News & Notes - 1/24/24 Eastsider

Local districts acknowledge January as Board Recognition Month
ROSEVILLE/EASTPOINTE — School Board Recognition Month, held every January, is part of a national effort cosponsored by the Michigan Association of School Boards and the National School Boards Association to build community awareness and understanding about the role school boards play in their communities.

Depending on the district, some board members serve four-year terms while others serve six-year terms. A ceremony was planned to recognize the Roseville Community Schools Board of Education at its Jan. 22 meeting, after the Eastsider went to press. Staff and students from various schools were scheduled to attend the meeting to present gifts, letters and more to each board member.

At the Jan. 8 school board meeting, Eastpointe Community Schools Superintendent Christina Gibson acknowledged the district’s Board of Education.

“I don’t think the public understands the volume of work that goes into being a school board member. Lots of reading of material, lots of tough conversations, lots of advocacy inside of the community,” Gibson said. “I’d like to take this time to thank the school board for their dedication to this organization, and we will continue to find ways to celebrate all of you throughout the month of January. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do.”

 

Learn about ‘Ford in Aviation’
EASTPOINTE — As a Ford Motor Co. employee, Robert Kreipke produced award-winning films and videotapes, as well as live shows, and was responsible for executive strategic planning.

Now, as Ford’s corporate historian emeritus, he shares history about the company. On Feb. 4, the history buff will present “Ford in Aviation” at the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society, 16600 Stephens Road. The presentation will begin at 2 p.m.

Kreipke has authored four books: “Ford Motor Company: The First 100 Years,” “The Ford Model A,” “The Model T,” and “Faces of Henry Ford.”

Admission is by donations. For more information, visit www.mimths.org.

 

Board approves purchase of mini-split system, bid for backup power renovations
ROSEVILLE — The outdoor concession stand at Roseville High School will receive a 3-ton mini-split cooling system.

At the Jan. 8 Roseville Community Schools Board of Education meeting, the school board approved 7-0 a bid for $18,318 to Metro Controls Inc. in Clinton Township for the indoor/outdoor unit.

Money from the general fund will cover the cost, including material and labor.

The board also approved 7-0 a motion for the Buildings and Grounds Department to bid out for backup power renovations that would add five generators in the district at Roseville High School, Roseville Middle School, Eastland Middle School, Kment Elementary School and Steenland Elementary School. Once a bid has been accepted by the school board, the project will begin.

 

City of Eastpointe relaunches email program
EASTPOINTE — Starting this month, Eastpointe has relaunched Constant Contact, an email program aimed at keeping residents informed on city updates, adult and youth programs and more.

To sign up for the free program, visit cityofeastpointe.net/news_detail_T9_R273.php.

 

City Council awards bid for Sprenger Avenue resurfacing
EASTPOINTE — At its Jan. 9 meeting, Eastpointe City Council voted to approve a bid award to have a stretch of Sprenger Avenue repaved.

Sprenger Avenue between Virginia and Boulder avenues failed the current Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating, aka PASER. Work will include resurfacing the street as well as concrete base repairs, concrete curb and gutter replacement, and the replacement of accessible ramps, according to the council’s agenda item packet. 

Additionally, storm sewer crossing and drainage structures within the roadway will be inspected and repaired as necessary.

City Council voted to approve a bid by Great Lakes Contracting Services LLC, of Waterford, in the amount of $323,820.75. Of that, $150,000 will be paid for by a federal Community Development Block Grant. The remainder of the funding will be from the city’s local road funds.

As of press time, no date has been set for construction to begin.

 

Council schedules public hearing for proposed changes to Nine Mile project
EASTPOINTE — At the City Council’s Dec. 5 meeting, the council voted to put the Nine Mile Road reconstruction project on hold to allow time to review other design options.

While funding for the project had been secured since September, construction bids received for the second phase of construction, which covers the stretch of Nine Mile Road between Beechwood and Gratiot avenues, saw an increase of 27% due to an increase in the price of concrete.

Once funding was approved in September, the city had one year to begin construction before it would lose funding. Now, due to City Council voting to reject the previous bids, the city has to present a redesign, gather bids and begin construction before September, Ryan Kern, a senior project engineer from Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick Inc., the city’s engineering firm, said at the Dec. 5 meeting.

At the City Council’s Jan. 9 meeting, the council decided that a public hearing regarding proposed changes will be held during the council’s Feb. 6 meeting. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 23200 Gratiot Ave.

 

MSGCU accepting applications for its scholarship programs
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union is accepting applications through Feb. 27 for its annual scholarship program.

Credit union representatives are offering 33 scholarships of $2,500 each to help local students and educators reach career goals, and 14 scholarships of $2,000 each to support future first responders.

Scholarship applications can be submitted online at msgcu.org/scholarships. Nonmembers are welcome to apply for an MSGCU scholarship and must become a member if selected as a scholarship recipient.

 

Looking for ‘Custodian of the Year’
NATIONWIDE — Cintas Corporation, based in Cincinnati, is holding its 11th annual Cintas Custodian of the Year contest, which honors standout school custodians. Cintas will award $10,000 to the winning custodian and $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid products and services to the winner’s school.

The other nine finalists will receive $1,000 each from Cintas, a cleaning supply package from Rubbermaid and complimentary tuition to one ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) virtual training event, valued at $1,500. In addition, the top three finalists will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas in November.

The contest is open to all elementary, middle, high school, college and university custodians who have worked at their school for at least two years. Nominations must be 500 words or less about why the nominee is deserving of the award. Cintas will announce the top 10 finalists on March 5. The public can vote for their favorite custodian through April 12, and the finalist with the most votes will be crowned Custodian of the Year in the spring. 

Nominations can be submitted until Feb. 9 at custodianoftheyear.com.