Council Approves Deal with Police Union

Here’s a summary of Monday’s City Council meeting:

Council Agrees to Police Union’s Concessions

The City Council approved a deal that will see Saline police officers' annual raises reduced from 3 percent to 1.5 percent. The deal with the Officers Association would also be extended one year until June 30, 2013. The deal is similar to the one accepted by the sergeants. The council voted 4-2 on the measure. Mayor Gretchen Driskell and council member Dean Girbach voted no. Council members Brian Marl, David Rhoads, Glenn Law and Linda TerHaar voted in favor of the motion. The deal heads before the union for a vote.

Council Approves Tax Break for Quantum Signal

The council voted 6-0 to pass a resolution approving Quantum Signal LLC’s application for a tax break on $415,600 in investment being made at the company’s facility in the old Union School. The company has 38 employees and plans to add 15 more in the near future.

Grant Includes Money for Bowley Bridge Replacement 

The council voted 6-0 to authorize City Manager Todd Campbell to sign off on amendments to the Waterfront Development Project with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Similar projects in the state fell through, which allowed the MDEQ to increase the award to the Saline project by $27,856 to a total of $103,606. As a result, the city’s match is increasing $5,086 to $34,536. The extra money will cover the cost of replacing the Bowley Bridge with a pre-engineered steel truss bridge. The grant is through the Clean Michigan Imitative.

No Changes Likely for Sidewalk Cafés This Year 

The council voted 6-0 to accept Campbell’s memo on the city’s sidewalk café ordinance. At issue is the sidewalk on South Ann Arbor Street beside . The city ordinance calls for a five-foot path, but the city also approved a permit that requires only a three-foot path. Resident Mary Hess has grilled the council on the issue for months. No further action was taken, but it appears council members were comfortable with leaving the matter alone for this season and re-examining the issue before next season.

Saline Summerfest Approved for Aug. 5-6 

The council voted 6-0 to approve the 2011 Saline Summerfest on city property. It takes place Aug. 5-6 downtown.