VBT DDA welcomes new executive director, OKs Ireland’s help for a year

Merrie Coburn was welcomed by the Van Buren Township Downtown Development Authority as its new executive director at its regular meeting Jan. 24. Van Buren Township Clerk Leon Wright swore her into office.
Coburn, who was director of the Romulus DDA and the Romulus Tax Increment Finance Authority, said she had spent 20 years working for Romulus. She said she is married and has two children in the service. She said she is an outlet and advocate for local business.
The Van Buren Township Board of Trustees approved her hiring at its Jan. 17 meeting after a DDA committee recommended her following interviews of four candidates. The DDA board approved her employment agreement and the $80,000 pay.
The DDA board also approved an agreement with retiring executive director Susan Ireland stating that after Feb. 28, it will pay her $100 an hour for up to ten hours a week and 40 hours a month to aid Coburn for a year or more.
Ireland said Coburn will spend the first two weeks in February with her at the DDA headquarters at Harris Park to be instructed in the current activities and history of the DDA.
“We still have five weeks with you,” Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara said to Ireland, referring to her retirement date of Feb. 28.
Ireland said the two weeks at the DDA headquarters will give them quiet time so she can explain everything.
Supervisor McNamara said the plan is after the first two weeks to have Coburn in the building and planning department at township hall where she will get to know everybody in assessing, department of public services, and the other departments, if the DDA board lets them.
“We at township hall will try to help her,” McNamara said.
“We want her to succeed,” said DDA chairman Craig Atchinson.
McNamara said he checked her references with officials in Romulus and they gave high praise for her work. “They are sad in Romulus,” he said.
In discussing the agreement with Ireland, Ireland said, “I’ve been with the DDA since the beginning. It’s kinda like a baby for me.”
She said Coburn also has been active with the Michigan Downtown Association.
McNamara said the first month they can be together, a little the second month, and then as needed.
“After all your hard work, I don’t want anything to fall through the cracks,” Coburn said.
The board also agreed to pay 25% of the $48,000 agreement — $12,000 — for a lobbyist for the township to “open doors” in Lansing.
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the township board had approved the hiring of Daniel Consulting as a lobbying firm at 50% of the cost with the DDA and the Water/Sewer fund paying 25% each of the total.
McNamara said the state has a lot of money, some $90 billion surplus, and that money has to go somewhere and he’d like it to “be to us.”
He said there is $28 million that they are trying to break loose for the Iron Belle Trail.
DDA member Mark Laginess asked if this is separate from the funding scout the DDA hired and McNamara said it was.
“This guy will lobby so the funding guy can sit in,” McNamara said, noting the firm actually is a “guy and a girl.” He said he called a friend, whose wife runs “dark money ads” such as the attack ads they saw during the last election across the country.
He said David Katz doesn’t have any governments as lobbying customers, and he’s a Democrat, so, “He’ll get us in the door.”
McNamara said if the omnibus bill goes though there will be a hunk of money available, including $100 million for trails.
“We want $1.8 million and that’s his first job,” McNamara said, adding that Katz is a friend and Katz, Mike Duggan and McNamara grew up together. He said Duggan is a natural administrator. McNamara said his dad worked with Katz to get funds.
In her last director’s report, Ireland said the township is not open on Fridays, but State Rep. Reggie Miller would like to have office hours in the Harris House DDA headquarters on a Friday. State Sen. Darrin Camilleri also wants to have office hours here, she said.
McNamara said Rep. Miller has been named chairperson of the House Agriculture Committee and a chairperson assignment is unusual for a freshman representative. He said she also is on the Economic Development and Transportation committees, which is good for the township.
DDA member Victor DeLibera said the Robotics group uses Harris House every other Monday for meetings.
Ireland said the building use policy has to be put back up.
DDA member Joyce Rochowiak said they need to put community events on the DDA sign out in front and Ireland said they need training on how to do the sign. She said she didn’t know how to do it alone, obviously referring to after Lisa Lothringer left as deputy executive director.
McNamara said the DDA needs to be more a part of the community. The DDA discussed having the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce meet at Harris House.
Coburn said she is on the Romulus Chamber and she would like to be on the board of the Belleville Chamber. McNamara said he would look into that. Coburn also said she’s been treasurer of Aerotropolis for two years.
McNamara said Rep. Miller and Sen. Camilleri could have offices and desks at Harris House.
Ireland announced that Belleville Road from Tyler to Ecorse has been placed on the Wayne County FAC, TEDF Category C funding for an amount of $2,111,000 for a 2025 funding year. She said the owner of the house with property on the west side of Belleville Road in the right of way is now interested in doing something with the house, which he refused before. Ireland said they will meet with him.
Another item was pulled from the agenda because McNamara said more information was needed.
The request was for $85,000 over three years to fund “FUSUSCONNECT” for the Van Buren Township Public Safety Department. The DDA is being asked to pay $25,000 a year for three years, and potentially another $10,000 for 20 video access devices ($350 each) and the first year’s subscription ($150 each). The first 20 devices would be offered to businesses within the DDA District.
There will be a presentation by the police department when it comes back on the agenda.
The system is said to enhance emergency preparedness by enabling police, fire, and public safety professionals to better assess and rapidly respond to criminal activity and emergency situations. It will also enable investigators to easily gather evidence in case of an incident, according to information available on the internet.