By DEB WUETHRICH

Mayor Harvey Schmidt presented a State of the City address (click on Editorials in the menu to read the complete address) on Opinion page on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. at the Tecumseh Economic Development Department. Mayor Schmidt included the announcement that Consolidated Biscuit Company of Macomb, Ohio, would be bringing a potential 500 jobs to the city among his “reasons to be joyful,” along with reflecting on Tecumseh Products’ 75 years in the community. He also cited the city’s successful efforts in aiding Lenawee Stamping through a negotiation process which created 75 new jobs for the city.

The mayor also looked to the future, stating, “Because we are a progressive community, your City Council and staff have continued the process of developing our Business and Technology Campus on the eastern edge of the city.” Phase I of that development is set to begin in March of 2010. “Our vision is that we will be in a unique position to be ready for whatever comes our way as the economy in Michigan rebounds from the global recession of the past years,” he said.

Mayor Schmidt also spoke of the challenges ahead, such as working at maintaining a balanced budget during a time of state shared revenue reductions and declining property values and spoke of actions such as the voluntary foregoing of pay raises by city employees as providing some savings.
“With sacrifices like this, we have been successful in our efforts to maintain a balanced budget by cutting expenses without reducing services; however it is not clear how long this can be the case,” he said.

By DEB WUETHRICH

 Tecumseh City Council members accepted a proposal Monday night to begin design and construction engineering for road projects on Rogers Highway and S. Occidental Highway. The council awarded a bid in the amount of $23,700 to Associated Engineers and Surveyors of Adrian, who will complete the engineering, surveying and inspection services needed for two projects.

“These projects are not funded at this point in time,” said Tecumseh City Manager, Kevin Welch, “But as we’ve seen the past year or so, in order to receive funding for some projects out of ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) money, you have to have projects that are basically shovel ready.”

Welch pointed out that the U.S. House of Representatives is currently working on a “Jobs for Main Street” bill to provide additional funding for infrastructure and jobs investment similar to ARRA. Full enactment has not yet occurred, but work is under way for getting the program under contract within 90 days, according to information Welch provided to council.

“These are projects that will need to be completed at some point in time,” Welch said, adding that if Jobs Bill funding does not materialize, the city would apply for other grants. “This is kind of an investment for the future,” he said.

Roads to be affected for this project would be Rogers Highway from Russell Road to M-50, and S. Occidental Highway from Pottawatamie Street to M-50. In his city manager’s report, Welch notes that the purpose of the city’s request to the federal government would be to create jobs and enhance the truck routes to the city’s existing and future industrial base. He said Congressman Mark Schauer, who visited the community last week, and his staff have been helpful with this effort.

U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer stopped by the Tecumseh Herald on Thursday, Feb.
11, and was interviewed on video by reporter Deb Wuethrich. The
congressman talked about efforts to bring jobs to Lenawee County and
some things he has been assisting Lenawee County constituents with. He
also mentioned work in Washington regarding health care, jobs and other
current issues. Rep. Schauer said if he were to grade President Obama
on his first year in office, it would be "Incomplete," but noted that
progress has been made. "There is important work that remains to be done," he said.

Downtown and all around Tecumseh on Wednesday morning, people were busy shoveling sidewalks and driveways with 7.3” of snow falling in the area, as measured at the City’s water department. Weather forecasters were calling for up to nine inches of the white powder coming from the winter storm. Sam Schmidt, pictured right, had the front of Schmidt and Sons Pharmacy cleared and ready for foot traffic by 9 a.m., as did Gladys Tilton (center) of Tilton and Son’s Shoes. “I don’t mind doing it myself,” she said. “It’s good for me.”

By DEB WUETHRICH

Tecumseh School Board members approved a letter of agreement Monday night between the Tecumseh Education Association and the board which calls for some amendments to the current master agreement. The current contract would be extended through the 2009-2010 school year, with a zero percent increase, according to TEA President Lori Spotts.

“We’re pleased with the tentative agreement, though we still have some things to work out regarding the language for the next two years,” said Spotts. “We’re also pleased to have healthy care taken care of for the remainder of this year and have it settled for next year.”

As of March 1, through June 30, 2011, TEA members selecting Plan A health insurance coverage will double premium contributions to $130 per month.

By DEB WUETHRICH

When kids see other kids in need, one of the first things they want to do is find a way to help. That was the inclination of some students in Ernie Palmer’s and Amy Harrison’s fifth grade classrooms recently.

Palmer said his students were watching current events on Channel One when Samantha Dunn spoke up.

“Sam said, ‘Can we do something?’” Palmer said, and that got the ball rolling. Students decided that they would like to raise some money and donate it to the Red Cross, whom they knew to be providing direct assistance to Haitians who have been affected by last month’s earthquake. Palmer’s students spread the word to Harrison’s students and a drive was under way.

“At first they set a goal of about $200,” said Palmer. “When they saw that they met that goal, they raised it up a little higher.” Students collected more than $356, then with a little boost from their teacher, a check was made out for $400 to be donated to the Red Cross.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, Karen Daugherty, who serves as Vice Chair on the Board of the Lenawee County Chapter of the American Red Cross, visited with the youths to receive the funds.

Daugherty said that the local Red Cross works with the World Food Organization because they have the ability to distribute the needed food on a wide scale. She told the students that funds go directly to the cause, and that more than $200 million has been collected with the Red Cross already having spent approximately $78 million to provide water, food, shelter, blankets, tents and medicines to those in need.