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| Government » Township Supervisor » E-Letter, July 8, 2004 | ||||||
Supervisor's Weekly E-LetterJuly 8, 2004Note: The Township Board's July meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 26th. The next update will not be published until July 29th. Save the Date! On August 23rd the 15th Annual Budd Lynch golf outing returns to Grosse
Ile. This terrific event benefits all the good work of the Downriver Guidance
Clinic. To sign up to golf with a celebrity visit: The Grosse Ile Animal ShelterThe Animal Island League Shelter (TAILS) From the Animal Control Officer: The Email Bag Hi Doug.....I think the Toll Bridge is self destructing...someone
will be injured with his absolutely unsafe road configuration...God, I
hope a good trial lawyer is around when it happens. THE AIR SHOW WAS GREAT !!!!! With the new addition of new toll booths on the Riverview side of
the toll bridge now we have two speed bumps in the road both ways. I thought
speed bumps were illegal on a highway. Can somebody them to fix the problem? Doug - I just have to comment about this bridge thing. How long
are the people of Grosse Ile going to be held hostage? $1.50 to cross
that tiny bridge is ridiculous!!! If the people of this community would
accept a short term incontinence and boycott the pay bridge, I think we
could effect a change. But I realize that it is more American to complain
than to stick your neck out and try to do something about injustices.
I, for one, will not be using the toll bridge. It is irritating to be
asked to pay to drive to your own home and I have to wonder if this is
related, in any way, to the number of homes for sale. I know I'm tired
of the incontinence and that is a contributing factor to why my home is
up for sale!! I am still chuckling about Tuesday at the Bridge Rd. / Meridian intersection
during the free bridge closing. Grosse Ile residents demanded the police
department do something about it. Well, ever at the public's beck and
call, they did. They decided to place two officers at the intersection
to direct traffic in lieu of the traffic light there, as was "suggested"
by several letter writers. Having been there for quite a while myself,
I have several observations to make regarding the entire situation. 1.
The ONLY thing that creates the traffic jam is the toll booth on the bridge.
Rather than screaming your frustration at the police in the intersection,
thank the Bridge Company as you hand him your money . 2. For as many people
as wanted traffic direction by police there, was an equal amount of people
screaming at the police to get out of the way and let the light direct
the traffic. Oh, who to listen to? 3. You really aren't the most important
person in the world and the only one with somewhere to be. I think it
was in preschool that I learned the importance of learning to take turns
(by the way - that means everyone gets a turn, not just you). 4. Seems
perhaps that those who want a body in the intersection directing the traffic
more than likely simply want a dog to kick when they finally get to pass
through the intersection. Everyone's level of frustration is high. Those
who are more mature have learned to handle it, not take it out on others
in the same situation. 5. There are community members who handled their
inconvenience with dignity and class. It was appalling how silly and petty
those who were honking, cussing, and yelling at the police looked. Yet
those are the people representing our community more loudly than the others.
Pity. 6. Seems to me that there are valid concerns about emergency ingress
and egress issues which have been raised. I can't imagine that just because
the Bridge Co. is privately owned means there can be no discussion about
how to alleviate that problem. If I severely impeded traffic flow somewhere
to that magnitude, I'm sure I'd get a ticket or citation or something....
I'm not suggesting the company give up its income. But reasoned discussion
should certainly be able to find a solution. After all, this problem is
not going away anytime soon. The improvements to Macomb have been long over due and have really
made a big difference in the small town feeling Grosse Ile provides. I
am glad to see Grosse Ile is supporting its local businesses with cheap
trailer type bill boards placed in parking lots. It really adds to the
esthetics of Macomb and gives me a warm fuzzy feeling about Grosse Ile.
Also, as a business owner myself, I would like to acquire about any information
available on these bill boards. I think it is a great cheap idea and would
fit nicely into my low budget. "signs, signs everywhere there's signs" Doug,I hope the increase in tolls has added more support (and fuel)
to the Township acquisition of the Toll Bridge. Anyone who doesn't agree
that this is a proper use of eminent domain needs to be in an ambulance
at a time when the County Bridge is closed. If the Bridge Company is really
interested in providing value and service to their neighbors and residents,
they would add two unattended, automated lanes with no need to add three
additional employees and no reason to increase tolls. Personally, I'm
boycotting the Toll Bridge and hope others will follow suit. It wouldn't
break my heart if they went out of business and the Township acquired
the bridge in bankruptcy court, for a few pennies on the dollar, while
avoiding the current expensive legal battle. What kind of professional would write a article in the Ile Camera
for the first time and start off with saying he was going to give a tongue
lashing to the community? After reading further about the Pet of the week
ads being referred to as obituaries instead of placing the animals is
absurd! We have the best shelter in the state and wonderful people who
donate monies and time for the helpless animals finding them good homes!
How can this so called editor write something when he never interviewed
our animal officer or shelter workers? My own experience has been finding
several animals homes in our families which have made wonderful pets!
I have been there when people have called about the pet of the week and
had to tell them the dog or cat was already adopted out, sorry! I cancelled
my subscription to this ridiculous newspaper for falsely representing
our shelter. Hi Doug, It has been rather amusing the past few weeks negotiating
the varying approach to the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge while trying to get
back on to the Island. I am interested to know if the bumps and Le Mans
style turns are permanent with the construction of the new toll booths.
I have had and I have seen a couple of near misses by on coming traffic.
This will get very interesting once the weather gets colder and the roads
get slick and icy. I THINK WE NEED A NEW TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY WHO KNOWS THE LAW. SINCE
WHEN DOES PRIVATE ENTERPRISE NEED TO ASK THE COUNTY FOR APPROVAL - THE
TOLL BRIDGE IS A PRIVATELY OWNED CORPORATION AND HAS THE RIGHT TO SET
THE RATES FOR CARS TO CROSS ITS PROPERTY. Well, the letter writers got there wish for the officers to get out
from hiding and direct traffic when the County Bridge is closed. The only
problem now is that they must have made them a bit mad. Lets just say
they sure didn't learn any directing traffic skills in school or they
really are determined to irritate the islanders. I sat in my car for what
looked to be a short time when an officer arrived to direct traffic. I
watched him let all the cars north of the pay bridge clear out, then all
of the cars from Bridge Road east of Meridian. Then he again cleared all
of the cars north of the bridge and when finished the ones again from
Bridge Road. About then he must have feared for his life when he let about
(5) cars through after an out pour of "road rage". Looking in
the rear mirror I noticed he returned to again releasing traffic from
those other lanes. What is wrong with this picture!!!! OH, what have we
done now!!! P.S.: It sure looks as if the Bridge Company is sure adding
to the frustration when there are bridge closings. The toll bridge raising the price on the bridge at this time is
some really bad PR. I was leaning toward the bridge position in the lawsuit
until I saw this and waited 45 minutes to get off the Island on Tuesday.
The windfalls from the closing of the County Bridge should take care of
his increased expenses. Further, I don't like the way this issue has deteriorated.
Lets get some meaningful negotiations going. This Week in Island HistoryJuly 20, 1907 - Work started on the Livingstone Channel. July 23, 1701 - Cadillac and his men camped on Grosse Ile and considered locating their new settlement here. Compiled by Clare Koester, GI Historical Society Quote of the Week "This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this
day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you
do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for
it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is
something that you have left behind...let it be something good." Have a question or comment for the Supervisor? Email: doug@downriverfirst.com Comcast internet users: My downriverfirst address has been blocked as a "Spam" address because all the E-letters are sent from that address, so please use my Grosse Ile address (douglasj@grosseile.com) as it may not get to me otherwise. Resources available at Grosse Ile On-Line include: |
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