New Baltimore Council Approves New Phone Service

New Baltimore City Council voted Monday night to replace its with a different provider in order to save at least $20,000 annually.

The city landlines will go from AT&T service to First Communications of Southfield. Another Southfield-based company, Clear Communications, also bid on the job at a higher price, Clerk Marcia Shinska, who proposed the service change, said Tuesday.

Council also approved:

• A Department of Public Works request to purchase a new two-ton-capacity hot asphalt trailer from Bell Equipment at a cost of $11,540 and a mini excavator from Klochko Equipment Company for the amount of $29,400.

• The Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation to change nonprofit rental fees for all pavilions starting Jan. 1. Under the proposal, nonprofit groups in the city will still not be charged for pavilions from Monday through Thursday but will have to pay $250 for Friday-Sunday rentals unless city council approves nonprofit events. Previously, the groups did not have to pay for pavilion rentals.

• The city's property and casualty insurance premium at a rate of $103,698.

• The continued use of SMART bus systems throughout the city.

In other meeting news:

• The council decided to table the appointment Spencer Yaklan to the Downtown Development Authority to replace Moon River Soap Company owner Liz Aprea, who resigned from the board. Yaklan is the owner of Advance Restoration, a restoration, disaster recovery, home improvement and retail business, slated to open soon at 5120 Washington in the former quilt store, city officials said. The appointment is slated to be revisited by council next month.
• A banner for the History Fair in downtown New Baltimore was approved for the community event scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24-25. A range of activities for children and adults is slated during the attraction in the city's downtown.