Saline Residents Push for Arts and Culture Center at Houghton School

The center would provide a safe location for artists in the community to share their talents through programs and classes.

Big Red Barrel Project To Curb Prescription Drug Abuse, Protect Environment

The Big Red Barrel will be unveiled at a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at the Saline Police Department.

The public is invited to the Saline Police Department at 9 a.m. Saturday morning for the unveiling of the “Big Red Barrel,” which was built to help prevent prescription drug abuse. The barrel, which will be located in the Saline Police Department lobby next to the dispatch desk, where it can be monitored at all times, can be used to safely dispose of unused of prescriptions. “It’s an important thing for the City of Saline,” according to David Rhoads, a member of Saline City Council who is also involved in Parents and Community Together. “People have expired medication around the house. For some people, there is a temptation to use it. And sometimes it can fall into the wrong hands.” The barrel can be used to dispose of expired drugs or …

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Dianne Hill Named Clerk of the Year By State Organization

Hill began her career with the City of Saline as a high school co-op student in 1971.

Saline City Clerk Dianne Hill has been named “City Clerk of the Year” by the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks. Hill, a lifelong Saline resident who began her career with the city in June of 1971 as a Saline High School co-op student, will be honored at a banquet Wednesday in Traverse City. Her nominator, Mayor Gretchen Driskell, will also attend the banquet. “What an honor it has been to work with (Hill over the years). She’s saved some people’s necks, not only here, but across the county. She’s truly a professional,” said Driskell, who announced Hill’s award at Monday’s cit council meeting. Hill, promoted to deputy clerk in 1974 and then to city clerk in 1988, said she’d heard she was nominated. “But I was really shocked when I …

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Detour Route for Woodland Drive Project

Woodland Drive will be under construction between Maple Road and Industrial Drive from June 18-Aug. 30.

The $739,000 Woodland Drive construction project is set to begin June 18. The city is reconstructing Woodland Drive between Maple Road and Industrial Drive. The target for completion is Aug. 30. The city released a detour map today. For people heading east, the detour will take drivers North on Maple Road, east on Textile Road, and then south on Woodland Drive. For people using Woodland drive to go south or west, one lane will remain open. Ann Arbor-based Barrett Paving Materials won the bid for the project.

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Residents, Businesses Asked to Help Beautify Downtown With Flower Baskets

The Be Bloomin' flower baskets and boxes will start arriving downtown on Thursday, May 24.

Local business owners and residents can help downtown Saline bloom this season. Be Bloomin' is a fundraising campaign to help purchase flowers and plants for the hanging baskets and ground planters in Downtown Saline for the 2012 Spring/Summer season. The campaign is sponsored by the Saline Main Street program and the City of Saline. The flower baskets and boxes will start arriving downtown on Thursday, May 24. People can help beautify Downtown Saline by sponsoring flowers/plantings for a hanging basket or planter box for $75. People can sponsor in their name or in the name of a loved one, a memorial, business, or group, etc.  A plaque will be created and placed on the light pole or planter box with the designation. To sponsor, go to the …

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City Bids Adieu to Art Trapp

Downtown Director Art Trapp is leaving the city for the top post with the chamber of commerce.

Friends and co-workers will bid farewell to Art Trapp during an open house at Saline City Hall Friday morning. Cake and coffee will be served in the council chambers at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Trapp, the city's Downtown Director, was selected as the new executive director of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. Trapp replaces Larry Osterling, who left the chamber Wednesday after 12 years of leading the organization. The city, which pledged to contribute $200,000 over five years to Saline Main Street, is eliminating the downtown director position.

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Finance Director Bourgoin Leaves City Hall

The 17-year Saline employee said he and city manager Todd Campbell agreed it was time for him to depart.

Saline’s Finance Director Lee Bourgoin is no longer employed by the city. According to Bourgoin and City Manager Todd Campbell, the Bourgoin's departure was mutually agreed upon. Bourgoin, who has been with the City of Saline since 1995, declined to say why he left the city. “(City Manager) Todd (Campbell) and I sat down Friday and we agreed I should depart,” said Bourgoin. “It was mutually agreed to.” Campbell, too, declined to elaborate. In recent weeks, Bourgoin has been preparing the city budget. The budget process started with the city trying to fill a $2 million gap. The city substantially closed the gap to about $600,000 by postponing purchases, reducing the DPW staff by four positions through attrition, and eliminating the vacant …

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Holland Sentinel: City Manager Finalists Do Not Include Campbell

Saline's City Manager Todd Campbell applied for the vacant position in Holland.

The Holland Sentinel is reporting Holland's search for a new city manager has been narrowed to two candidates. Saline's city manager Todd Campbell is not one of them. Campbell was one of four finalists interviewed for the position last week. In December, Campbell said he had no desire to leave Saline, but that he considered the Holland post a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Campbell studied at Hope College and was assistant city manager in Greenville from 2000-2003. "When the opportunity first came up, I talked to my wife about it. I didn't plan on applying because we enjoy living in Saline. We both prayed about it and after talking about it, I decided to apply," said Campbell. Although city council members wished Campbell luck with his …

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Report: Saline City Manager Finalist for Holland Post

The Holland Sentinel reports that Todd Campbell is one of four finalists for the city manager post in Holland.

The City of Saline may need to find a new manager as it also looks for a new police chief. The Holland Sentinel reported Dec. 14 that the City of Holland is considering Saline City Manager Todd Campbell for the Holland managerial post. Campbell is one of four finalists for the job, according to the report. Campbell is a graduate of Hope College. He was hired as city manager in Saline in 2008 after serving in Sturgis as assistant city manager. He also served as assistant city manager in Greenville. Campbell is a member of the Saline Rotary Club. He also serves on the board of directors for Saline's Coalition for a Quality Community and the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. He is the chairperson of the Saline Sustainability Circle.

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