At Monday’s regular meeting (Aug. 6) the Belleville City Council unanimously approved the Cruisin’ on the Bayou weekly car show on Main Street for June through September of 2013.
This year Main Street has been closed from 5 to 9 p.m. every Monday, between Third and Fifth streets, for the car show, sponsored by Brian Copsey at the Bayou Grill.
Copsey had asked for continuation of the car show through upcoming years, but the council was reluctant to approve more than one year at a time.
He said if they know this will continue next year they can tell participants from out of town and advertise the event.
“It’s a great event for the community,” said Mayor Kerreen Conley. “Would you be opposed to an annual approval? I would be OK with 2013, but not have it open-ended, in case something – I don’t know what – happened.” Copsey agreed to one year approval.
Former Mayor Tom Fielder said there would be a problem with this council committing to something in 2014, since a some new council members will be elected.
Copsey said he put his reputation and business on the line in sponsoring this event, which is to promote his city and local businesses.
Mayor Pro Tem Jack Loria asked who was doing the 50/50 drawing and where the money was going.
Copsey said Dawn Wilson does it to earn money for door prizes and incentives for the cruisers and he has nothing to do with it.
Former council member George Chedraue said he hoped they were following the lottery laws and IRS guidelines.
“First you have a car show, now you have a raffle…” Chedraue said.
“Everybody’s quick to complain and throw up roadblocks,” Copsey said. He said he had asked other businesses to help, but they sit on their hands.
Fielder asked Copsey not to take comments personally.
“Brian is the fall guy on this,” said Councilwoman Kim Tindall. He said volunteers work with him and he is “not sitting up in some ivory tower.”
Copsey said out of his own pocket he pays three different security people to walk the streets, in addition to the city police out there.
“I’m trying to do what I can so the integrity of the city is upheld,” Copsey said.
In other business, the council:
• Turned over the lone bid for cross-connection services to DPS Director Keith Boc, who was authorized to use the firm, Hydro Design of Troy at $115 per inspection, if all the bid specifications were followed. It is a three-year proposal;
• Approved the annual POW/MIA ceremony by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Veterans Memorial on High Street on Sept. 15, as requested by Ray Lopez, Fourth District POW/MIA chairperson and Commander of the Romulus VFW. A portion of High Street will be closed for the event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;
• Took no action on the Girlstown Foundation request for a car wash at the fire department on Aug. 11 because no one showed up to explain the event to the council, as required;
• Approved use of the Fourth Street Square by the fire department for its 100 Year Celebration on Oct. 13. Collette McClinton said they are planning to have a band to entertain the crowd between the Harvest Fest close at about 3:30 p.m. and the evening balloon launch. McClinton asked for permission to approach the DDA for funds to help with banners to advertise the event and she was advised to get a detailed list of what is needed and the costs to the city by Friday for inclusion in the DDA packet for its Aug. 15 meeting, after approval by the city manager. The 100th celebration will include a parade, pancake breakfast, and fire department related activities;
• Was provided with a proposed Fireworks Safety Standards ordinance, that the city attorney’s firm had prepared for Orion Township. Mayor Kerreen Conley asked council members to study the ordinance and give any comments to the city manager, so the document can be put on a future agenda for a public hearing;
• Approved $302,849.67 in accounts payable and the following departmental purchases in excess of $500: $3,235 to Blue Ribbon Contracting for sewer repair; $1,689.28 to ES&S for election programming, $870 and $1,310 to McCoig Concrete for road repairs; $792 to Motorola Solutions for mobile radios; $549.09 to Northern Tool for water pump; and $735 to SEMCOG for annual membership. Approval was contingent on getting more information on why there was a $13,631 payment for unemployment insurance. Also, Mayor Conley asked the bookkeeper about the city being delinquent in a payment on the judgment on the Downriver Sewer system;
• Heard Councilman Tom Smith ask about a joint meeting with the DDA and he was told that will come after the weather cools down. Also, State Rep. Dian Slavens has asked to meet with the council and that will be in September;
• Heard City Manager Diana Kollmeyer report that on July 18 she sent an email to the Library Board asking for the board to put in writing exactly what it wants and which streets it wants vacated. Mayor Conley said the city wants everything in writing;
• Agreed that Sept. 17 would be a good time to hold a public hearing on the skate park, after the students are back in school and available;
• Heard City Manager Kollmeyer say the balloon man has a city permit to go door to door selling balloons, but he does not have permission to sell at city events and on the sidewalks of the city. He can only sell goods in exchange for money, but not take orders for later delivery, she said; and
• Went into executive session to discuss pending union negotiations.