I
Minutes of the DDA meeting on April 16, 2007
Scio Township Hall
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Chairman Upton called the meeting to order at 12:05 P.M.
Members Present: Arbour, Cornish, Fox, Holland, Mayo, Nielsen and Upton
Member absent: Luckhardt and Weaver
Others present: Del Vecchio, Fecho, Hedberg and Siddall
Nielsen moved and Mayo seconded a motion to approve the minutes of March 12, 2007 as amended. The motion passed by a vote of all of the members present.
Notes from the Road Committee meeting of March 29, 2007 were corrected, received and filed.
Washtenaw County Road Commission Report:
Del Vecchio passed out the Parcel Acquisition Report and discussed the status of each property in the Jackson Road Phase III project. He gave a detailed report on the Honey Creek property. There was some discussion about possible crossover location, a traffic study and other concerns about that parcel. There were several questions and answers.
Del Vecchio said that 31 of the 67 parcels in Phase III had agreements or were on the process of closing.
The August 23rd deadline for ROW acquisition is very tight.
Del Vecchio said that when he goes to court on condemnation appraisals must be updated. If an appraisal is six months or more old a new one is needed.
Siddall said the sewer redesign has been approved. A meeting with MDOT is planned for May. The design is about 80% complete. MDOT is consulting out some reviews, but have agreed to do the review of Phase III.
Dan Ackerman and Del Vecchio explained the charges on the invoice, which was recently received and is included with the invoices subject to approval today.
Del Vecchio explained why payment checks go through American Title. He also discussed title company functions. He explained why he uses American Title. The ROW acquisitions are usually partial pieces of a property and American Title is experienced with this type of acquisition.
There was some discussion about the breakdown of WCRC invoices.
Landscape Consultant’s Report:
The maintenance bid for Jackson Road was let last month. Nothing much else is happening yet. There is no more information from MDOT about the landscaping grant.
Chairman’s Report:
Meijers went before the Tax Tribunal and a settlement of about $40,000.00 with the DDA was agreed upon. Meijers got something, but not near what they wanted. The process is for an individual or business to go to the Board of Review to seek and adjustment to their assessment. If they are not satisfied with the findings of the BOR they can then appeal to the Tax Tribunal.
Fecho explained what this decision means to the DDA.
Township Manager’s Report:
Fecho said that discussions were underway with the WCRC about maintenance of some of the Township roads such as Enterprise Drive. Steve Puuri of the Road Commission is looking at several of the Township side roads to see where and what work should be done to avoid complete replacement in the future. His report will come to the Township. Fecho said that a small amount of work now could prevent expensive work later on.
There was some discussion of the possibility of a mill assessment in the DDA district. There were questions as to what the money collected could be used for, etc.
A committee composed of Mayo, Holland, Arbour, Upton, DeLong and chaired by Fecho volunteered to meet and study the question of the proposed tax.
Executive Director’s Report:
DeLong submitted the following financial reports with the agenda:
1. Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2007
2. Cash Flow (summary) fiscal year 2006-07
3. Cash Flow Detail fiscal year 2006-07
DeLong explained that in fiscal 2007-08 the income and expense chart of accounts will march the Township Chart. The State requires that we use their standards of budgeting and accounting. The financial reports presented to the DDA Board will be somewhat different than in the past.
Other Reports: None
Old Business: None
New Business:
Invoices:
The Ann Arbor News $224.00
The Bank of New York 1988 Bond Int. $9,250.00
The Bank of New York 1990 Bond Int. $17,500.00
The Bank of New York 1994 Bond Int. $146,450.00
The Bank of New York 1994 Bond Prin $500,000.00
The Bank of New York 2006 Bond Int. $161,666.73
Scio Township $4,500.00
Hedberg Associates $200.00
Panera Bread $145.12
Richard A. DeLong $800.00
WCRC $514,825.80
Total $1,355,561.65
Arbour moved and Nielsen seconded a motion to approve the Invoices.
Roll Call: Arbour yes, Cornish yes, Fox yes, Holland yes, Luckhardt absent, Mayo yes, Nielsen yes, Upton yes, Weaver absent. The motion passed.
Cornish moved and Fox seconded a motion to elect Upton, Chairman, Weaver, Vice Chairman and Holland, Secretary of the DDA for fiscal year 2007-08. The motion passed by a favorable vote of all members present.
There was some discussion about the proposed contract with SPARK for $5,000.00 for 2007. Member Mayo said she would like to hear from Spark. DeLong will contact them and ask that representatives appear at a future DDA meeting.
Cornish moved and Mayo seconded a motion to approved Chairman Upton’s signing the agreement with SPARK for $5,000.00 for 2007-08.
Roll Call: Arbour yes, Cornish yes, Fox yes, Holland yes, Luckhardt absent, Mayo yes, Nielsen yes, Upton yes, Weaver absent. The motion passed.
DeLong proposed that the DDA roll over CDAA4-10-07, which has just matured, at 5.34% for three months. There was some discussion as to the DDA’s liquidity in view of upcoming expenses.
Holland moved and Cornish seconded a motion to reinvest CDAA4-10-07 for three months at 5.34%.
Roll Call: Arbour yes, Cornish yes, Fox yes, Holland yes, Luckhardt absent, Mayo yes, Nielsen yes, Upton yes, Weaver absent. The motion passed.
Discussion and audience participation: None
Adjournment:
Cornish moved and Nielsen seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 2:05 PM. The motion passed by a vote of all members present.
