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Alma DDA Meeting - March 13, 2008
Date: 3 - March 13, 2008
Alma Downtown Development Authority Alma, Michigan March 13, 2008 The regular meeting of the Alma Downtown Development Authority (ADDA) was called to order at 7:00 am by Chairperson Kline at The Book Shoppe 316 N State Street. PRESENT: Comer, Dunn, Stacey, Freed, Bailey, Solomon, Dancer, Kline, Gallagher, Ahern. ABSENT: None. Called/emailed absence: D. Kolar, Gallagher. ALSO PRESENT: A. Ripley, Ed Hulings, Ronna Hulings. Motion by Solomon, supported by Dancer to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of February 14, 2008 as submitted. Public Input & Discussion: • Ed and Ronna Hulings from Hulings Hobby House came to meeting to get involved with what is going on in downtown. They wanted the board to know that intend to keep the Hobby House open. • Director will write up in the DDA newsletter and the Gratiot Chamber Newsletter a piece about the Hobby House being open and encourage individuals to go to the Hobby House. The Director will also talk with the Morning Sun about getting a story in the business section of the paper. AAA meeting – February 22, 2008 • March 20, 2008 5-7 pm Agriculture Expo at Crumbaugh Farm. • Business after hours April 23rd at the Hogan P.E. Center Lobby. • Network Connections at the Book Shoppe Wednesday evenings. • Jonny Campbell a Chicago Speaker will be at Town and Country in Ithaca, on “Keeping Local Dollars Local”, tickets are $25 per person – Thursday April 17th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. • Tartan Spring Fling – Saturday April 19th the activities include a pet parade, shortbread bakeoff, and kite making workshop. • Traces WWII/POW traveling exhibit will be in Downtown Alma May 30th from 11 am to 6 pm. • Lucky MacDuck/Community Day – September 6th. • AAA Spring Fling Golf Kickoff is May 3, 2008 shotgun start at 1 pm. Alma DDA Financials • Financial report was received. Director’s Report: Downtown Streetscape Construction • Construction will begin April 1, 2008. The bid was awarded to Crawford Contraction of Alma by MDOT. • There are three stages for the construction; the first stage is the construction of the bump out and light pole removals. This work will go until May 22, 2008. Stage two will include the mill, pave and saw cut of crosswalks. This stage will be completed June 3, 2008. The crosswalk construction will begin on June 4, 2008 and last until June 27, 2008. The landscaping crews will be back into town on September 24, 2008, to finish those items. • Traffic will remain open during the construction; work will be done on one side then the other. • The lighting bids come in well enough that they were upgraded to the LED lights, which will use much less energy and last much longer. Downtown Strategic Planning – Public Meetings • The five year strategic planning meeting for the public is set for April 16, 2008. • There will be two public meetings that day. The meetings are scheduled for 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., so no matter what time of day someone works they should be able to make one if they are interested. The public can at any time call or email the DDA office with comments or suggestions. Riverfront Cleanup • The EPA Cleanup grant project is on schedule to be substantially completed by March 31, 2008. • The former CSX portion of the property should be very close to being cleaned up to a residential standard. The confirmatory sampling will give the details where the cleanup standards and what else needs to happen. Meeting with MSHDA • The board discussed the Downtown Rental Rehab program to create upper story apartments. The next logical application date is October 2008. • The Façade Grant Program offered by the State is a 50/50 program that requires job creation and at least two building fronts. • Director will send out an inquire for who maybe interested in the programs and have MSHDA come to Alma to give a presentation and answer questions. • Adjournment 8:05 am YES: Comer, Dunn, Stacey, Freed, Bailey, Solomon, Dancer, Kline, Gallagher, Ahern. NO: None. ______________________________________ Aeric Ripley, DDA Director/Asst. City Manager
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