Chairman Wright called the meeting to order at 7:48 a.m.
Roll Call.
Members Present:
Mayor Davis, Wright, Gonyou, Oliver, Howe, Gilbert, Hankerd, and Stehle
Members Absent:
McMaster
Others Present:
Ex. Dir. Hathaway, Ramos, Constine, Warren and Jason Metcalf
Approval of Minutes.
Approval of the minutes of the meeting of May 4, 2005 were delayed until
the July meeting when the Board members have the opportunity to read
them.
Communications:
Roy Marr wrote a letter requesting removal of his property
from the DDA District. Members asked for maps of his property location
for consideration at the July meeting.
Citizen Comments:
Hathaway
was asked to write a letter of appreciation to the Four Winds Council
for their assistance in planting the flowers along Main Street.
Hathaway asked the
members to review the trial holiday lights on East Main Street to
evaluate their effectiveness.
Financial Status.
A. Operational Budget
Checking............................................. $ 1,580.46
Savings................................................ $
6,249.92
Total.................................................... $
7,830.38
B. Development Plan Budget
Total Funds
’03-’05............................... $ 114,642.81
Funds Expended/Committed.................. $
98,211.77
Available
Funds.................................... $ 16,431.04
Planned
Projects.................................. $ 1,744.94
Administration
.................................. $ 0.00
Contingency/Reserve ..........................
$ 14,686.10
Items of Business.
A. Payment of Bills.
The
following expenses were authorized for payment:
A. Organizational Expenses:
Mid-Michigan Turf
Care-maintenance $ 69.00
Total:
$ 69.00
Oliver/Gilbert
m/s/p
B. Tax Increment Development Plan Expenses:
Amperage
Electric $ 1,094.94
Gonyou/Howe m/s/p
B. Focus
Owosso—Downtown Coordinator Report.
The interview committee
met and chose four leading candidates for interviews. They all had
pertinent experience and education so the choice will be for the best
match. Interviews take place June 7, 2005.
C. Hotel Owosso
Progress Report.
The demolition proceeded without incident and only brick
repairs from a former building connection await repair. The developer
has met with the State of Michigan for the Single Business Tax credits
valued at $450,000 and it appears these have been approved. The State
did encourage him to wait for January 1, 2006 before asking for the
actual award and that will set the construction schedule for about a
year from now. The other tax credit that is pending is a New Market Tax
Credit worth about $1,700,000. It is very difficult to achieve but is a
required component of implementation. The other note of progress is
that the developer will engage his architect from Grand Rapids to
establish a building concept, costs and foundation plans as they might
affect the underground parking capacity.
In
May the City Council awarded an exclusive occupancy right to Gilbert’s
True Value Hardware to use the former hotel site in exchange for a
commitment to negotiate in good faith with the City for the underground
parking rights beneath their parking lot.
D. Neighborhoods in
Progress Planning Team Report.
The six-person panel of State of Michigan employees visited Owosso for
an evaluation of our Neighborhoods in Progress (Cool Cities)
application. The visit went well with assistance from a downtown
resident, Dennis Braid of the 1225 and Piper Brewer of the Arts
Gallery. The challenge they posed is the city’s ability to add
entertainment options and attract the professional class to live, work
and recreate downtown. The hotel site project is designed to do just
that together with all of the other projects slated for the downtown
that will get us to the new economy.
E. Web Page.
The cost proposals
from two other sources are still not available.
F. Retail Retention.
George Ramos
reports that the small retail outlet (Bujun’s) next to Cerveny’s Jeweler
is an Italian specialty foods store. There is no report on the
Carpenter’s Corner or Burlington Building.
G. Farmer’s Market
Lot. Members reviewed and approved the general concept for light and bench
fixtures to be added to this lot. The lot construction will not take
place until mid-summer.
H. Service Contracts.
The existing service contracts with Focus Owosso ($14,000),
Saginaw Valley Rehabilitation Cleaning Services ($3,210), and the Small
Business Resource Center (retail recruitment at $3,000) were approved
for FY2005-06.
Gonyou/Oliver
m/s/p
I. Executive Session.
The Authority recessed for Executive Session to consider property
acquisition on a motion by Member Davis and with support from Member
Oliver
Yeas: 8
Nays: 0
With no further action the meeting reconvened only for adjournment.
________________________________________
Philip B. Hathaway, Secretary-Treasurer
