Toll Bridge Facts.com

Liz Solo's December 21, 2007 Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera

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Jim Hunter's December 14, 2007 Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera

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GIBC's Customer Survey Determines 81% of Islanders Support Landscaping Project

109 Residents Shared Their Opinions in Survey Between December 1st and December 8th

The GIBC is pleased that our recent customer survey shows overwhelming support -- 81% in favor -- in the community for our landscaping project at the northwest corner of the intersection of Bridge Road and Meridian. 

The results of the online survey yielded very valuable feedback from the 109 Grosse Ile residents (about 2.5% of Island households) who participated.  More than 120 individual comments were left that addressed the landscaping project as well as various aspects of the appearance of the bridge and its grounds.

The results of this survey will assist the GIBC in prioritizing future projects and taking steps to meet the expectations of customers.  Our immediate top priority for improving the appearance of the Toll Bridge is to obtain the permit required by Grosse Ile Township to begin Phase II of the landscaping project. 

On November 2nd, the GIBC received the first permit from the Township to start Phase I of the landscaping project.  We are still waiting for the Township to issue the second permit that we need to start Phase II of the project. 

If we don't receive this permit from the Township before the winter weather makes it impossible to do work, the GIBC will have to postpone the project until spring of 2008.  When the GIBC originally started this project in October, our Grosse Ile-based landscaping contractor, Foliage Concepts, planned to have the project completed by now. 

Unfortunately, the GIBC's project has been at a virtual standstill since early November as we have been waiting for the Township to finish its planning review process.

While the overall results show Islanders are strongly satisfied with the GIBC's efforts to maintain the aesthetics of the Toll Bridge, the survey did provide feedback on a range of issues that deserve our increased attention.

We recognize that there are certain things that can be improved and we've got projects in the planning stage, but it was extremely helpful to hear the community's thoughts.  The GIBC will make more comments on the results of the survey as we continue to analyze the results. 

Once again, if you were one of the 109 Islanders who participated in the survey, the GIBC thanks you for taking the time to let us know your views.  We assure you that we do carefully read every comment (positive and negative) and take all suggestions into consideration.

What People are Saying about the Grosse Ile Bridge Company (GIBC) and the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge

"The Bridge Company (Smoke family) has done an excellent job to maintain the Toll Bridge in top shape for the many Islanders who normally prefer to use it as well as everyone when the county bridge ic closed."
Grosse Ile resident Liz Solo
December 21, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/12/liz-solos-decem.html

"On behalf of the Grosse Ile Athletic Booster Club, we would like to take
this opportunity to thank Paul Smoke and the Grosse Ile Bridge Co. for their
generous donation in support of the Grosse Ile High School athletic programs."
Grosse Ile resident Jim Hunter
December 14, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/12/jim-hunters-dec.html

GIBC Customer Satisfaction and Opinion Online Survey Receives Significant Participation

More than 200 Islanders Responded to Date - All are Welcome to Participate

If you haven't yet responded to the GIBC's online survey that was included in the GIBC's September 28 e-newsletter, please take a few minutes to share your opinions with us.  The survey is yielding extremely useful information that will help the GIBC to better meet your expectations. 

There are already clear patterns emerging that show things that we can improve as well as confirm that some of the GIBC's actions and services have significant customer support.

The GIBC is taking the results of the survey very seriously.  Last fall we surveyed the community about the tokens issue and the 457 responses that we received caused us to rethink our policies (we decided to keep selling and accepting tokens for the entire Wayne County Bridge closure period because an overwhelming majority wanted us to do so).

This short survey (only 14 questions) provides an easy and quick way for you to tell us about what the GIBC is doing right and wrong.  All responses will be kept confidential and we do not ask for personal information (not even your name). 

We are listening to you, so please let us know what you think.

Finally, if you didn't receive the online survey in our September 28 e-newsletter and would like to participate, please request that a survey be e-mailed to you by contacting us at karmazingibc@aol.com.

Toll Bridge Facts.com Polls Finds Islanders are Not Optimistic about the Wayne County Bridge Closure Period

A poll on this web site during the month of March found that 50% of Islanders believe there are going to be "big problems" during the county bridge closure period. 

The poll determined that only about 16% think it will "not be a big deal" as was the case during the 1979 multi-month closure of the county bridge for major repairs. 

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Mary Ann Owens' March 16, 2007 Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera

Download owens_2007_march_16.pdf

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Michael Podgajaski's March 16, 2007 Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera

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What People are Saying about the Grosse Ile Township Board's (Now Failed) Eminent Domain Lawsuit and the Toll Bridge

Quotes from the Community

"When the township gets the total bill for this fiasco, the supervisor's comment will be:  "Not on, over or under my tenure will Grosse Ile residents have a say."
Grosse Ile resident Mary Ann Owens
March 16, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/mary_ann_owens_.html

"I was not asked by the current board if I wanted to pursue this issue in court; neither were the rest of the registered voters of Grosse Ile Township.  It was a job well done by the township board.  That money could have been utilized more wisely.  Come election time I hope that my fellow island residents step up and say bye-bye to this board."
Grosse Ile resident Michael Podgajski
March 16, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/michael_podgajs.html

"How in the world did we ever make the mistake of electing them [the Township Board] in the first place?  Let us not forget this in the next election...Not only did they spend $450,000 of our money, the city will be responsible for many more thousands in legal fees for the other party.  If this would have happened in the corporate world they would have all been fired for incompetence."
Grosse Ile resident Michael McNeely
March 9, 2007
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/mcneelys_letter.html

"Worse yet, our leadership has indeed suceeded, but only in reducing our present and future coffers, demeaning one of its own constituents (and failing in the attempt), and making us the collective butt of an amusing cause celebre.  To wit, last weekends's comment by the comment by the editorial board of The Detroit News.  The editorial page headline reads "Bridge owner teaches town a lesson."  In point of fact, however, Paul Smoke has not and never set out to "teach the town a lesson."  But he did stand up for his rights, those same, believe it or not, that are inherent to every businessperson or tax-paing property owner within our town."
Grosse Ile resident and Ile Camera columnist Mark McPherson
March 9, 2007
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/mark_mcphersons.html

"The hallmark of Grosse Ile government has been prudent, conservative and thoroughly considered actions; nothing rash, good value for funds expended.  This lawsuit, as conceived by the previous township board and continued by the current board, belies those values."
Grosse Ile resident Tom Burkhart
March 9, 2007
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/tom_burkharts_l.html

"And how many times have you heard, "How dumb do you think we are?"...Dumb enough to think that spending $299,000 saves $15,000?  Dumb enough to believe that an undocumented 'loan' could be paid back legally to the general fund from a bond issue!  We need a full review of township financial controls by the state auditor.  Our township's track record on financial disclosure, control, and project management is unacceptable."
Grosse Ile resident Tim Perry
March 2, 2007
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/03/tim_perrys_lett.html

"What it boils down to in effect is this:  Grosse Ile Township has not sued Paul Smoke alone; for by choosing to pre-emptively violate our standards, deplete our coffers and ignore our preference, we have all been sued...paying attorneys any amount of our money to challenge Smoke's right to own a viable business was not, is not and will not be worth it.  Ultimately, the only lesson the supervisor and his compliant herd may have to learn is what precisely and ultimately constituted our mandate for their removal."
Grosse Ile resident and Ile Camera columnist Mark McPherson
February 23, 2007
Bridge Lawsuit, Any Expense for Pursuit is Too Much
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/02/bridge_lawsuit.html

"While the township has invested $450,000 in legal fees for eminent domain proceedings regarding the Toll Bridge, the township is apparently unwilling to contribute any of the $4 million they have accumulated in the road improvement fund...to the bridge repair project."
Grosse Ile resident Robert Pettry
February 23, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/02/letters_to_the_.html

"It is also important to know that the amount of money spent on this boondoggle is only going to rise since the quest goes on.  The only winners will be the lawyers paid for with our hard-earned tax dollars."
Grosse Ile resident Rick Lionberger
February 9, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/02/to_view_below_f.html

"The Grosse Ile Bridge Co. refurbished the Toll Bridge in 21 days.  How did they do it so fast?"
Grosse Ile resident Robert Pettry
February 9, 2007
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2007/02/robert_pettry.html

"For the last 18 months I have attended almost all (more than some of the trustees) of the township meetings and have yet to hear or see in attendance those citizens that truly believe that the spending of taxpayers' money on the Toll Bridge lawsuit is worthwhile."
Grosse Ile resident David Moxlow
December 29, 2006
Letter to the Editor of the Ile Camera
http://gibc.typepad.com/toll_bridge_facts/2006/12/david_moxlows_l.html

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