End of the Year

I hope everyone had a good 2009, and let's go for an even better 2010!

We are producing a (January-June) Village Newsletter, so look for that at Village Hall and on our website/my blog. The newsletter will no longer be produced quarterly. Instead, we will have 2 newsletters per year. The January newsletter, as stated above, will be available in print form at Village Hall and on our website/my blog shortly. The July newsletter will be mailed out with the Village taxes.

The change is due to the Roscommon County Herald News closing down production.

Full Schedule of Events for Christmas in the Village

Friday, December 4
7:00 p.m. Concert by area groups at the Roscommon High School

Saturday, December 5
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Breakfast with Santa and a Santa’s Workshop - Roscommon High School, sponsored by the Roscommon Co-op Nursery

10:00 a.m. Cookie Walk & Greenery Sale – Good Shepherd United Methodist Church of the North, 149 West Robinson Lake Road

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Christmas Open House – Gallimore Boarding House – Cookies and candies will be for sale, and free warm wassail will be served

Noon – 3:00 p.m. Special Postage Cancellation at the CRAF Center

Noon – 5:00 p.m. Kids Corner – Free Make & Take a craft. Sponsored by Don Nester Chevrolet Oldsmobile

Noon – 8:00 p.m.
CRAFT Show at the CRAF Center & CIV 4-Week raffle tickets
Model Train displays around the Village
Christmas Tree Silent Auction at the Richardson School House - Roscommon Elementary School Classes
Book Fair – at the CRAF Center, sponsored by the Roscommon County Literacy Council

1:00 p.m. Family Movie – sponsored by the Roscommon Cinema, admission=canned good

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Chain Saw Carving Demonstration, 4:00 p.m. auction of carved items, 5th Street Market Parking Lot

2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Memorial Tree, inside Impact Office, sponsored by Hospice of Michigan

3:00 p.m. Family Movie – sponsored by the Roscommon Cinema, admission=canned good

Dusk Luminaries – Welcomes you down 5th and Lake Streets

4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Open House – Village Businesses
Streets are Closed, Free carriage rides starting at Chase Bank

4:00 - ? Lions Club Hot Dogs – Chase Bank, donation of a canned good or money

4:30 – 6:00 p.m. AuSable River Center – Visit the Center and enjoy refreshments and register for a door prize

5:00 p.m. Free cider and donuts in from of Impact Office. Sponsored by Nester Chevrolet.

6:30 p.m. ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE

Village Tree Lighting, after the parade on the lawn of the CRAF Center. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be announcing the coloring contest winters. Children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Santa House in BC Pizza’s parking lot.

8:00 p.m. Teen Movie – sponsored by the Roscommon Cinema, admission=canned good.

Christmas in the Village

With the snow falling, it seems like a perfect time to discuss our Christmas in the Village Festival happening this weekend.

Some brief highlights:

Friday - December 4th (tonight)
7:00 p.m. - Concert by area groups - Roscommon High School Auditorium

Saturday - December 5th
(8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) - Breakfast with Santa & Santa's Workshop - Roscommon High School
(Noon - 8:00 p.m.) - Craft Show - CRAF Center Gym
(6:30 p.m.) - Annual Electric Light Parade - Downtown Roscommon

Following the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Gazebo to announce Coloring Contest Winners and light the tree.

After tree lighting, kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Santa House by BC Pizza. Bring your camera!

I invite everybody to come to the Village of Roscommon and enjoy yourself this holday season!

For more information, call Village Hall at 989-275-5743 or check out this past week's Houghton Lake Resorter article.

Trunk or Treat

A reminder of the Trunk or Treat Halloween Event taking place this Saturday, October 31st at the Au Sable River Center from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.


"Trunk or Treat is back! Bring your ‘vehicles’ and candy to the AuSable River Center on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Set-up will begin at 3:00 p.m. Call Connie at the Chamber to RSVP by October 29th, at 275-8760! If you can’t make it that afternoon, we will gladly accept donations to purchase candy for all the children. Please call the Chamber to reserve your ‘spot’ today!"

Fred's of Roscommon

Read about Fred's of Roscommon in Bowling Industry Magazine!

http://www.fredsofroscommon.com/pdf/mag_article.pdf

Roscommon Area Public Schools - School Closing

Due to illness and excessive absences, Roscommon Area Public Schools will be closed for the remainder of this week.

School will resume Monday, November 2, 2009.

MML Revenue Sharing Rally in Lansing

I will post more in the next day or two of my experience, but this website gives a great video summary and provides some great articles on what transpired last Thursday.


http://www.mml.org/advocacy/funding/capitolrally.html

Revenue Sharing Cuts

Roscommon stands to lose a good amount of money due to state revenue sharing cuts.....while a final decision has not been made, look for over 10% of our revenue sharing to be cut. The Michigan Municipal League and the various communities, including council members, employees, and managers are coming together for a common cause. I will most likely be attending, fighting for our share of the money so valuable services/projects do not have to be cut in communities, including ours. Here is more information about the event.....

Action Alert!
Rally for Public Safety & Revenue Sharing!
Join us at the State Capitol October 22
Join us in a RALLY for public safety and revenue sharing Thursday, October 22 at 11:30 am on the Capitol Building steps in Lansing!

Year after year, dollars promised to local communities have been cut. This year, the Legislature has passed a budget with some of the most severe cuts yet to revenue sharing. It is time to take a stand. We must tell legislators and the governor that we will not allow them to make local officials cut services demanded by their residents anymore!

The governor and legislators from both parties have repeatedly said that appropriately funding public safety and revenue sharing is one of their top priorities. The Legislature must find the resources to appropriately fund revenue sharing. Both chambers have passed bills to backfill cuts with new dollars. We must come together on the Capitol lawn Thursday to demand public safety and revenue sharing are appropriately funded. The safety and health of our citizens depends on it!

We expect to be joined by police and firefighters, and other local officials. There will also be media crews at the event, so we encourage you to bring your mayors, councilmembers, managers, staff, police officers, firefighters, and everyone else you can find. Be ready to talk to the media in case you are approached—and remember to use specific examples of how these cuts will hurt your community! The House and Senate will also be in session. After the rally, you can talk to your legislator about how these cuts will affect their constituents!

We promise to keep you warm with hot snacks and beverages.

Budget Workshop #2

We will be having our 2nd Budget Workshop on Monday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall!

Water Tower Exterior Cleaning

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Water Tower Exterior Cleaning - October 6th & 7th

What a difference this has made to our water tower as evident from the photographs - much better impression from residents and visitors when they see this prevalent structure in the Roscommon sky!

Au Sable River Center Addition Grand Opening

This photo was taken at the Grand Opening of the Au Sable River Center Additions. The additions include a covered canopy, new restroom, and a new meeting room. The outside of the building was also re-done to resemble the old Train Depot which stood close to this location.

DPW Appreciation Day

(from left to right: DPW Seasonal Employee Andy McGregor, DPW Technician Mike Looney, Village President Jesse Carlson, DPW Specialist Jeff Burmester, DPW Director Dave Hodges, Village Manager Tom Gromek)

The Village Council honored the Department of Public Works' staff with a potluck lunch on September 3rd featuring many delicious homemade dishes. Certificates of appreciation were also given to each employee praising their hard work and willingness to go above and beyond their regular job duties for the benefit of the Village.

Tom's Two Cents - September Edition

Tom's Two Cents

New, Unique Event Set to Take Roscommon by Storm

We all know of the Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival, its continued success, and its importance to Roscommon. This year’s Firemen’s Memorial Festival will be held from Thursday, Sept. 17 to Sunday, Sept. 20.

The following weekend features a brand new event, the first annual Roscommon Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Roscommon Rotary Club and the Roscommon Knights of Columbus. This event will take place on Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26. This will be a unique, fun-filled event and a great follow-up to Firemen’s Memorial Weekend.

Here is a brief Q&A detailing the event:

What time will the event take place?

Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. on Friday, ending at 1 a.m. On Saturday, the event opens at 12 p.m. and closes at 1 a.m.

Where is the event located?

At the Knights of Columbus Hall, which is located at 165 W. Federal Highway (M-76) in Roscommon.

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?

No. Feel free to attend the festivities at your convenience. There may be a small cover charge at the door both evenings.

What type of entertainment will be provided?

There will be four live bands performing throughout the two-day event. These bands are: Catch and Release Blues Band, Strawberry Jam Band, Virgil Baker and the Just 4 Fun Polka Band, and the Jim Gower Band.

What type of food/beverage will be provided?

A limited amount of Polish Dinners will be sold, along with plenty of hot dogs, bratwursts, perogies, beer, and soda.

Where can I obtain more information?

On the Roscommon Rotary Website, www.roscommonrotary.com

Tom’s Take

The Detroit Tigers are in great position to capture their first division championship since 1987 and their first-ever AL Central Division Championship. Baseball fans around the state are tickled to death at the possibility of the Detroit Tigers returning to the postseason for the first time since 2006. The excitement is about to build as September ends and October approaches. We all remember the joy, passion, and sheer giddiness that the Tigers’ 2006 postseason run brought to the state of Michigan. With all the state’s economic troubles, I can’t wait to see people let go of their problems for a few nights and celebrate together, as a state.

Even if you are not a baseball fan, you can certainly appreciate the charity work and generosity of two particular Detroit Tigers. Centerfielder Curtis Granderson and 3rd-baseman Brandon Inge, both all-stars on the field, donate their precious off time to various charities and organizations, making them all-stars off the field as well.

Curtis Granderson started his own charitable organization, The Grand Kids Foundation, in 2008 to help Michigan’s educational system. Donations to the Grand Kids Foundation go towards purchasing school supplies for needy families/kids, books and supplies for schools which do not get the funding they always need, establishing baseball programs as well as providing equipment and facilities in some of Michigan's inner cities and eventually a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors.

Granderson has hosted two celebrity basketball games, a wine tasting and bachelor auction, and has written a children’s book entitled “All You Can Be”. He even has served as an ambassador for Major League Baseball, traveling to several countries the past several off-seasons to promote, teach, and represent the game of baseball around the world. Granderson is one of the most classy, humble, and generous athletes in professional sports.

It is hard to mention Curtis Granderson without mentioning his teammate, slugger Brandon Inge. Inge, the longest-tenured Tiger, has had his shares of ups and downs in his big league career. However, whatever his struggles on the field may be, he doesn’t let that affect his charitable work.

In 2007, Brandon Inge, and wife Shani, agreed to donate $100,000 for a new playroom for the pediatric cancer infusion clinic at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Earlier this month, the hospital hosted “Brandon and Shani Inge Day,” and Brandon took time out of his busy schedule to visit with patients, sign autographs, and play outside with the children. In a really humble move, the Inge’s decided to not place their names on the room, but instead asked that a contest be held to name the facility. The winning name was “The Dugout.” Inge recently dedicated two home runs to pediatric patients he has recently visited at the hospital.

In today’s society, we seem to hear that professional athletes only care about money, fame, and themselves. Next time you hear about the Detroit Tigers or watch one of their games in the coming weeks, think of what this team and organization mean to Michigan. We are fortunate to have winners, such as Curtis Granderson and Brandon Inge, representing our state both on and off the field.

Grand Opening of the Au Sable River Center Addition

VILLAGE OF ROSCOMMON
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Grand Opening of Au Sable River Center Addition

On Monday, August 31st at 1:00 p.m., the public is invited to the official grand opening of the Au Sable River Center Canopy/Meeting Room Addition. Members of the Roscommon Downtown Development Authority, Roscommon Metropolitan Recreational Authority, Au Sable River Center, Roscommon Historic Model Train Club, Roscommon Historical Society, and the Roscommon Village Council, will be present.

The addition includes a 2,126-square foot canopy on front of the River Center that was designed to resemble the railroad depot that once stood on the site. The Roscommon Farmer’s Market utilizes this space every Monday from 11am – 4pm.

A 686-square foot enclosed meeting room was also constructed on the southeast side of the River Center. It houses a conference room, restrooms, and is accessible from both the inside and outside.

A railroad/train garden is currently in the works on the north side of the property. This 400 square foot area will house a train display and garden from the Roscommon Historic Model Train Club.

The total cost of improvements to the facility was approximately $140,000. The Roscommon DDA contracted with Costello Construction to perform the work.

The Roscommon Farmer’s Market will provide free pop, water, coffee, and refreshments to the public along with plenty of vendors selling fresh produce. They will also be raffling off door prizes.

Come celebrate Roscommon’s newest gem!

The Au Sable River Center (211 N. Main) is located on North Main Street, between Brooks & Sheley St.
Please Contact Roscommon Village Hall for more information on the event - (989) 275-5743
www.roscommonvillage.com

Au Sable River Center Sign Honors History of Roscommon Train Depot

(Roscommon County Herald News - Article by Jeff Patrus)
ROSCOMMON — The AuSable River Center and the Roscommon Area Historical Society (RAHS) have joined forces to bring a bit of Roscommon’s history to life.

Recently, the RAHS installed a sign outside the River Center commemorating the history of railroad service and the depot in Roscommon. The sign contains some historical information about the depot and train service in the village. According to Carol Garlo of the RAHS, the sign was made and designed by Sean Bell and his staff at Thee Sign Shop of Higgins Lake, at a cost of $1,650, which was paid for by the RAHS.

Garlo said it is important for area residents to recognize the role the depot played in Roscommon’s development.

“The railroad played a large part in our history,” she said. “It came in here to service the logging industry, and the town was built around it.”

"The four by eight foot sign shows an enlargement of an early photograph of the depot, which was built in 1872. The red and gold stained glass portion of the windows is evident in the photograph. Original pieces of that glass are on display at the Gallimore Boarding House which the RAHS owns and which houses local artifacts and historical information," she said.

Garlo said Bell was able to emulate the ridgeline décor of the depot, as well as some of the end brackets on the roof of the sign. Cedar shake shingles from previous RAHS projects were also used on the sign’s roof.

According to information on the sign, the railroad “opened the way for the village of Roscommon to be settled and a booming logging industry to move in.” Around the turn of the century, under new ownership, the Michigan Central Railroad provided “rapid, dependable public service” for passengers and freight to Roscommon and north to Grayling, Gaylord, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City.

Garlo said RAHS member Ned Wickes was instrumental in compiling the historical information that is included on the sign. She said the RAHS had talked about putting together a sign “for quite a few years,” but that talk eventually died down. When Wickes said he would research the history of the depot, the society decided to put the sign together.

Wickes recalled how he and his parents traveled by train to visit Roscommon when he was a child. “It was the only way they could get here from Saginaw,” he said.
According to Garlo, the railroad continued to serve Roscommon until 1969, when the depot was torn down. She said she has talked to several residents who lived in the village at that time, and none of them understand why the depot was torn down. Nonetheless, she said she is glad the sign is now around so current residents can get a better understanding of the depot’s importance.

“It is an integral part of our history,” she said.

Miss Roscommon County / Miss Roscommon County Teen Pageant

New River Center Photos

Roscommon County Fair

Fair kicks off Thursday night, August 6th at 7:00 PM with the Miss Roscommon County Beauty Pageant at the CRAF Center in Roscommon. Tickets $5.00 person

Opens Friday August 7th at noon with formal flag raising ceremony by VFW Post and State Representative Joel Sheltrown. National Anthem sung by Tami Menghini. Coffee and donuts.

Friday - August 7th
Exhibit Display: buildings open till 6:00 PM each day throughout fair
Nascar Simulator: noon till 8:00 PM-experience the thrill of Jeff Gordon's vehicle
Exotic Animal Display: noon till 6:00 PM-have your picture taken with a baby roo, tiger, etc.
Public Safety Day: 1:00 PM till 6:00 PM-watch demos/gain info from many Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement agencies, USCG. See first hand what they do and how they do it.
Solarscape: See what Hubble Telescope sees in full color. Open during fair on the half hour till 6:30 PM.
Model Train Display: Roscommon's Own Train Club bringing you their display to view and enjoy.
Children's Inflatable Rides: open throughout fair
Family Movie Night: enjoy a free walk in movie, bring a chair/blanket, just like the old fashioned drive in.

Saturday - August 8th
Exhibit Display: open
Nascar Simulator: 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM
Exotic Animal Display: 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM (or until animals too tired)
Children's Inflatable Rides: open throughout fair
Solarscape: open throughout fair
Model Train Exhibit: open throughout fair
Roscommon Little Sweetheart Contest: 1:00 PM
Horseshoe Tournament: pre-register early, draw partners noon, play 1:00 PM
Mud Bog: register during day, mud flies at 1:00 PM
Roscommon Style Music: Free music show, bring your chairs, blankets, enjoy a night of entertainment.

Sunday - August 9th
Exhibit Display: open throughout fair till 6:00 PM
Horse show: registrations open 8:00 AM, show begins 9:00 AM-high point awards for 57 classes
Nascar Simulator 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM
Children's Inflatable Rides: open throughout fair
Solarscape: program on the half hour ending at 5:30 PM.
Beautiful Baby Contest: 1:00 PM register babies throughout fair, public voting (vote often).



No admission fee to fair grounds
Exhibit entries open to residents of any county in Michigan.
Vendors open during fair hours
Children's Games and other events throughout fair

AuSable River Center Expansion/Depot Project

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Photos of the construction of the AuSable River Center Expansion/Depot Project - the project is funded by the Roscommon Downtown Development Authority.

Roscommon River Festival - July 18th & 19th

Saturday and Sunday, July 18-19

A free and fun weekend for the entire family – including the dog! Celebrate our river heritage on the banks of the beautiful South Branch of the AuSable River at Wallace Park and along the streets of downtown Roscommon. For more information on the festival, or how to become an exhibitor, call 989-275-4392.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

- Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (The streets in the area of Wallace Park will be closed to vehicles beginning at 9 a.m.)

- On the banks of the river in Wallace Park and on the streets will be vendors and exhibitors of fishing, hunting and cabin lore.
- Free fly tying workshop!
- Demonstrations: Rod makers, boat builders and more, will be demonstrating their products on the banks or in the river at Wallace Park.
- Free fly casting instruction.
- Historic information about the AuSable River will be presented throughout the day at the park.
- The AuSable River Center will be open all day for the public to visit and view the historic river collections as well as the Verlen Kruger Collection.
- The NRA Youth Shooting Trailer will be available for young shooters.
- Climb a 35-foot high rock wall and run an obstacle course, courtesy of the Michigan National Guard.
- Wooden Kayak, Canoe & Boat Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..


Sunday, July 19

11 a.m. – A Kayak Paddle and free instructions by Kayaker Konnection will begin at 11 a.m. Bring your own kayak or rental kayaks available at the park for $5. Group Kayak Paddle will leave at 12 noon. Free shuttle back to Wallace Park by Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground.

11 a.m. – Dock Dog: Big Air Competition, at Wallace Park. Bring your dog and his/her favorite toy. No entry fee! See pictures of last year’s competition below.

2 p.m. – 22nd Annual Roscommon Rotary Club’s Great AuSable Duck Race, Wallace Park. Tickets available at the park both Saturday and Sunday.

Roscommon 5k Run/Walk

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Please support the 1st Annual Roscommon Summer Fun Fest Run/Walk 5k!

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009
Registration & Packet Pick-up: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Race Time: 10 a.m.
Entry Fee is $20 to run, and $10 to walk.





All participants that are pre-registered by July 20th will receive a T-shirt.


This event is in conjunction with the 1st Annual Roscommon Summer Fun Fest. I will be running the 5k, and I am looking forward to running with a large group!


Download the image for a registration form or e-mail tom@roscommonvillage.com for a PDF Version.

Thanks for a great 4th of July!

Thanks to everyone in the community for a wonderful Fourth of July in Roscommon. The parade, activities, and fireworks were all great events, and they showcased how beautiful our community really is!


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Vandalism Photographs

(The back of the Wallace Park Bathrooms)

(DDA Pocket Park Lot along Lake St.)

(Wallace Park Picnic Table in the Pavillion)

Freedom Festival - July 4, 2009

I encourage everybody to take part in this year's festivities. Last year was my first year attending the events, and I had an absolutely wonderful time. The parade was a great start to the day, and the fireworks show was spectacular. Roscommon's Freedom Festival really is one of the premier small town events in the state.

More information.......

"The Roscommon Freedom Festival Parade and Fireworks will be on tap Saturday, July 4th! Jim & Laura Witt, the Roscommon Fireworks Committee and Sponsors have, once again, worked tirelessly to bring to our community a spectacular fireworks display for the upcoming July 4th celebration. This year's display will be bigger and better than last year! Fireworks and music will start at 10:15 p.m. You can tune in to 104.3 FM for a live broadcast! There will be food and children's games beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Roscommon Fire Training Grounds.

The Freedom Festival Committee will be organizing the July 4th parade, which will kick off in the Village at 11:00 a.m. This year's theme is "Village of Dreams". Pre-registration is required and it is FREE. Forms may be picked up at the Higgins Lake-Roscommon Chamber of Commerce Tuesday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Immediately following the parade stop by the Gazebo at the CRAF Center for a musical and ice cream social hosted by Soul’s Harbor Worship Center. Food and children's games will begin at the Fire Training Grounds at 6:00 p.m.

The Roscommon County Fairboard will be on hand, cooking hot dogs and popcorn and so much more. The Freedom Festival Committee will have activities and games for the children. Come on out and enjoy all the fun" - (Higgins Lake - Roscommon Chamber of Commerce)


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Tom's Two Cents

Here is a link to my monthly column in the Roscommon County Herald News, "Tom's Two Cents"

Tom's Two Cents - June

New Village Information

Look for the Summer edition of the Village Newsletter (The Villager) in this week's Roscommon County Herald News and on our website.

Also, my monthly column, "Tom's Two Cents", will appear in the same edition.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Adopt-a-Forest Clean-Up Day

On Wednesday, May 27th, Huron Pines and the Village of Roscommon coordinated an Adopt-a-Forest Clean-Up Day. We received help from Home Depot, AmeriCorps, the Michigan DNR, and an area resident. Here are some photos of the rainy, yet successful event. Thanks to all the help, several major sites of garbage/trash/debris were cleaned up throughout Roscommon County, including some garbage along Tank Creek in the Village.

Park Organizer Honored at Opener

Park Organizer Honored at Opener

Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Village of Roscommon Yard/Sidewalk Sale

Check out our Village website for information on our 3rd Annual Yard/Sidewalk Sale. This year we moved it up to Memorial Day weekend as opposed to August.

Village of Roscommon

1st Annual Roscommon Business Expo

The 1st Annual Roscommon Business Expo was a big success! We had about 100 exhibitors and about 800 people pass through the CRAF Center. Many thanks given to the Roscommon Business Expo Committee & the Higgins Lake-Roscommon Chamber of Commerce.

More photos and information can be found on the Roscommon County Herald News website: http://www.roscommonherald-news.com/detail/79655.html

2009 Small Town & Rural Development Conference

I attended the Small Town & Rural Development Conference in Thompsonville the past 2 days. This conference is extremely beneficial as it is solely dedicated to small, rural communities such as Roscommon. I learned a lot, and was able to network with other small town managers, economic directors, chamber of commerce members, university employees, and a lot of other professionals from around the state. Below is a link to the conference & session materials:

Conference Materials


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Roscommon Rotary Club

Check out the Roscommon Rotary Club's new website at http://www.roscommonrotary.com

As a member of this Rotary Club, I can personally attest to the hard work that each member contributes to better our community.

Roscommon Business Expo

Just a reminder that the 1st Annual Roscommon Business Expo is on Thursday, April 30th from 3pm to 7pm at the CRAF Center.

ICMA Events

I will be attending the Midwest Regional Young Professionals Leadership Institute & 2009 ICMA Midwest Regional Summit in Oak Brook, IL this Wednesday - Friday.

Links to both event agendas are provided below.

Young Professional Leadership Institute

ICMA Midwest Regional Summit


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

PASER Training

Dave Hodges (Public Works Director) & I will be attending a PASER training session in West Branch on Monday, March 30th. Dave & I previously attended a Road Soft Software training session. The PASER training will enable us to rate the Village roads & incorporate these ratings into the Road Soft software to develop an efficient maintenance/construction plan for years to come.

______________________________________________________

What is the PASER system all about?
The Pavement Surface and Evaluation Rating (PASER) system was developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Transportation Information Center to be used as the State of Wisconsin’s standard road rating system. PASER is a “windshield” road rating system that uses a 1 to 10 rating scale, with a value of 10 representing a new road and a value of 1 representing a failed road. Condition ratings are assigned by monitoring the type and amount of visual defects along a road segment while driving the segment. The PASER system interprets these observations into a condition rating.

The State of Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council requested that the information gathered in the federal aid road surveys be reported using the following categories:

· Roads with PASER ratings of 8 - 10 require Routine Maintenance. Routine maintenance is the day-to-day maintenance activities that are scheduled, such as street sweeping, drainage clearing, shoulder gravel grading, and sealing cracks to prevent standing water and water penetration.

· Roads with PASER ratings of 5 - 7 require Capital Preventive Maintenance. Capital preventive maintenance is a planned set of cost effective treatments to an existing roadway system and its appurtenances that preserves, retards future deterioration and maintains or improves the functional condition of the system without significantly increasing structural capacity. The purpose of capital preventive maintenance fixes is to protect the pavement structures, slow the rate of pavement deterioration and/or correct pavement surface deficiencies. Surface treatments are targeted at pavement surface defects primarily caused by the environment and by pavement material deficiencies.

Roads with PASER ratings of 1- 4 require Structural Improvements. This category includes work identified as rehabilitation and reconstruction which address the structural integrity of a road.

______________________________________________________


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

MML - Place Matters

The Michigan Municipal League is working with local officials in the State to put communities at the center of Michigan's economic turn around. Place matters with the new economy. Knowledge-based workers are choosing where to live first, then finding a job.

What Does Local Government Mean to You?

Taken from the mml.org.....interesting video interviewing people on the streets in different Michigan communities.

What Does Local Government Mean to You?

Can you answer these questions: "Who is your mayor?" "Who is your city manager?" "What form of government do you have?" Click here for a video to see how other people responded.

2008 Audit

Julie & Ruth from Rehmann Robson started conducting our 2008 Audit today. They will be set up in Village Hall all week.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

MML Capital Conference

Village Trustee Dawn Dodge, Village Trustee Jerry Cousineau, and I will be attending the Michigan Municipal League (MML) Capital Conference in Lansing this Tuesday & Wednesday. Each of us is attending a pre-conference session in addition to the regular conference line-up. We are looking forward to learning new information & practices, being updated on the state government proceedings,
and networking with our peers from around the state. The goal of every conference attended by a Village Trustee or myself is to take some things away that will help us do our jobs better & benefit Roscommon.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Winterfest 2009

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The Higgins Lake - Roscommon Chamber proudly presents Winterfest 2009. Click on the above images for detailed information on all the events taking place. I will be playing broomball on Saturday, representing the Roscommon Rotary Club!

Tom Gromek

Village Manager

Thanks to Jessica Roush

Thanks to Jessica Roush for the portrait you see to the right of this post on my blog. The same photo you see will also appear in my monthly newspaper article. Jessica was great to work with, and I encourage anybody looking for any photography needs to stop into Roush Photography. The business is located next to Pioneer Pharmacy on 5th street in downtown Roscommon.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Thanks to North Central Area Credit Union

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I would like to thank North Central Area Credit Union for its generous donation of $1,584 to our Flowers in the Village Committee. It is a tremendous boost for the community!

"Employees of North Central Area Credit Union donate $1,584 to Roscommon's Flowers in the Village project. Pictured are Kelly Barton, Roscommon branch manager, and employees from NCACU with Village Manager Tom Gromek, Village Clerk Kathy Murphy (accepting check from Barton) and Barb Stauffer, who was instrumental in starting the flower fund many years ago. NCACU employees wear jeans and casual credit union shirts every Friday and pay $2. The money is collected for the year with a community or charity event in mind. At the end of the year, the credit union matches what the branch has raised, and the employees choose where to donate their money."

(Courtesy of the Houghton Lake Resorter - February 5, 2009)

Sad News

Kathy Butler, wife of Village council member Mike Butler, passed away late last week. The arrangements are....

Visitation at Walsh Funeral Home: Monday, Feb. 2nd, 1pm - 9pm

Funeral Mass at St. Michael's Church: Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, 11am (Visitation at 10am at Church)

Please pray for Mike & his family.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

All Village Residents Urged to Let Water Run

Village Residents and Businesses: “Let the water run”

Roscommon Village residents and businesses are being asked to leave their faucets open to keep village water lines from freezing.
The depth of ground frost and a recent prolonged spell of sub-zero temperatures make it necessary to keep water running day and night until further notice.
All village water customers should let a pencil-sized stream of water run continuously in their homes and businesses. Water bills will be adjusted so customers will not be charged for additional water use.
For more information contact Village Hall at (989) 275-5743


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Water Main

The water main issue was resolved on Monday. The problem occurred on George Street between 1st & 2nd streets. Thanks to Porath & our DPW crew for resolving the problem effectively and efficiently.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

New Poll has been added

You can rate the quality of the snow removal of the Village sidewalks located within our Downtown Development District (DDA) in a new poll, located on the left side of this blog. This service is contracted out by the Village to Higgins Lake Landscaping.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Water Main/Frozen Water Pipes

Our Department of Public Works Department has been busy this weekend responding to a water main break & addressing a frozen water pipe. I will keep everybody updated on these ongoing situations. Certainly, the below zero temperatures the past few days have caused these problems. If any further problems arise in your neighborhood, please do not hesitate to call Village Hall at 989-275-5743 or my cell phone at 989-915-2901.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Martin Luther King Day - Monday, January 19th

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While a controversial figure, there is no disputing the impact he had on America, the Civil Rights Movement, and human rights. For more information on his life & legacy, visit Martin Luther King

Benefit Dinner - Friday, Jan 16th

Kathy Butler, the wife of Mike Butler (Village Council Member), has fallen ill recently. St. Michael's Catholic Church is having a benefit dinner (spaghetti). Here are the details I obtained from the St. Michael's bulletin about the event:

For: Kathy Butler
When: Friday, January 16th, 2009
Time: 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Parish Hall

"Please plan to attend this dinner to help Kathy with medical expenses due to her illness. Kathy has given twenty years of faithful service to our parish and now is the time for us to give something back. If you can't attend the dinner and wish to make a donation, you can drop it off at the parish office or place an envelope in the collection basket marked Kathy Butler. Thank you!"


I encourage everyone to attend and contribute.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Best of Roscommon

Tomorrow (Wed, January 7th), Bev Luther, Dawn Dodge, Jerry Cousineau, & I will be meeting to discuss preliminary plans for a "Best of Roscommon" event. We want to have a free event, open to the public, which showcases our businesses, our service groups, the Village & Higgins Township, and any other community entity. The goal is to educate, inform, and promote the wonderful businesses, programs, and events we have available in our community. Look for more information in the coming weeks. We are all very excited about the potential of this event.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

MML Blog - Andy Schor

Andy Schor, the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League (MML), is the blogger this week on the MML's website. Andy, in his first two entries, has given great, easy-to-digest insight & information on the Michigan House & Senate, what has happened in the past month, and what to expect in the future. I encourage everybody to take a look at his blog this week. The link is provided below.

MML Blog - Week of Jan 5th - 9th


Tom Gromek
Village Manager