Belleville Downtown Development Authority treasurer Sabrina Richardson-Williams told the DDA at its regular meeting on Aug. 20 that she was very happy to report they got a big check.
She distributed a report from city financial consultant Kelly Howey of Plante Moran explaining the $96,210 deposit from the city’s account into the DDA account.
She said the city got two checks from Wayne County and both checks were deposited in the city’s account and earmarked for the DDA. They were for the Victory Park grant for park upgrades, which was arranged by former city manager Dave Robinson.
The DDA also discussed at length, DDA director Steve Jones’ report on replacing the water truck used to water plants throughout the district for seven days a week, six to six-and-a-half hours a day, for the five-month growing season.
He said the truck died over the weekend but was able to be put back in use. He said they need to replace it.
At the July 16 meeting, Jones gave a recommendation to buy a replacement truck from LaFontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Walled Lake. The 2019 Ram 3500 Tradesman 4WD was $32,650.
At that time he was directed to contact Atchinson Ford in Van Buren Township to get a price on a truck. He said he had looked on the Atchinson website but they didn’t have a truck on the website that would work.
At the Aug. 20 meeting, he reported Atchinson had a new 4WD F250 truck available at $57,420 and Craig Atchinson said he would cut the price to $50,000.
A split of 50-50 or 60-40 with the city was suggested.
Mayor Ken Voigt suggested the DDA could buy it with a lease and designate it as a DDA-only vehicle.
Treasurer Richardson-Williams suggested having a conversation with the city about the truck.
Mike Gatteri said they are almost to the end of the watering season and couldn’t they just stop watering if the truck isn’t working?
Jones said they water to the end of September into November.
DDA vice chairman Chris Donley said the DDA usually gets hand-me-down vehicles to use.
Mayor Voigt said it’s a conversation the city can have. He said the city has made significant cuts and saved money and is no longer without funds. He said this issue will be on the city’s Sept. 2 agenda.
Mayor Voigt said the beautiful hanging double flower baskets in the city were recently commented on by the America in Bloom team who said they were the best hanging baskets they’ve ever seen.
In other business at the 34-minute meeting, the DDA:
• Heard Gatteri suggest a program be set up to encourage holiday decorations by businesses and earmark money for awards and money to help pay for the lights. He said Rochester lights are great. It was suggested a large cash prize would get the attention of businesses. Mayor Voigt asked that a proposal be put together and brought back to the DDA;
• Heard Kathleen Springer report her social media team serving the DDA goes into businesses to promote its projects. But, Chris Donley said, not to take offense, but he would like to see a DDA representative going into businesses to encourage them to take part in promotions and to participate in the contest. He said people tell him they don’t check their emails;
• Heard mayor Voigt urge those present to go to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy public hearing from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Wayne County Community College to voice their concerns on the Wayne Disposal toxic landfill in Van Buren Township. He said they want to make it a bigger mess than it already is. He later noted that Wayne Disposal has taken Judge Cox’s recent decision on the issue to the Court of Appeals;
• Heard Donley say they want to make the landfill almost twice as high and, “It’s going to be our landmark.” He said when people drive down I-94 and decide where to get off and have lunch, they won’t want to be near that landfill. “We need to all fight this,” he said;
• Heard city councilwoman Julie Kissel report the DDA offices in city hall have been cleared to be ready for the move to the new city hall; and
• Heard Donley say he would like to see on the next agenda a mailing list of all the businesses in the DDA district and the first draft of a DDA newsletter. The next meeting is Sept. 17.
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