Web exclusive: E.L. City Council responds to closure of Secretary of State office
By David Barker (Last updated: 11/24/09 11:58pm)At Tuesday’s East Lansing City Council meeting, council members passed a resolution about the proposed closing of the downtown East Lansing Secretary of State branch office and heard several presentations.
East Lansing Branch Closing
Council members unanimously passed a resolution stating their opposition to the proposed closing of the downtown East Lansing Secretary of State branch office at 400 Albert Ave. The resolution was proposed by Councilmember Nathan Triplett.
“The point I have been trying to make is we need to recognize that the way we tighten our belt must be sensible,” Triplett said. “(We should) look for other ways to incorporate savings without forcing hardships on our residents.”
Triplett also said he asked East Lansing City Attorney Dennis McGinty to look into whether Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has the authority to close the branch.
Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Secretary of State, has said consolidating the East Lansing branch with a Lansing branch will save up to $2,200 in rent and that transactions at the East Lansing branch have been down 30 percent by 2002.
East Lansing Mayor Vic Loomis said he received a note from the owner of the property suggesting the owner would be willing to work with the Secretary of State to secure more favorable rent.
Taxicab Moratorium
East Lansing City Clerk Nicole Evans presented the first reading of an ordinance that would extend a moratorium on the new taxicab licenses an additional ninety days, until Feb. 1.
The council is expected to vote on the moratorium Dec. 2.
Evans said although the original ordinance already will have lapsed — enabling cab companies a week to submit applications before the extension kicks in — the renewed ordinance contains language that would change all applications to “pending.”
The purpose of the ordinance is to reduce downtown congestion, she said. Downtown taxicab stands also have been moved to M.A.C. Avenue from Albert Avenue to help with congestion.
“The signs for the taxi stands have been put in place at M.A.C. Avenue,” she said. “We have had some enforcement involving redirecting students and patrons to M.A.C. Avenue. The request for this moratorium is to study the impact on the customers, the businesses and the residents.”
CATA/Michigan Avenue Presentation
East Lansing Community and Economic Development Administrator Lori Mullins presented the council with information pertaining to the $1.7 million study the Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, has initiated regarding the Michigan Avenue corridor.
Currently, the study is concerned with gathering information from residents, students and businesses about what they feel would best serve their needs. That information will then be used to find methods for improving transport along the corridor.
“(We are) already looking at improvements to bike and pedestrian right-of-ways,” Mullins said. “At public meetings over next couple months we will gather input and look at other right-of-way needs.”
The meetings currently are scheduled for Jan. 12, 13 and 14 at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road.
Originally Published: 11/24/09 11:57pm
Erick
11/25/09 12:12pmTriplett is an aide to a Democratic House member. It’s not surprising he’s trying to challenge the Republican secretary of state.
Josh
11/25/09 12:20pmSo what Erick? The Mayor is a Republican and he voted for the resolution too along with the rest of the council. You don’t need to have a partisan ax to grind to think this is a bad deal for the city.
Pecos Bill
11/25/09 2:35pmI hear that Glen Winston will be leasing the space will be leasing the space for a boxing studio.
Not surprised
11/25/09 2:50pmNot at all surprised that the branch’s business is down – because the line never moves. Maybe if the workers put in some effort to process our paperwork more quickly, they might be able to save their jobs.
Sol Bilderberg
11/25/09 11:37pmPeople who use the Secretary of State office are DRIVERS. They can drive to FRANDOR and save the State millions of dollars! The State is trying to cut waste, by consolidating services. People should utilize the ONLINE services available to them or suffer the devastating hardship of driving 2 miles to FRANDOR!
Nathan Triplett and the City Council act as if taxpayer money grows on trees and that a smaller, more efficient government is a bad thing.
SB
Mike Ski
11/28/09 8:31amWell driving to Frandor won’t help. There is not. Secretary of state office there. I understand the desire to cut cost but to close the East Lansing Office is a big mistake. Now if they want to move it to a lower rent area such as Frandor. I say go ahead.
Mike Ski
11/28/09 8:31amWell driving to Frandor won’t help. There is not. Secretary of state office there. I understand the desire to cut cost but to close the East Lansing Office is a big mistake. Now if they want to move it to a lower rent area such as Frandor. I say go ahead.
Mike Ski
11/28/09 8:32amWell driving to Frandor won’t help. There is not. Secretary of state office there. I understand the desire to cut cost but to close the East Lansing Office is a big mistake. Now if they want to move it to a lower rent area such as Frandor. I say go ahead.
Lois Lane
11/29/09 9:51pmSol, People who use the Secretary of State’s office may be drivers, but the point is not to have to drive everywhere. We need to keep walkability in our communities, including walkable access to services.
Having that office there is good for the entire downtown -the person who comes to that office may grab a piece of pizza from Georgio’s, a book from Curious Book Shop or an ice cream from Melting Moments. There will be consequences to more than just drivers if this goes through.
Clark
11/30/09 10:58amLois, don’t try and talk sense into Sol (aka failed city council candidate Hans Larsen). He’s not worried about what’s best for East Lansing. He just wants to shout at windmills. He just does not get it and he never will. He pretends to care about MSU and the students, but just look at his comment on this article. He’s full of it.