenner Nature Center.

City of Lansing (MI) to reevaluate residential assessments starting on southside

According to a story in this morning’s Lansing State Journal, the City Assessor’s office will start going door-to-door with data sheets and cameras inspecting residential properties for tax assessment purposes.

The street boundaries in the story indicate that they will start on the southeast side of the city.

The City Assessor’s section of the city website includes links to information that might be useful to homeowners.