City of Gibraltar Community Newsletter

April 2017-August 2017 62nd Edition

Gibraltar, Michigan 48173 www.cityofgibraltar.net

Breakfast With The Easter Bunny April 15th, 2017- 9:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

For 2017 the Gibraltar Recreation Commission and the Gibraltar Firefighters Association will once again be sponsoring Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on April 15th at the Gibraltar Community Center (29340 South Gibraltar Rd.). A Pancake Breakfast will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $5.00 per person. Children under 3 are free. Tickets are only sold at the door. A marshmallow drop (weather permitting) will begin at 12:00 p.m. Special prizes will be awarded for the colored marshmallows. Each child will receive one prize no matter how many marshmallows are collected. There will also be an Easter basket and bike raffle, face painting and balloons (additional cost), petting farm, trackless train (additional cost) and a lot more fun. For more information, please call (734) 671-1466.

53rd Annual Gibraltar 4th of July Celebration July 3rd - July 4, 2017 Sponsored by the Gibraltar Downtown Development Authority

The 2017 City of Gibraltar 4th of July Celebration will be held on two days this year, July 3rd and 4th. For the 53rd edition of this year’s festival, residents and visitors will be treated to a wealth of activities and entertainment for all ages. This year’s schedule is as follows:

Monday- July 3rd, 2017- Activities will start at 3:00 p.m. and will continue until dark. Events on Monday will include carnival rides, live entertainment, food, and a beer tent sponsored by the Gibraltar Fire Fighters Association. City of Gibraltar Community Newsletter ● 62nd Edition

Tuesday-July 4th, 2017- The day will commence with a parade at 10:00 a.m. It will begin at the Gibraltar City Hall (29450 Munro) and end at the Gil Talbert Community Center (29340 South Gibraltar Rd.). Events, food and entertainment will occur all day at Hy Dahlka Park behind the Community Center, as well as inside the Community Center. The final event of the day will be the Fireworks Display behind Parsons Elementary School, starting at 10:00 p.m. This year’s event is being sponsored by the Gibraltar Downtown Development Authority (DDA), as part of their promotion of the Gibraltar Downtown area. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend this wonderful community event.

The following are the highlights of the event:

 Parade starts at 10:00 A.M. (Tuesday) Parade Route – Bayview to Davis; Davis to Munro; Munro to Stoeflet; Stoeflet to S. Gibraltar Road; S. ` Gibraltar Road to Marr; Marr to Navarre; Navarre to the Community Center at 29340 S. Gibraltar Road.  Live Entertainment  Amusement Rides  Awards for Policeman of the Year, Fireman of the Year, Miss Gibraltar  Food Concessions  Beer Tent  Craft Vendors  Petting Farm, Face Painting, and Clown Show  Bingo The following are the times for the events to be held on the 4th (Tuesday):  Parade line up 9:00 AM  Parade start 10:00 AM  Daylong activities 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM  Beer Tent 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM  Fireworks Display 10:00 PM  Music 12:00 PM Till Dark  Petting Farm 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

If you or your organization is interested in participating in this year’s parade, please complete the form on the second page of the newsletter and return it to the Recreation Director, Tamey Gorris at the address listed on the form.

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City of Gibraltar July 4th 2017 Parade

Name: ______

Address: ______

______

Phone Number: ______

Email Address: ______

I will walk in the parade: yes______no ______

Type of outfit: ______

I will have a float in the parade: yes______no______

Type of Float: ______

If you will be participating in the parade with a float can you please have a sign or magnet on the left side of the car representing the company or persons? This will help the announcers identify who you are and announce you to the crowd.

Thank you,

Tamey Gorris Recreation Director tamey@city of gibraltar.net Phone (734) 671-1466 Fax (734) 676-3309

City Reviews Implementing Pre-Sale Home Inspection Program

For the past two years the City of Gibraltar has been reviewing the possibility of performing pre-sale inspections for residences within the City. The City currently mandates only smoke detector checks and berm inspections (for water front homes). In addition to these limited pre-sale inspections, the City does perform rental inspections on non-owner occupied residences. Through the approximately two year process, the City has narrowed down the magnitude of inspections to include primarily safety related items. The following is a short list of items currently being reviewed for inclusion in the inspection

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 ConcreteTrip Hazards  Stairway and Hand Railing Safety Issues  Smoke Detectors  GFCI Outlet Installation in required areas of the home  Proper wiring throughout home (i.e. no extension cords serving as permanent wiring)  Furnace safety check  Dryer and furnace venting  ETC.

The above list is not intended to be a complete listing of all items but instead give residents an idea of the intent of the ordinance. At time of publication, the ordinance as drafted was yet to be approved by the Council. Once adopted, an implementation date will be decided upon by the City. Residents interested in selling their home after the ordinance becomes effective will be required to schedule an inspection through the City of Gibraltar. All violations will be required to be fixed prior to the sale. As drafted, the City will allow for the purchaser to absorb the responsibility of compliance should the seller and purchaser decide that is the preferred option. Should you be interested in learning more about the pre-sale inspection program as proposed, the Gibraltar City Council will be discussing the proposed ordinance at their next regularly scheduled meeting on April 10th, 2017 at 6:30 in the Council Chambers located at 29450 Munro St.

City-Wide Garage Sale Dates Set

This year’s City-Wide Garage Sale Dates have been set for May 19, 20, and 21st. Registration forms are available at City Hall as well as on-line at www.cityofgibraltar.net. Once received, the City will compile the applications into one document which will be available for residents to pick up during the event. Maps and lists of available items should be available on May 18th and 19th. The City will also be advertising the sale in the News Herald.

Gibraltar Celebrates 180 Years

The City of Gibraltar celebrated it’s 180th Birthday this month. Established on March 14th, 1837 the City of Gibraltar’s modern history dates back to the 1700’s when it served as a primary location for the area’s Wyandot Indian population. The “Venice of Michigan” celebrated it’s birthday thanks to an event put on by the Gibraltar Historical Museum. The

- 4 - City of Gibraltar Community Newsletter ● 62nd Edition event hosted members of the current Wyandot Indian Tribe who presented on their Six Points Property and their plans for it’s development. In addition, representatives from the United Sates Department of Fish and Wildlife spoke on the natural history of the area and a presentation on the first road in Michigan (Jefferson Avenue) was given. The museum was open to residents to view the unique and natural history of Gibraltar. The City of Gibraltar would like to wish all the residents of our great town a Happy Birthday!

3rd Annual Duck Race and 1st Annual Kayak Poker Run

Gibraltar/Rockwood Rotary will be hosting the third annual Rubber Duck Race and 1st Annual Kayak Poker Run on July 22nd. The Day’s events will start with a Kayak Poker Run at 12:00 p.m. Fees for the run are $35. Participants get two (2) drinks, dinner, and are automatically entered in a kayak raffle. Dinner for non- participants can be purchased for $10. Live entertainment will occur from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Starting at 6:00 p.m. will be the Rubber Duck Race. Tickets for the race will be sold through July 22nd, 2017 until 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 each and are available at the Gibraltar Community Center, the Rich Gas Station, or Gibraltar City Hall. Prizes are as follows:

1st Prize: $1000 2nd Prize: $350 3rd Prize $150

For more information please contact : [email protected] or 734-671-1466

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Fishing Tournament

The Gibraltar/Rockwood Rotary Club will be hosting its 17th Annual Walleye Fishing Tournament on June 11th this year. The tournament will start at 6:30 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. Participants are to fish Michigan waters only. Entry forms and rules are available at Bottom Line Bait and Tackle, Gibraltar City Hall and AAA Insurance on West Rd. in Trenton. Cost is $25/Person . Cash prizes will be for the top three winning teams, with a combined weight of their top five fish. Weigh in will be at the Lake Erie Metro Park Boat Ramp. A fish fry will follow the weigh in, at the Gibraltar Community Center (at approx. 3:30 pm). The fish fry is open to the public to attend for a fee. For further information; please contact Scott Denison 734-778-2278

Sanitary and Storm Sewer Cleaning Work To Commence April 10th, 2017

Through the recently awarded SAW Grant received from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Gibraltar will be performing cleaning

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and televising of all of the City’s Sanitary and Storm Sewer Systems between April 10th and June 15th. The winning bidder for this work is United Resources. Residents are being notified so that they can be aware of additional roadside work being performed during these dates. At some point during the three month process, the residents will notice a large vactor truck (like the one pictured) as well as “TV” Truck (which looks much like a moving van) in the vicinity of your home. Work being performed will not affect your residential sewer flows and simply involves the water jetting/cleaning of the City’s main sewer line in the vicinity of your home. Contractors should only be in the vicinity of your home a maximum of four hours. Prior to work taking place, residents will receive a notice at their home which explains the work being done. The notice will state the following:

CITY OF GIBRALTAR MICHIGAN Notice to Residents

Re: Televising and Cleaning of Sewers

The City of Gibraltar has developed a program to televise the sewer lines in your area. Through a selective bidding process, this contract was awarded to United Resource, LLC of Livonia, Michigan. Work on your street or easement will commence within 48 hours upon receipt of this Notice during the hours of 7:30am to 9:00pm Monday thru Friday, Saturday (8:30am – 5:00pm).

Because a number of sewer manholes are located in rear yard easements, it may be necessary for the contractor to use some properties as an access to these manholes. If you are one of these yard owners, we ask your permission and cooperation so the contractor may expediently perform their tasks and move on.

The Televising process will take place first and in situations needed cleaning of the sewers with high-pressure water jetting will be used. As a result hydrant use, will be necessary. The natural sediment of the hydrant lines may be disturbed causing discoloration of the water. This does not in any way contaminate the water. Allowing your water to settle for one to two hours with a minimum use and then running it for one to two minutes will clear any discoloration. If there is any discoloration DO NOT DO LAUNDRY. During work on the sewer some residents may or may not experience an odor coming from your drains or toilets. We ask that you keep toilet lids closed and if possible, place a towel between the lid and seat. To reduce the chance of odor, please add water to all floor drains. During and/or immediately following the cleaning process the sewer will be televised to evaluate their condition.

Your cooperation during this work is greatly appreciated. Questions should be directed to the City of Gibraltar.

Very truly yours,

City of Gibraltar

The purpose of this work is to identify potential leaks in the system. Once identified, these leaks can be fixed allowing the City to minimize ground water infiltration into the sanitary sewer system, resulting in lowered treatment expense. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this work, please do not hesitate to contact the City of Gibraltar at 734-676- 3900.

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Gibraltar sees increase in bond rating from Moody’s

As reported in the News Herald, the City of Gibraltar recently received a boost in it’s General Obligation Limited Tax Bond Rating. The new rating which was provided for in January moved the City of Gibraltar from an A2 category to and A1 Category. The City of Gibraltar was one of 32 communities in the state of Michigan to recently see it’s bond ratings increase.

Bond ratings are an important measure because they are utilized by loan entities to choose to either provide financing to a community or not. In addition, because they are like a personal credit rating, they are an indication of your financial health and ability to satisfy an outstanding debt. As a result, those with higher bond ratings (credit scores) can often borrow money at lower interest rates. Conversely, those entities with lower bond ratings have issues securing funds and/or the funds received are at much higher interest rates.

Because general obligation bonds for which this rating applies are financed through the “full faith and credit” of the tax paying public, the cost of borrowing impacts homeowners. If the City has a higher bond rating and can borrow money at lower rates, those lower rates are passed along to the tax payer via lower tax assessments. The opposite effect occurs when bond ratings are low.

Gibraltar Manor Annual Classic Car Cruise In Sunday July 16, 2017 2 - 4 pm Music, Food, Vendors Door Prizes Gibraltar Manor 14486 Middle Gibraltar Rd, Rockwood, MI 48173 For More Info: (734) 676-4802

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GIBRALTAR FARMER’S MARKET TO START July 12th

The City of Gibraltar will host its third year of Farm Market Events every Wednesday July 12th - September 27th. The purpose of the market is to provide Gibraltar with the means to obtain fresh, nutritious foods that are locally grown, and to provide awareness of the importance of buying local.

The hours of operation are 3 pm-7 pm and will be held at the Bob Lo Pavilion, Middle Gibraltar Rd. All vendors must provide goods that are grown locally and provide their products until 7:00 pm each Wednesday. The Gibraltar Farmer’s Market is always looking for volunteers to assist with the event as well as vendors. If you are interested in participating in the Market as a volunteer or vendor please contact Jessica Kirksey via the information listed below:

Gibraltar Community Center - Farmer’s Market ATTN: Jessica Kirksey 29340 S. Gibraltar Rd. Gibraltar, MI 48173 Phone: (734) 363-3983 Fax: (734) 676-3309 [email protected]

Recreation Sets 2017 Summer Schedule for Music in the Park

The Gibraltar Recreation Department has set the 2017 Schedule for Music in the Park, it is as follows:

July 27th- Toppermost Beatles Tribute August 10th- The LeftOvers August 24th- The Wanderers Trio September 7th- Sarah Sharrard and Band September 21st- Full Throttle August 30th- Wednesday at Dusk- Movie in the park

As in previous Music in the Park Events- all shows start at 6:00 p.m. and run until 9:00 p.m.

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Gibraltar Clean Up Day- Saturday- May 6, 2017

The City of Gibraltar’s Beautification Committee will host its annual Clean Up Day on Saturday, May 6, 2017. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Gibraltar Community Center by 9:00 a.m. Activities will include grounds maintenance including painting, planting, mulching, and trash pick-up.

Pizza for all volunteers

Keep Gibraltar Beautiful Please volunteer In conjunction with Keep Michigan Beautiful – May Clean Up Initiative Sponsored by Gibraltar Beautification Commission For more info please call city hall 734 676 3900

International Wildlife Refuge Alliance to Hold Annual Fundraiser – May 20, 2017

A benefit will be held from 5-9 PM, May 20, 2017 at the Monroe Golf and Country Club- Monroe MI for the purpose of raising funds for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance. The Alliance assists the refuge with activities that support the mission and purposes of the DRIWR. The Alliance provides many vital services to the Refuge such as community outreach, education programs, habitat restoration, special events support, volunteer staff, advocacy and fundraising. Tickets are $75/person or $125/couple. They can be purchased via the Alliance website at iwralliance.org. At the event there will be dinner, live entertainment, raffles, photo booth, and many other activities. More information can be obtained online or by directly contacting the office IWR Alliance Office at 734-692-7671.

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International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Upcoming Events

Visitor Center Greeter Volunteer Trainings Although the new visitor center is not scheduled to open until later this year, we are beginning training for volunteers interested in our Visitor Center Greeter volunteer position. The training opportunities will be hosted on Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 from 9:00 am till 3:30 pm. There is room for approximately 20 people per session. We will begin with a basic description of how we plan to manage these volunteers and a brief description of the job duties. Then we will tour a few refuge units. We are still working on finding funding for lunch. FWS transportation will be used. If you are interested in this volunteer position, you can find out more information at: www.fws.gov/refuge/Detroit_River/what_we_do/get_involved.html

If you are interested in registering for the training, please contact Visitor Services Manager, Jody DeMeyere, at [email protected].

Humbug Marsh Unit Open for Public Event on Saturday, May 13 The Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge will be open to the public on International Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 13. The day will begin with two guided birding hikes at 7:30 am and 9:30 am. These hikes are for expert and novice birders alike! Beginning at 10:00 am, there will be family friendly activities and the trails will be open for the public to explore. The event will wrap up at 2:00 pm. Come enjoy the beautiful spring weather and the bounty of birds who either pass through or call southeast Michigan home! We hope to see you there.

Community News and General Information

Gibraltar Historical Museum Open: 1st Sunday of every month from 2- 4 pm Located on 2nd floor of City Hall

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Come see what you’ve been missing…It’s worth the Trip! For more info please call: Dorothy Wood 734 675 9633

Kiwanis Club of Greater Gibraltar Opens

The City of Gibraltar welcomed a new service oriented non-profit group recently. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Gibraltar is currently in the chartering process. The new service organization which meets every Tuesday at 6:30 at the Gibraltar Community Center will become official on May 23rd, 2017 after it’s official chartering ceremony.

In it’s first official action, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Gibraltar in partnership with the Gibraltar Police Department Union and Gibraltar Carlson High School awarded one 11th grade student a sponsorship to the Michigan State

Police – Kiwanis Law Enforcement Career Academy. This year’s winner was Ms. Sarah Cadle of Gibraltar. Ms. Cadle has been very interested in Police Forensics and CSI field work since she can remember. 75-80% of the students that experience this Career Academy ultimately make a career in Law Enforcement. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Gibraltar would like to wish Ms. Cadle good luck with her participation in the program and potential future in law enforcement.

For more information, please visit http://m.facebook.com/KiwanisClubofGreaterGibraltar/?ref=bookmarks.

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Prescription Medicine Drop Box Available at City Hall

Any residents looking to dispose of unwanted prescription medication can now dispose of their surplus or expired pharmaceuticals in a purposed drop box located at Gibraltar City Hall. Managed by the Gibraltar Police Department, these unwanted medications will be disposed of properly insuring they will not enter the environment where they can be harmful. Access to the box is 24/7. For any questions relative to the drop box, please contact the Gibraltar Police Department at: 734-676-1022.

Payment Drop Box and USPS Mailbox

The City Hall Payment Drop Box is located in the traffic island across from the Flag Pole in front of City Hall. There is a United States Postal Service mailbox located in front of the Gibraltar Community Center. City Assessor

The City of Gibraltar Assessor, WCA Assessing, has assigned David Yack to provide service to the City. The Assessor’s office hours are on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and he can also be reached by email at [email protected].

Summer Tax Bills

The 2017 Summer Tax Bills will be mailed June 30th and are payable July 1 – August 31st, without penalty. After this date, a 4% penalty will be added. If your mortgage company pays the taxes for you, they will receive a copy of your tax bill. If you have delinquent water bills, these balances will be placed on your taxes with the winter billing plus a 25% fee.

CLERK’S OFFICE

Election Notice

Petitions and affidavits of identity are due April 25th by 4:00 pm if you wish to file to run for office in the November Election. Current positions up for election or re-election are City Clerk (2 year term), Treasurer (2 year term), Mayor (2 year term) , and three Council Seats (4 year term). Petitions require no less than 20 signatures and no more than 35. See Clerk Cindy Lehr for more information.

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Senior Alliance

The Senior Alliance is available to Gibraltar Residents to assist with insuring and preserving the independence of older adults and those with disabilities. Some services that are provided include:  Transportation For information on services provided:  Housing Options Please call 1-800-815-1112  Nutrition Programs or visit www.aaa1c.org  Legal Assistance or email: [email protected]  Meals on Wheels  Medicare/Medicaid Assistance  Home Healthcare Services  Caregiver Support ______

Water Department General Information

Water Information Brochure Available at City Hall In response to numerous consumer requests for Water Department Information, the City of Gibraltar recently developed an informative brochure on water rates and the Water Department. Copies of this report can be found on the City of Gibraltar’s website (www.cityofgibraltar.net) or at the Gibraltar City Hall- 29450 Munro.

Water Bill Reminder: When you receive your quarterly water bill, please remember to check your water meter reading with the listed numbers of gallons on the bill. Your meter should read higher than the billing information. If there are any discrepancies, please notify the Water Department immediately at (734) 676-8982. Discrepancies are the responsibility of the property owner.

As a reminder, your quarterly water bills are mailed out at the beginning of January, April, July, and October. Water bills are then due by the 10th of the following month. Water bills are payable at City Hall, 29450 Munro Avenue, Gibraltar, MI 48173.

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Check for Water Leaks:

 A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It is likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month. [US EPA Water Sense website]

 To be sure that you do not have a water leak somewhere in your home, go dry for two hours. Turn off all appliances that use water and do not use any water for the two hours – no toilets, sinks or faucets – inside or outside. Check your meter reading before and after the two hours. If the meter reading changes even a little bit, you probably have a leak and each fixture in your home should be checked.

 Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl before you flush, you have a leak.

A continuous leak at 60 psi water pressure from a hole the size shown below would, over a three month period, waste water in the amounts shown.

Diameter of Stream Gallons

● 1/4” 1,181,500 ● 3/16” 666,000

● 1/8” 296,000

● 1/16” 74,000

Chipping: City chipping service will normally be done once a week. This is subject to change due to emergencies, scheduling, etc. Tree branches for chipping should be left as long as possible, with the larger end of the branch facing towards the road in a neat, uniform pile. THE CHIPPING SERVICE IS FOR TREES CUT DOWN/TRIMMED BY RESIDENTS THEMSELVES. IF A CONTRACTOR IS HIRED, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHIPPING AND REMOVAL OF ALL DEBRIS.

Property owners should try to cut small branches and limbs into smaller lengths and place them in a yard waste bag. Brush and tree trimmings less than 2” in diameter and tied into bundles not exceeding 4 feet in length and/or 60 pounds in weight can be put out with the Yard Waste for Rizzo to pick up. Chipping by the City is seasonal and usually scheduled for Wednesdays and Thursdays. ______

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How our City Drainage System Works:

Because of the uniqueness of the City of Gibraltar’s Drainage System, confusion may exist as to how the system operates. The intent of the article is to clarify how both the Sanitary Sewer and Storm System Operates: The City of Gibraltar maintains a separated sewer system. What this means is that the pipes that service your household toilets, showers, etc. all operate on a separate system from the storm drainage system which drains the roads and discharge to the streams, canals, and the lake. First, let’s review the storm sewer system. Gibraltar’s storm sewer system is combination of permanent, in ground pumps, portable diesel pumps, and a standard gravity pipes. The various methods deployed are necessary due to the low elevation of the City. In traditional storm sewer systems, the elevation between where the water enters the system (is high) and where the water enters the discharge point (lake, stream, canal), is low. In Gibraltar, because the storm sewer pipe height (keep in mind the pipe is below the surface) is often the same as or lower than the water level we are discharging to. Because of this gravity will not work to remove the water from the system during high water events. It is not uncommon for the river height during storm events to be higher than the storm pipe height, in that case water can actually come up into the system from the water body we are discharging to. In order to prevent this, the City has installed “tide flex valves.” These valves close off the system when lake levels get too high (to prevent back flow into the system). Naturally, if the system cannot discharge through standard gravity methods, the water must be forced out of the system. Permanent and temporary pumps assist with this effort and are deployed throughout town. These “Force Mains” are located at: 1. North Gibraltar Rd. and Jefferson (Diesel Pump) 2. North Gibraltar Rd. and Middle Gibraltar Rd. (In Ground Permanent) 3. Bayview (by City Hall)- (In Ground Permanent) 4. Bayview and Leslie (In Ground Permanent) 5. Bayview and Leslie (Diesel Pump) 6. Worth and Fryer (Diesel Pump) 7. Young and Navarre (Diesel Pump) 8. Pointe Drive (Diesel Pump) 9. Bayview and Adams (Diesel Pump) 10. Bayview and Delavern (Diesel Pump)

The locations of these pumps are strategic to service certain drainage areas throughout town. They are also located where the City has easements. The City of Gibraltar is currently pursuing grant funding to transition from portable diesel pumps to more in-ground permanent pumps. These grant requests have been made to FEMA, and the City is awaiting a response.

Please note- All of the above items are STORM SEWER RELATED ONLY. Actions by the City taken with these items help with road flooding, ditch water removal, and rain water related drainage. Unless you have

- 16 - City of Gibraltar Community Newsletter ● 62nd Edition water coming into your basement through basement windows, or overland flooding, “Turning on the Pumps” will not reduce sanitary drainage (water coming up through your basement floor drains).

Second, the sanitary sewer system: The City of Gibraltar is part of a large sewer treatment conglomerate called South Huron Valley Utility Authority (SHVUA). The City of Gibraltar collects sanitary sewer water through it’s own system which then discharges to the SHVUA system which then transports the waste water to the treatment plant (located on Jefferson Ave, South of Lake Erie Metro Park). The City maintains a force main sanitary pump station located on South Gibraltar Rd. by the Dairy Queen. This pump station is automated, has four pumps with low and high flow switches, and has a generator backup. This is the only “pump station” we have for sanitary water. If you have water in your basement, it could mean a variety of things, and is not indicative of a failure of a City system. The following are a few issues that could cause a wet basement:  Failure of a sump pump at your home, or a sump pump that is unable to keep up with the flow of water coming from your home’s perimeter drain  Failure to have a sump pump  If you have water coming up from your basement floor drains- this could be the result of the following things: 1. A blockage in your sanitary pipe. Common occurrences can be tree roots, calcium build up, grease, or other blockages and/or failures of the line. Often times basement floor drain backups are experienced during heavy rain events. If you have yard drain tile, sumps, or a perimeter drain connected to your sanitary line, when the flow to the sanitary line is increased during a rain event, the blocked pipe cannot remove the water quick enough. As a result, the water backs up to the lowest point in your house, the floor drain. 2. During a rain or high water event, the City’s sanitary system often becomes overwhelmed by illicit storm water connections and other inflow and infiltration of storm/river water. As a result, pipe capacities are exceeded and the system reaches capacity. When this happens, basement backups may occur and sanitary water will seek the lowest point of relieve (often those with basements). Unfortunately, the City does not have additional pumping methods to solve this issue. You can equate it to a bathtub full of water, once the drain is pulled the hole size in the bottom of the tub dictates the rate at which the tub drains. Our sanitary system is the drain, the system size dictates the drain rate, and if additional water is added to the tub (ongoing rain event after capacity), the longer the system takes to drain.

If this is a common occurrence at your residence, the City suggests that you contact a plumber regarding the installation of a “check valve” on your sanitary line. This valve only allows waste water to travel out, and not into your home. The City does not recommend “stand pipes” as they can cause devastating hydraulic pressure to be placed on your foundation, resulting in damaging results.

3. Catastrophic issues with the sanitary system. This occurrence is very unlikely as redundant systems are in place to avoid this type of failure. Sanitary pump failures either at the City’s pump station, in the SHVUA system, severe blockages in the sanitary mains, or other unforeseen issues would have this type of result. If this is the case, often wide blocks of residences in a specific area of town will be affected. This type of failure is the most uncommon.

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It is essential for the proper operation of the sanitary system for residents to understand, they must not discharge storm water to the sanitary system. This includes making sure sump pumps, downspouts, and perimeter drain discharges are directed outside and not into their sanitary drain. Through these efforts, item #2 above can be remedied. In addition, the City recently applied and received a $2,000,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality that covers the cost inspecting, televising, and categorizing areas of the sanitary system where inflow and infiltration exists. Once ongoing inspections are complete, the City will be formulating a capital improvement plan to reduce storm water from entering the sanitary system. Your assistance in preventing this from occurring on your property is essential to our success. Please note that both the City’s sanitary and storm sewer systems are old, and designed at a time when the City relied less on it’s capacity. The City of Gibraltar constantly is working to improve upon our existing infrastructure, but unfortunately “record breaking” rain events are occurring at a greater frequency than ever over the past 15 years.

Should you have any questions regarding any of the above information, please do not hesitate to contact the City of Gibraltar Department of Public Works at 734-676-3900.

POLICE/ FIRE DEPARTMENT GENERAL INFORMATION

GIB Reminds Residents- Please make sure your address is prominently displayed on your home

IS YOUR HOUSE NUMBER DISPLAYED SO OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES CAN FIND YOU WHEN YOU NEED THEM?

House numbers are not only convenient for finding addresses but necessary for emergency responders to locate those in need. When responding to an emergency, minutes matter so be sure that fire, ambulance and police personnel can easily and quickly locate your address. Gibraltar Ordinance Section 6-396 requires all residential properties to have identification address numbers, minimum three inches high, “readable from the centerline of the roadway by a person of normal vision.” Business and commercial buildings shall use numbers “not less than four inches in height,”

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Gibraltar Welcomes New Officer Brandon Seifert

The City of Gibraltar recently welcomed a new officer to it’s ranks, Officer Seifert was brought on in October of 2016 to replace recently retired officer Raymond Canterbury. At the time of hire, Officer Seifert was an employee of the City as a dispatcher as well as a part-time officer in the community of Dundee, Michigan. Previous to his employment with the City of Gibraltar and Dundee, Brandon spent over 20 years with the City of Taylor as an officer and retired from their force. The City of Gibraltar would like to welcome officer Seifert to the force and thanks him and all Gibraltar Officers for their dedicated service to the residents of Gibraltar.

Nixle- Resident Notification System Reminder

The City of Gibraltar Police Department recently implemented the Nixle- Resident notification system. This system allows GIBPD to inform our residents of potential problems police/ fire, city events /council meetings, weather/tornadoes/ snow emergencies and general information of importance via various methods of communication.

If residents are interested in signing up for Nixle all that is necessary is to visit the City of Gibraltar webpage (www.cityofgibraltar.net), go to the Gibraltar Police Department link and sign up at the bottom of the page. Notices will be forwarded to you by both email and phone. Currently the City of Gibraltar has 1400 individuals signed up.

Volunteers Wanted: The City of Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Department are looking for dedicated volunteers to serve the community. Available opportunities include openings for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Fire Fighters. Applications are available at the Gibraltar Police Department. For more information, please contact the Gibraltar Fire Department at 734-676-3167

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Community Center/ Recreation Events

Family Storytime- Gibraltar Community Center- Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Stories, Music, Crafts, and more. Class is intended to assist in the development of children both socially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Class incorporates language, literacy, cognitive, and pre-math skills. $3.00/family. Class runs through May. Dates/Books/Themes are as follows: April 5- Spring has sprung! April 12- Easter Bunny Visit, Bunny Tales April 19- No Storytime April 26- Froggy Stories May 3- May Day Party May 10- Farmer Day May 17- Butterflies May 24- Picnic

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For more info please call Mrs. Cindy @ 734-658-8198 for more info.

Kids Power Karate Ages 5 and up- Class emphasizes self-defense, physical fitness, conflict resolution, team work, and anti-kidnapping techniques. This program is designed specifically for children and teaches prevention first. It does not promote active aggressiveness, but teaches children to respect themselves and others and the skills they learn. This is a proven program that is positive, fun, exciting, and educational. Wear loose fitting clothes. A responsible adult must remain in attendance during class.

Mondays, 5:30-6:15pm

6 week session for only $40!

Color Belts – Yellow and Higher- Mondays 6:15-7:00 pm (Must Complete Kids Power Class first)

All classes will be held at: Gibraltar Community Center, 29340 South Gibraltar Rd., To Register: Call 734.931.0199

Cardio Drumming Cardio Drumming- 14100 Navarre Street- Classes are Mondays and Thursdays at 6:45 pm. Items needed include drumsticks, 65 cm exercise ball and round toy bin. Please bring a bottle of water and towel. Drop in rates are $6/class. Rental kits (ball, bin, and sticks) are available for an additional $3. Call 734-671-1466 for more information. (Class Breaks for the Summer During the Months of June and July)

Senior Exercise Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays- 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. – Gibraltar Community Center, 29450 Munro.

Step into Shape All age groups welcome. Monday, Wednesday, Friday- 9:15 a.m. For more information please contact (734) 676-1466 @ Gibraltar Community Center.

Square Dancing Square Dancing with Ray Wiles. Held @ the Gibraltar Community Center on Tuesday nights starting at 6:00 p.m. Learn from the best callers and enjoy the newest dance steps. Class is for advanced dancers with 3+ years of experience. Call (734) 676-1466.

Gibraltar Kiwanis Club Gibraltar Kiwanis Club- Meets Tuesdays @ the Gibraltar Community Center- 6:30 p.m.

Community Garden The First Congregational Church located at 29885 Bayview will be hosting a free community garden. For those residents whom do not have space for their own garden on their property, the Church is providing free 10 x 10 plots for residents to use. For more information please call 734-676-5266.

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Ball Room and Latin Dancing Monday Nights – 7:00 p.m. - Gibraltar Community Center- (734) 676-1466.

Yoga Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Yoga days. Tuesday is at 10:00 a.m.. at the 14100 Navarre St.. Wednesday’s event is at 6:15 p.m. Drop in’s are welcome- (734)- 676-1466. Cost: $7.00/class.

Yoga with Yola Tuesdays- 10:00 a.m. at the Gibraltar Community Center

AA Group Babbling Brooks AA Group meets @ the Community Center on Friday and Sunday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Over 50 Club The Gibraltar Over 50 Club meets on the second and last Friday of every month @ the Community Center at 7:00 p.m. Residents and non-residents 50 years or older are welcome to join. Come join the fun, social activities, and trip planning. For more information please call (734) 675-5569.

Senior Lunch Program All week days- 11:00- 1:00 at the Gibraltar Community Center – 29450 Munro.

Rentals: The Gil Talbert Community Center is open for rentals in both the small and large hall. If you are planning a graduation party or wedding for the 2018 season, now is the time to reserve it. Call (734) 671-1466 for reservations.

Flood Information

Flood and storm drain brochures are available for properties that may be in or near Special Flood Hazard Areas in the City of Gibraltar. Other flood hazard and watershed information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in our information center located in the foyer of the Municipal Complex.

As a reminder, with increasing lake levels, residents are encouraged to be mindful of maintaining their berms. These flood measures were installed to minimize flood risk. Maintenance is essential to insure these measures perform as intended.

You can also visit the City website, www.cityofgibraltar.net, for a link to the FEMA website. The link can be found on the Home Page under the Watershed heading. ______

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Detroit River Water Level Information Available Now

Water level monitoring numbers for the City of Gibraltar are available now on-line at the City’s webpage- www.cityofgibraltar.net. If you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the water level link, you will be directed to the NOAA webpage. Click the Gibraltar Monitoring station link on the left. Levels are shown in 6 minute increments.

Watershed Information

Storm drains found in our streets and yards empty into our lakes and rivers. When we fertilize our lawn we could also be fertilizing our lakes and rivers. While fertilizer is good for our lawn, it’s bad for our water. Fertilizer in our lakes and rivers causes algae to grow. Algae can form large blooms and use oxygen that fish need to survive. With 1.5 million homes in Southeast Michigan, all of us need to be aware of the cumulative affects of our lawn care practices.

Here are seven simple steps you can take in your home and yard to protect our lakes and streams. 1. Help keep pollution out of storm drains. Storm drains lead directly to our lakes and streams. Never dump oil, pet waste, leaves, dirty water, or anything down a storm drain. Remember, only rain in the drain. 2. Fertilize caringly and sparingly. Excess fertilizer that gets into storm drains pollutes our lakes by causing large algae blooms and using up oxygen fish need to survive. Sweep excess fertilizer back onto your lawn, use a low or no phosphorus fertilizer, and have your soil tested to see what, if any, fertilizer is needed. 3. Carefully store and dispose of household cleaners, chemicals, and oil. Instead of putting hazardous products like antifreeze, motor oil, and pesticides in the trash, down the storm drain, or on the ground, take them to a local hazardous waste collection day. 4. Clean up after your pet. Whether on a walk or in your yard, promptly clean up after your pet. Not only will be you a good neighbor, you will also protect our water from harmful bacteria. 5. Practice good car care. Consider taking your car to a car wash or washing your car on the grass.

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6. Choose earth friendly landscaping. Protect your pets, kids, and the environment by using pesticides sparingly. Also, water your lawn only when it needs it and choose plants native to Michigan. 7. Save water. Over watering our lawns can easily carry pollution to the storm drains and to our lakes and streams. Consider using a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways. Direct hoses and sprinklers on the lawn, not the driveway. This will help save our lakes and streams and save you money. For more easy steps on protecting our lakes and streams, visit www.semcog.org.

Remember, our water is our future – and it’s ours to protect!

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City of Gibraltar Contact Directory

City of Gibraltar Facilities: City of Gibraltar Officials: City Hall – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mayor: James Gorris [email protected] 29450 Munro, Gibraltar, MI 48173 (734) 676-3900 City Council: Dave Riser [email protected] Police / Fire Station - 24 Hours Vacant 29450 Munro - (734) 676-1022 Bill Baker [email protected] Robert Saunders [email protected] DPW & Water Dept. – 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Brian Arp [email protected] (734) 676-3952 Denis Boismier [email protected]

Gibraltar Community Center City Clerk: Cynthia Lehr 29340 South Gibraltar Rd. [email protected] (734) 671-1466 Available for rent for both small and large parties. City Administrator: Derek M. Thiel, M.P.A. [email protected] Schools: Parsons Elementary School – (734) 379-7050 Police Chief: Larry Williams 14473 M. Gibraltar Road [email protected]

Shumate Middle School – (734) 379-7600 Fire Chief: Rodney Branham 30550 W. Jefferson Rodney [email protected]

Carlson High School – (734) 379-7100 Treasurer: Scott Denison 30550 W. Jefferson

Gibraltar School Board Office Finance Director: Barbara Meyer 19370 Vreeland Rd., Woodhaven [email protected] (734) 379-6350 ______Parks & Recreation Director: Tamey Gorris City Phone Numbers: [email protected] City Clerk, Finances, Assessor (734) 676-3900 Water Department (734) 676-3952 Assessor: David Yack Police/Fire/EMS – Emergencies 9 – 1 – 1 [email protected] Police/Fire/EMS – Non-Emergency (734) 676-1022 City Administrator’s Office (734) 676-9021 Housing Rehab: DCC Mayor’s Office (734) 676-7287 [email protected]

www.cityofgibraltar.net

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CITY OF GIBRALTAR SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

The following regularly scheduled meetings of the City Council and Commissions for 2017, in compliance with Michigan’s Open Meeting Public Act 267 of 1976 are as follows:

CITY COUNCIL – meetings are the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.

PLANNING COMMISSION - meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of each month immediately following the Planning Commission meeting in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.

BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION – meetings are the 1st Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Municipal Building.

RECREATION COMMISSION – meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 29340 S. Gibraltar Rd.

BOARD OF APPEALS – meetings are the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on an as needed basis or as advertised.

WATERWAYS COMMISSION – meetings are the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Municipal Chambers.

If a regular meeting is rescheduled or a special meeting is called a notice will be posted at the Municipal Building, 29450 Munro Avenue, Gibraltar, MI. 48173. All meetings are open to the public and your participation is welcome.

CITY OF GIBRALTAR WEBSITE

The City of Gibraltar is continually updating the City website. The City Charter, Code of Ordinances, and a lot of the information that was previously printed in the Community Newsletter is now available on the website. Check it out and let us know how we can make it better.

www.cityofgibraltar.net

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