The Three Rivers City Commission has adopted an ordinance amending sections of the City Code regarding business licenses. The action came Tuesday evening (May 15) following a public hearing on the subject.
As noted in a staff report on the matter, the ordinance will allow pushcart businesses on private property. Additionally, the ordinance will allow transient merchants renewable permits, yet keep temporary businesses limited.
Regarding transient merchants, the ordinance adds this wording: A Transient Merchant Permit shall not exceed ninety (90) days with no waiting period for a renewal application.
Regarding street vendors, the ordinance says that “Street Vendor means any person who exhibits, displays, sells or offers for sale goods, wares or merchandise from a pushcart while on public ways, public space or private property.” It also amends the City Code to say that “Any application for a permit on private property must also include approval of the party on whose property the street vendor shall be located.”
The ordinance is slated to take effect on June 4, 2012.
In other business, the commission adopted a resolution to authorize a final application for the $750,000 Downtown Infrastructure Grant (DIG) that has been awarded to the city for rebuilding the ‘Mural Mall’ and making lighting changes in the downtown area. The grant will be supplemented with a local match of $190,000 from the city’s General Fund. The action came after holding a public hearing on the topic.
56 North Main Street in downtown Three Rivers
The commission approved a resolution to show ‘Local Government Approval’ of an application for a micro brewer license sought by Jon Zapf for an operation to be located at 56 North Main Street, a building that was most recently used by Fabrications by design. As noted in a staff report, “The Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) requires a resolution from the local government as part of his application. The Police Department also processes separate paperwork as part of an investigation that will be mailed with the application to the MLCC.” Adoption of the resolution came on a 6-to-1 vote with Second District Commissioner Elbert Foster casting the dissenting vote.
This photo of Fourth Street – in the vicinity of Metal Technologies and Central Manufacturing Services – shows 'White Topping' already in place and the section to the south that will receive the same treatment as the result of Three Rivers City Commission action Tuesday evening. (Click on photo to enlarge)
The commission voted unanimously to extend the 2010 contract with Northern Construction Services Corporation (NCSC) for an additional 600 – plus or minus – linear feet of White Topping on Fourth Street southward from the point where earlier White Topping work was done. A staff report on the subject notes that, “In 2008 and again in 2010, NSCS installed White Topping on Fourth Street. In 2009, NCSC and the City of Three Rivers were given an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for it by the Michigan Concrete Paving Association! White Topping is the removal of 4-5inches of asphalt and the installation of a similar thickness of concrete surface on top of the remaining 8 inches of asphalt.” According to Finance Director Cathy Lawson, “Municipal Streets Funds are planned to be used for the FY 2012/13 project and sufficient funds will be available.”
The commission also:
- Approved a 60-month lease with Applied Imaging for a Ricoh MPC 6501 copier for City Hall at a cost of $352.53 per month
- Approved a bid award to Andy J. Egan Company in the amount of $9,300 for a new HVAC unit at the Three Rivers Public Library
- And approved the temporary use of property at the former Huss School for camping in conjunction with a summer conference gathering to be hosted by the current owners.
The meeting also included presentation of a proclamation by Mayor Tom Lowry designating May 17, 18 and 19 as ‘Poppy Days’ in Three Rivers and encouraging citizens “to support the American Legion and the Auxiliary of Hice-Shutes Post 170 in this most worthy endeavor.” The poppy has been adopted by the American Legion Auxiliary as its memorial flower which pays tribute to the war dead and aids the living veterans and their families.
Editor’s Note: This post was expanded slightly at 11:07 a.m. 5-16-12 to add the photo of the building at 56 North Main Street in downtown Three Rivers.
“…application for a micro brewer license sought by Jon Zapf for an operation to be located at 56 North Main Street”
A Three Rivers Brewery?
SWEET!
Downtown’s picking up more and more. Anytime there’s an income-generating business moving in, it’s another nail pulled from the downtown’s coffin.
When only churches occupy empty businesses, I think it’s a sign of our town’s demise. There are churches enough. We need to *make* things (including beer!) in this town.