The Hastings Department of Public Services has been working on the gate system that will control access to the compost site on State Road, Public Service Director Lee Hays said Monday.
The city has been looking for months for a way to control the overuse of the site, to stop non-residents from dropping off materials and items being dropped off that far exceed the size of compostable yard waste.
Availability during the day and the drop site being somewhat screened from the road added to the problem. The council looked at several options and in July, settled on adding gates and secure access to the site.
The gate into the compost area will be opened by a code that Hastings residents get from city staff to enter the area and drop off yard waste. The new access gates and openers have been installed and Consumers Energy will install power for lighting and the gates, Hays said. Total cost for the work, budgeted at $7,200, was $6,416.
In an update on the former Moose property, Community Development Director Dan King said RFP’s for the site were delivered to a broad selection of recipients including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Economic Developers Association, but did not result in any RFP’s by the Aug. 31 deadline.
The council approved King’s recommendation to issue RFP’s again, this time targeted to local realtors and area commercial real estate and construction companies such as Copperrock, Rockford Construction, CD Barnes, and Pinnacle Construction, and making the price “negotiable” instead of an asking price of $135,000.
In other business, the council approved:
*local volunteers with the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance tying teal ribbons on lamp posts downtown and giving out information to businesses during the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month of September, as requested by Maggie Isenhoff
*Ordinance 554 that allows tax exempt churches, synagogues and other places of worship with regular assemblies for religious worship or services along with accessory uses, in the B-1 Central Business District and B-5, Mixed Use District by special use.
*an airport budget amendment that reduces expenditures by $6,300 to reflect the terms in the revised airport management service agreement. The Airport Commission and Barry County have approved the amendment.
*the appointment of Tracy Baker to a partial term on the Downtown Development Authority expiring Dec. 31.
* contracts to Dixon Engineering for $9,312.50 for water tower inspections, to Franklin Holwerda Company for $65,700 to install the volute press at the wastewater treatment plant, and $31,000 to H.J. Umbaugh for a SAW financial analysis.
*set a workshop for Sept. 24 at 6 pm. to discuss the SAW analysis and upcoming major water and wastewater projects.
