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Alma DDA Meeting - January 10, 2008
Date: January 10, 2008
Alma Downtown Development Authority Alma, Michigan January 10, 2008 The regular meeting of the Alma Downtown Development Authority (ADDA) was called to order at 7:00 am by Vice Chairperson Stacey at The Book Shoppe 316 N State Street. PRESENT: Comer, Bailey, Lowe, Stacey, Solomon, Dancer, Freed, D. Kolar, Kline, Gallagher. ABSENT: Ahern. ALSO PRESENT: A. Ripley. Motion by Dancer, supported by Kline to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of December 13, 2007as submitted. Public Input & Discussion: • No Public Present. AAA meeting – No Meeting in December 2007 • Good Morning Gratiot January 11, 2007 at 7:00am, new businesses and business improvement awards. • Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner January 26, 2008. Alma DDA Financials • Financial report was received. Director’s Report: Downtown Planning Meeting Dates • Board discussed a meeting date for the 1st Subcommittee meeting for the downtown Strategic Plan. • January 30, 2008 at 5:30 pm at the Library was chosen as the first meeting date. • Board discussed having two public meeting to get input from the downtown and any community members. Ammi Wright Mansion • Board discussed the Ammi Wright Mansion at 503 N State Street. Mr. and Ms. Holland of Allegan are evaluating the Mansion to turn it into a B & B. • Mr. Holland has asked the DDA to see what it can do to help with the renovations. He is committed to bringing the building back if the current owner accepts the offer. • The DDA Director contacted the State Historic Preservation Office about the Federal Tax Credit. The building would have to be added to the National Register of Historic Places to be eligible for the tax credit. Director has the nomination form; the owner would have to work with SHPO to complete the work. • The board discussed creating a non profit group whose goal is to help preserve/save historic buildings in downtown and throughout the community. This group may be able to seek financing that a private individual or developer may not for a historic structure. • Board member Lowe was going to check with Ms. Crombie who assisted in started a similar type of non profit group in her home town in Illinois. Rails to Trails • The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail project is moving forward, the route around Wright Avenue and Lincoln/Center Street have been figured out. • The trail will come all the way down to Prospect Street, just across the street from the State Street Plaza. • The budget is affording the ability to construct a parking lot at Park Avenue. • Bidding the project is scheduled for late March awarding the contract in April. Construction would start in May and be completed early September. Officers for 2008 • At February’s meeting the board will need to elect a new chairperson, vice-chairperson and a secretary. • Board members were asked to consider who they would like in each position. Other Business: Nomination of Robert Dunn to fill the resident seat on the DDA Board. According to the by-laws and DDA act if there is 100 people living within the DDA district one seat must be set aside for a resident of the district. Mr. Dunn lives at 224 E Center Street and is a Youth Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. Mr. Dunn would be the first resident DDA board member in almost four years. Motion by Freed support by Solomon to recommend Robert Dunn to the Alma City Commission for appointment to the Alma DDA board as the resident member. Yes: Comer, Bailey, Lowe, Stacey, Solomon, Dancer, Freed, Finkbeiner, Kline, Gallagher. No: None. • Adjournment 7:45 am YES: Comer, Bailey, Lowe, Stacey, Solomon, Dancer, Freed, D. Kolar, Kline, Gallagher. NO: None. ______________________________________ Aeric Ripley, DDA Director/Asst. City Manager
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