Bay-Journal Monthly Magazine - August 2004 / Bay-Journal

^ Aug 1 - Introduction - Bay-Journal Commentary by Marvin Kusmierz

Updating of web pages:
I'm continuing to make progress on up dating the more than 700 web pages of Bay-Journal, but the pace at which it is being done has slowed considerably. After more than two months the work is becoming very tedious. I've begun working on the last section (Writings) which has the largest number of pages. I'm trying to make corrections as I update each page, but I fear that more may have been added during the up dating process. I'm without the help of a proof reader, so if you encounter the "stupid" spelling or phrase that slipped past my tired eyes -- please drop me an email letting me the page it's on so I can fix it. That would be most helpful and a few viewers have come to my rescue already.

AirFest 2004.

AirFest at James Clements Airport:
July and August are busy months for our community. There are festivals every weekend and some weekends there are more than one taking place. They've grown seemingly each year during the past decade. A new one this year that I really enjoyed was "AirFest 2004" held at James Clements Airport.

I went there for the first show on Friday and returned again on Sunday with grandkids in hand. Both days were very enjoyable. The pilots that performed were amazing to watch. I've seen a few air shows on television, but those are nothing like what you experience by being there in person. The spacious grounds of James Clements Airport provided plenty of room for the large crowd watching the show and those wandering around the grounds. I really like being able to get up close the stunt and other planes that were on display so visitors could touch and fell them. Pilots were glad to answer questions and some even let kids sit in the pilot seat while parents took a picture.

Beside the entertainment, I enjoy this opportunity to see this historical facilities owned by Bay City. Before this was established as an airport in the 1920s, barnstorming pilots often landed here on what was then a bumpy farm field. Can you image the excitement of folks back in 1928 when the first airmail delivery to this area was flown into James Clements Airport! I'm sure that those who said the city was wasting it's money on bulding an airstrip for these new fangled machines that had no value to the general public that was paying for an airport that only accommodate the needs of few airborne fanatics. The world aviation had not been added to Websters dictionary yet -- the introduction of flying machines by the Wright brothers had only been demonstrated in 1903 and was no threat to the mighty railroad industry or the upcoming motorized carriages.

Changing Times:
Today, it's hard to imagine what life would be like without aviation. Some tax payers still struggle with the question of what importance a city owned airport has to them. Today, the much larger MBS International airport is meeting the needs of the general public. While that is true, it is also true that James Clements Airport meeting more than the needs of local pilots. Many businesses planes fly into James Clements which is more convenient for them than MBS International. The airport is a way point and a destination for smaller aircraft that refill their planes here. All paid for these services offsetting tax dollars required to maintain the airport.

Future Possibilities:
Some believe small airports will play a more important role in the future as avaition adusts to accommodate changing demands. Major airports are now like bee hives with people swarming through terminals to find the gate of their next connection. The skys above them are filled with planes landing and departing. Advancing plane technology may lead to planes that are affordable to the general public and will utilize a new air system network of computerize routes. Planes new advanced avionics will be able run on automatic pilot and followed routing remotely controlled by the new sky-network. James Clements and other airports would grow dramatically under such a system. Your adult children may be owners of such a plane or rent one like it to do most of their out of traveling. Automobiles will become smaller, more economical and the combustion engine will have disappeared. Our present highway system and large airports will be mainly used for moving cargo and distributing it to surrounding communities. People will fly directly to their destination and not through hub airports like Chicago Ohare. The old days of mass-transit systems will return to move people from a small airport to points in the city of thier destination. These mass-transit systems will be powered by electric storage batteries or on magnetic railways. When that day arrives, that generation will look back at our era and wonder how we survived with such an archaic system.

Boldness of the Past:
I for one would like to see James Clements airport become a catalyst for developing the southend of Bay City. Adding a new park near the river on the airport property would do much to make the airport property more open to general public use. A development plan for the area between the airport and McGraw Street north could include a new industrial park and residential area. Harrison Street could be extended south along the Saginaw River to the airport and new park for new scenic drive running from downtown Bay City to the airport that loops onto M-13. A river drive is something many residents of this city have said they would like to have. Additional streets named after local avaiation pioneers could be added as the development area as it grows. With proper land fill and the use of berms this low area would become an ideal location for many businesses.

With the air service nearby, an I-75 connection down the road, and the city of Saginaw only minutes away, such an industrial park would offer excellent transportation for businesses. It would be a natural for food wholesalers serving grocery stores and restaurants. Iced shrimp and other sea food could be flown into James Clements and delivered to area grocers and restaurants the same day, and our polular walleye and perch could be "iced" heading out to other destinations. I can even imagine the possibility of an airplane catering services flying in and out of James Clements regularly to major cities in Michigan. A service of this nature would primarily cater to the well to do or businessmen who are willing to pay for quick air-hop to spend a day or an overnight stay here and avoid inconveniences associated with the mass-transit airports.

For this or something similar to to happen, the boldness of leadership that created James Clements airport will be required of our current city and business leaders. I realize Bay City some major projects to complete the largest being the Uptown At Rivers Edge -- a river road approach to a new park would do wonders for that area of the town.

^ Aug 1 - OmniSource Improving Former Hirschfield Property. (Bay City)

Former Defoe shipyard property.

According to an article in the Bay City Times on this date, the OmniSource Corporation is planning improvements and investments to their recyling business off Woodside Avenue which was formerly owned by H. Hirschfield & Sons Company. This is good news for the community as it these improvements are aimed at updating the competitiveness of this century old operation and creating about a dozen new jobs. New lifting cranes and better utilization of some of the existing buildings are expect to improve their processing of materials.

What will be most evident to the community is the company's planned investment to clean up the property and improve it's appearance on the northend of the downtown area. Mention is natural berm with pine trees at the westend of the property along Woodside and new fencing bordering the property. They are also plan on repainting the building a less noticeable gray than their present bright blue color. This investment of what would otherwise be profit dollars sends a strong message to this community about the type of leadership running the OmniSource business. They recognized this location has stood out like an eye sore for many decades and they are acting on thier own initiative to try and change that.

OmniSource will be investing several million dollars on improving their business here. They are looking to the city to provide about $57,000 in tax abatements over the next five years to help off set some of the increase in taxes with the new assets. There may be some resistence by the city in approving the tax abatements as this past June the city withdrew a $21,000 abatement originally given to H. Hirschfield and Sons after they were purchased by OmniSource.

In my opinion, the city should quickly and unanimously pass their tax abatement request. There is nothing to lose. The city will enjoy additional tax revenue from the improvements and some jobs opportunities will be created.

Ideally, the city should write a tax abate policy that is consistent and eliminates the need for a commission of transient members to decide each and every case. Any increase in the city's taxable asset base is a plus whether it's created by new or existing businesses. A new policy should be fixed for a minimum of five years so businesses can plan accordingly, and we can end the proverbial debate that goes on within the community about who should or who shouldn't get a tax abatement.

By now everyone of working age in this area knows how hard it is to find a good paying job. Over the decades we've lost a large number of major businesses. We must stop that erosion. We desparately need to hold onto our exist base of businesses by providing them with tax assistance to encourage and help them expand. Denying tax abatements to them for whatever reason is not accepting the realty of our present economy. The city's long-range plans may envision a different use for the OmniSource property, but I would hate to think our actions contribute to expediting the day that this property will be available. Instead, let's reassure the folks at OmniSource that we are tinkled pink that they have invested in this community -- pass the tax abatement with an appreciative smile for the benefit it represents today. Maybe then they'll be here for many years to come to work out a mutual plan that'll help this city become a better place to work and live.

Learn more about OminSource at: [OmniSource Corporation]

^ Aug 9 - Barry Sanders Inducted Into Hall of Fame.

The mild mannered and somewhat shy Barry Sanders was the focus of attention in Canton, Ohio yesterday afternoon along with John Elway, Carl Eller and Bob Brown.

Barry, the second youngest inductee in the history of the Hall of Fame, was a shoe-in. During his 10 year pro football career (all with the Detroit Lions) his greatness was evident early on. He made a mediocer team popular to auidiences whether they sat in the stands or in front of a television set. All wanted to see the amazing Sanders that frustrated every defense designed to stop him. When he decided to retire from football in 1999, he was only 31 years and only a season away from breaking Walter Payton's rushing record. However, that wasn't a priority for Barry -- winning is all that mattered to him. During his 10 year career he averaged 1,527 yards rushing per season, 5.0 yards per carry, and 153 yards per game. In 1997, he rushed for 2053 yards averaging 6.1 yards per game.

Along with possessing unusal talent, he had unusal character. He was deeply admired as an athlete and person by fellow football players and fans everywhere. It's too bad that he didn't thrill his fans a few more years -- but, we're grateful for years when he did.

[Barry Sanders - Photos & Stats.] - SportingNews.com

^Aug 13 - City To Begin Clean Up On Uptown At Rivers Edge.

It looks like October will be the start of cleaning up the property of the Uptown At Rivers Edge (UARE) project. The plan is followed the proposal made by the Weitzman Group that did the economic analyis of the project. Phase one of the project calls for preparing the property for development by removing debris, demolishing eight buildings and sheds, and putting infrastructure in place. Four major architectural structures will remain and be used in the development of the project. The most interesting at this time is the foundry building built by the former "Industrial Works" company that was a leading manufacturer of locomotive cranes. This building will located at the waters edge will be turned into the "Foundry Market Place" similar in concept to Fisherman's Wharf in San Franciso.

New construction included in the initial phase is a residential community at the south edge of the project area. Bids may go out in September to developers and construction could begin early next year. It is good to see this historical property returning to use. It holds the promise of becoming of becoming the city's most unique district when it is completed. It will re-connect this area to the downtown area as it was in the city's early history. Water street at one time harbored the majority the city's businesses. Water street followed the river's contour back then and stretched from Essexville to the southend of Bay City (see link below).

Maps Library/{1918 Saginaw River Sectional Maps}

^ Aug 19 - Frankenlust Picked For Dump Site by State and Saginaw.

The folks in Frankenlust and Bay County are upset to learn after the fact that they have been chosen as the dump site for dredgings taken from the Saginaw River. Township and county government claim they were not properly notified of the decision, and are now scrambling to delay a final decision until they can review its impact. The dump site consists of 281 acres, most of which is located in Frankenlust township and a portion in Kochville township of Saginaw Co. The dredgings that will be dumped here are contaminated with dioxins which according to the Corps of Engineers poses no long-term hard to the environment. However, the site be rendered useless for anything other then a wilderness.

That may okay today, but what about tomorrow? The Saginaw River is not going to stop filling in. How many more parcels of land will be required in the future? Unless we come up with a permanent long-term solution to controlling contaminate soil from the river, future generations will at some point be forced to deal with a more ideal means of disposal. Rather than going through a battle every twenty years about the issue, let's come up with a long-term solution. Maybe, a nice scenic wilderness mountain between here and Saginaw rather than "hot-spots" of spread around the country side.

^ Aug 22 - Bay Area Women's Historic Park To Be Dedicated Thursday.

Bay County Women Presently Honored at Park
Vera Jeannett Lemke Sovereign (1899-1966)
May Stocking Knaggs (1847-1917)
Myra Parsons (1876-1892)
Julia Toby Brawn Way (1816-1889)
Roxie A. McCulloh (1915-1976)
Angela Cornejo
Joyce Cummings Smith (1923-2002)
Ellen Garrett McCormick (1794-1862)
MacGregor Sisters, Mary (1860-1955) & Helen (1858-1948)
Janet E. Kinnane (1907-2002)
Elizabeth Wilcox Rogers (1809-1881)

The Bay Area Women's Center has been quietly developing a new garden park that will honor the memories of prominent women of Bay County. Thanks to an article in today's Bay City Times by Patti LaLonde their efforts will be more widely known by the citizens of this county.

It's a wonderful idea that blends nature and history on six acres to create a peaceful garden paradise. A perfect place where visitors can go to calm down from the hustle and bustle of normal life. The park features a gazebo, themed flower gardens, walking trails, birdhouses and rest area benches. The names of eleven women from the counties history are displayed on signs that include their life-span and reason the reason why they are being honored. The names of other women will be added over time.

Volunteers that made the park possible are:

Ruth Blumenstein
Diane Gilber
Sandi Harrington
Bonnie London
Mary Miller
Barbara Neveau
Dee Dee Wacksman
Nancy Welchner

Donations to the park came from:

Bay Area Community Foundation
Bay County Civic League
Bay Landscaping
Chippewa Souvenirs Inc., St. Ignace
Eberhard & Father Sign Works
GM Powertraiin
Native American Pride Committee
Noon Rotary Club
R&R Ready Mix

Dedication cermonies will take place Thursday, 1:00 pm, at the Bay City Women's Center, 3411 Midland Road. Guest speaker will be Patricia Drury. Reservations are required by Monday.

Contact Barbara J. Rejewski, executive director at 686-2251.

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