Editorial: Van Buren Twp. DDA questions Aerotropolis cost

Representatives of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis will be attending the 5:30 p.m., Oct. 25, meeting of the Van Buren Township Downtown Development Authority to provide an update on their services.
The DDA can hardly wait.
At the DDA’s meeting on Sept. 27, DDA chairman Craig Atchinson said, “We pay $25,000 annually and what do we get?”
VBT Supervisor Linda Combs spoke in support of Aerotropolis and said now that they have hired a full-time director, things will change. They used to have someone who also had another job, she said.
Atchinson said he has seen things tailored to Romulus, but not Van Buren Township.
“I think return on our investment is terrible,” agreed DDA member Helen Foster.
It was explained the DDA pays for the township to belong to Aerotropolis.
DDA Executive Director Susan Ireland pointed out VBT is right in the middle of the Aerotropolis area between Willow Run and Metro airports.
“To spend that kind of money for something we get nothing for?” Atchinson asked “I’m all for it if it’s beneficial to the township.”
“Let’s see if they can convince us that something good is going to happen,” said DDA member Robert Bechtel.
Taxpayers are interested in that, too.