1968-10-24; Saline Reporter

              VOLUME 20, NUMBER 7-THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1968
i *       *        *
10c PER COPY — $4 PER YEAR
I DATES
USS CITY ISSUES
of are, Nearly
a*
Javcees to Scrub
Cars For UF
The Jaycees will wash cars
for the benefit of the United
Fund, from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday.
Facilities of the .Car Wash,
on W. Michigan Ave., h a v e.
been donated for the day by.
the owner, Joe Koutz. The Jay-'
cees will do the work. All donations will go to the United
Fund.
Anderson Views
City Improvements
Keveling Poses
Some Questions
v*v_.
Though  . candidates    usually     "The swimming pool was vo-"....
BOB CONDIT
•***.f^aj^ifttnmimm>ilivv
-     /.     ^_
•XMBi V_.Ji.vv Vi? Ci_ABK STREET
from Maple Rd. now is an attractive
vista . . . and driving there is positively
a pleasure. With the exception of drive
ways, Clark Street is paved at last, completed with curbs and gutters. The final
finish coat cannot he applied until next
year, since the first coat must settle
through the winter.
'acade, Almost
APPROACHING   COMPLETION   is
the remodeling work on the old city hall
Duilding, which will provide court and
council rooms, space for the police department, and an emergency operations
center in   the. basement.  The stairway
goes np behind the tall window and will
ultimately be graced by artful lighting.
Salinians with imagination can get a
notion of how the building will look when
the final paint job makes the brick inset
sections all one color.
Johnson Considers Past and Future
Mayor George Johnson, who
is seeking re-election as a councilman but not as mayor, this
week listed improvements
which took place in the city
during his two terms a. mav-
or. and cited needs for the
future.  He  said:
"A review <vf th. record will
disclose that the last four -"ears,
during my term as .Mavor,
there has been a. periof. of improvement in Saline city government. Almost everv phase
of the city operation has been
improved, streamlined and updated 'to some degree.
The.police and fir* departments are murh letter eauip-
ped and staffed. This is borne
out by the law and order that
has been and will contin"e to be
maintained in the citv of Saline.
The firemen have more and
better eauipment and a decent
fire hall in which to house the
fire apparatus and to hold their
^meetings.
\j'The building code has been
lated   and   enforcement has
ben improved.
"We have modernized our accounting system and installed
machine accounting in the ad-
■ministration function. A formal uniform purchasing system
has been adopted along with
personnel policies and- r ate
schedules.       • "
"Other improvements in services and facilities include a
combined garbage and rubbish
pickup, a tree planting prd;
gram, a new city hall, fi_j|
hall and library. In addition,
we are completing the renovation .of the old city hall for the
police department; and council
chambers. This building will also house a district judge to
provide court services in Saline, as well as a community
emergency center in the basement.
"These are just a few items
that point up the well balanced
programs implemented in the
past few years. All of these programs and improvements'" in
service Have been financed
without an increase in millage
and in fact, * the millage ■" was
decreased in -1966 and: 1967.
These improvements are 'the
result of a team effort of the
entire City staff and the city
council, with the cooperation of
the citizens'of Saline.
"Now that I have briefly reviewed the past - - what of the
future in Saline? If all ihe predictions are accurate, the period ahead will be one of growth.
Much of this growth will come
outside the city, where we have,
very little voice In the type and
amount of expansion that will'
take-place. Inside the-city is a
different matter. We have been
constantly improving our zoning, subdivision agreements
and our reviews of all" proposed
projects. We must continue to
control future growth with
improved regulations and planning.
"I believe that next year the
plan that will be partially completed by .the Saline Planning
Co'mmi^sio-l and presented to
the public, will-require that we
answer "the question - - "What
kind of a city do we want Saline to be in the future?"
"One project that. must, be
undertaken 'is a careful review
of our zoning and land use. We
must decide what t y p e of
growth we want as. a community. Do we 'want to limit the
number of .multiple dwellings?
Do we want to' encourage cluster-type plans for residential
housing? What about expansion
of ovaz .present road system?
These "and many other important questions must be answered.
"I believe my eight years of
experience on the city council
and seven years of experience
on several planning commissions, will be an asset to the
council to help arrive at the
answers to these and other
questions .facing" the commun-
.(Continued oh page 3). •
FOR VALOR
Captain Robert E. Condit was■
awarded the Army Comonen-;
dation Medal with "V" devices
and the Vietnamese Silver Star;
Cross of Gallantry at a joint:
US-Vietnamese award ceremo-,
ny at Giao Due District Headquarters, Republic of Vietnam,
on October 5.
The awards were presented
for heroism in action against
hostile enemy forces in heavy
fighting in and around the district headquarters during the
latter part of August and early
September.
Captain Condit earned the Army Commendation Medal wh^n
a Viet Cong Main Force Battalion, supported by local guerrillas, tried in vain to over-run
the district compound defended
by one Regional Force Platoon,
one VN Artillery Platoon (two
105mm howitzers), and seven
US advisors.
In four hours of heavy fighting the enemy lost 37 killed,
three captured and many weapons to the defenders. The defenders suffered only light casualties. The action was supported by armed helicopters and,
C47  "Spooky'-'  gunships.
Ten days later, the enemy returned in force with three Main
Force Battalions, supported by
one antiaircraft company and
local guerrillas. Again the advisors, Artillery Platoon, the
Regional Force Platoon and one
Regional Force Company (just
five days out of. basic training)
repulsed the attack in five
hours of heavy fighting. In
each action the district compound took over 100 mortar and
recoilless rifle rounds resulting in extensive damage to the
compound.
The VN Artillery Platoon fired over one thousand rounds
direct fire at the attackers during the battle. The enemy suffered 87 killed, one captured,
and many weapons lost including three Russian flame throwers and 21 tear gas grenades.
Again the action was supported
by armed helicopters and C47
"Spooky" gunships.
The defenders suffered very
light casualties. Captain Condit
was awarded the Silver Star
(Vietnamese)   for   this   action.
Captain Condit also holds the
Combat Infantrymans Badge,
Vietnamese Campaign with
three battle stars, Vietnamese
Service Ribbon, National Service Defense Medal and has
been recommended for the US
Bronze Star with "V" device
for valor and the US Bronze
Star for meritorious service.
• J"***^-»-«______
Capt. Condit
With Cross of Gallantry
' Captain Condit is a 1961 graduate of Saline Area High School
and attended college at Western
Michigan University. His wife,
lone (Carr) Condit, lives with
their two children in Ann Arbor.
Captain Condit has returned
to the United States for reassignment to Ft. Leonard- Wood,
Mo.
Councilman George Anderson,
now a candidate for the office of
mayor, this week gave his views
on the four proposed bond issues
for improvements in the city.
He said:
"This week a bro-hure Will be
delivered to each home owner
■exjVaining the fo.r proposed
bond issues totalling $1,810,000.
Th»se proposal should be
studied by the property owners
who must maVe up their own
minds as to the needs of these
items for the community's development. A vote against these
proposal is not a vote against
your City Council. These proposals wee. intended to give
yci, the voter, the opportunity
to make the decision as to what
capital improvements you would
Hk*. the City of Saline to have.
"I would briefly like to discuss with you my thoughts as
to each of the four bonding proposals.
"1. The sewage treatment
p^nt expansion is an absolute
must, because of State Health
Paoartment requirements. If
this proposal is defeated, the
Coun.il will be forced to expand
the sewage treatment plant with
rf_v__nur_ i)onds, which bear a
higher interest rate, and money
re* .rves that are not required
with general obligation bonds.
The source of revenue, if this
issue fails, would be a raise in
water and sewer rates, which I
am definitely not in favor of doing. This bond issue also includes funds for improving sanitary sewer lines in problem areas of the commiuiity.
"2. Water softening will cost
.the tax payer.hving in. a $20;QOO
home approximately $22.00 per
year. I spend approximately this
much annually to operate my
home water softening unit. Most
of the residents have installed
home units, with the majority of
these units being at least eight
years o^. I am now on my second unit. A softening unit is a
major capital improvement for
the home, and the passage of
this bond • issue will eliminate
future home owner expenditures
for softening and iron removal
units.
"3. Repairs to the dam would
include construction of two
radial gates each 12 feet long by
10 feet high, one mounted on
each side of the existing spillway.' The installation of these
improvements wiU better regulate the water and should eliminate any future flooding.
"People have advocated filling in the pond and using this
land area for park purposes.
This pond has been a part of
the community since the 1930's
and I feel very strongly, from
an aesthetic standpoint, the
pond should remain a part of
the community. If this bond issue fails, I am sure that the
Council, if it decides to retain
the pond, will devise some
method to replace the embankment that was destroyed by the ■
June flood. Of course this plan
won't eliminate any problems.
"4. The swimming facility at
the park is not an absolute
must, but for a community the
size of Saline not to have
swimming available is a real
shame. Mr. Beckett has done an
outstanding job in designing the
proposed facility which will provide over an acre of swimming
area. A pool at the school has
'leen turned down twice, and the
Council felt that the residents
should be allowed this opportunity to vote for an outside swimming area.
"The reauested amounts for
the above bond issues are exclusive of any state or federal
assistance. The Council will exhaust every means to receive
aid from the state. and federal
government and, if. they are
successful, they would not levy
the full amount of the moneys
required to retire the bonds.
"The, storm sewer problem is
JAYCEE AUXILIARY
"TD MEET TMONDAY
The Jaycee Auxiliary will
meet at 8 p.m. Monday at the
home of Mrs. Richard Compton. A city representative will
present a program of slides, and
information on' the four city
bonding proposals on the November 5 ballot.
being handled without the use
of general obligation bonding
and, for the most part, should
be complete before this spring.
"If I am elected your Mayor,
I will strive to continue the excellent cooperative teamwork
effort that is required for the
successful operation of city government. The City of Saline can
be interpreted as a million dollar business (the difference is
that it is your money), and it
reiuires a great deal of time
and experience to efficiently run
your local government. I will
devote all the time necessary
to fulfill the responsibility and
obligations of the office."
answer questions, Hugh Keveling, former councilman and
now candidate for Mayor, this
week asked a few instead. He
said:
"Where are we?
"As a candidate for your mayor, I have recently been asked some questions I cannot fully  answer.
"We have four bond proposals to vote upon in the November election. Approximately $2 million will be involved.
How important or necessary
and how urgent is each and
all of these? If any or all of
these pass, how much will our
taxes be raised?
Brochure Details
bnd Proposals
A brochure, now being printed, will go out to all city residents this week with information on the four bonding proposals on the Novemlber 5 ballot
. . . the four proposed municipal
improvements, their estimated
costs, and the millages required
to retire the bonds for each.
The brochure notes that all
millage statements are based on
p r e se n t valuations of Saline
properties. A future rise in valuation could "bring a resultant
lowering of the millage requirements to service the bonded indebtedness."
It also points out that "Each
of the proposals stand on their
own merit and they are not in-,
terrelated in-regard to bonding
procedures."
The water softening plant, estimated to cost $835,000, would
mean a millage increase of 2.19
until 1988. It would be expected
to serve a population equivalent
of 12,000, which is not anticipated in Saline until after 1990.
Enlargement of the sewage
disposal system is estimated at
$640,000, with a millage increase
of 1.15 until 1979, then .90 until
1983,' and then .25 unth 1988. Al-
To Honor Young
Woman for
Civic Service
The Saline Jaycee Auxiliary
will honor a young woman between the ages of 21 and 36 for
service to the community; and
the recipient of the local award
will be a candidate for one of
the four Outstanding Women
awards given by the Michigan-
Jayeee Auxiliary.
All women's service clubs in
the Saline area will receive entry forms with which to submit their candidates for the
award, an Auxiliary spokesman
said. Ihe award is not intended
to "encourage the woman who
involves herself in projects at
•the expense of her home and
family; it seeks a young woman
who has learned to balance the
needs of her family with the
needs of the community.
Any club or organization
which does not receive an entry
form may obtain one by calling
Peggy Pogliano, local chairman,
at 429-5081. Entry forms'must be
completed and returned to her
•by November 15, and judging
will take place between that
date and December 1.
The winner will be announced
around December 15.
though the present facility was
enlarged in 1964 to handle the
requirements of a City of 6,000,
the present population equivalent is 6,200. New homes, apartments, schools, and industries
have created the additional
need.
Repair of the dam is estimated at $175,000, with the plan
proposed. Millage increase
would be .67 until 1980. The dam
was washed out by a flood that
brought 4,000 cubic feet per second of water down the river, engineers estimated; and the present structure could handle only
1,700" cubic feet per second.
Hence the washout.
_ The brochure, notes that there
are alternative possibilities with
regard to the dam. One would
be to remove the entire dam
and deepen the river bed to
handle the known potential water .flow. Engineers' estimate of
the cost of such a project is
more than $200,000.
Another possibility, to do nothing at all, "will jeopardize US
12 and the bridge, with every
major rain," the brochure says.
The proposed swimming area
at Curtiss Park would mean a
millage increase of .61, for the
estimated cost of $160,000. This
would provide "a man-made
swimming area of approximately one acre .and will include a
water purification system, artificial liner with natural sand
overlay, and a spillway to return the water to the Saline
River".
The proposed plan includes increased parking areas and other
improvements in the layout of
the park.
Total of all four bond issues
and cost would be $1,810,000.
Total millage increase would be
4.62 until 1979, reducing after
that time.
ted down two times by the
school district. If the City of
Saline has one now, w_io will
be permitted to use it - - city
of Sahne residents only, or will
others be allowed its use? What
about maintenance costs? Will
we be required to have life
guards on duty at all times or
what arrangements , must be
made for swimming safety?
*    *    *
"Just what is Saline's financial status? How much in government - obligation bonds
and renewal bonds are we liable' for? What other debts
have we incurred?
"If City Hall is anxious to
have our bond issues voted in,
they should come forth with
some information and explanation of these.
"If elected your Mayor I will
see that there is better communication between the city administration and ' the public.
Facts will be immediately a-
vailable about any financial
matters and personnel problems or changes that are needed.
"I hope these questions' I
have asked will be answered
before you vote November 5."
Allie's License Goes
Farther Than Allie
Allie Gross's driving license
has gone a lot farther than Allie has . . . and in places where
Allie never intends to drive.
He applied for the customary
renewal last August; and when
it didn't arrive immediately, he
didn't worry about it much because he had the interim permit, valid until the new licence came.
Arrive it did, eventually . . .
but not directed from Lansing.
Instead, it came enclosed in the
following letter:
"Dear Mr. Gross:
"The driver's license. I have
enclosed was included in an
envelope containing some other correspondence for me from
the Michigan Department of
State; apparently they got it in
the   wrong  place  by   mistake,
"It is interesting that it
caught up with me in U-Tapao,
Thailand, where I am stationed
in the service, and that it will
have traveled all the way a-
round the world by the time
you finally get it. Well, better
late than never.
Theodore Lesher
Capt.  USAF"
FIREMEN SPONSOR
HUNTER'S   BALL
The annual Hunter's Ball,
sponsored by Saline Fire De-
-partment, will be held from
10 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m., at
the Legion hall. Tickets are a-
vailable from firemen or at the
door.
New Furnace9 Partly
TOWNSHIP MEET SET
Saline Township Board will
meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the'
Township Hall.
HUNTERS SCORE
Saline area hunters report
mixed results during the first
few days of the season. Pheasant seem to have left for other
parts. Very few stayed around<
for the shooting. But squirrel
have been abundant.    .
Young Kenny "Rogers and
Uncle- Sheldon bagged two-
apiece the first day of the sea- ■
son, and Bud Seeger, Matt
Jerry and Carol came in with
eight squirrel and a number of
"coons. .    « '
LeRoy Rutherford is one of.
the   few Saline .m'arksmeh   to
nail a pheasant.
A SWITCH FROM STOKER to gas burners in the
Junior High School furnace brought Principal Dwight
Reynolds and Janitor Ed Girbaeh downstairs to peer
into the place where the stoker was. The new equipment
installed this week, is expected to be cleaner and more
economical in operation . . . and anyway, the old coal
stoker had seen its day. It has been in service 17 years
.or more, probably lots more ,