Supervisor's Weekly E-Letter

June 24, 2004

The DSO Downriver

Don't miss the free performance of the full Detroit Symphony Orchestra outdoors along the shoreline in Lake Erie MetroPark this Saturday (June 26th) at 8pm. The park is just minutes south of Grosse Ile off Jefferson. Plan to arrive early. The DSO will also be performing in Monroe on June 30th. For more info see:
http://www.detroitsymphony.com/season/production.aspx?performanceid=418

GI Air Extravaganza

Congratulations to all those who put so much into the successful 2004 air show. For lots of great pictures visit:
http://www.airic.ca/html/grosse_ile_2004.html

The Email Bag

Doug, I too was frustrated by the 1 hr. and 20 min. it took me to get off the island on June 8th. I had a luncheon meeting scheduled at Sibley's and allowed 50 min. to get there....needless to say, I did not make it on time. Barely moving down Meridian made me claustrophobic and extremely concerned thinking about emergency needs. Something has to be done to move the traffic faster on and off the island when the free bridge is down. Is there any ideas being given to do just that? Perhaps you could ask your e-mail residents for suggestions.....surely someone can come up with an idea that will help. What if there were more than one place taking tolls? What if there were an "easy pass" allowing those people to go around the others? What if? What if? Something, Doug, anything Doug, to help this situation. I have really started to think about moving to the mainland to keep my blood pressure under control! Thanks for all you do.

Hawthorn Glen Dr Resident

"Thanks for Listening" is a whiner. Living on Grosse Ile isn't for sissies.
Bournemouth Resident

Dear Doug, I agree with the resident's letter stating that Police should help control traffic when the county bridge is closed. In my opinion traffic control should be one of the main priorities for our local police dept. When power is down and traffic lights are not working or there is extra congestion due to bridge closure, the police should focus more on assisting residents.
I used to know many of the police officers years ago, but now I don't know any of them. It might be helpful if we could put together some event like the fire department has that would give citizens the chance to meet our police officers personally in a social setting rather than meeting them when we are stopped for a ticket.
Bellevue Resident

Dear Doug, I feel a duty to respond to a letter published in your recent Update. A "Grosse Ile resident" complained about bottlenecked traffic and frequent power outages. I'm only sorry there wasn't one when the resident sent their email to you. The suggestion was made that instead of Grosse Ile Police hiding out in their cars while on duty, they should be out daily in force directing traffic. (Perhaps those power outages have been affecting the traffic lights which pretty effectively direct traffic in the stead of a person). May I suggest that if our drivers do not want to wait at the Bridge Rd. light to let them turn left, they find and alternate route that places them in a different position relative to the bridge? More importantly, however, I'd like to address the comment that the G.I.P.D. ought to be directing traffic rather than 'hiding'. I think the writer may have made a point. Instead of those 'hiding' officers finding 3 missing people in the past several weeks, or saving the life of a blue baby, or stopping one family member from inflicting bodily harm on another, or making sure that both the Island Fest and the Air Show traffic and crosswalks went without accident or injury, police work be damned! Get those police cars and officers out in the intersections for all to see - after all, what's more important? Grosse Ile resident's convenience, of course! p.s. next time you see a G.I. police officer, say "thank you".
Island Resident

Doug, I think we should be encouraging people to be more conscious of the effect of poor lighting, and more considerate of their neighbors when choosing outdoor lighting fixtures. Intrusive and unshielded lights cause glare, as well as obscuring the night sky, and increasing electrical use.
Parkway Resident

DOUG, LETS BRING THE FESTIVAL BACK TO MACOMB. BRING BACK THE KIDDY RIDES AND STALLS AT THE BANK. ELIMINATE THE CARNIVAL AND THE ELEMENT THAT COMES WITH IT. STOP ADVERTISING OFF THE ISLAND AND IN THE DOWNRIVER PAPERS. LETS MAKE IT AN ISLAND THING AGAIN. USE THE AIRPORT FOR THE CAR AND PLANE SHOW AND MAYBE THE DANCE. I KNOW YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION OF THE ISLAND FOLKS AND MERCHANTS. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY WHO FEEL AS I DO. I SEEMS THERE IS A SMALL CLICK WHO ARE BOUND AND DETERMINED TO HAVE IT THEIR WAY.
Hawthorn Resident

I have lived on the Island for 20 years. In that time I have been pulled over 3 times. Once in the first 19 years. The last two times the offices have been condescending and impolite. While they were both young, I still do not find that acceptable. I wondered if anyone else has had that type of encounter?
Ferry Road Resident

Why not make it all 12" mains? - 8-12 can't cost that much!
Elba Resident

I have to agree with the writer of the long letter regarding the traffic light at Bridge and Meridian being more of a hindrance than a help. However, in the past when Detroit Edison was receiving coal by barge and McLouth had ships delivering taconite, it was not unusual to be held up for 25 to 30 minutes to permit these barges/ships to pass. On occasion the Firestone steel wheel people would decide to have a wild-cat strike and Jefferson was effectively closed off. Then, on the return trip from work via Jefferson, it was not unusual for Pennwalt (now Atofina) to decide to shuffle freight cars across the street, blocking traffic for 10-15 minutes. After the first hit of the Toll Bridge span by a McLouth ship, an additional 15 minutes was added to the trip from Wyandotte to return home via the county bridge which, during the summer, was frequently closed by a pleasure boat coming through. This has been remedied by specifying the times the bridges will open for pleasure craft. I find it hard to sympathize with the letter writer, having put up with the above inconveniences for perhaps ten years. However, if this letter writer decides to retire, I fail to see how anyone could not arrange his/her schedule to avoid going off the Island on Tuesday.
Glengarry Resident

This Week in Island History

July 1, 1874 - The luxury hotel The Alexander House opened with a Grand Opening Hop. (On northeast end of island where lighthouse now stands)

Compiled by Clare Koester, GI Historical Society

Quote of the Week

"It is a general popular error to imagine the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare."
Edmond Burke

Website of the Week
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

Have a question or comment for the Supervisor? Email: doug@downriverfirst.com
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Resources available at Grosse Ile On-Line include:
Past weekly updates: http://www.grosseile.com/government/supervisor/eletters.html
Searchable township code, zoning ordinance & master plan: http://www.grosseile.com/government/index.html
This week on GI-TV: http://www.grosseile.com/government/cable/gitv.html

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