Cass County creating brownfield authority
Published 11:51 pm Friday, April 4, 2008
By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Board of Commissioners Thursday night announced its intent to create a Brownfield Development Authority by scheduling a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. May 1.
Such an authority can grant tax breaks to businesses redeveloping contaminated industrial property.
"This is a resolution of intent," County Administrator Terry Proctor explained. "The next step is a public hearing May 1. The service area will be all of Cass County, however, the county brownfield authority cannot do a project unless it's approved by the village, city or township. You have to partner with the other units of government.
"The City of Dowagiac has its own brownfield authority. Edwardsburg also has its own, created to clean up a gas station property where McDonald's is now. Dowagiac's brownfield authority was involved in creation of the new medical center across from the hospital and re-use of the old middle school site," Proctor said.
The board approved Commissioner Minnie Warren's motion 14-0 with Commissioner Bill Steele, D-Calvin Township, absent.
In other April 3 business, commissioners approved rebuilding a Sheriff's Office life station, as recommended by Maintenance Superintendent David Dickey. Work will be done by JK Inc. of Michigan in Lansing.
The county will appropriate $20,850 from its public improvement fund for the project.
This device pumps sewage from the jail to the high-pressure line that runs to Dowagiac's wastewater treatment plant.
It pumps about 80,000 gallons of liquid refuse weekly and is part of the original design from 20 years ago.
In 2007, Dickey said, one of the two pumps that operate the station was rebuilt and is now in good working order.
Dickey said two companies visited the facility. "Both arrived with similar solutions."
Proctor forewarned commissioners to expect a heavy agenda at their 4 p.m. meeting April 17.
"The Council on Aging millage, to put that on the ballot in August. The drug team millage renewal. Same thing. A demonstration of the new Web site. The investment policy will be back on the agenda. The victim rights winners will be here to be introduced, as they were last year. The equalization report is due. The Road Commission has requested a study committee on parks. And the prosecuting attorney requested a salary increase for his chief assistant."
Proctor also reminded the board of the Take Back the Night sexual assault awareness rally at 7 p.m. April 10 in downtown Dowagiac's Beckwith Park;
the Baldwin family benefit at Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School from 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 18; the second annual CASAblanca auction fundraiser for Court-Appointed Special Advocates at Dowagiac Elks Lodge 889 April 19; and 4-H's first online auction April 21.
Cass County's household hazardous waste and tire collection takes place Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Cassopolis. Call MSU Extension at (269) 445-4438 for registration information.
County Treasurer Linda Irwin said tax delinquencies are up, but less than 10 percent.
Commissioners met in closed session to discuss the acquisition of property, litigation and collective bargaining;
Dowagiac Commissioner John Cureton suggested the resolutions committee draft support for the Road Commission in Howard Township, but was overruled by all three commissioners from that corner of the county.
"They're trying to resolve it themselves," said Republican Robert Ziliak. "Let's give them some time to come up with a resolution unless we see they're so far separated that they won't. Right now I'd wait and let them see what they come up with."
Democratic Commissioner Debbie Johnson agreed. "I don't know if a compromise will happen, but at this point I would not be for a resolution. I would rather wait."
"I agree with these two commissioners," added Johnie Rodebush, D-Howard Township.
Commissioner Gordon Bickel, R-Porter Township, reported on Berrien County's telephone survey asking 400 random residents if they would support millages for parks and jail and animal shelter improvements.
Berrien County paid the Lansing research firm EPIC-MRA $14,164 to conduct the poll.
"The Cass County Road Commission wonders if we might be favorable to something like that to find out what might pass," Bickel said.
Commissioner Ed Goodman, D-Silver Creek Township, said the third Monday Neighborhood Watch meeting at 7 p.m. April 21 at Silver Creek Township Hall on Dixon Street features county Information Systems Director Kerry Collins, Clerk-Register Barb Wilson and County Treasurer Linda Irwin demonstrating how to navigate the new Cass County Web site.