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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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I first learned about his about two months ago. However, the seniors at the Brennan Center selected inefficient leadership to fight the loss of park land.
In the past our city charter would have mandated a vote of the people before such a park land grab would occur. Remember the proposed LandMark grocery owner sale that was voted down.
Now I understand that Duane miller has said this is a "done deal" and the citizens have once again lost their right to a democratic process.
Food Bank of Eastern Michigan wants to expand, use portion of a city park
Posted: Jun 05, 2012 3:12 PM EDT Updated: Jun 05, 2012 6:29 PM EDT
By Randy Conat
FLINT (WJRT) -
(06/05/12) - The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is continuing to grow and wants to offer a better variety of food for people in need. But in order to do so, the organization wants to use a portion of a Flint park.
Brennan Park on Flint's south side has some playground equipment and lots of green space. The Food Bank would like to build a driveway across the park to connect to a building on Lapeer Road.
"We would like to come off Howard Avenue with just cars only," explained Bill Kerr, president, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
Food Bank trucks would use only Lapeer Road for pickup and delivery. The plan also calls for taking over a small area of the park near the warehouse that would be refurbished at an estimated cost of $3 to $5 million.
"We're working with the City of Flint and the State of Michigan on the process of possibly putting in a parking lot next door to it," Kerr said.
The Food Bank bought the former Peerless building about a year and a half ago, but they only use a tiny fraction of it. If the plan works out, they should be able to expand their services and offer fresh fruits and vegetables.
The current Food Bank building would continue to be used as offices and warehousing. But the former Peerless building, which is 100 yards away, would be a place where volunteers could handle food that is donated by supermarkets.
"We'll use the building to sort that to make sure the integrity of the packaging and everything is good," Kerr said.
Keeping the volunteers at the former Peerless building will be safer for them because of the heavy truck traffic at the main Food Bank building.
The Food Bank's community meeting to discuss changes it would like to make at the former Peerless Building will be Thursday, June 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Second Chance Church on Burr Street in Flint. The church is located in the former Stewart Elementary School
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For more information on the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, click here. |
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Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:20 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Quote:
The current Food Bank building would continue to be used as offices and warehousing. But the former Peerless building, which is 100 yards away, would be a place where volunteers could handle food that is donated by supermarkets.
"We'll use the building to sort that to make sure the integrity of the packaging and everything is good," Kerr said.
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When GCARD was still GCCAA, they moved a grocery store recycling center into a portion of the building used for USDA food storage and distribution.
There was a great deal of spoilage and nuisance pests. GCCAA officials lied to the state monitors over the federal food program and said the cost of the recycling was not being borne by the USDA, but in fact it was. To save money a GCCAA supervisor bought a dairy spray and had it illegally sprayed in the building, even during the times of preparation for distribution of the commodities.
There were complaints by residents of the apartment complex next to the present lfood bank. The rotting produce was draining from the dumpsters and the smell was horrendous. Williamson sent the fire department over to investigate what drains the garbage was draining into and what potential harm it would cause. The food bank was not having their dumpsaters emptied enough times during this season and food bank staff just washed the drainage down with hoses.
Now it would appear the food bank wants to expand the recycling services. |
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Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:34 am |
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