Downtown Murals

The DDA contracted with Terry Dickinson, a Northern Michigan artist, to paint 3 panels reflecting the different seasons of Roscommon with a background on the side of the North Country Computer & Design building, a very visible wall coming into town off I-75 via M-18. I will provide further details tomorrow, including giving the artist's full name, etc.

But as the pictures indicate, what a great new addition to our downtown! They are worth a visit into town just to see the fabulous work up close.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Christmas in the Village

Christmas in the Village is coming Saturday, December 6th, and there will be something for everyone!

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Rosco-Higgins Trail Cruisers will host a Snowmobile Safety Class at the Roscommon Community Center, 510 South Street in Roscommon. All persons successfully completing the seven-hour class will be State Certified. Children, ages 12 through 16, are required by law to have seven hours of snowmobile safety instruction in order to receive their State Snowmobile Safety Certification. Registration is required, at no charge, and registration forms are available at: Spicer’s Boat City, Hacker’s, St. Helen Power Sports, Houghton Lake Middle and High School, Roscommon Middle and High Schools, Grayling Middle and High Schools, Houghton Lake and Roscommon Chamber of Commerce Offices. Registration deadline is November 30. Forms are to be returned to Tom Koscinski, 115 Clyde, Roscommon, MI 48653. For additional information or questions, call Tom at 989-821-8726.

8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Breakfast with Santa and Santa's Workshop at the Roscommon Knights of Columbus Hall, sponsored by Roscommon Co-Op Nursery.


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

10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Christmas Open House - Gallimore Boarding House - Cookies & candy for sale and 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 and take craft, sponsored by Don Nester Chevrolet.

Noon - 6:00 p.m. Silent Auction by CIV, at the CRAF Center

Noon - 8:00 p.m. Craft Show at the CRAF Center. Noon - 8:00 p.m.

Noon - 8:00 p.m. Roscommon Elementary School Classes Christmas Tree Silent Auction at Richardson School House

Noon - 8:00 p.m. Book Fair, by The Literacy Council at the CRAF Center

1:00 & 3:00 p.m. Family Matinee Movie at the Roscommon Cinema


8:00 p.m. Teen Movie - admission is can good item to all three shows

1:00 & 3:00 p.m. Chain Saw Carving Demos


4:00 p.m. Auction of Chain Saw Carved items at the 5th Street Market Parking Lot.

Dusk - Candle Walk - Welcomes you down 5th and Lake Streets

4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Open House at Village Businesses

4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Streets are Closed, Free Carriage Rides starting at Chase Bank

4:00 p.m. until they are sold out Lions Club Hot Dogs at the Village Hardware. Pay with a cash donation or canned good donation.

5:00 p.m. Free cider & donuts in front of Impact Office sponsored by Don Nester Chevrolet.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m. AuSable River Center free refreshments and register for a door prize.

6:30 p.m. Electric Light Parade – starting at Nester’s on N. 5th, proceeds to the traffic light, right on Lake, and ending at 1st Street.

Village Christmas Tree Lighting will follow the Parade. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Gazebo to announce Coloring Contest winners and light the tree. Coloring contest sponsored by the Roscommon Knights of Columbus.

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


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

4th Street Survey & Soil Borings

As some of you may already know, the Village has signed an agreement with Fleis & Vandenbrink to conduct a survey & soil borings on 4th street (from Lake St to Brooks St & Shelley St to Edna/5th street). Barry Willis is currently conducting the survey today & tomorrow (Wednesday). The purpose of the survey is to conduct an in depth analysis of the road, and give us better cost estimates for the actual road project. We plan to "crush & shape" parts of the road, while fixing the necessary drainage issues and problem areas in the spring. Fourth Street has become a critical road in the Village, especially with truck traffic from Glen's, McDonald's, Rite Aid, etc.....

We feel when this project is complete, the road will stay in excellent shape for many years to come.

Christmas in the Village

Christmas in the Village is rapidly approaching. Here is the latest about the event from Connie Allen, Office Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce.

"Christmas in the Village plans are in full swing. Planning meetings are held each Monday, at 7:00 p.m. at the CRAF Center. If you would like to volunteer some time with a great group of people - this is for you! This year’s event will be Saturday, December 6, with a craft show from noon until 8:00 p.m., at the CRAF Center and the parade at 6:30 p.m. The Chamber has $10 Raffle Tickets available – that give you 16 chances to win! For more information, call Pat and Lori Mattingly at 275-5829."


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

Bo Schembechler

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of the death of a legendary leader & football coach, Bo Schembechler. I think, regardless whether you love or hate Michigan football, you can learn a lot from Bo's life in terms of how he led, how he conducted himself, and his fierce loyalty. Rest in Peace Bo.

DDA Meeting

Just a reminder that the Roscommon Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) next meeting is Monday, November 17th at 8am at Village Hall. These meetings are open to the public, and we encourage any interested residents or business owners to attend. The DDA is a great organization that has many exciting projects currently going on, and several others in the works. This is a great chance to learn & network with business and community leaders in Roscommon.


Tom Gromek
Village Manager

November 10, 1975

Today marks the 33rd Anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the most tragic & haunting events to happen in the history of the Great Lakes. To read more, follow this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald

Village Manager Report - Nov 10

VILLAGE MANAGER REPORT
November 10, 2008

▪ The Village of Roscommon was not chosen for the Grand Valley Financial Trend Monitoring project due to a limited number of students and the abundance of communities interested in participating. We will be considered for a future class project.

▪ Employee Reviews for Nicole & Dave will be conducted during the month of November.

▪ Paul Olson, from Municipal Underwriters, met with me last week to discuss insurance coverage for next year. He will be submitting a formal proposal by December 1st, and he would like to come to the first December council meeting to discuss our insurance coverage.

▪ We received the 2009 Blue Cross Blue Shield Rates from the MML in October. These are in the communication folder. The rate increase is around 6.4% for our plan. Melanie Hefron, our agent from The Centennial Group, will be meeting with me later this month. I recommend we stick with our current plan due to the small rate increase and its meets our budget expectations.

▪ I attended the Roscommon County Transportation Workshop conducted by MDOT on November 6th. Several MDOT officials from the Grayling Office were present along with Tim O'Rourke and several Roscommon County Road Commissioners. I have materials from the conference if anybody is interested in seeing specifics on county road projects.


Calendar
November 11th - Village Offices Closed - Veterans Day
November 17th - DDA Meeting - 8am
November 24th - Village Council Meeting - 7pm
November 27th - THANKSGIVING - Village Offices Closed
November 28th - Village Offices Closed

Meeting Agenda - Nov 10

VILLAGE OF ROSCOMMON
MEETING AGENDA
November 10, 2008

1. Call to order, roll call of Council, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation

2. Approval of the Regular agenda

3. Brief public comment on Regular Agenda items (Two minutes per speaker)

4. Approval of Consent agenda:
Minutes of the October 27, 2008 Regular Meeting & Minutes of the October 6th & October 20 Budget Workshops, Bills to be paid and Checks written since last meeting.

5. Manager’s Report

6. Council Member reports

7. Unfinished Business:
Sheriff's Report
Master Plan - Rob Eggers (Spicer Group)
CRAF Center & Wallace Park Electrical
Recreation Plan
Council Vacancy
Sale of Industrial Park Property

8. New Business:
Snow Removal Bill
Water Reliability Study
Best of Roscommon

9. Public Acknowledgement (Two minutes per speaker)

10. Items for the next agenda:

11. Adjournment

Any Council member shall have the right to submit items for the regular agenda before it is approved.

Community Events Facade

The New Community Events Facade is nearly complete. There will be one more addition; Kirtland Community College has teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce & the DDA to provide a state-of-the-art LED sign, which will feature Kirtland events along with Roscommon-area events. This sign will be installed just above the glass-enclosed event bulletin board.