TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City Mayor Chris Bzdok has an agenda and it all starts with the people.
The next two years -- Bzdok's first term -- he will try to change the way public business is done in Traverse City. Bzdok wants city residents to help guide elected officials' hands before decisions begin to be made, at least on big projects, he said Monday, moments after being sworn in before a standing room only crowd.
"The idea is to turn things around, to make city government work at the direction of city residents instead of reacting to input from city residents," Bzdok said.
He wants Traverse City citizens to tell elected city officials what they want from the outset, as it's the only way city government can be better, he said.
Bzdok has some ideas where to get started, too.
He wants to increase spending on the city's infrastructure program to repair and improve streets, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, bridges and stormwater systems, a program launched under former Mayor Michael Estes. He also wants to investigate improvements to city corridors outside downtown -- such as improvements made to Woodmere Avenue -- to help attract new developments and increase city tax revenues, he said.
Bzdok also wants to work to make city services more efficient by considering recommendations made by a citizens group that made suggestions for cost savings, as well as find a solution for often congested Division Street and ways to support the local economy.
Bzdok is optimistic about what can be done with the new City Commission.
"I hope we will put ourselves out there and take the risks that are involved in putting yourself out there," he said.
Monday was the organizational meeting for the new commission that included oaths taken by not just Bzdok, but also reelected Commissioner Jody Bergman and newly elected Commissioners Michael Gillman and MaryAnn Moore.
"I pledge to work hard and do my best for our community," Moore said.
Gillman said he was honored to serve "perhaps the best city of our size in the state of Michigan."
Bergman said the city has "a lot of things to work on," and she will continue to "look out for the best interests of the citizens of Traverse City."
Bzdok succeeds Estes, who did not run for reelection. Former Commissioner Deni Scrudato was defeated in last week's election in a bid for a second term on the commission.
Scrudato said she supports the new commission and that by and large, it's a good group.
Print this story
E-mail this story
