Raildude's dad

Well I'm a civil engineer so electrical terms are foreign to me to me so he may have used "dead face" lol. But yes, when some one opens the front they can't touch anything that can electrocute them. I guessing it is set up so you can maintain them w/o being exposed to hot items. it sounded like dead face is the future of switch gear with the live face the current standard technology. I didn't mention before but they said (and had photos) they installed some experimental vaults to put underground some of the infrastructure that is normally above ground even with the power lines under ground. The location of their new building was chosen so the engineers are literally steps away from the "laboratory" and the demonstration projects.

I attended an engineering group lunch meeting yesterday. The topic was "Circuit West". The presenters were a couple Consumers engineers and Roger Morganstern their PR guy (he's a hoot when he's not telling how many customers are out of power:) ) They were upfront about the cost. This is an urban test "center" so to speak where they can experiment with and test solar panels, batteries, inverters, "dead face" switch gear and new technology to bury power cables. They need someone like Rockford who was willing put the panels on a private development. This is also one of the reasons their new building is located there, so the engineers and R&D people are right at the "test center". There is the potential to add to "Circuit West" if there's demand.

I would think beefing up the columns etc for additional floors wouldn't cost much if done with initial construction. If built to minimize initial construction cost, that probably rules out additional floors later.

I was talking to a local engineer working on a container project and he says for residential at least they start with brand new containers constructed for that use. He stated the used overseas containers have wood interiors treated with fungicides? (to kill any bugs coming from overseas) that makes them unsuitable for residences.

MI has one of the highest "gas' tax because the 6% sales tax is added on top and the 6% goes to the general fund.

I have a couple acquaintances that are airport employees and they are tight lipped . I think there's more to the story than poor results on a survey.

Gotta watch that younger generation and their new math

The former Hyatt Regency in Dearborn was just recently closed by the city https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2018/12/14/edward-hotel-closed-dearborn-fairlane/2310682002/ How about this for our economy minded convention center visitors - it's the tallest one I could find

They would like the commercial and industrial properties(non homestead), the residential, not so much. That's why Walker and Kentwood incorporated in the 60's and the adjacent townships became charter townships when that option became available

The City charges rent for the use of the street. It's about the only place that makes sense to minimize traffic interruption

I talked to a builder this morning . He just happens to be working on a garage removal and replacement. $4000 to tear down the old and pull the floor and footings. A lot of the cost is in disposing of the old wood and the broken up concrete. It has to go to a landfill licensed for Construction and Demolition material (C&D)

Not a GVSU parking lot. I was by there today and it sure looked like foundation work. Found this by looking up the property owner and googling.

I don't believe Dan Hibma is involved with the castle. Roger Lucas is his BIL but is on his own in the castle,

“Not going to fight the lights and congestion of accessing Gaslight from the north side of EGR,” XXXXXXXX said. “Ramp made it possible during busy times. Will be easier to shop in Forest Hills.” Really????????????? $1.25 for the first hour. Skip a Biggby grande lattee and you can park for an hour almost 5 times a week. (My wife and I just bought 2 for 1 on the way home from church lol). Must be there is no traffic, congestion or traffic lights on Cascade Ave,, East Paris, or Forest Hills Ave during busy times. The business association or better yet the businesses could comp the 2nd 1/2 hour or even a 3rd. We parked there a couple times to get ice cream this summer and I thought it was unusual to not have to pay in a ramp structure.

All I can say is memories are short. I do remember those days when the tax sale list was just pages and page of properties. This helped make some lemonade out of a large quantity of lemons. I would say there appear to be legitimate concerns but not to have open discussion and discuss possible changes and corrective action is BS. But then it's the same in Lansing so what more can we expect.