An Open Memo to Charter Communications

November 19, 2009

Charter Communications
4670 E Fulton Ste 102
Ada, MI 49301


Dear Charter Communications:

Since the conversion to digital broadcast television signals in June, our residents have seen a reduction in the cable service offered to Lake Isabella. As we have previously discussed, this relates to our residents no longer receiving channel 20 (WPBN) as part of their cable package. While the loss of one station in and of itself is not a major issue, our residents have seen a message from Charter on this channel for over 5 months. The message is polite, but leads one to believe that the loss of this channel is only temporary and that Charter is trying to resolve the matter.

I believe that it is safe to say that WPBN is no longer part of our cable package at Lake Isabella and the channel deleted from the available listings. In light of this I am compelled to request that Charter elect one of two options. The first option is simple, a reduction in the monthly service fee to reflect losing 1 of our 48 stations. The other option which I feel could rectify this problem is to replace WPBN with another station.

I believe the second option would be in the best interest of our residents and also Charter. If Charter is serious about this option, I would offer to have a survey in our office for people to recommend a channel and forward the results to your office.

Granted, all of this may become a mute point if Charter is successful in obtaining federal stimulus funds to complete the long overdue upgrade of our cable system. In doing so I am confident that our residents would finally enjoy the level of service that most Charter custumers have.

Thank you for your time and consideration.


Sincerely,


Tim Wolff
Village Manager

Salt Barn Taking Shape

The upper half of our salt barn is taking shape. Weather permitting the project should be nearly done sometime next week. Below are pictures taken this afternoon.

A Day in Lansing... Recap

Yesterday I spent the bulk of my day in Lansing. While there I visited the office of our State Senator, Alan Cropsey. Addressing important items of Village business with the our state and federal elected officials is part of my duties as Village Manager, it was not the single reason for my visit.

The Village of Lake Isabella is a member of the Michigan Municipal League. The MML has been advocating for the needs of local units of government since 1899. The position the MML takes on the numerous issues and bills which could impact local government start with recommendations from their policy committees. Presently the MML operates with six committees which make recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Lake Isabella is represented on two of these six committees.

Village President Pro-Tempore Dan Pattison is a member of the Municipal Services Committee. My visit yesterday was the committee I happen to be a member of. The Economic Development and Land Use Committee. This committee is charged with reviewing issues which relate to economic development (Brownfields, TIFs, DDAs...) and land use (planning and zoning).

In recent years the bulk of bills before the committee have dealt with economic development. Hot topics are Brownfields, Liquor Licenses, and help to communities which were connected to the auto industry.

While in Lansing yesterday our committee reviewed and made recommendations on several bills which are at various points in the process of becoming law. In addition to reviewing the bills currently in the legislative process, these committees are often turned to by members of the legislature for insights on how to improve the laws on the books. For example, one member of the legislature submitted a list of all the tax credits allowed under the Michigan Business Tax and asked for feedback on which ones are used by local units to help encourage job creation.

For more info on the MML and their committees, check out their website... http://www.mml.org/home.html

Proposal would change Michigan term limits law

By The Associated Press & Wikipedia
November 12, 2009

The electors of the State of Michigan adopted an amendment to the Michigan Constitution in 1992. This amendment limits the length of time any individual may serve as a member of the Legislature.

Pursuant to this amendment, one may not be elected to the State Senate more than two times or to the State House of Representatives more than three times. The result of this is that there is now considerable turnover in membership in both houses of the legislature.

Formerly, many seats were held by the same office holder for sometimes decades, which is still common for federal offices. Although measures to repeal the term limits amendment have been introduced in both houses since it took effect, none of them have yet reached a vote on the floor of either house or received serious deliberation in the legislature... But that may be about to change.

A bipartisan group of first-year lawmakers is the latest to propose changing Michigan's term limits law for state legislators. The proposal detailed Thursday would continue to limit lawmakers to 14 years in the Legislature but would allow lawmakers to split their time between the House and Senate or spend all 14 years in one chamber. If lawmakers approve the proposal, it would go before voters next August.

Village Office Closed for Veteran's Day

Our office will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th, in remembrance of Veteran's Day. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday.