Brown Recommended for N. Main Group
At its May 23, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission (AAPAC) unanimously recommended that Connie Rizzolo Brown be nominated for a position on a task force to study the corridor along North Main Street and the Huron River. That recommendation will be forwarded to mayor John Hieftje.
The task force was established by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, with membership to include the following: one member of the park advisory commission, one member of the planning commission, one resident representing the Water Hill neighborhood, one resident representing the North Central neighborhood, one resident from the Old Fourth Ward, one resident representing the Broadway/Pontiac neighborhood, two business and property owners from the affected area, and one member of the Huron River Watershed Council.
At its May 21 meeting, the two sponsors of the resolution that created the task force – Ward 1 councilmembers Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith – proposed adding three additional representatives: a member of the city council, someone from the boating/fishing community of river users, a representative from the Huron River Citizens Association. Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves on AAPAC, then proposed an amendment to add an AAPAC member to the task force. The AAPAC addition was passed by council on a 6-5 vote. [See Chronicle coverage: "Positions Added to North Main Task Force"] Appointments are expected to be made at the council’s June 4 meeting.
At AAPAC’s May 23 meeting, Derezinski told commissioners that “basically, we need someone at the table.”
The task force is charged with delivering a report to the city council more than a year from now – by July 31, 2013 – that describes “a vision to create/complete/enhance pedestrian and bike connection from downtown to Bandemer and Huron River Drive, increase public access to the river-side amenities of existing parks in the North Main-Huron River corridor, ease traffic congestion at Main and Depot at certain times of a day and recommend use of MichCon property at Broadway; …”
Earlier than that – by the end of 2012 – the task force is to make recommendations on the use of the city-owned 721 N. Main parcel.
Brown has served on AAPAC since early 2009, and has chaired the commission’s projects committee. She is a principal of Rizzolo Brown Studio, an Ann Arbor architecture firm.
This brief was filed from the basement conference room of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where AAPAC held its meeting. A more detailed report will follow.
Just how does a truck “fall into” the Huron, and then float away in a section with almost no current?
I’d lover to hear more about this one.
I saw the aftermath of this on my bike ride yesterday, about 3:15. On my way out the tow truck had the truck pulled about half way out of the river. I saw two divers who looked like they had just gotten out of the water — presumably helping hook up the winch cables.
On my return traffic was stopped in both directions as the truck was being pulled onto the flatbed of the tow truck.
This was on that big curve west of Maple. There are a few pull outs where you sometimes see cars pulled off to park. I imagine they were using one of these and somehow ended up in the river.
And concerning the current — there is a lot of water moving down the river right now. I am sure the current is quite strong.
In fact the Huron is running at 1,300 cubic feet per second which is quite high but typical for a rainy springtime. Check out this web site if interested: water data from U.S.G.S
The Ann Arbor News has the story, and a photo of the truck being pulled out.
link to Ann Arbor News story on MLive
The report says the truck didn’t fall in, it rolled in while the owner was trying to launch his kayak at a “boat launch” in Scio Township.