St. Johns Faces Possibility of Increase in Fire Insurance Costs This Year City

****«_• *-4*i *4Ht*rr+v .-twKiMfr'1*''^jwctfJuWi- ^l**« *•**.. $•**+•* 1* -* • 1 li*ji£>e/*»_, («J-rt.tsi *t, >K' .- ,* *nH"J. * ^•"W . »f \*i»ji 1j-;.»t^' Aging equipment cited by city manager St. Johns faces possibility of increase in fire insurance costs this year St. Johns residents may ex sommented City Manager Harvey the possibilities of fires and the to establish lower rates for fire stated last year. But because of "I cannot say this will happen," 1957 Chevrolet pumper; a 1948 parades. Of the remaining equip pedience a rise in the costs of Weatherwax. ."I don't know if efficiency with which they are protection. the growing age of fire fighting stated Weatherwax. "But after G.M.C. pumper; a 1924 American ment the 1948 G.M.C. pumper their fire insurance this year they'll grant our current rating fought. According to Weatherwax, equipment in the city and ^the last year we would not.be sur- ' LaPrance pumpBr and a 1953 and the 1953 Jeep grass fire unless city officials can again again or not," Essentially the more complete premium ratings in Michigan are lessening effectiveness of some prised if it does." Jeep grass fire unit. unit are earmarked for replace convince state insurance author-' Weatherwax's comments came and current a city's fife fighting grouped in pairs and identified vital pieces, there is speculation ment with emphasis being di ities to retain the current after a brief explanation of the equipment is the chances for as "5-6, 7-8, 9-10." At present that evaluation this year might At present the city's inventory Weatherwax explained that the rected to the G.M.C. unit. premium classification. , rating system employed by in extensive losses decrease there the city is in the 7-8 classifica boost St. Johns' rating into the of fire fighting equipment in 1924 unit is now out of service "We Just got by last year," surance authorities to designate by allowing insurance companies tion, and one which was rein top 9-10 bracket. cludes a 1964 Ford pumper; a and is used only for display or (Story continued on Page 5-A) * Sticks with replacement price City downs government offer for downtown lot GSA, the initials, for the Gov Coletta encouraged a return to the school district. ernment .Service Agency returned notice to GSA officials advising —Approved a supplemental to the St. Johns city* commission them that the city is supporting 'Resolution to an earlier resolu chambers Monday'night'but their the original request for $50,000. tion, calling for a March 31, 114th Year, No. 39 ST. JOHNS, MICH.-Wednesday, January 28, 1970 15 cents visit was shortas commissioners His suggestion was supported by 1970 vote to raise millage limits, voted to turn down that agency's Commissioner Dr James Grost to meet with requirements of the offer of $11,200 as a purchase who commented, "Send it back attorney general's office. price for land now being used as the same way. We must stick —Gave the nod to City Clerk a parking lot adjacent to the vlth it." Tom Hundley to allow Benny A&P Food Store. Commissioner -John Hannah Bensinger to travel to Redford The agency, an arm of the then moved that notification be Township to examine voting ma federal government assigned to, given that the $50,000 sale price chines and gather information among other things, acquire remains and his motion was sup relative to possible placement properties for other government ported by Coletta. of bids if equipment and price agencies, has been seeking are suitable. acquisition of a segment In other business transacted —Referred a request by Rich of the lot in question for nearly during the session commission ard Wadsworth for water and two years. They had originally ers approved a final resolution sewage service on Euclid St. to sought only a portion of the lot providing for the sale of a piece City Manager Harvey Weather to allow enlargement of the Post of property near the high school wax. Office facilities on W. State but city officials, feeling the portion desired would destroy the land's use as a parking area, offered Annexation draws flak the entire lot. Along with the offer went a sale price of $50,000, an amount estimated to be fair for replace from Clinton board ment of the parking lot in a near Representatives to the was a feeling that the move was by area and offering shoppers proposed Tri-County Airport a-"land grab." the same accommodations as the from Lansing, and Ingham,Eaton, "They cannot annex without present lot. and Clinton counties met Monday the approval of the Watertow.n This was replied to by GSA morning to discuss Lansing's Township Board,* he said, "and officials with the explanation that desire to annex land through they're bitterly opposed." ^ they do not consider replace Capital City Airport into Water- Supervisor Roy Andrews said ment values and their purchase town township in Clinton County, that the annexation would upset, offer of $11,200 was based on for the relocation of Diamond the plans for the Watertown independent land appraisals. Reo Corporation. sewer system. .. '- "We're not Just selling a piece Strong opposition to the annex "We've established the DPW, of land," commented Commis ation was voiced by the Clinton and are getting these projects sioner Charles Coletta. aWe,»re representatives. underway. Now Lansing comes selling a fully improved parking Robert Montgomery, Clinton In and wants to take oyer,* lot and it must be replaced with County Supervisor, thought the Andrews said. He said he be ' one' df "equal size ahdjequal cali annexation--was a- step to take lieved he was -speaking for the ber.'' ' some of the county and there majority -of Clinton's super visors. Walter Nobis said thaiif Lan sing took over the airport it County will vote on could Jeopardize the proposed airport authority. At the meeting the representa tives also recommended to the extra mill road plan legislature that the authority be Clinton County residents will Three-quarters of a mill will limited to three-quarters of a decide in the August primary be used for a bituminous paving mill instead of one mill as the whether to implement a one- program for rebuilding the pri amount of tax it could levy. and-a-half mill, five year, road- mary, most heavily trafficked A portion of this money would improvement plan. roads; one-quarter mill will be be distributed to the local sat Road commissioner explained used to set up a matching fund ellite airports, as had always to the board of supervisors for townships that want work been intended, Montgomery A new awareness Thursday that additional funds done in their areas; and a half a noted. would be needed to' improve the mill will be used for repairing He said that the two actions Conservation of the soil, the air we breath, ing to the leaders and youth who attended the field roads. bridges, culverts and crossings. were made "to satisfy everyone "In order to do the Job we've The additional millage, if a little better." the water we use and the preservation of life itself day at the Fowler Conservation Club Parkt located • got to do_, we needed more mill- passed, will provied the road When asked if there were any has come under a new banner for the 70s: Ecology. on Stoney Creek at \Vright Road in Clinton County. age," Supervisor Roy Andrews commission with about $150,000 possibility of Eaton County re said later, "this Is going to annually for the next five years. considering its move to-stay-out And. with the new public awareness no age group In. this week's edition, the Clinton County News, i benefit the entire county." Road commissioners esti- of the airport authority, Morit]- is untouched or to be left unaware. presents the annual report of the Soil Conserva gomery said, "there seemed*'to The proposal will be placed on be some feeling that they would," tion District with the overriding theme: "Ecology: the August primary in order for (Story continued on Page 5-A) The 4-H Conservation Field Day is^apartof the the millage to be levied this a Beginning and Hope." year. If the proposal were new awareness. Above, Koswell Leather man and offered in the November general Hazel McParren give safety instructions in canoe (See special soil conservation supplement with this week's News) election the millage could not be Salary jump approved levied until 1971. WALKER STREET forBath superintendent \ Clinton National Bank Following a 40 minute execu "H * —Advised Superintendent; tive session the Bath School Carlson that If proposed state Board approved a $1,000 salary for consolidation of county inter increase for the 1970-71 school mediate districts becomes a year for Roger Carlson, super reality, Bathv would prefer to announces expansion, intendent. join with Ingham County due to its proximity. The action raises Carlson's salary from $18,000 to $19,000. 8 A • ,| beautification proposa The board received a petition Formal announcement of the mid-way along the 200 block oi Clinton National has also' ac from electricians, building en first phase of an extensive re-* Spring Street. It will be designed quired two buildings east of its gineers, boiler operators, cus Extra cash modeling project was made to accommodate four cars at a present main office-structure at todians, bus drivers, cooks, and •Tuesday evening by officials of time with a pneumatic tube in the corner of E.

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