Barton Hills Village, Michigan

VILLAGE SOCIAL Don’t miss the BHV Social being held on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 6:30-7:30 PM at Barton Hills Country Club. Enjoy delicious hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and lively conversation with your neighbors. Send your check (made out to Barton Hills Village) for $15/person to Jan Esch today.

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING/ANNUAL MEETINGS A Public Budget Hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 beginning at 7:30 PM at Barton Hills Country Club. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed 2008-2009 budget will be the subject of this hearing. A synopsis of the proposed budget is attached; the complete document is available for public inspection at the Clerk’s Office.

The Barton Hills Village Annual Meeting will be held immediately following the Public Budget Hearing. Annual reports of the committees (attached to this bulletin) will be discussed along with other matters of community interest. All residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting.

The Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held immediately following the BHV Annual Meeting.

SPECIAL MEETINGS The BHV Board of Trustees will meet in special closed session on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Village Hall. The BHV Board of Zoning Appeals will meet to hear a variance request on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 6:00 PM at Barton Hills Country Club.

DTE ENERGY PRESENTATION Notes from the April 14, 2008 DTE Energy presentation concerning upgrades to the power system in BHV are available from the Clerk’s Office.

SEPTIC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE Since BHV Ordinance #21 was adopted in 2001, residents have been very cooperative in adhering to the ordinance requirement of pumping at least every four years (more often if needed). This simple task can ward off expensive repairs and help ensure the environmental health of Barton Pond and the Huron River watershed. Please contact Dep. Clerk Jan Esch when tank pumping is scheduled so a BHV maintenance staff member can come at the same time to complete the necessary paperwork.

GARLIC MUSTARD Now is the time to be pulling these nasty weeds with the cute white flowers before the seeds set! Leave in piles for pick-up/disposal by BHV maintenance staff.

ANNUAL COMMITTEE REPORTS May 2008

BHMC LIAISON (Adele Laporte) To be distributed at the meeting.

ENVIRONMENTAL (Forrest Butterwick, Anne Bogat, Cheryl MacKrell)

It is probably universal among village residents that they prize the setting and natural beauty of Barton Hills Village. The Environmental Committee wants to do everything it can to maintain and perhaps even enhance that beauty and to ensure that the village continues to thrive in an environmentally safe and friendly manner.

Several issues continue to challenge the environmental efforts in Barton Hills Village. Perhaps the most challenging is the attempt to contain the spread of the extremely invasive Garlic Mustard. This plant, originally from Europe, has the potential to change the forest ecosystem. The extensive, wooded, hilly land of Barton Hills only adds to the difficulty to control it. We can only once again urge residents to continue to combat this invasive plant, particularly at this time of year before it spreads its seeds. Please refer to the March 2008 Barton Bulletin for additional information and recommendations in this fight. The bulletin is posted at the Village Hall, or available from the Deputy Clerk.

While not exclusively an environmental concern, the committee also encourages all residents to continue to remove dead Ash trees that threaten the roadways and power lines of the village. As outlined in the public meeting last month with DTE Energy, DTE has recently begun a program, with a cost in excess of $600,000 this year, to improve the reliability of our power grid. But the reality is that the greatest cause of power interruptions will continue to be from falling trees and branches. Dead Ash trees become brittle soon after dying and pose a threat to both the safety of residents and their convenience. DTE, however, is not permitted to remove trees on private land. As mentioned in the public meeting, preventing power interruptions is our individual responsibility as well as that of DTE Energy. We urge you to remove these trees.

One of the main goals of the committee this year will be to encourage the participation in recycling in the village. Last fall the recycling area next to the maintenance buildings was completely updated and is now extremely easy and convenient to use. If you do not yet take advantage of it we encourage you to start. Barton Hills Village, by its nature, faces special challenges in this regard and we would be very grateful for any suggestions on how participation could be increased.

Recently, Ann Arbor regulated the use of phosphorous-free fertilizer to improve the quality of the water and to reduce plant growth in the Huron River. The committee urges residents to read the ordinance and follow its suggestions concerning the use of phosphorous free lawn fertilizer to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering Barton Pond and the Huron River.

The ordinance can be found at:

http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/systems_planning/Environment/Documents/spu_env_phosphorus_ordinance_2006-01.pdf

Additionally, copies are available at the Village Hall. It is an easy read and very informative. All local residents, but particularly those of Barton Hills, have an interest in maintaining the health and well being of the Huron River and Barton Pond.

Finally, with the construction of the new Village Administrative Center about to begin, the committee will recommend the repainting of the maintenance buildings to a color that will blend more naturally into their surroundings.

We welcome your input and suggestions.

FINANCE (Will Boddie, chair; Wayne Lindstrom)

Barton Hills Village continues to pursue a conservative fiscal policy.  We ended the year with a surplus and we have accrued more than $500,000 in the past several years.  Our operating budget for the present fiscal year still projects a surplus and we have adequate reserves for unforeseen events.

LONG RANGE PLANNING (Cheryl MacKrell, chair; Libby Langford)

First of all, kudos to the Chairman, Wayne Lindstrom, and the other members of the Village Administration Center Committee for their very diligent and effective work in bringing us to this point, almost ready to break ground for our new building. These include: Riad Al-Awar, Forrest Butterwick, Chuck Hescheles, John MacKrell, Betsy Teeter and Chuck Bultman. The support of President Adele Laporte and President Pro Tem and Finance Chair Will Boddie and other Trustees has also been crucial. I know I'm expressing the heartfelt thanks of any and all of our citizens who know or suspect how much work, by how many people, went into all this. I've been involved with this process since 1996 or 7 when, with prodding from Mary Clark, we first started talking about a new building that Fred Pickard proposed be built in the Village Green in front of the tennis courts. That location did not gain support. Then there was a version we agreed on that would have replaced the metal shed with a new garage, with an attached but separate wing for our VAC. Finally, we came to the present proposal. Although, as a product of compromise, it does not please everyone in every detail, the VAC will serve us very well for decades to come. We could not have had such a thorough determination of what we actually need under law and for our own practical uses, and the due diligence of exploring alternatives without Wayne Lindstrom's firm leadership and guidance. For this we thank you profoundly, Wayne.

Since early in the year the Trustees have formed a Planning Commission as is now required by law. This may overlap somewhat with our responsibilities, but they will be primarily concerned with a Master Plan and with updating our zoning ordinances. We are delighted to cooperate in every way possible.

Because of serious illness beginning in Feb. 2007 and still a factor, the chair has been less active than usual and has missed a number of meetings of the Trustees as well as Washtenaw Area Transportation Study and two of its subcommittees:  the U.S. 23 Corridor Study group, and the state Sustainable Road Financing group. Thanks to our president and other colleagues for kindly keeping me up to date. Attendance at these meetings is now possible, and I have also agreed to work with an Ann Arbor City committee on a Huron River and Impoundment Management Plan.

We all appreciate the recent paving in the maintenance and especially the recycling area. We are contemplating some further improvements to the area, such as painting the buildings and repairing roofs. We will be asking for an opinion or two on these issues and a couple of others at the May 20 Village Meeting. First, since garlic mustard is such a pervasive problem we might do what has been done elsewhere in the county and have a Garlic Mustard Whack or Pull, where those of us able and willing would clear it out on some village properties and then sociably celebrate afterward. Second, the City is presently working on its Dark Skies Initiative legislation which addresses many aspects of municipal, business, and residential lighting affecting light pollution in the sky. We in Barton have long prized our darker skies, and can look forward to a noticeable improvement from the City as these measures continue to be implemented. We need to do our part, making sure our street lights don't shine up, using LED bulbs and flat lenses, and perhaps adopting standards for residential lighting similar to those the city is putting into place. If you want more details on this, please ask. There have been requests for a modest dog-park area that we are looking into. Our noise ordinance is also being reviewed. If you have opinions on any of these issues, we'll appreciate your expressing them at the meeting or to the committee.

Here's an update about our beloved freeway ramp at M-14/Barton Drive. M-DOT has continued to make improvements in signage and markings at our request, the latest being the strips of reflectors that were installed in November on both guard rails along the ramp. Many people have said how effective these are, especially at night. I believe there have only been two small accidents and one big one, all in icy conditions, since they were added. There are a few more things they are planning, but they cannot do any more until they've finished gathering data on the effect of these reflector strips, which would be sometime in early 2009. These strips are a pilot project, the only ones in Michigan at this time. We are asking that they turn their attention to Main St./M-14 where visibility is so poor and we have the problem of some traffic that is just crossing the river going way too slowly for the merging and weaving needed to exit and enter M-14. We are also working with DTE and the City to get one or two street lights at the ramp; their pace is glacial.

We remain vigilant about development projects that would affect our well-being (water, sewerage, traffic, noise, light etc.)

MAINTENANCE AREA BUILDINGS (Adele Laporte, chair; Libby Langford, Wayne Lindstrom) To be distributed at the meeting.

ORDINANCE REVIEW (Adele Laporte, chair; Will Boddie, Wayne Lindstrom, Chuck Bultman (resident)) To be distributed at the meeting.

PERSONNEL (Libby Langford, chair; Will Boddie, Adele Laporte, Jim Wilkes)

At this time the Village has one half time, one part time and three full time salaried employees. In addition the Village has a deputy clerk paid by the hour and an assistant to the treasurer who is a contract employee.

Superintendent Walter Esch began employment in 1949 and moved to half time in 1996. Mary Esch answers the phone and takes messages for Walter. David Esch began full time employment in 1972 and moved to the Assistant Superintendent’s designation when Walter moved to half time. William Hewett began employment in 1977. Chris Ward was hired in 1992. Deputy Clerk Jan Esch is an hourly rated employee who performs all the mandatory duties of a Village Clerk

All of these staff reside in Village-owned housing which is a part of their compensation package. This includes utilities and needed maintenance repairs. Assistant Treasurer Carolyn Redies is a non-resident contract employee who has kept the books since 1996.

It should be noted that salaries and benefits are 45% of our operating budget. They are rising faster than our income because of healthcare costs which have increased 44% in the last five years. Unfortunately, this is a matter over which we have not control.

In closing, we should also note that Barton Hills is fortunate to have a group of employees who are not only reliable but also caring about the welfare of its residents.

RECREATION (Anne Bogat, chair; Jan Esch (staff))

To increase attendance, in 2007 we decided to have our annual picnic in September, rather than during the summer. The time change was successful as we had 74 attendees at the picnic--probably the largest number of residents who have ever attended the picnic. Attendees brought side dishes and desserts and BHV supplied set up and main courses.

Also, at our annual meeting last year we moved from a dinner format to an informal dessert format. Residents liked the format because it allowed people to mingle more than when residents are seated at tables for a formal dinner. Many asked whether we could have savory hors d’oeuvres this year. We are doing so for our May 20, 2008 meeting. Also, because the cost of having these events at Barton Hills Country Club is quite high, BHV is supplementing each attendee’s cost by $5—basically covering the per person setup cost that BHCC charges (attendees pay $15, rather than $20). We hope the event is a success.

The tennis courts were repaved this year. Riad Al-Awar and Adele Laporte were strong supporters of this initiative. Riad found the contractor and has been overseeing the work. At this date, one more coating on the tennis court is necessary before it is complete.

ROADS AND VEHICLES (Riad Al-Awar, chair; Walter Esch (staff), David Esch (staff))

I would like to start my report by thanking our staff for their hard work in caring for our roads.

This season, like many municipalities, we had to use more salt than anticipated due to weather conditions. Our supply was depleted and our supplier could not deliver additional quantities which forced us to use the mixture of sand and chloride. None the less, our roads remained safe. For the coming year we have ordered more salt and we will be experimenting with the use of a more environmentally friendly material along with the salt.

We paved the maintenance / garage area and we built a concrete pad to improve the ease of use of the recycle area and its accessibility. We fixed and paved the tennis courts; striping and the color surface will be done soon.

For this year our paving program will include Underdown Road as well as a small section on Barton Shore Drive. We will be also be considering a section of  Oakdale Road. Thank you.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION CENTER(Wayne Lindstrom, chair; Riad Al-Awar, Forrest Butterwick, Chuck Hescheles (resident), John MacKrell (resident), Betsy Teeter (resident), Chuck Bultman (BHMC))

Objective  Our objective has been and continues to be:  "Develop a cost effective plan to: (1) provide adequate accessible working space for the administration of the Village of Barton Hills and (2) provide adequate storage to satisfy the state and federal legal requirements for record storage."  At the request of the Board, our approach has been methodical to ensure that we have an approach that can be fully supported by the Board of Trustees.

Progress to Date
Progress Reported at Previous Annual Meetings

§ Building requirements were identified

§ Site was selected

§ A building layout was designed to accommodate our requirements

Progress Since the Last Annual Meeting

§ The land for the building site has been transferred from the Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation to Barton Hills Village.

§ Exterior design alternatives were prepared and a final design was presented in an open meeting to Village residents and approved by the Board.

§ The site plan (parking lot, entrance road, etc.) also was approved by the Board.

§ The building and site plans received approval from Barton Hills Village (for zoning) and Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation (for design).

§ The plans were put out to bid and five bids were received.

§ The Board awarded the winning bid to Construction Solutions Inc. of Ann Arbor.

§ Washtenaw County Environmental Health Department has issued a permit consistent with our septic plans.

What’s Next

Formal Contract with Construction Solutions The BHV Board and Construction Solutions are working together to finalize a contract for this project. The amount of this contract will be about $375,000. To complete this project, an estimated additional $120,000 will be required for landscaping, furniture, office equipment, architectural fees, alarm system, and a 10% contingency.

Start of Construction Later this month, the contractor will obtain a Building Permit and an approval of our Soil Retention Plan. Construction can then commence and is expected to be completed in about six months.

Final Design Approval Later this month, we will bring exterior materials samples (brick, roof shingles, and window trim) and a landscaping plan to the Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation for their final approval.

Summary The Committee continues to believe that building an Admin Center is in the best interests of our community and we have dedicated many hours of personal effort to this end. To date, we have received a lot of support from our fellow residents and it has been much appreciated. We need that support to continue as we move into the construction phase.

WATER (Jim Wilkes, chair; Walter Esch (staff), David Esch (staff))

A. New Pump for Well #3. By early 2008, the performance of Well #3 (the northernmost one of the two near the Boat Club) had fallen significantly. The 1984 pump was found to have deteriorated beyond repair, and a replacement was installed on 30 April, restoring the flow rate to a healthy 230 gallons per minute. Fortunately, the well itself and the surrounding stratum seem to be in good condition.

B. Lead and Copper. On 25 May 2007, MDEQ (the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) wrote, in part: “The Barton Hills Water System is hereby recognized as having optimized corrosion control and has returned to compliance with the lead and copper action levels. As a result, water quality monitoring is no longer required.” (In 2007, because of a single elevated lead concentration inside a residence, not in the BHV water system, we had to do extensive testing.) MDEQ has also recommended that we not add any fluoride to our water because tests have shown that an adequate concentration of fluoride occurs naturally in it.

C. Water-Main Leaks. We have maintained a complete record of water-main leaks during the 15-year period from 1993 through 2007. There were 11 leaks during the first 7-1/2 years and 19 leaks during the second 7-1/2 years, a difference that looks somewhat suspicious but is of minor statistical significance. With the exception of the Oakdale/Forest junction, the leaks are randomly distributed throughout the village. In the few instances when a small section of pipe has had to be replaced, we have found that our water mains are remarkably clean inside.

D. Hydrant Maintenance. On 17-18-19 October 2007, all 55 hydrants were tested as required by Ann Arbor Township. Each test included observations of the static pressure, the fully-open flow rate, and notes of any necessary maintenance. While all hydrants are generally working, a significant amount of maintenance needs to be done—of the 55 hydrants, 21 are stiff and/or need greasing, four need repacking, and seven require some sort of other repair.

E. Water-Related Organizations. Barton Hills Village continues its membership in the Huron River Watershed Council, the Middle Huron Initiative (for phosphorus reduction), and the Community Partners for Clean Streams.

F. Consumer-Confidence Report for 2007. The required BHV Water Consumer Confidence Report for 2007, giving an overview of our water supply for the year, was distributed to all households with the February 2008 Barton Bulletin. All items were satisfactory, with concentrations of potentially toxic components well below MDEQ limits.

G. Water-Tower Level Control. We have performed a significant in-house analysis of the system for maintaining a steady water level in the tower, which relies on sending signals over telephone lines between pumphouses and the tower. The telephone system fails up to six times annually, in which case time-consuming manual intervention is needed. We are investigating the installation of radio links instead of relying on the telephone system.

ZONING (Randy Perry (ZPA), Chair; Riad Al-Awar, Forrest Butterwick)

I was named Zoning and Planning Administrator in Fall 2005, succeeding Riad Al-Awar. I review plans for new buildings, additions and remodelings, fences, and generally any new or revised structure in the Village. When a plan meets the requirements of the Village zoning ordinance, I issue a certificate of zoning compliance, which permits the owner to move forward with the project.

When a plan does not meet the literal requirements of the zoning ordinance, the owner may apply for a variance. The Village Council, acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals, hears and decides all requests for variances. It also hears and decides all appeals from my decisions as Zoning and Planning Administrator.

Over the past year, the Village has seen a variety of zoning applications, including for construction of additions to existing houses and garages, re-construction of a boathouse following its destruction, installation of electric generators, and enclosure of an existing carport. The Board of Zoning Appeals also has heard several requests for variances or for interpretation of the Village zoning ordinance.

Finally, the Village Council earlier this year established a five-member Village Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is an independent body charged with the task of developing a master plan for the Village. The Commission also has the responsibility of developing amendments to the Village Zoning Ordinance and recommending those amendments to the Village Council for adoption.

SPRING FEVER/SPRING CAUTION Spring has finally arrived, drawing everyone out of winter hibernation to outdoor activities. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists and children playing, all of whom may be potential hazards to motorists. Please take it slowly through our hills, sharing the road with these and other low-speed travelers (don’t forget school buses, animals and neighbors getting their mail). Help make this a glorious and safe spring!

SPRING CLEANING The maintenance staff requests your cooperation concerning lawn and garden debris:

---If you hire an outside service, they are responsible for hauling away leaves, brush and debris.

BICYCLE RACE A bicycle race hosted by the University of Michigan Cycling Club will take place in Barton Hills Villageon Sunday, March 30, 2008from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Several collegiate teams will compete in Individual Time Trials, with cyclists racing against the clock. Six categories of racers reflecting various skill levels will begin at 15-30 second intervals from the race start/finish line on Barton Shore Drive at the southern end of the Village Green. The riders will follow the race route along Barton Shore Drive and Spring Valley Road to Oakdale and Forest Roads, along Country Club Road and Barton North Drive to the Upper Entrance at Underdown Road, then turn and retrace the route back to the starting point.

BHV roads will not be closed as such during the race, but course marshals will be stationed throughout the route to monitor competitor, pedestrian and automobile traffic. While the race should present minimal obstruction to drivers, residents are asked to use extra caution on the roads during these two hours. The cyclists will be traveling at 20-25 mph on the right side of the road and will take 20-25 minutes to finish the course. Visiting spectators will be confined to the start/finish area on Barton Shore Drive with no parking allowed along BHV roads.

The Michigan Cycling Club is very appreciative of the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and challenging course of Barton Hills Village in what promises to be a memorable race for these collegiate athletes. Thank you for your cooperation in making this a safe and enjoyable event.

PROJECT REVIEW Michigan winter will not last forever and with spring come thoughts of outdoor home improvement projects. Please note that Ann Arbor Township has adopted a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance that applies to Barton Hills Village. This new ordinance is designed to prevent soil erosion and, in the process, to protect waterways from unnecessary sediment through the use of best management practices. Backyard activities such as putting in a garden or planting shrubs are exempt if they do not contribute sediment to water resources or adjacent properties. Residents should contact Ann Arbor Township at 734-663-3418 before beginning any project involving earth movement to determine what is required.  The ordinance and permit forms are available from the Township and can also be viewed on-line at www.aatwp.org/ordinances.htm.

Exterior construction and landscaping projects, including accessory structures, retaining walls and utility installations, require Barton Hills review as well. Contact Deputy Clerk Jan Esch (734-665-5574; bhvclerk@comcast.net) who will help you connect with the appropriate person.

GARLIC MUSTARD Information regarding management of this invasive plant is available from the BHV Clerk’s Office.

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING A public budget hearing will be held at Barton Hills Village Hall, 195 Barton Shore Drive, on March 10, 2008 beginning at 6:00 PM. A copy of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 will be on file and available to the public in the office of the Clerk, 227 Barton Shore Drive, after March 1, 2008. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be the subject of this hearing.

BHV BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MEETING The Barton Hills Village Board of Zoning Appeals will meet on Monday, March 10, 2008 at the Village Hall immediately following the Public Budget Hearing beginning at 6:00 PM to consider the application for variance to build in the side set back submitted by Samuel Edwards of 304 Juniper Lane.

BHV PLANNING COMMISSION The Barton Hills Village Planning Commission has adopted the following meeting schedule for 2008: January 24, February 7, March 6, April 10, May 15, June 5, July 10, August 7, September 4, October 9, November 6, December 4. All meetings will be held at the Village Hall beginning at 7:30 PM. Approved meeting minutes are posted at the Village Hall and will be on the BHV website soon.

WATER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT The attached annual report for calendar year 2007 is published in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and summarizes the status of the BHV water system during the last calendar year. Please read it carefully and contact the numbers given for questions or concerns. (Posted on this website via link from the Home Page.)

ROADS BHV is among the many smaller communities in the Midwest that are currently not able to secure additional road salt. Orders for salt are placed in August and are based on previous years’ usage. Due to the more demanding winter this year, salt providers are only fulfilling standing orders and not accepting additional orders. BHV is using a mixture of sand/chloride when possible, which has some effect but not to the extent that road salt has in melting snow and ice. Residents are asked to exercise patience and caution on BHV roads, as the staff continues to do their best to keep the roads and driveways safe.

PUBLIC INFORMATION Approved meeting minutes, meeting announcements and other information are available to the public at the Village Hall (small door at the southern end of the block maintenance building.) Recent additions include flyers from MSU Extension regarding Citizen Planner training and the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program.

BHV BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING A special meeting of the Barton Hills Village Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Village Hall for the purpose of discussing matters pertaining to the Village Administration Center Project. The Trustees will be reviewing building and site plans and other documents necessary for the bidding process.

BHV PLANNING COMMISSION The Barton Hills Village Planning Commission was established by adoption of Ordinance No. 26 on January 14, 2008 in accordance with the City and Village Planning Act (Public Act 285 of 1931 as amended). The commission is comprised of four appointed members of the community and one BHV Trustee, and will hold regular monthly meetings. The responsibilities of the commission are to develop a Master Plan for Barton Hills Village and to formulate and recommend amendments to the BHV Zoning Ordinance for consideration by the BHV Board of Trustees. Following adoption of the ordinance President Laporte appointed residents John MacKrell, John McCabe, Ruthann Nichols and Laura Weingartner to the commission. These appointments were approved by the Board of Trustees who selected Trustee Will Boddie to serve on the commission. BHV Zoning and Planning Administrator Randy Perry will also be working with the group. The first meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the Village Hall.

POWER OUTAGE LETTERS Based on information presented at the January 14, 2008 meeting concerning power outages in BHV, the Trustees requested that President Laporte send letters to DTE Energy and AT&T expressing the concerns of the Board and residents. The most recent outage over the Christmas weekend caused prolonged difficulties for homeowners, Barton Hills Country Club and BHV maintenance systems. Anyone wishing to provide input to Ms. Laporte regarding the content of the letters should send their comments to her via email (alaporte@umich.edu). Copies of the letters and information about where residents should direct their own letters will be distributed in the next Barton Bulletin.

SPRING IS COMING... At least the Michigan Cycling Club (U of M) is anticipating an early spring. The BHV Trustees have agreed to allow a MCC-hosted bicycle race on Sunday, March 30, 2008 from 1:00to 3:00 PM. The four-person collegiate teams will be riding a loop in single file, racing against the clock. The roads will not be entirely closed during the race, but officials will be monitoring traffic to ensure safe passage for both cyclists and motorists. Further details about the race will be featured in upcoming Barton Bulletins.