HARBOR Inc. Joins Connected Michigan to Implement Harbor Area Broadband Community Engagement Program  HARBOR Inc.'s Broadband Team has joined forces with Connect Michigan by enrolling in the Connected community certification program, an initiative that offers a comprehensive way to bridge the digital divide impacting many communities including the Harbor Springs area by building community partnerships to assess broadband access, adoption, and use issues in the area. HARBOR Inc.'s high-speed Internet committee, at work since 2007, is now a Broadband Team working to provide connectivity to area homes and businesses.
"Broadband access is a crucial component of economic development," said HARBOR Inc. Executive Director Rachel Smolinski. "The Connected community certification program will facilitate the building of a comprehensive action plan for developing a technology-ready community by reviewing the technology landscape, developing regional partnerships, working with our Broadband Team, and conducting community assessments." Connect Michigan is the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state and is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connected Nation to help provide high-speed Internet to underserved areas like Harbor Springs. "We look forward to working with HARBOR Inc. on these efforts," said Jan Kellogg, economic specialist, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance. "Northern Michigan has to have fast, reliable, and affordable broadband in order to stay competitive." The HARBOR Inc. Broadband Team is working to discuss options and plans to include additional area partners to work together on providing Internet to the underserved areas. HARBOR Inc. also will participate in the Connect Michigan Community engagement program, which guides communities through an assessment of their overall broadband and technology progression. "Northern Michigan is a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family," said Eric Frederick, program manager for Connect Michigan. "Quaint towns, abundant natural resources, and friendly neighbors attract residents to northern Michigan and broadband enables them to stay by supporting entrepreneurs, creating jobs, and connecting with resources across the globe." "We have a great deal of work to do and by partnering with Connect Michigan, we believe we can find solutions that will provide broadband to our area," said Smolinski. HARBOR Inc. Gathers Community Input for Pool Issue HARBOR, Inc. was asked by Harbor Springs Public Schools to assess public sentiment regarding a possible alternative source of funding for the pool at the high school. HARBOR, Inc., assigned the task to a working group made up of HARBOR, Inc.'s executive director, two board members, two community volunteers, with one alternate and a staff person from MSU Extension. The working group convened three focus groups and conducted two surveys. The project was conducted on a largely volunteer basis and no school funds were expended. A random telephone survey of people who had voted in the November 2010 general election indicated the following: - The pool is very important to the community;
- Half of those contacted support the creation of a recreation authority with the power to levy a millage; another quarter want to know more about the concept;
- 60 percent of respondents said they would vote for a small millage;
- Respondents would prefer that a third party run the recreation authority;
- Respondents said the recreation authority should include other recreation activities in addition to the pool.
Similar (but not identical) results were obtained from a survey of attendees at a high school band concert in December. The results of the surveys and focus groups are fully disclosed on our website and elsewhere. HARBOR, Inc. offers its findings in good faith to the Board of Education but does not attempt to represent itself as a market research firm. HARBOR, Inc. offers no guidance as to how the information should be used and makes no recommendation regarding a possible ballot proposal. Readers are cautioned that the survey samples were small in size resulting in relatively large margins of error. The full Harbor Springs pool community input report is available at: cover page community input report Appendix 5 Appendix 7 Appendix 9 Hoyt Trail and Safe Routes To School Program A Safe Routes to School grant awarded by the Michigan Department on Transportation (MDOT) in December 2010 for the completion of a bike trail on Hoyt Road is slowly working through the bureaucratic process. Funded for $243,161, the grant will help build a trail from Lake Street to just past Quick Road on the west side of Hoyt Road. The grant application was prepared by previous HARBOR Inc. executive director, Danna Widmar, in 2010 and submitted on behalf of the Emmet County Road Commission, Harbor Springs Schools, City of Harbor Springs and West Traverse Township. Widmar, who moved with her family to North Carolina in late 2010, worked closely with Emmet County Road Commission and MDOT staff to submit the application. In the spring of 2011, HARBOR Inc. worked with land owners along Hoyt to secure easements for the trail to meet a May deadline required by MDOT. "Property owners graciously worked with us to grant the easements under a very tight time frame so that we could meet the MDOT deadlines for ground breaking in late 2011. We met that deadline," said Rachel Smolinksi, HARBOR Inc. executive director hired in March 2011. "Then, we hit a roadblock." The grant includes language for a 10-foot trail along Hoyt with a budget outlining a six-foot sidewalk within the city limits (Lake to Pete's Run). "MDOT ruled our initial design ineligible because of the six-foot sidewalk. Although the budget in "MDOT ruled our initial design ineligible because of the six-foot sidewalk. Although the budget in Both HARBOR Inc. and the Emmet County Road Commission, who will actually receive the MDOT trail funds, have worked for months to resolve the MDOT error and proceed with design and construction dates. "MDOT does not seem to know how to resolve the conflicting language in the grant and is asking us to meet their requirements. Because of the need for a retaining wall near Walstrom's storage facility, each additional foot to widen the trail adds about $20,000 in design and construction cost in this section," Smolinski said. MDOT has tentatively agreed to an eight-foot trail in this section which is two-feet wider than budget and two-feet narrower than their 10-foot trail. "Having a 10-foot trail within the city limits just doesn't make sense and there is some existing 6'-foot sidewalk near Lake Street that we are working with MDOT to retain." Because of the MDOT error, combined with additional anticipated construction costs, HARBOR Inc. must raise approximately $45,000 to cover design and construction. The Baiardi Family Foundation has awarded HARBOR Inc. a grant for $11,250 to assist with the Hoyt Trail project, which is 25 -percent of the fundraising goal. HARBOR Inc. will continue to seek grants and donations to make up the shortfall, in hopes of spring construction. "We have spent months talking to MDOT and still do not have a resolution to proceed with design. We are hopeful that we can resolve this quickly," Smolinski said. Smolinski also added the project has been extended until December 2012 and does not anticipate losing funding, as the matter should be resolved this fall. She suggested letters of support for the project can be written to Representative Frank Foster and Senator Howard Walker. Currently, HARBOR Inc. is working with Senator Walker's office to resolve the issue. In addition to the Hoyt project, the gap in the Wequetonsing Golf Club portion of the trail, remains incomplete. According to the HARBOR Inc. website, www.harborinc.org., the expected construction date for this project is Fall 2012. M-119 Trail The M-119 Trail between Pleasantview Road and Lake Street was completed in November 2009. The portion of the trail fronting Wequetonsing Golf Club remains incomplete; however, representatives from MDOT, Wequetonsing Golf Club, and HARBOR, Inc. have met during the summer to continue to pursue a solution for this portion of the trail. We will work closely with MDOT representatives throughout this process. Currently, the expected construction date is Fall 2012. Placemaking The Placemaking Committee of the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce is working with a number of area organizations on both long term and short projects for Harbor Springs. The committee, formed in the spring of 2011, has held several public forums in Harbor Springs including a presentation by Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces. "After the enthusiasm of Fred Kent's appearance in Harbor Springs, many people are asking us what the Placemaking Committee are doing next," said committee co-chair Kathie Breighner. "We are focusing on areas in our community that are priorities based on the feedback given to us at the August 18 gathering with Fred Kent." Those at the event provided written feedback to the committee listing five likes, dislikes, and opportunities for Harbor Springs. View videos of the lecture: Part 1 Part 2 The Placemaking Committee has tallied the feedback into the top areas that participants noted are:
Likes-- businesses, waterfront, beach, parks, docks, farmers market
Dislikes--tennis courts, an empty Juillerets, parking/parking lots, access to water, nightlife.
Opportunities: a dog park, rerouting traffic, restaurants, moving tennis courts, movie theater. "We now have two committees working within the Placemaking Committee," said Jody Ewbank, co-chair. "One is focusing on long term planning and ideas for Harbor Springs while the other is looking at what Fred Kent refers to as ‘quicker, lighter, cheaper.' This committee will look at ideas like movies in the park or in the Performing Arts Center." The Placemaking Committee is working with many groups in Harbor Springs to coordinate communication between the groups. The Committee meets monthly on the the second Tuesday with the Quicker, Lighter, Cheaper committee meeting at 8:30 am and the long term planning committee meeting at 9:30 am, both at City Hall. Information and community input on Harbor Springs Area Placemaking efforts
and Committee can be found on the Chamber's Placemaking page
http://www.harborspringschamber.com/placemaking-program-297/ Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Disposal (POD) There has been a growing concern about the effects of medicines in our waters. In order to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter drugs safely and properly, three FREE drug drop off days were scheduled in 2011. There are now permanent drop boxes in Petoskey, Harbor Springs and LTB Bands of Odawa Indians. The POD work group will be meeeting to determine future drop-off dates for 2012 and permanent disposal options.
20 pounds of controlled substances have been collected in the three drop off events this year as well as a large amount of prescription and over the counter medications. There were 100 participants. Plan ahead for the future dates! Projects and Programs Page
HARBOR, Inc. recently launched a webpage that has information on projects and programs of the organization. You can view that page on-line at: www.harborinc.org/programsprojects.asp Calendar of Events
Check out the Weekly List of Meetings and Events.
The Monthly Calendar of Events can also be viewed on-line. Publications 2010 Annual Report 2009 Annual Report 2008 Annual Report 2007 Annual Report Spring 2006 newsletter Spring 2005 newsletter Fall 2004 newsletter 2005 Annual Report HARBOR, Inc website photography by Preston McGregor
|
