Belleville DDA approves facade grant for Egan’s Pub at Fourth St. Sq.

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
At its Oct. 22 meeting, the Belleville Downtown Development Authority granted a $10,000 façade grant to Jennifer and John Winters of Egan’s Pub at 396 Main Street, next to the Fourth Street Square.
Egan’s has plans for about $12,500 worth of upgrading to the pub’s façade by putting in a new, larger picture window with gold lettering “EGAN’s PUB” above the window. There will be gooseneck lighting above the sign and the front door changed to solid oak.
The plans also call for cedar wainscoting below the window and in columns framing the façade and tongue and grove surrounding the window. The wood will be painted dark green, there will be crown molding over the lettering/sign, and cultured stone put at the base.
Three bids were presented with the lowest of $12,500 from Oakview Building Company and the highest $15,780 from Hunter Building Company.
The recommended action from the façade committee, after review by the city’s ordinance and department of public works officials, is to approve for a $5,000 grant and a $5,000 loan.
The committee approved the design, materials, and color choices. It also discussed the owners’ interest in improvements on the Fourth Street Square side of the building. These would be separate from this application and subject to the owner’s expense and time, the committee noted.
When the façade grant came up for discussion, DDA member Brian Copsey, whose Bayou Grill is across the Fourth Street Square from Egan’s and the two bars are in competition, said that he had a problem because Egan’s taxes were due and its water bill is not paid.
DDA coordinator Carol Thompson said this is just step 2 and step 3 requires all the payments be submitted before the signing is final. It’s a legal obligation, she said.
Copsey asked if it wasn’t true that at the top of the application for a grant it says that the applicant must be in good standing with the city and Thompson said that is what it says, but that’s not what they do.
She said they must pay their obligations before they get any money.
DDA chairman John Hoops said he won’t sign anything until the applicant is up to date on everything.
Copsey said they are getting $10,000 and their contract is only $12,000. He said he wanted to express his concern as far as the risk of the DDA going forward, to make sure the DDA is protected.
DDA member Rosemary Loria made the motion to approve the façade grant, with the money being taken from the fund balance.
“I agree with what Brian’s saying,” said DDA member Gary Snarski. “It must be current before money is expended.”
He said they have to realize that it takes from $1,000 to $1,500 for the applicant to get the drawings and there are other investments to be made to get approved.
“These are the things this DDA does in order to make the town better,” Snarski said.
Copsey asked if there was going to be a mural or something on the side of the building and Jennifer Winters said they will just be painting it for now.
“The Christmas lights are back in season now,” Copsey said, referring to the lights at Egan’s. He said he’s glad they are doing something because the building could use some work.
When the roll-call vote was taken to spend the money, everyone voted yes, including Copsey.
On a check by the Independent, it was found Egan’s paid its summer tax bill for $2,673.51 on Oct. 22, the day of the meeting. Thompson said their water bill was to be paid the following Monday.
In other business at the Oct. 22 meeting, the DDA:
• Approved taking part in the Midwest Sculpture Initiative outdoor sculpture program in 2015 by leasing six sculptures at a cost not to exceed $5,000. The current sculpture exhibit is on loan until April/May 2015. The commitment letter for the 2015 exhibit is due to MSI no later than Nov. 1. Thompson said they have been reasonably successful this year in getting sponsors and she would like to spread out and get new sponsors for next year. She asked the DDA for help in getting new sponsors. She said there was $10,000 in expenses for the current exhibit and $5,000 in sponsorship;
• Heard a report from Belleville Area Council for the Arts president Doug Dalton on Music Lakeside, saying that the $2,500 from the DDA represented five acts. He also reported on ArtAffair on Main and how BACA hopes to get it self-sustaining once they get enough artists leasing booths. The DDA allocated $2,500 for this event and it was mainly spent on advertising. He said they have plateaued at about 40-45 artists and they need 85 to 100 artists for the event to pay for itself, “So we don’t have to ask anyone for money.” Mayor Kerreen Conley, who sits on the DDA, said the DDA expects reports from the groups it has given money to and, “You’re the model of what we want”;
• Heard a report from Thompson on state legislation in the works that will reform Tax Increment Financing and deeply impact the local DDA. She said it currently is in the House Commerce Committee and the DDA’s attorney is attending the meetings. Thompson said if it comes to a vote on the floor, “We’ll have to see about going down.” She said provisions of the bill keep changing, but the goal is to build consensus and enact reforms by the end of the year;
• Heard Richardson-Williams say she was asked by a friend from Van Buren Township why the city closes down Main Street for the car shows one day a week in the summer, yet won’t close the street for Halloween trick or treating. Mayor Conley said if the street was closed kids would be darting back and forth across the street. Now, with the caution tape marking off the sidewalks, kids go up one side and then back down the other side. With the street closed off, it would be more confusing, she said. DDA member Jim Higgerson asked where parents would park if Main Street was closed and Liberty Street had no parking to allow for emergency vehicles to pass. Councilman Tom Fielder said the former police chief said the city has never had an incident, so Fielder asked why they should change that;
• Heard DDA member Loria say the Boy Scouts have not moved forward to take the ten old Main Street benches offered to them to renovate, as they had said they wanted to do, so the DDA should just sell the benches. Planning Commission chairman Steve Jones said some of the benches have plaques on them and they should find a home for those benches;
• Heard Mayor Conley announce that she is hosting a “Power of the Purse” fund raiser at the Holiday Inn Express on Nov. 7 to benefit the Boys and Girls Club, the Belleville Area Council for the Arts, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Everyone is invited. There will be a silent auction, raffles, door prizes, and lots of purses. Call Conley at (313) 969-5183 for more information;
• Heard Copsey say the DDA passed an unbalanced budget and now is giving money away, which he objects to;
• Heard Richardson-Williams say that Booville is a real success and, “It puts us on the map.” As treasurer, she said to Copsey, “I think we have tried very much to stay in the budget”; and
• Heard Gary Snarski say, “There are a lot of good things going on … a lot of people who do a lot of work … the volunteers at the churches and the Central Business Community … and it still bothers me that there are a lot of people on Main Street who don’t help… and I’m not pointing you out (to Copsey).” Copsey said he has refused to join the Chamber of Commerce because of past problems. “You are one business,” Snarski replied. “There is only a handful on Main Street who work and those who benefit the most don’t participate.” Steve Jones, who works for Copsey, said Copsey supports the Arts Council and other things. “We should be working together,” Snarski continued. “People on Main Street benefit, but don’t join because they don’t like that person. If he refuses to belong to the Chamber, that’s his problem,” Snarski said. “Let’s put the cards on the table,” Copsey said. “I give more than any other business on Main Street.” He said it’s not because he doesn’t like somebody, but, “It’s got to do with the operation [of the chamber].”
The DDA meeting was held in a darkened city council chambers because it was the Booville meeting of the DDA. On the agenda there was a reminder that the city council proclaimed: “Belleville Becomes Booville for October 2014.” Five members of the DDA wore costumes to the meeting.