WMS Newsletter - September 2010

Your hometown community owned services provider
September 2010
Payment
Locations
3131 Biddle Avenue
Our office is open
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through
Friday.
We have a payment
mailbox in the front of
City Hall.
Automatic Bill
Payment Program
Information
Call 734-324-7190 or log
on to our web site
www.wyan.org
or e-mail us at
talk2wms@wyan.org
Additional
Payment Locations
First Community Federal
Credit Union
14170 Pennsylvania
Southgate
After Hours Service
734-324-7198
Internet and Digital
Phone Tech Support
24/7 888-855-9997
Holiday Office
Closings
September 6
November 25, 26
Wyandotte
Municipal Service
Commission
Gerald P. Cole
Fredrick C. Delisle
James S. Figurski
Michael Sadowski
Leslie G. Lupo
Municipal Service
Commission meetings
are held on alternative
Tuesdays at 5 p.m. at
3005 Biddle Ave. Call
734-324-7190 to
confirm dates & times.
Energy Optimization
Weatherization Assistance Program is available to income qualified customers. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free home energy conservation services to low income
homeowners to help them reduce their energy bills and make their homes more energy efficient. Services may include the installation of compact florescent bulbs, a refrigerator, furnace
replacement, installation of wall and attic insulation, caulking to reduce air leaks, and other
energy efficiency measures. Eligibility is based on household income being at or below 200% of
the federal poverty guidelines, with a three month "look back" for those who may be recently
unemployed. Recipients of cash assistance through the State of Michigan Family Independence
Program (FIP) and those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify
for the program. Application for WAP is made through the Wayne-Metropolitan Community
Action Agency located at 2121 Biddle, Ste. 102, Wyandotte, MI. The agency's phone number is
313-843-2550..
Wyandotte Cable Rate Adjustment effective September 1, 2010
On July13, 2010 the Wyandotte Municipal Service Commission approved an adjustment to the cable
telecommunication (Cable, Internet, Phone) rates. These adjustments are necessary to offset the increases in programming fees and inflationary costs associated with various aspects of our operations.
Cable Programming fees alone have increased 13.91% since 2008 and 47.33% since 2005. Wyandotte
Municipal Services regrets the need for these adjustments but they are necessary to ensure that we can
continue to bring to you the quality services that you’ve come to expect.
Wyandotte residents do still enjoy some of the area’s lowest rates for cable television, digital & HD
programming as well as high speed internet and phone. If you have any questions regarding these
changes, please contact us at Wyandotte Municipal Services, 3005 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192, by telephone at (734) 324-7190 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri) or by email at
talk2wms@wyan.org.
Fire Pit Guidelines
The Wyandotte Fire Department and City of Wyandotte have adopted the following guidelines for dealing with fire pits and open burning complaints.
1.Fire pits are to be commercially available model and be equipped with a fire screen. No
ground fire pits are allowed.
2. Fire pits must be located a minimum of (10) feet from any structure, lot line, public way,
(road or sidewalk) or any combustible material (trees, brush or materials that will burn or
melt).
3. Only dry seasoned fire wood is to be burned. It is not permissible to burn trash, grass
clippings or brush or contractor debris.
4. Only small, controllable fires should be set at any given time.
5. A fire should be attended at all times, BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT.
6. You must provide a means for extinguishment of the fire and have it readily available. (i.e..
garden hose, or fire extinguisher)
7. A failure to abide by these guidelines will constitute a nuisance order under the City of
Wyandotte City Code of Ordinances.
NOTICE: The extinguishment of any fire will be ordered when the Fire Department deems it a
nuisance due to excessive smoke or an offensive odor. This is most likely to happen from burning moist wood or trash. Please give every consideration to your neighbors while enjoying the
outdoors.
Michael MacDonald, Fire Chief
Your hometown community owned services provider
Check us out on the web!
www.wyan.org
for commission agendas, minutes, rates & much more!
Wyandotte Municipal Services and Magic 105.1 Have Fun in the Park
Every Thursday in August Magic 105.1 FM hosted ‘Magic Under the Stars” at BASF
Park near the Wyandotte Shores Golf Course and Wyandotte Municipal Services
jumped on board to help support this fun event. Everyone enjoyed a free night of
music and fun showcasing some of Metro Detroit’s hottest acts. All were treated
to good times and great entertainment from the classic rock sounds of Rock Star,
an incredible tribute to Rod Stewart by “Danny D”, the soulful music of Don Doop
Dupri, Ty Stone and the pop/rock fun of Half Life.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Wyandotte Municipal Services offers a three-week training program for residents interested
in learning about Local Access Programming. If you’d like to learn how to put together a
local television show, enroll in this training that meets weekly. For more information or to
enroll, contact Studio Director Steve Colwell at (734) 324-7138.
Cold Weather Energy Saving Tips
Use sunlight wisely. Leave shades and blinds open during sunny, cold days, but close the ma at night to reduce the
amount of heat lost through windows.
• Caulk and weather-strip. Don’t just seal doors and windows. Look for other air leaks that you can seal, such as
around plumbing penetrations, air ducts of ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures.
• Replace or clean your furnace filters monthly. This could save up to 5% on your heating bill.
• Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes. Follow the manufacture’s instructions or get professional help.
Remember: the “greenest” kind of energy is the energy you never use.
2009 Annual Summary Report for the Energy Optimization and Renewable Energy Plan
A new state law aims to help Michigan residents reduce their energy needs. Public Act 295 is also known as the “Clean,
Renewable and Efficient Energy Act” requires the Wyandotte Municipal Services (WMS), to assist their customers in gaining greater
electric energy efficiency through Energy Optimization programs.
This report summarizes the WMS’s efforts for 2009. Copies of the complete 2009 annual reports for both Energy Optimization and
the Renewable Energy Plan are available on our website: www.wyan.org.
Energy Optimization
In 2009, WMS(created an Energy Optimization program called Energy Smart. Among other things, it allowed WMS residential customers to participate in two programs to save energy:
Energy Efficient Lighting Program provided coupons for our customers to receive up to 10 light bulbs free of charge in 2009.Our Refrigerator/Freezer Turn-in and recycling. arranged with a contractor to pick up and recycle older, inefficient refrigerators and freezers.
Each participating customer received a $30 incentive. Additionally, WMS offered energy-efficiency assistance to other customers:
Business customers could apply for incentives for upgrading existing equipment for greater efficiency, which saves energy. Incentive
examples include: lighting, motors, air conditioners, occupancy controls and food service equipment.
To read the entire Energy Smart overview, visit our website: www.wyan.org
Renewable Energy In addition to helping Michigan residents become more energy-efficient, the Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy
Act also requires Michigan utilities to acquire more renewable energy – sometimes called “green” or “clean” energy.
Here are WMS efforts to date to comply with state-mandated renewable energy goals:Testing of Biomass at the Power Plant in Boiler
#8, Entering into a contract to purchase 2.8 Landfill Gas from Grainger with MPPA, Entering into a contract with AMP to purchase
2.8MW of Hydro Power
Cost to customers The 2009 itemized monthly charge for a residential customer for the renewable energy program requirements under PA 295 was $0.00. The 2009 itemized monthly charge for a residential customer for the energy optimization program as required
under PA 295 was $0.001481/kwh. The average electric residential customer is expected to save $2.92 each month of the Energy
Optimization/Efficiency program’s life. For the average Michigan residential customer, renewable energy is estimated to avoid $3.90
per month of new coal-fired generation costs. The annual report on renewable energy can be viewed at the following website:
http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc
Editor: Melanie L. McCoy, General Manager