Berkley Junior Women’s Club Members Honored

Berkley City Council members and the mayor presented plaques of gratitude to longtime residents Cindy Coon and Sue Rinaldi on Monday night, recognizing the women for each receiving a Community Service Award by the Michigan Parks and Recreation Association.

Coon and Rinaldi are longtime members of the Berkley Junior Women’s Club, a nonprofit started in 1985 that promotes civic engagement, sponsors events and awards an annual scholarship to a student.

“Wow,” Coon said after the proclamation was read out loud at Monday's City Council meeting. “We believe in Berkley, our kids grew up in Berkley, and my husband grew up in Berkley.” To which Rinaldi added, “I grew up in Berkley.”

New tree planting program set

Councilwoman Lisa Platt Auensen announced that the city’s Department of Public Works would be instituting a tree planting program this spring, due in large measure to the number of dead trees that had been removed in the last several weeks.

Calling the tree sale “an amazing value,” she suggests interested residents call the DPW for more information at (248) 648-3490.

Berkley Public Safety sets new fees

Berkley Public Safety Director Richard Eshman presented council with an update to the fee schedule the Department of Public Safety has been revising, bringing it in-line with other police departments around the state. New or revised fees include a $5 charge for a preliminary breathalyzer test, a $25 charge for audio recordings available under the Freedom of Information Act and a $10 interim bond processing fee.

Douglas Deeds appointed to beautification committee

City Council voted to appoint Douglas Deeds to the Beautification Advisory Committee.

Deeds, who was present at the meeting, spoke to council and expressed his gratitude for his selection to vacant seat.

“I love the city of Berkley and I hope that I can make it an even more beautiful place,” Deeds said.