 Michigan City Sanitary District General Manager Recognized
Turn In Guns For Gift Cards!
Washington Park Festival of Holiday Lights Celebration!
Removal of Wooden Trash Can Holders
SouthShore Line Public Forum
2009 Leaf Pickup
City Hall Coat Campaign
Videos on Michigan City's Website
Free Prescription Drug Card Program
Do You Have Special Medical
Needs? Let The Fire Dept. Know!
Michigan City Named Tree City USA By The Arbor Day Foundation
Mayor's State of the City Address Available Online
Are You In Compliance With New City Trash Regulations?
Rental Property Smoke Detector Enforcement
Mayor Oberlie Seeks Volunteers For Boards & Commissions
Michigan City Noted As Top City For Affordability
History of Michigan City Featured Photos
New Senior Center News and Events Monthly
Coffee with Mayor Oberlie
The City of Michigan City’s Sanitary District General Manger was recognized for his excellence with one of the state awards. General Manager Al Walus was the recipient of the top state award from the Environmental Education Association of Indiana (EEAI).
This award was given under the category of the “Joe Wright Recognition of Excellence Award”. Al Walus was recognized for specific achievements in the field of environmental education of Indiana. This award recognizes a member for their consistent dedication to the provision of quality of interpretation and environmental education.
This past summer Mr. Walus piloted an environmental education program focused on place-based water quality issues with the students of the Michigan City Area Schools. The program was three weeks long, and each week had a different theme. This program was a huge success, and will be continued and improved upon each summer in the Michigan City Area Schools because of Al’s dedication to water quality and the education of children.
The award was presented to Al Walus in Milford, Indiana on November 7, 2009 at the Environmental Education Association of Indiana annual Conference.
Mayor Oberlie noted,” We are very proud of Al’s efforts to involve our youth in water quality activities. Not only will the city benefit by their observations and future involvement in the community, but we hope that their experience will lead to career opportunities.”
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As a campaign to reduce violent crime involving guns the Michigan City Police Department is spearheading a citywide gun exchange program. We are urging residents to turn in handguns and long guns to the Michigan City Police Department in exchange for a $50.00 Wal-Mart Gift Card. JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!
These weapons are often sitting in closets, drawers, or basements. Often these guns are no longer used by their owners, but are subject to falling into the wrong hands. These weapons become an integral part of violent crime involving children, parents, relatives and friends.
The objective of the Get More Buck for Your Banggun exchange program is to reduce the number of weapons available on the streets of Michigan City and our surrounding communities.
With the partnership of NIPSCO, Wal-Mart, and their staff, the Michigan City Police Department is offering a Wal-Mart Gift Card, in exchange for your handgun or long gun.
To receive an exchange and Get More Buck for Your Bang just bring your gun to the Michigan City Police Department front lobby on the following Dates and times:
Friday November 20th - 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday November 21st - 9:00am to 1:00pm
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The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department is proud to host the 19th annual “Award Winning” Festival of Holiday Lights in Washington Park. This month long celebration kicks off with the lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 at 3:30pm with the Snowflake Parade through Washington Park featuring Miss Duneland Jessica Butler and Miss Duneland Outstanding Teen Elizabeth Stivers. At 4:00pm the 6th annual “Challenge for Charity” Chili Cook-Off begins. The Festival was honored as one of the American Bus Association’s “Top 100 Events in North America and Canada for 2007”. The Chili Cook-Off event has participants from many city departments entering their best recipe for chili in hopes of winning the coveted “best chili” trophy. This event is open to the public and those wanting to try each chili can purchase a $5.00 ticket which will entitle them to a sample of each chili and one vote for their favorite chili. Bowls of chili can be purchased for an additional $3.00. All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross.
Stick around for the countdown to the lighting of the Park at 5pm. The holiday lights in Washington Park are the largest free display in the entire Midwest, with close to 30 acres of decorations, 40 displays, 2 miles of extension cords, and millions of bulbs. It is a breathtaking experience to watch the park displays come to life all at once. Not a big fan of chili? Michiana Resources will have hot dogs and other refreshments available. There will also be free cookies and hot chocolate available. Listen to the carolers from The Elston Middle School Choirs singing your favorite holiday carols at 5pm and the Soul Steppers dance troupe performing at 5:30pm. Warm up by the big bon fire that the Maintenance Department sets every year. Or, take a ride on the horse & wagon for $1.00 per person or better yet, bring a canned good to donate to the Salvation Army and ride for free. Santa will be on hand to hear the kiddies wishes for the holiday season and toy train rides will be offered from 4-6pm (weather permitting). Don’t miss one of the biggest holiday celebrations in the Tri-State Area! Donations are welcome! Subject to change without prior notification. For more information, contact the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department at 219-873-1506.
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The Refuse Department requests any residents that still have the wooden trash can holders and would like to have them removed to please call the UEA Office at (219) 873-2300 and they will remove them.
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On July 29, 2009, a public workshop was held to identify issues and questions regarding the proposed improvements. Stu Sirota will present the “Report on the Public Workshop Regarding the Proposed South Shore Line Improvements in Michigan City” that includes answers to the issues identified at that workshop”.
Mayor Oberlie stated, “This report presents a summary of the initial public workshop on the proposed South Shore Line Improvements. The workshop was facilitated by Stuart Sirota, AICP, Principal of TND Planning Group, a national consulting firm specializing in transportation and land use planning. Mr. Sirota has been working on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning issues related to the potential relocation of the South Shore Commuter Rail line and station in Michigan City since 2007.”
A public forum was held on October 26, 2009.
The reports referenced are available by clicking the following links:
The next public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
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The Michigan City Street Department fall leaf pickup program is currently in progress. Click here for pickup schedule, map and complete details.
Central Services Superintendent Jim Elwell and Mayor Chuck Oberlie provided the following update on City Leaf Pick-Up:
“City Street Dept. crews will continue working in Area 3 through Saturday, November 21st while Refuse Department crews will begin working in area 1 (west of Franklin Street).
Beginning Monday, November 23rd, leaf removal crews will begin working 12 hour shifts. The public is asked to be vigilant of the workers and to not park on leaf piles.”
Mayor Oberlie is requesting that residents cooperate by following these rules:
- No plastic bags are to be used.
- Branches, rocks and other debris must be kept out of the leaf piles.
- Leaf piles should be loose in large piles in front of the property as close to the curb as possible, but away from the sewer drains.
Mayor Oberlie stated, “I would like to thank the employees of the Street and Refuse Departments for their great effort to remove the leaves. I would also like to thank the public for their patience as we continue to expedite the leaf pick-up.”
Beginning Monday, November 23rd, our crews will begin in the final pick-up in Area 1 and continue through Areas 2 and 3. Crews will make one pass on each street. |
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Mayor Chuck Oberlie announced that Michigan City residents can once again donate coats to needy families through City Hall.
“Beginning Friday, October 9th, 2009, we will accept new and gently used coats of all sizes at City Hall. The collection site is downstairs,” Mayor Oberlie said. “Coats may be placed on the coat racks from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
Mayor Oberlie said, “Our office receives dozens of requests for children’s and infant’s coats and snowsuits. If you have any coats, snowsuits, snow pants, snow boots, mittens and hats that you or your children have outgrown or don’t wear – things that you would give away or put into a garage sale – please consider donating them to this coat drive. Each year, on average, 600 coats of all sizes and styles are donated to and received from this campaign.”
“I want to personally thank Concord Cleaners for their generous offer to clean…at no cost…any coats and snowsuits that you wish to donate to the City Hall Coat campaign” said Mayor Oberlie. “Simply drop off your coats at Concord Cleaners and say they are for the coat campaign, and Concord Cleaners will clean them and deliver them to City Hall weekly.”
Sheila Bell, manager of Concord Cleaners, said, “There is such a need for this campaign in our community and we are pleased to be able to participate in it and address the needs of our local community.”
“There are many people in our community who need coats to replace those their children have outgrown and who cannot afford to purchase a coat themselves,” Mayor Oberlie concluded. “I urge this generous community to check your closets for serviceable coats for those in need. We will accept new and gently used coats of all sizes at City Hall. The weather is turning chilly, and there are children and adults who are without coats to keep them warm,” Mayor Oberlie said.
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To promote the many great aspects of living in Michigan City, Mayor Chuck Oberlie announced today that high-quality, streaming videos dedicated to highlighting the many wonderful facets of living here will be added soon to the City of Michigan City's official website at www.emichigancity.com.
Mayor Oberlie said, “In today’s digital world, people rely more and more on the internet to learn more about our community. Through a partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors, videos that focus on a variety of elements such as quality of life, economic development, tourism, education and others will be produced at no cost to the city.
CGI Communications of Rochester, New York, will produce the videos and once they are completed, the videos will be placed on our city website for easy viewing.
Once the initial group of videos is completed, community groups and area businesses will have the chance to take part in this high-impact program with their own 30 or 60 second video, which will highlight their particular business or group. These additional videos will also be prominently displayed on the website.”
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As a resident of Indiana, you and your family have access to a FREE Prescription Drug Card program. Simply download your Prescription Drug Card here to receive savings of up to 75% at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies. You may create as many cards as you need. Participating pharmacies include the following: Target, Kmart, CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens, Meijer, Kroger as well as thousands of independent pharmacies.
Discounts range in price from 10-70% but average about 30%. It is NOT insurance...it's a membership program, but like insurance you get a card that you show at the pharmacy and they can calculate your discount.
For people with insurance or Medicare, this can work with them as well. Because it is NOT insurance, members would be able to see if they get a better price with their existing insurance or with the card. Usually, the co-pay through insurance will be better, but not always. So having the card could be helpful even to people that already have insurance. (Not to mention many individuals and businesses are going to high deductible plans that don't cover prescriptions.)
This benefit is sponsored by United Networks of America a national healthcare company in conjunction with a consortium of the pharmaceutical companies. This exact program has launched successfully in 30 states over the last 2 years. UNA expects the program to discount over 20,000,000 prescriptions in 2009 for tens of millions of American families when they need help the most.
The membership program may not meet everyone’s need but offers an inexpensive alternative for many. Click here for frequently asked questions about the program.
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The Michigan City Fire Department is in the process of gathering information on adults and children in the community who have special medical needs. Mayor Chuck Oberlie and Fire Chief Dave Lamb urge families who use medical care aids such as cardiac monitors, ventilation devices, feeding tubes, wheel chairs, or any other such devices for sustaining the life and health of a family member, to complete this form. Please click here to view and print the form. It then needs to be forwarded to the Fire Department. This form should also be used for community members who are non-ambulatory and would require assistance in leaving their homes in an evacuation situation.
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Mayor Chuck Oberlie announced that Michigan City has once again been named as a Tree City USA. It is the ninth year Michigan City has received this national recognition.
“I would like to thank the Tree Board, the City Team and the citizens of our community,” said Mayor Oberlie, “for their contributions that resulted in Michigan City being honored with the Tree City USA designation again this year.”
“Michigan City has met the standards for achieving Tree City status since 2001,” said Mayor Oberlie. “These standards include having a tree board, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“Michigan City’s Tree Board is comprised of concerned volunteer citizens charged by ordinance with developing and administering a comprehensive tree management program. They have developed an urban forest management program which protects, maintains and replaces trees on city property. The Tree Board has worked to regulate those who cut and prune trees in our community, and to compile a tree inventory, including size, species and condition of area trees, as well as a comprehensive tree maintenance plan,” Oberlie said. “Members of the Tree Board are William Bolton, Dave Morlan, Michael Wulff, Kathy Ceperich, Jeffrey Meyer, Rebecca Pelath, and Patricia Boy. I would like to commend them for their efforts in protecting our community’s trees and for their vision for the future of our urban forest.”
“A community, its elected officials and its citizens that provide needed care for its trees deserves recognition and thanks,” said John Rosenow, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Cities that are recognized with a Tree City USA designation go to great lengths to plant and care for the community forest.”
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Mayor Oberlie's 2009 State of the City Address is now available online.
Click here to view.
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Setting out your weekly trash pickup may seem like a fairly simple mundane task. However, have you considered if you are actually doing so in accordance with recently updated city trash regulations? Are you using city trash containers --- or just placing bags along the curb? If you are using trash containers, great! But are they in compliance with city trash regulations? Are you remodeling a home or building a new one? If you are, what are you doing with the construction rubbish?
- According to the City Code, it shall be the duty of every person owning or leasing a residence or place of business in the City wherein garbage accumulates to maintain in a clean and odor free condition a cart provided by the City.
- The only container that may be used must be a cart that the City will supply.
- All garbage, trash or rubbish which accumulates shall be deposited in either a cart or dumpster. The lid to every cart and dumpster shall be kept on and closed at all times, other than when placing items in them.
- Plastic garbage bags with tight-fitting tie closures may be used, but shall be placed inside either a cart or dumpster.
- All carts must be put out for collection by 7:00 a.m. on the day scheduled for their collection with the arrows located on the carts pointing out toward the street or alley from which collection is made. All carts must have open access for the trash collectors to retrieve them.
- For street-side pickup, carts shall be set out no more than 24 hours prior to the usual time of collection and shall be removed within 24 hours after collection.
- At no time shall the cart be moved from its assigned address.
- The Refuse Department must be contacted at 873-1530 for special pick-up at the normal collection location of all large items that cannot fit within the cart.
- The two-wheeled cart Toters are to be used for trash only and they are not to be used for construction materials or compost.
If you're unfamiliar with city regulations on trash containers and construction waste, are curious about what it looks like to be in compliance and not in compliance with the recently revised city trash regulations, or have any questions about city trash regulations, compliancy, or trash pick-ups, click here to learn more.
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The City of Michigan City and the Michigan City Fire Department have begun the implementation of recently enacted Michigan City Ordinance #4020, which regulates smoke detectors for rental properties.
The Fire Department Administration would like to remind all owners of rental property in Michigan City that a two-step process has been enacted to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Michigan City. First of all, all residential rental units shall be equipped with smoke detectors. And secondly, a registration requirement has been enacted stating that owners of property which is used as residential rental dwelling units or contains a rental dwelling unit are required to register all such properties with the Michigan City Fire Department.
The passage of Ordinance #4020 included an initial 45-day registration period and owners who have not yet registered their properties should do so immediately. After this initial registration period following the passage of the Smoke Detectors for Rental Properties Ordinance earlier this year, owners shall be required to register all such properties on an annual basis, by January 31st of each year. Additionally, for new owners of rental property at any point throughout the year, registration is required within 30 days of becoming an owner of the real property to be used as residential rental property or rental dwelling units.
Rental property smoke detector registration forms can be obtained electronically over the internet at http://emichigancity.com/cityhall/departments/fire/, or they can be obtained in person from the Fire Department Administrative Office at 2510 East Michigan Boulevard.
Anyone with questions regarding smoke detectors for rental properties can contact Kyle A. Kazmierczak, Division Chief of Inspections, at (219) 873-1453 or Jeff Santana, Assistant Inspector, at (219) 873-1440.
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Mayor Chuck Oberlie stated regarding Board and Commission appointments:
"I would like to remind the citizens of Michigan City that a "Board and Commission Form" has been created with a listing of local Boards and Commissions and a space for volunteers to summarize their interests. The form is available in City Hall at the Mayor's office. The form is also available on-line at www.emichigancity.com." Click here to access this form online.
Mayor Oberlie continued, "Serving on a City Board or Commission is a valuable manner in which to be involved in the community and utilizing one's skills to improve our hometown can bring one a sense of personal satisfaction as well. I wholeheartedly encourage citizens to volunteer for Board service."
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Michigan City has been identified by CityTownInfo.com as one of the state’s top cities for affordable property taxes.
Compared to other communities which are similar in size and diversity to Michigan City, our community is in the top 12% of communities regarding affordable property taxes, top 17% of affordable rent. Compared to all communities in the state, Michigan City rates in the top 14% of short commute times.
The website page dedicated to Michigan City, http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/indiana/michigan-city, lists many other demographic statistics, including politics, wealth, ancestry, commute and sprawl, housing, crime and climate.
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Learn more about the history of Michigan City and see some great
vintage photos from years gone by. We regularly feature a new set of photos celebrating the heritage of our City. This
time we're featuring historical photos of Passenger Ships in the Michigan City Harbor.
Click here for the History of Michigan City Photo Scrapbook.
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Look for monthly updates each and every month to the Senior Center section of the site. With updated events, Senior Center Board minutes, electronic copies of Senior Center newsletters, and updates to the Calendar of Events, you'll be prepared for all the fun and exciting opportunities the Senior Center has to offer. Click here for more information.
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Tuesday, November 24 at 9:30AM located at the Senior Center.
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