DDA Renewal Decision Postponed

Boyne City DDA Board Members voted unanimously on Tuesday to postpone their decision on the proposal to renew the Downtown Development Authority 30 year renewal plan due to lack of information.

Board members are waiting for more information from Boyne City manager Mike Cain.

The audit9rium at City Hall was packed with more than 100 people concerned over the proposal.

More than a dozen citizens and community leaders spoke in favor and against the measure which would renew the 1994 tax increment financing plan which will expire next spring. The new plan would last for 30 years and generate ??? dollars.

“Downtown belongs to and serves all of us. It is the welcome mat for the community,” said Hugh Conklin the DDA/Mainstreet Manager. “Tonight we are hear to talk about our downtown. Funding from the DDA has allowed many important projects to be completed. Our community, through the cooperative efforts of many, has made many problems into opportunities.”

Kathy Anderson, a library board member and former business owner said, “We’re in support of the DDA. We feel the benefits would outweigh the losses.”

Bob Huff of Huff’s Pharmacy said he has been in Boyne City for about 30 years.

“I still see less businesses open in Boyne City than when I moved in,” he said. “If you’re going to do this, you should do this on a five-year increment. I don’t see how you’re improving Boyne City at all. If you keep on doing what you’re doing, you’re hurting the downtown”

Don Smith, who has been protesting the proposal, said the DDA and local businesses are not partners and he favors starting the tax base over.

“I believe a five-year plan with option for fifteen would be fair,” he said. “There’s gotta be a happy medium for the residents, the property owners, and the businesses”

The owner of All American Tattoo Company had several questions for board members.

“What’s wrong with a community center?” he said stating that he wanted to put the money toward a community center instead of the DDA. “We don’t need an entry way to say Welcome to Beautiful Boyne! Look Around you! “If you keep doing what you’re doing to downtown, you’re going to drive people away”

Aaron Nordeman expressed support of the DDA.

“I think they’ve done a tremendous job,” he said. “I think it would be a tragedy to lose ours”

Connie Smith praised the DDA but has concerns over the new proposal.

“The DDA has done a great job, I don’t want you guys to think we’re complaining about the job that you’ve done,” she said. “When I voted for the Senior Center millage, never when I voted did it say that one quarter of this millage is going to go to the Boyne City DDA. If it had, I wouldn’t have voted for it. When I vote for a millage, I vote for that entity.”

Tom Burke supported the DDA, but had concerns over the proposal as well.

“I’m in support of the DDA, but I think the question is do we have to grant thirty years?” he questioned. “I still think you’re making a mistake by going 30 years”

Jim Baumann Chamber of Commerce Executive Director said he had issue with one of the DDA’s proposals to move the chamber office.

“I don’t want to move the chamber office, we’ve got the best corner in town. If some board decides to move it 100 feet, who am I to say that’s not a good idea. That is not why the chamber supports the DDA. (Survey Info) 92% of BC Residents think the DDA is doing a good or excellent job.” Baumann said. “We’ve got a great DDA and Main Street organization. We’re in a different world than when this DDA started. There were no wal-marts, etc. etc. etc. Where would we be without the DDA? Are we just going to roll over and play dead?”

Chris Christensen who said he was not attending the meeting as a county commissioner wondered how long the investment was necessary to be made.

“How long are we going to make the investment? I think we have a responsibility to take a look at this.”

Marty Moody said the DDA and Main Street have done wonderful things, “but it’s ludicrous to go over the numbers the way we are. We can revisit as often as needed, but working on 1994 levels is crazy,” he said. “30 years – that’s way too far out. When the DDA was originally started, it was more of a subcommittee, and there was a lot more reporting to the commission.” “There are a lot of ways to structure this thing, but not the way it’s being presented. 30 years is going way too far”

Jodi Adams said the tax increment financing plan is a win-win situation.

Local developer Glen Catt said, “I believe that we have a vibrant downtown and the small business are the life-blood of this community. Boyne City is struggling less today because of the proactive approach. People ask me why are you doing this in this kind of community: I believe in Main Street”

Jerry Douglas of the SoBo said, “Two of our oldest and ugliest buildings have been revitalized and reused because of the DDA and Main Street.”