001Call the meeting to order. The actual down authority February 16th, 2026. [snorts] Rise to the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Amen. >> Thank you. It's not here. >> Are you on that committee? >> I'm only on. >> Okay. >> Oh, yes. Yeah. >> Roll call, please. >> Yes. Uh Schultz >> here. >> Charles >> here. >> Powers here. Ross >> here. >> O'Brien. Uh, excused or absent. Uh, Pyer not here. Taylor, >> yes. >> Troy, >> is excused. >> Okay. And Canelis >> here. >> Thank you. Any public comment on non-aggenda items? Seeing none, uh, we have a presentation from police chief Mike Goldmore. >> Good evening everybody. Um, I
002don't know necessarily about a presentation, but I do know I was uh asked to come here today to ask any questions or concern any questions regarding traffic enforcement. Um, so I'm willing to answer any questions anybody may have. Uh, anybody wants to start? I mean, I know I have I know monthly you guys copy my stats packet. >> Um, I know in 2025, uh, we wrote over 4,000 violations. Uh, we had over 6,000 calls for service. Our calls for service were up 9% in 2025 as opposed to 2024. Our officers in total made over 40 arrests. N24, which I know is a DA district, uh, and M24 is always usually our our biggest traffic issue. Um, 55% of our traffic enforcement is dedicated to M24. Um, and with that said, I just did a study
003not too long ago with um was mid last year with the um MDOT and uh the latest numbers were that we have 27,000 vehicles that that drive through Oxford State. >> Wow. >> 27,000. >> Yeah. And that's actually down since CO. Um they said actually CO the numbers actually dropped. It was closer to like 38,000. So it's almost dropped almost 10,000 since then. >> Wow. I think a lot of folks are working from home. >> Sure. >> So, but still 27,000 vehicles. Uh we have two officers on at the time. If we're not taking a call for service, we're doing traffic enforcement. If I had a nickel for every time I heard somebody say, "You can sit in my driveway or run my street and make a living." Chief, you know, moving around, moving the
004best we can. Uh we're not in Oxford. I had oh I don't want to take too much of time but I had uh when I was working the road as a sergeant I was sitting on Beric Street running radar and I had a lady pull up behind me and I'm thinking oh I think I'm getting pulled over. [laughter] She comes up to me and I rolled down my window. I said yes ma'am. What can I do for you know where you need to be? You need to be at that light right now because they're running at red light. I know, man. But people want me on West Berdick right now because they're speeding on West Berdick. And when I'm not on West Berdick, they want me on Oxford Lakes because they're speeding through Oxford Lakes
005and they're running stop signs. When I'm out there, they want me on Oh gosh, M24. They're speeding and flying through town and running red lights. When I'm on M24, they want me on glass because they're running that stop sign over there, Pow Street or cutting through the uh the plaza there at Oxford Marketplace. Um or speeding or running a stop sign on Pontiac Street. But we're doing the best we can. We're we try to move ourselves around as much as we can. let alone the call for service that we get for uh an accident downtown, a domestic violence call, a call for service. So, but we will we will get there and we will get to your street and we will get up to those lights. As a matter of fact, just last month we
006wrote over 100 violations for that red light. Um and I said, "Is there anything else?" She's like, "You have a great day." [laughter] >> I said, "I answered her question. I tried." Um, so but if anybody has any questions for me outside of that. Yes. >> So >> I guess what you hear, I think we all hear, right? M24 is a problem. We've identified it with the DVA and our charge. What is the solution? We know it's a problem. We know MD controls it. You have limited resources. I guess what I'd really like to see moving forward, and I I don't have the answer. I don't know if any of us have the answer, but it's still not, you know, it's still not enough. So, how can we like what is the solution or how
007can we move towards a solution? What I always tell everybody is traffic issues are always going to be there. Crime is unfortunately going to be there. The best thing we can do is to try to put a dent in it and to reduce it as much as we can. There's always more that we can do. My plan is I just put through an an officer through um CMV school. So, come spring um we're going to be working on some more of that once the uh snow melts. Um also um I'm going to start utilizing some of my part-time as traffic enforcement and come in a couple of times a week, kind of spread them out throughout the week and just do specific traffic enforcement. So, we don't just have my officer's working day shift. Well,
008he's doing traffic enforcement. We've called to a call. Well, now we don't have traffic enforcement. That way we'll have another car out there and that person can specifically be that draft enforcement. So we're going to do everything we can to we're putting a dent in, but we're going to try to put a larger dent in it. We're just going to keep at it. We're just going to That's the best thing we can do. 27,000 cars, we're a little outnumbered. Uh so 27,000 cars that come through here. I mean, I want to build this [clears throat] bridge. I don't think that's not going to happen. At one point they talked about rerouting traffic around town, but I know the businesses wouldn't like that. Um, so with all the vehicles between I75 and I69, you get Man,
009if I was Superman's a friend of mine. I love Batman, you know that. But if I had X-ray vision, could see everything that goes by here. Oh my goodness. You know, so traffic enforcement is a big deal and that's something that we're always going to focus on. So, and we know that and it's just it's it's it's a bear out there that we're just attacking every day. Um, and just when you know I put out sty you guys are doing a great job more. That's just what it is, >> right? >> Yeah, I appreciate you coming off too by the way because I also taking your time and whatnot. Um, we kind of time with the economic vitality and we tal talked about it too kind of what Ashley was alluding to. Part of the
010reason people don't shop downtown is because of all the trucks that blast through. Are they going faster than they should or is just the impression if you're walking down the street that are blowing our ears off or what? There's a perception that if if you if if people haven't gone to radar school, and we've been taught, we go to radar school and just a device telling you how fast a vehicle is going, you've got a metal object moving down the road, which is large and big and [clears throat] it's looking like it's going faster. My wife and I, we'll be sitting on I live in [snorts] town here and we'll be doing yard work and we'll see the car. Oh, that guy's flying. Like, no, he's doing probably 30 at best. Because you, we're taught
011to know how fast a car is. When you are a standing object and you're watching a a vehicle in motion, a big vehicle in motion, a metal vehicle in motion, it's going to look like it's going faster. So, when you got a large truck, it's going to look like it's going faster if you're standing stationary. I'm not saying that some of those trucks aren't going over the some of them aren't going the speed limit, but they're not all doing that. I mean, I I'll sit in town and I I watch the I live and work in this town. I see it. Um, so I see traffic violations, you know, every day that that uh I call my guys, hey, listen, I need you guys to come up here. We need to do this. me to
012do that. Um, so, um, but I think the perception of them blasting through town, I think you made a comment, the cars are blasting through town. I don't think that's the case. U, but I'm not saying they're not doing that, um, more than they probably should, but we're going to do the best that we can to curtail that or bring that down. I'm going to preface this by saying I know where we live and so we never want to impede our gravel work that is happening but there does seem to be some discrepancy in the numbers where there's you know 13 commercial motor vehicle tickets I don't know you know are the other ones like how does that encompassed like are we focusing on you know personal vehicles is this 13 or are those then
013rolled into you know 50 of the red lights happen to be >> no if if it's a truck and it runs the red light I call it a CB okay >> so if it yeah and and that's a number that we need to pick up usually in the winter months the trucks the just the enforcement's just not there so it starts to pick up in the springtime and the summertime >> um so but and again sending my officer to the CMV school [clears throat] I want to try to you know enhance it I want to get those numbers up so um that you will see coming. >> And not that I want to specifically >> No, no, I get it. Yeah. And listen, I I've even my officers told me they said, "Oh, rumor has
014it now people are saying they have to avoid Oxer because they're going to get pulled over." I'm like, "Well, I I don't want the constant people living get pulled over." I mean, come to town, please. We want you to do business, but you got to follow the rules. >> Go 25, >> you know? So, go 25. Yeah. Go the speed limit. So, um so people are getting that. they know that we're out and about and that's the whole idea as far as I mean just not just traffic enforcement just being visible period to uh um stop crime from happening because the more vis I told my guys I said just when you think you're vis too visible be more visible visibility visibility visibility visibility v visibility is what deters travel is what helps with traffic
015enforcement and it helps uh deter crime the more that we're visible out there so first and foremost when the officers come in they're to take their car and drive around and do patrol. Take their calls and do traffic enforcement. So, if they're doing traffic enforcement, they're downtown running traffic enforcement and they obviously they get a call to a an accident or a domestic, well, they've got to go to that and that's going to tie them up. When my officer gets a a domestic or not just, we'll get to the domestic in a minute, but a drunk driving case. Let's just use that for an example. This is a cooperative subject. If my officer pulls over a drunk driver, he's off the street for four hours. So, that's 24 hours and one officer's off the road.
016Now you got one on. You have to think about the times uh the days and the nights and prioritize as far as okay, I'm the only guy on right now. Um I get myself into a situation. My my person's down at Pontiac now at the jail dropping a subject off. It's hard to rely on other agencies. We know that they're out there that will assist us and we assist them, but they could be tied up on a call. So, you have to be real cautious and you have to do these things at the right times when you have the right uh amount of people. Um, and for what we have and what we do, these guys do a really good job of doing that. [cough] Um, but there are some things that I would like
017to see uh improve and pick up. So, like I said, we we put a dent in, but I'd like to put a larger dent. [cough] Like I said, you can always do more. Yeah, one of the things could go back to our meeting we had last week uh for economic vitality [clears throat] those stansions up there in town for a while that people kept hitting on occasion. They slowed traffic down at least that's the appearance I'll say visual per your conversation. >> Would that be of some benefit of uh having those reinstalled so we could slow the traffic down? I realize that it's, you know, for some reason people ran into them and I saw comments on social media about it, but it's like who cares as long as somebody's safe. That's more important than
018comments on Facebook. >> What are you talking about? You talking about the medians in the road? >> Yeah. Those those kind of rubberized stensions that were there that I think they're bright yellow if I >> for the pedestrian crossing. >> People were slapping around. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they >> right in front of my place. >> Yeah. But they they had the impact I I know of slowing the traffic down because people became visually more conscious. And I don't know for a fact, but I thought that they were removed for some reason that that didn't make sense to me. Do you think they got something they kind of got smacked around enough that they just were partially there and they just >> Yeah. Yeah, we know that. But can they be reinstalled is
019my question. Would that be of some benefit for the problems we have with traffic? >> They can and I don't think so. I don't think that's going to deter anything. I mean, you got I I love our downtown. I wish it was a little more pedestrian friendly. We have a highway that goes through this town. That's just that's reality. We don't have a downtown like Lake Oran or the highway goes around the town and and you've got that that nice quiet slow just run-of-the-mill traffic going through. We have M24 that goes through here and that's always going to be an issue. Um these pedestrian crossings, I'll be honest with you, I'm not a fan of those. I mean, you get I reminds me of the game Frogger when I was a kid. You get, hey,
020let's go in here. You got semi semi and you're standing in the middle. Okay, we can go up. It scares the crap out of me. I would love to see another couple traffic lights to be honest with you. I I know I'm I'm open a whole can of worms with that. I know how expensive they are and that doesn't like to slow traffic down. I I understand they want to keep things moving, but um it worries me. And I've actually had people email me and ask me, "Chief, you need to have an officer enforce those and have somebody sit down there and watch the crosswalks." What? >> I I do the best I can. We'll do what people ask, but I just don't I don't have the band for that. And >> back to comment
021about the traffic lights, though. I some of things I've attended, of course, don't have, you know, the experience you have, that traffic lights actually improve the flow of traffic. They didn't slow it down, they made it more efficient. And I think that's one of the mistakes when we had that highway redone is we didn't insist with MDOT. I mean, they came up with excuse, oh, you don't have enough traffic. Well, I think that's BS. I think if we had somebody else >> I sat at those meetings. I know. I don't know why I went. >> I sat in them, too. And every meeting I went to, I mean, also the SECOG meetings I attended, it's the same thing. Traffic lights actually improve the flow of traffic. The public doesn't realize that. >> I agree. And
022that was probably the major mistake when that was redone out there is not >> not insisting that we get more traffic lights. And another biggest mistake is not putting a turn lane all the way through town. I can't believe that we didn't put a turn lane from Broadway all the way down. Where do most of our accidents happen? From Broadway south of town. Because everybody's turning the bank or hey, this lane saying, "Yeah, come on. You can go through." The other lane doesn't know what's going on. And I have to call Don and Rudy. There goes another one of your light poles. Hope you got a stash of them in the garage. >> We do. I guess I'm just wondering if maybe after this meeting we can figure out some sort of task force. Not
023that I want to add more meetings to anyone. >> Well, please. >> No, but but this is something we hear every meeting. >> You alone don't have the power. You don't alone have the power. You're no one here >> alone, but nobody alone has the power to do it. We all have identified the issue and we can put the dents in it, but until there's something infrastructure-wise that actually changes, it's not going to actually change. >> And go back to traffic lights. If you go through downtown Rochester, which has a highway going through as well, there's more traffic lights. That traffic flows much better and it's easy to walk around downtown because they have traffic lights. >> You time them right. So, you know, it's Yeah. And I I tell the the chief in Rochester
024all the time, uh, he's going to end up missing some of his traffic lights. >> [laughter] >> So, you could spare a couple, right? >> Um, I was just going to say on Soup Scroll, I think it's a big um, uh, people not paying attention. I mean, literally, there was a police car sitting, you know, right next to that crosswalk and I watched almost three near misses. Yeah. And you were there, too, right? And it's so I think while we could do whatever we could do perhaps it's something like you know just friendly message like our kids are walking across the street or somebody's bringing you your food you know maybe I don't know it just seems like people are trying to get to the next spot and just everything. >> Yeah it we we
025put the posts out as well and uh we're we remind people I' I've we put it on the paper we put on social media. Um, I've gone to different events and and and put it out there. Everybody's just in a hurry to get to their destination because they've got 50 things going on in their lives and they've got these things in their hands constantly and and they're just distracted and um it's just so we just the best thing we do is educate and and uh do as much enforcement as we can on it. But um in the meantime when you you speak about the soups and sweets roll um that's another I mean we everybody loves that. It's one of my favorite. I think it's it's a great niche [clears throat] for this town because
026that's not the right word, but I mean it's a great uh everybody has parades and other events going on, but not soup. So, I think that's a really good thing. And when we decided to shut down both the verdicts last year, um that made it a little safer um as far as letting people cross. But when we when you hold an event at night, it's dangerous enough for the officers and people be out there enforcing traffic during the day, but at night, you can put all the bells and whistles on us you want. It's just there. those glares that people can't see. So, it worries me every time we have the suit and sweets roll that my officers tell me every year, "Oh my god, Chief, I almost got run over, almost got hit." I'm
027like, "Ah God, you guys, please just please be careful. Just u make sure you got your vests on. What do we do? They we've got the Darth Vader lightsabers out there and everything else and police cars and stuff." And then people see police cars, of course, they're like, you know, insects, you know, they go right to the [laughter] So, it's just people actually say, "What's going on?" like sweep stroke. Oh, really? Okay, cool. All right. Please look forward. [laughter] And I actually had somebody was at the at the intersection. I'm literally standing there. I'm waiting for more barricades to come up as we're trying to transition things uh and shut down both the verdicts. This person's actually coming at me. I'm like, "Stop, stop." I'm backing up. I'm like, "Stop." And then they start to
028go around. No, no, no. Stop. I go, "Don't go around." And I I'm banging on the window. Hey, stop. There's a behind me there's a barricade. Well, how I need to get around over there. This it was an elderly person. You took his direct his familiar route away. He didn't know what to do whether I'm staying the road around. He he went around me. He went around the barricade and still the barricade was up at East Berdick. He had his signal on. He was going to make that turn and I'm out there just in front of him. No. So, um it's just it's another one um was behind the barricade at East Berdick or no, West Berdick in Hudson and we had barricades there and bar and and DPW trucks. There's no way you could
029have gotten in there. So, I'm walking across the street because I'm doing foot patrol for the event and there's a car. He's going around and excuse me. Um how did you get to this point? How did you get in here? Well, I came through there. I'm like, through there? The sidewalk? You went over the sidewalk? Oh my. I just need to get I just got a prescription for my wife and I just need to get through here. I'm like, we need you to get out of here. Don't kill somebody, friends. So, let me move the barricade and get you out of here. So, those are the things you run into. So, you can put up as many barricades and you can have as much enforcement and the police. So, those are kind of things that
030are going to happen. Uh so we just so um visibility is key and education is key and um doing the best we and and I can tell everybody else I said you know it worries me too because of you know situations where incidents can happen where somebody wants to do something and and hurt. Um so you try to fill as many gaps as you can with vehicles and and barricades and things like that. Can you fill them all? No. But you fill as many as you can. So you do as much traffic as you can. >> So when you the long-term solution is what Ashley mentioned though because we can talk about this and that or have more stories. But the point is we need to do something as you were saying and it might
031be more traffic lights. You know that would be one thing I you know that maybe that's something we can look into and you know I think we all know different state legislators etc that might have some impact on our friends at MDOT that might be able to get something done. Um then one other thing too uh you know Roman was here too was on by [clears throat] committee and I think if you would call you'd ask about chief coming here is it okay if we ask him if he wants to make any comments that fit our protocol? >> Yeah just [cough] I I can wait until >> Okay. All right. Yeah. I just want to make sure you follow meeting protocol. >> Yeah. He him and I talked before I got here. We're all going
032to make a plan. >> One too. Yeah. >> You got what? >> I have a cell phone. >> Okay. [laughter] doesn't have that many hitman. >> I didn't know if he was old enough. You know, the state said something about taking cell phones away, but that's >> after 8:00, man. Don't call me [laughter] I'll stand here all day and tell you all kinds of stories. So, I I don't know if I answer your questions or if there's anything I can do or anything. And also, I do give stats uh to um Kim every month. Um, please feel free to call me, email me, uh, stop in, uh, if there's anything you want to discuss, anything that you want to see improved, anything that we you have a good idea. I I don't know all the
033answers, but um, I'd like to hear some suggestions and and uh, some some things that you and some just suggestions that you may have and, uh, we'll do everything we can to to make those things happen. That's what we're here for. back in 20145 when when the project first started. Yeah. We had a task force that you know you sat in our room at the same time as it went to the entire thing. One of the things that we talked about and and targeted to MDOT was trying to get them to lower the speed limit at Market Street coming south >> because it's still full speed until you get right at that curve and then it drops almost instantly, you know, down to 25 to go around the curve right there. And as it is
034right now, you and I both know how many accidents we've had right there in that curve over the years and how many deaths we've had in that curve right there over the years. >> And one thing alone, because you you know, you got any semi-truckss or any of the cars, you're still around that curve going 45, 55 miles an hour coming around that curve right there. It takes them all the way past Davidson Street before they're even 35 miles hour. >> Yeah. >> You know, so it takes that long for them to slow down. if there's any way we can re address that or ret talk or bring it back up to MDOT and say, "Hey, you know, run a little bit more." Again, I hate to take time out, but you know, run a
035little bit more radar for a week or so that you can kind of say, "Hey, this is what we're seeing." You know, kind of a thing right here. We can try to get them to back off a little bit sooner >> before they hit the town and all a sudden within, you know, five feet, you're supposed to drop this, you know, to >> Right. But yeah. >> Yeah. And and that curb alone, you're talking like where the fire station their first one in. Yeah. Um we just had another accident there and it was a a person had a medical emergency and uh crashed into a car going southbound. So um yeah, that curb is is pretty dangerous. I can't believe they had McDonald's there for that amount of years. >> Would that be a place
036for a traffic light? >> There's nothing. >> There is a light. >> Well, the lane seem very dangerous. Every time I drive over there, I always see >> by the fire station. >> That's only used for uh the emergency vehicles, >> but I mean, it's already there. >> What about the thing that shows your speed? >> We asked about that. Mot says no. >> Well, I know it slows me down. >> Suggested, hey, let's put some of some of those feet signs in there or suggest maybe we can uh try to get some grants or get some signs for people when they come in north and south. And and I said, no. And says no. >> Why? I >> they want people to move faster. >> They're kind of their whole object is to move
037traffic through as as fast and safely as they can. >> I think we have a >> safely. >> Yeah. Well, they can still flow but go safe. Yeah. I'm with her. Yeah. >> That's not a great answer. >> It's the only place that I've ever been pulled over and it was by you and the only ticket that I've ever gotten was from you at that corner [laughter] >> and I lost cuz you showed up to court. [laughter] It's all making sense. >> Been waiting until now. [laughter] >> I see now. Yeah. Oh my god. We're frown upon if we didn't show up for courts. [laughter] Oh my goodness. Yeah. >> Anybody else have any questions or comments? >> But I was nice about it. >> You were very kind. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> No,
038I just I just want to say thank you. >> Yeah. Oh, anytime. Yeah. Appcate. I'm just a little unclear what our next what our action items are uh going forward. I mean, it sounds like we want to ask MDOT for at least to consider more traffic lights. I mean, how does that happen? >> Well, yeah, it would be a Yeah, it would be a village uh also conversation with council uh with Joe Mador. Um uh probably sure township officials. I mean, this is going to be a round because it traffic lights are very expensive and it's going to need a traffic study and all kinds of things and so it's it's it's a it's a big animal. So, um it would have to go through all those channels. >> Just to that point though, the
039township, you know, there's subdivisions going in every every couple months and we've got a couple big ones going in north of town, too. Plus, Water Stes, you know, whatever. So, >> yeah. What I think what we would need going back what actually count about the craft plates is probably the list of what needs to be done you know something maybe from yourself or somebody else and we can start working on per for Mary's points one thing to have a gripe session but next thing is to actually do something >> right >> been griping for a long time >> right that's a that item that's you know coming into report and everything from economic vitality committee so I think maybe we should put it to the economic vitality committee and say continue on with the action
040items and what you want to what direction we want to take. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And and the enforcement too, just always know this too. Uh if you don't >> just because you don't see it downtown doesn't mean it's not happening. A lot of our officers when we pull people over, we wait to get them when they're outside of town so we can get them on a big shoulder, broad shoulder, so it's safer for us to get out of the car, not necessarily downtown. We want to keep parking lots and things like that. Sometimes the circumstances uh lead us to that, but a lot of times we'll wait and stop somebody when we get in a safer area or a larger area. So, um I know that that's happening too. So, and I know usually
041people go by what they see and that's why I want to make sure you guys have the stats and know that um that we are enforcing M24 and uh you know that that traffic light downtown is I mean I I live in this town and it seems like every cycle somebody's running that red light. Like we just wrote over a 100 tickets last month went come on people really and I'm not just we don't run I mean we're talking it's red count to five go through. It's not oh it turned red when I went through. No we don't do that. We don't we don't do that. This is >> it's dangerous to the point to where it's red and then you go through it. And so and and the objective is too at the intersections
042of course is to make sure that we're >> bring I hate to keep going. got a needing to go through and your time is valuable. Out of curiosity, where where are the folks from that are you're giving tickets to? Are they in Lake City, Leier, or on where to what? >> Uh, it's a lot of folks that are committing and out. >> Do you have us any statistics where these people are? >> Uh, yeah. I mean, it's it's I do see a lot of Lepier and and uh, you know, North Branch and, you know, from the south, Lake Oran or I mean, it's just uh, areas that are anything you can think of north or south of here without pinpointing an exact uh name of a city. Um it's just the commute that you get
043through because a lot of folks live north and south of town. >> I just wonder if there's a certain area that we got a lot of traffic stops through, you know. >> Okay. >> No, there's not one I can really pinpoint. It's it's a variety, but it's it's a lot of folks that are committing through town, whether it's commercial or private going to work. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thanks, Chief. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Blessing. >> All right. Six. >> Thank you. >> A, B, C, and D. [snorts] >> I'll make a a motion to approve the consent agenda items A, B, C, and D. >> I'll second that. >> By Rox, second by Charles. Any questions? All in favor? >> Thank you. Financials 78 KB. I will make a motion
044to approve our financials items 7 A and B and bills in the amount of $19,98964. >> Support moved by Ross by Taylor. Roll call, please. >> Camilis. >> Yes. >> Taylor, >> yes. >> Ross, >> yes. >> Powers, yes. Charles, >> yes. >> And Schultz, >> yes. Eight DA reports. 8 board committee report. >> That's you, Pete. >> Well, Brad's not here. I wasn't at the meeting. So, you >> I'm sorry. I'm Scott's there. Were you there? >> Ashley was Yeah, you weren't there. >> We got a lot of things to count. Yeah, [laughter] >> we were done in like 30 minutes. It was amazing. >> Yeah. >> Um Kimberly went met with us and we went over our strategic action plan and discuss the different things on there, but technically what the or committee
045is supposed to be responsible for as you'll follow up on the rest of the committees coming that the same thing happened at all the committee levels and you know basically talked what each committee's responsibilities were. Um the trolley was kind of a final discussion or discussion, but as soon as the next month or so it gets a little bit warmer, then we're going to go ahead and advertise and post it for sale and move on the room. um executive and we just talked briefly uh the executive director's assistance and Kimberly gave us a report on her and how review everything and have followed up later on and the gazebo phase one was completed um what's left in the spring we still got close to $40,000 left in the grant that we need to to spend
046and part of it we will readress and probably send out the ramp again using different material We'll see if we can get a more favorable bid to go at that point of it. And then um we obviously did receive a Main Street America accreditation [snorts] and follow up with an actual fullblown report later on. >> Not officially, but unofficially. Yes. >> So, disregard Jim. [laughter] And that was on the gazebo. When are the bids getting sent out? >> When are they getting sent out? We have not identified a date, but we can send it out as soon as possible. >> I would think so because, you know, by time you send it out and get things ready, a lot of people want to a lot of construction get planned and >> we're already a little
047bit late in my opinion. >> Uh, AE report, did you say I'm sorry? >> Yes. Um a lot of it a lot of it is uh or has been rather discussed already the traffic issues and things like that which chief was gracious enough to be here and address some of these a couple of things in addition to that if you look at the notes here we'll go through everything. Um we had a couple I think we had a good meeting you know brainstorming and um one of the we had a couple realtors commercial realtors come in not residential realtors it's a different cat commercial realtors versus residential um and they brought some interesting information about rental rates uh for example I believe they're saying per square foot in Rochester was around 40 bucks I don't
048remember I think it was like what 20 2530 in 1250 in so >> quite a less uh less of an overhead knock if somebody's choosing going to choose to uh relocate here. The other thing they mentioned because it can't go through everything we talked about is using them as a resource. So instead of the DDA or our executive director trying to be a realtor maintaining that we could use them if we want to market the downtown because that's what they do for full-time. Uh Barry Lando was nice enough to come. Barry is a gentleman or his company rather. He's doing the Chuck Schneider properties. So right there we got semi a lot of resources not just in our area but when I looked at his website they do business all around Michigan plus Ohio. So
049not that I'm trying to sell his services but I use him as an example because there's other realtors besides him but I think that'd be a great benefit and Kimberly would probably help you a great deal as well. Go ahead. >> It yeah I thought it was a wonderful meeting that was incredibly informative. Um did you do you know him? Like do you have a relationship with him already? >> I'd met him uh years ago. He was actually on a DDA committee at one time as to be on it, but um >> I just just from being around town and things like that. He lives in Oxford Township. >> Okay. Gotcha. >> Um but like I said, he's got all these real all these listings right now and he's as you said, it was a
050fascinating information about >> business how these folks look at Oxford and what they're looking for. And they can help, just to interject, they can help kind of match businesses that are looking for a different location with communities that might offer what they're looking for. So, I'm not going to be able to go out and like solicit Oxford to larger organizations or even smaller, but they have their inventory of who they're working with, and it seemed like a really great idea. >> Yeah. I went to his website, looked at some of the properties just out of curiosity to see what they're being listed for pricewise. Um, how do we implement though, Kimberly? That was one of the things is I thought he made a great presentation about using a commercial realtor to do the work and
051all the connections they have. How could we, what kind of relationship could we build? >> Yeah, I mean, certainly we can schedule check-ins periodically just to see where we're at and make sure that they continue to remember us. I would like to, you know, one of the things I thought about after the fact was we do have a board member who does commercial properties also. So, we might be able to leverage >> I think she does residential. >> I think she does commercial, too. >> They do. Yes, she did commercial. >> Yeah. So, we can leverage her. I mean, I don't want to put too much work on her, but she is a good person to number one help speak on our behalf with the right lingo. Um, and also help keep her eyes open.
052I know we have we have it just specifically for Oxford, but she can set up alerts that can let us know when you know different spaces are available. >> Only danger you would face potentially as somebody could say as a conflict of interest, you know, but that's you neither here nor there. I don't know what the work around that would be, but uh going back to meeting then. So that was a big thing. I'm glad you said you thought it was fascinating. I I think it was really eye opening to see what commercial realtors think of the area here and prices >> where we are versus some other communities. Uh Roman who's here by the way brought up the Oxford 7. We've talked about that over the last couple years. That's a draw for people
053coming to Oxford from other communities. Um so that's the disadvantage there. Sometimes because the ownership is out of state, sometimes it's hard to coordinate with them as far as any promotions we want to do. Um, we also talked briefly about the uh, as I put here, the def party store. We don't really know what's going on there unless somebody else has heard otherwise. And then, um, guess that's basically the biggest chunk of what we've talked about here. And like I said, the big thing what Marie mentioned is about taking some action on some of these schools. That's probably the key discussion. And that's it. the 8C promotion committee. >> Were you there? >> I I was there, but I was late. >> Okay. Do you want me to run through it? >> If you'd like
054to start, I can. >> Yeah, problem. >> No, not a problem at all. So, yeah, we walked through the work plan and kind of talked through what the responsibilities of the promo committee would be. Um, we're hoping to revitalize our quad champions to help disseminate information and gather information. Um, let's see. We talked about the volunteer program, some of the work that we've already done, and then what we need to focus on going forward. We also talked about the spring fling, which is going to be our like calendar year Q1 big event. Um, we're not coordinating it. We're helping to support the businesses. It's going to be a businessled um event, but we're hoping to get all different types of businesses involved and participating. And then Jess will be able to make a map and
055do some communications for that. [clears throat] St. Patty's Day, we'll do something similar to what we did for um Valentine's Day where we're just going to share the events that are taking place. If the restaurants would like to coordinate something, we're happy to do so, but we're not doing a ticketed event this year for several different reasons. Um, we also talked about Earth Day coming up. Right now, Earth Day is the 22nd. Um, but we're working with a council beautifification champion to get a solidified date and to get volunteers for that event. And then, um, we talked about potentially an art event. Um we'll talk later in our agenda regarding the DIA program that we were um we will be participating in, but we would like to see how we can continue that on after
056those pieces leave our community. >> Um well, another thing that we touched on is I know that we talked about potentially doing like a a Q a quarter first quarter of the year type of event to draw people to town and things like that. with the short amount of time there wasn't enough time to get something together for this year. So in our coming meetings now that things are organized well for a year you you ladies have done a great job and going through our events and I'm like everything's in order the DDA I know when everything is so that's wonderful kudos. Um but I looking at next year if we start planning it now and getting people involved in things like that. Um, and then I know that we did a nice nice talk
057about it cross-promoting and working together with the other businesses and we're trying to see what the best ways are to get everyone to co-mingle and support each other and amp each other up. So, >> yeah. And so we we took that feedback and we are now having our business owners meeting where well the first portion is going to be kind of a report out of what we're doing and asking for feedback from business owners about what's going on, what challenges they're having and then leaving the second half for that mingling opportunity. Um unfortunately the last two meetings that we've had have had very low participation. So the mingling was quick. I guess they mingled very quickly. Um, but that's kind of the what we're targeting going forward is allowing that opportunity. Now, yes, we recognize
058that the chamber does that. We want to create an opportunity for those that elect to not be part of the chamber to also have that opportunity to mingle with their cohorts. K to Dating. >> Yes. Uh most of our meeting was uh comprised of talking about three signed grant applications that have been submitted and I know we're going to vote on those later. Uh but one is for uh oil salon which has taken over Caputo's um ion software solutions and uh the museum. So, those will be um voted on later. Um volunteerism. We talked a little bit about how Holly wants to revamp the program a little bit uh and hopefully find an assistant that can help her. >> She did. Yep. >> Oh, great. Great. >> Um and then we've got um we already
059mentioned the springs and I know we're going to be talking about the America 250. uh our accreditation happened and we were approved. And as far as uh future business, we're going to talk about um the our committee is going to review the strategic action plan to see uh which tasks we would be able to take on from that. >> Next on the list is the AE the America 250 action 15 committee. Yes, we actually met again today. Lots of wonderful things happening. Um we just got um almost our final text for our brace beamer um state of Michigan historic marker completed with the state. I sent back a couple copy edits earlier today. So hopefully we'll get the final approved here for installation and well production and then installation soon. Um the biggest thing is
060we have events coming up and so Regina in particular has put together information on all the different events that we can and are having having some are all over the place. So trying to finalize a one pager that we can then connect out so we can share all the events happening. Um I know we're going to do something with the police department for your anniversary. Do you know the date for that? I think she said it but I can't remember. release week which I think is like the second week of May >> some I know it was May I just can't remember the exact date so we will have something for then we are going to have a flag retirement event with the um fire department I believe that is June 14th July 8th we're
061going to do our 150 celebration in tandem with concerts in the park >> the 9th Yep. >> Just to clarify, >> Thursday. >> Yeah. >> Unless I said the eth all day long. >> Well, I've been saying that, too. And then I was like, >> Thursday, whatever day that is. >> Yes. That's when we'll have time capsules opened. Um hopefully have readings of the Declaration of Independence, all all sorts of stuff happening that day. Girl Scout, um their local regional leader is also from Oxford. She joined us today. So, we'll have some support from Girl Scouts. We also have support from the D, our our local D, our local SAR, um partnering with the museum, the library, um trying to enhance our Memorial Day parade this year. And then our beautifification committee is hopefully being
062reinvigorated. And there is something happening with Centennial Trees and Giveaways, but I don't fully know all the details for that, so stay tuned. But the next thing is really Regina is going to pull together a one pager of all the events that we have confirmed and then those that are pending and it's really up for people to kind of push them along. So we are in a good spot. >> Very good. Any questions? Awesome. Thank you. The executive director's report. >> Um it's been busy. Um but what the only things I'll highlight on here is um Jess did a phenomenal job this month um putting together a sponsorship brochure that we that's a very easy walkthrough of what you can sponsor, how much it's going to be and what you get. It looks a lot
063prettier and very more professional, much more professional than what we've had in the past. So she did a wonderful job. Um we met with the premier sponsor and we've secured $13,000 of sponsorships for this year already. um that's just with the premier sponsor. I know Jess has also been working with um smaller sponsors, if you want to call it that, for other individual events. So, I know we've gotten some traction on that as well. And then also, she's done a phenomenal job about um organizing and picking bands and getting those I believe we have six of the eight right now um set up for the summer. So, we're plugging away. The market will be opening up here shortly and things are looking nice. We're excited for the summer. >> Very good. uh old business. There
064was none new business the EDA budget. >> Yes. So, uh we talked with the council and Joe and our board um that we're going to do a joint workshop like we did last year. We don't have to sit in their full budget workshop, but we can sit in for the DDA portion and they have that scheduled for April 8th. So, we need to have our budget prepared and ready to go before that time. Um, so we just wanted to have some conversation today around any large programs or capital improvement projects that you have in mind or that we want to discuss so that we can budget for that appropriately. >> And one of those items we discussed previously was the lighting. >> What do we call that? The lighting. >> The skyline lighting. Thank you.
065I've been talking approved. >> Yeah, but I >> but not for the next fiscal year. >> Yeah, but have you got contracts signed yet? >> We do. I actually talked with him today. We do not have a date. He was waiting to get brackets or something of that nature because he didn't have those. So, we have that on the agenda to get okay. Um to get a date on the calendar for because it would be half of it would be done in this fiscal year and then half in the next. >> Right. I remember that part of it. Do we have a contract signed with him yet? >> No, nothing is signed. >> It's taking so long. >> He's waiting for numbers for the brackets. He can't give us a contract with an exact number
066until he gets those in. >> Okay. Is there some way we get moving along so we can budget it and make sure >> I can sure try. >> Okay. I talked to um DPW Superintendent Rudy Grace at the meeting at the council meeting last week and I know there's been discussion over the past year or so about the northwest parking lot. All those big tall red cedar junipers that are along between there and the the alleyways and harvest and everything probably 60% of them were dead, all mangled, torn up and everything. Um it's starting to be a a debris catch all that's been, you know, just get catches in the stuff and now we're starting to get weed trees are starting to grow up in between and everything, you know, it's a total mess. He
067had um researched a couple years ago about uh having that all tore out and then putting up a fence in its place to go the entire line. That way it would be again security or the barrier between the apartments and us and gives us better appearance wise security wise and at the same time clean up everything underneath and that would all be you know mulched back in with tilestone and everything so that way you don't have to worry about the weeds and you know nasty stuff and everything like that. And you did forward the email to me and you >> yesterday I believe it was around 25,000 to to do something like that. has one item that we >> Oh, I don't have a comment on that. I have something to add. Sorry. >> Okay.
068And the next thing that we've been talking about still again with all the sidewalks and stuff, there's still sidewalks now in the backs of the buildings that need to be continue on in that area. I know the area going from the bicycle shop north up to your place >> is quite a hazardous area to try to move up down there. sidewalk heat is this much and stones out of place and it's it's pretty nasty. The other area down behind um 24 street on down through Ca and everything again it's the same thing. You got you know 3 4 inch gap or lips on stones and things like that. So again those items need to be addressed too. So, it's, you know, something to put on and talk about and move out. Actually, >> um, we
069had talked about, and this isn't huge, but it's it will add up the brackets for Boulevard banners >> all along 24 within the DDA district, obviously, but that will add up quickly to a large sum. And we have been talking through the, you know, the committee and a couple other ones over the last couple years with the um Centennial Park, you know, they removed the three trees. Yeah. Last year. Last year they took the maples out by this street and that big old nasty silver maple in the back which now it's, you know, quite open. And now at the same time, the spruce tree that we like the tree with the lights is, you know, it's only got a few more years left on that. So again, it's looking at replacing them with new trees,
070you know, taking those down and replacing them with new trees. And I I don't want to see us replacing them with a 2inch tree that's only 8 feet tall. It's we're going to have to wait another 30 years before you can hang light or something like that. So I mean, would we be leaning towards more of a a 4 to 6 in, you know, tree that would have to be tree spaded in and something that you're going to get that's already probably, you know, 20 to 30 feet tall at that point. Again, you're looking at, you know, 8 to $10,000 a tree, you know, something like that. So, again, it's something that, you know, needs to be addressed or budgeted for. >> Do we need not I love trees, [laughter] >> but >> nice way
071to start, >> but do we need to replace all those trees? I feel like we have heavy traffic in the park right now. I think the tree that we light is definitely a priority. That'd be very awkward if we don't have something >> the other ones. Well, we can have a substitute. It doesn't >> We got We got a call one year for somebody's like, "Do you want a tree? You can just come pick it up." Like the size of that as you have to come get it and you have to plant it yourself, but you can just have it. >> Oh, that would be great. >> Yeah. I It was unsolicited. I don't know that we'll get that, you know, offer again, but you never know. >> The one with the the big Mel
072that, you know, back by Mur down right there. I mean, that was nice for the shade at night, you know, when people were sitting out there, you know, it's pretty hot at that point. But again, that's, >> you know, you're like if you want to sit in the shade, you want to set the sun kind of a thing. >> I just want to be mindful like the park is >> full. So, I don't know. not opposed to it by any means. I just don't want, >> you know, we're just continue to throw more stuff in there if we don't need it. >> But again, it's something um bring this up since we're talking Centennial Park and I brought this up Joe as well. Um, my concern is we've got nothing between the road and our
073folks that are in the concert enjoying themselves. My suggestion is is [sighs] putting some kind of barriers up there that would slow a car down and not necessarily somebody that wants to wreak personal havoc, but somebody that may have a medical emergency that might drive off 24 [clears throat] and go into our crowd. So, we need we need to think about if if you guys are talking about things to to add to this parties, maybe have some kind of ballards or big planters or something just to just slow the car down that's coming in. Um, that would be wonderful. So, an accident something veers off from >> Yeah. And stopping at the crosswalk. >> Right. Right. Right. >> I I worry about that all the time. It's just Yeah. Thank you. Very important. >> Any
074other >> the um the fence project to me if if that's a $25,000 project that seems like a no-brainer because it it looks terrible. I mean I look at it a lot because it's the back of our parking lot. But um just the people kind of coming through and there's little cutthroughs and but I would have thought it was a lot more than that. So I that would be an awesome awesome addition to clean it up back there because everything looks so nice and then it's >> the project would be in conjunction working with the DVW because as far as they would be removing the trees that are there and prepping it and everything and then rellandscaping it, you know, put the snow and stuff down after >> and you're talking about a privacy fence.
075>> Yes. >> Y it's the one you had a price on is where the boards are off one, one back. Yes, there we go. That was the word. >> Any other com questions or comments? >> The only thing I would like to propose is can we spend some time after our board meeting next month and go do our own board? >> Yes. >> Um [clears throat] budget workshop or do we want to schedule a se separate date? Same date. >> Okay. >> I'm better at the same date. >> Same date. putting in a capital improvement budget, right? That's basically project. >> Yeah. >> I mean, are you you're recording? Yes, you're she's recording what we're talking, right? >> Yeah. Well, I think the intent is to look through the full budget and make sure that
076it's ready to go for the council um joint workshop. And I'll make sure to have highlighted any changes and why they're proposed. And then, you know, as a board, you can discuss whether you want to proceed with that or not. [clears throat] 10B support staff compensation. >> Do we do close session for this or >> you can if she wants it? >> If we're going to talk about her like personnel file, she can ask for close. >> Would you like a close session? >> It wouldn't be up. >> Oh, it's up to you. >> I would. >> Okay. Yeah, she would. She would like a closed session, please. All right. >> Motion to enter into close session for >> I'll second that. >> Move us by Charles to enter into close session to discuss support
077staff compensation. All in favor? [laughter] >> All right. >> I'll make a motion to increase um >> Don't we have to open the meeting up again? >> We did. We came up close session. >> Y we vote on that. I'll make a motion to increase justice salary to $22 an hour effective February 1st. Second move by Ross to raise it to $22 an hour and support by Taylor. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. >> Oh, yes. Uh Charles, >> yes. >> Ross, >> yes. >> Schultz, >> yes. >> Taylor, >> yes. >> Camilis, >> yes. >> And Powers, yes. 10 C the tech grant. >> Yes. So we have to make a decision tonight of what we want to submit for our tech grant. In our last board meeting we had multiple conversations but we
078did not vote on any or you did not vote on anything. So we need to do the voting tonight. Um the two big buckets that we had talked about at during last month were one um getting some sort of consultant to help support the EV goals within the strategic plan and then also a marketing and communications consultant to help support a larger and more intense um marketing program for us. I spoke with Oakland County uh regarding the EV committee consultant. um there were some ideas presented around how to move forward with the goals of the EV committee and that perhaps some of the goals within the strategic plan are not appropriate for us at this time. Um so I I don't know how you feel about pausing on that or if we want to put
079it in um because we can always change it. We just have to get something in and it has to be like approved. So, um, [clears throat] we had the option of putting those two items in. The other piece that I did want to bring forward tonight was the laptop that I received when I first joined, which was four years ago, is um, I would like to reallocate it to the music system to the where >> to the garbage. >> No, I mean, it still works. It works. It works. Okay. But what we're being told is that the laptop that is running our sound system is on its very last legs. So my recommendation is to reallocate the one that I currently have it to the museum to make that our sound system and then I
080would purchase a new one. >> Actually >> along those lines, could we add It's not going to cost that much all that money to do the laptop, right? >> Oh gosh, no. No. >> But could we do something to fix like put that money towards figuring out a way to not have it stuck up in our closet in the museum. >> We have done extensive ex like exploration to try and figure out if we could move it. And unfortunately because of the antenna, we cannot. The only option that we have is to get a hot spot and put the hot spot in that area and then have us have the laptop in our location. Is that No, that's not even right because it has to be wired into the antenna. >> Yeah, it needs to
081be directly across from where the sensors are on the >> yeah on this. >> So yeah, >> there's just no we because we would like to remove that piece of the puzzle, but there's just no realistic way to do that. >> Right. So the question I have is should we go ahead and do this? Do do we need to vote on that then about replacing that? >> We need to vote on what is going to be submitted for our tech grant. It's $10,000. At this time we have three options. We could do all three and then if we need to re-evaluate we could do >> and whatever pieces in each that we >> Yeah. We don't I mean we don't even have to put a number. We can just say these are the three things
082that we want to do. >> I was going to ask whether we have funds in another category that we could use to purchase a laptop and save. >> We do that money to go towards the tech grant. >> We do, but the caveat is is we have to utilize these funds by the end of August. So yeah, >> yeah. Um, first of all, I like what Marie's saying there because we could do that and I think it makes a lot of sense. Uh, this past week I spent some time talking with some retailers in other cities and they had a program uh geared toward retailers which we talk about quite a bit. Um, I'll get the information to you, Kimberly, and I think that um, we can look at that. I know I talked with
083one one of the retailers Saturday. uh she has a clothing store in another city and they were very enthusiastic about she said it is pricey. I don't know all the prices or if there's a group discount or whatever else but I'll give you the information. Is that specific enough or you need it right away or how quickly do we need this because it's a program that they were it's geared toward retail which we continually say we need more of in town. >> Yeah, we need to make the decision tonight. >> Okay. So, we could we be ambiguous enough to say this would work? >> We sure could. >> All right. >> We can be pretty ambiguous. Okay, >> that would be under Mark that would fall under >> I think so. Yeah, >> so we
084had a motion by >> any other comments. >> Yes. >> Okay, [laughter] >> Taylor. >> Attendee the flowers. >> Okay. On this document here, we have the second portion of our planters. These would be the ground planters. It's highlighted in pink. You guys have already approved the top line. Those are the hanging baskets. We just need approval for the pink line, which is 1242, which would be the ground planters. All the flowers are going to match. They're going to look the same. They're going to be red, white, and blue in honor of all of the festive activities and occasions we have this year. Go America. [laughter] I'll make a motion to approve the quote not to exceed $1,242. >> I'll second [laughter] question, please. >> Yes. >> No. >> Yes. >> Taylor, >> yes. >>
085Ross, >> yes. >> Powers. Yes. Charles, >> yes. >> And Schultz, >> yes. Next one. in the sign grants. E first one I think is 144 South Washington. Yep. >> I believe and Marie can speak more to this. Um >> just I see. >> Yeah, I think they're just changing we we're under the impression that they're just changing their name from >> a perion to ion. >> Yeah. >> So it's just a the front-facing portion of the sign. Thank you. panel that >> is everything else in order. >> Yes. >> Do you want a motion? >> Yes. >> All right. I'll make a motion to approve a 50% grant of uh not to exceed 1335. That's $1,335 for Ion Software Solutions to uh replace their sign. >> Move by Powers. >> Second. Report by Ross.
086Any other questions? Roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Charles, >> yes. >> Canelis. >> Yes. >> Taylor, >> yes. >> Ross, >> yes. >> Charles, >> yes. Again. >> Oh, sorry. [laughter] >> That's what I get when I try to mix them up. >> And powers. Yes. >> Vote for president. [laughter] >> Next vote is one north Washington. >> Yes. Uh one oh that's sorry yes for the exam uh they applied for two signs uh the recommendation from the design committee is to uh award a maximum grant amount not to exceed $1,500 uh for the two signs uh on the museum building and yeah that's it >> they do not have building owner permission >> they don't have what building owner permission. They have not approached council on on this at all. >> I believe
087she spoke with Joe, but I don't know that she like she obviously didn't come to council, but I think she did speak with Joe. >> I don't know what they spoke about or what was decided from that conversation. >> Doesn't matter if the council didn't vote for it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We're going to We have to put a pin in it until >> Okay. All right. >> Yeah. Just a quick comment on that too. When we um >> when we do grants to organizations that don't just a thought, not a proposal, the person asking for grant know that they have the authority to ask for it, too. >> When someone fills out the form, let's say I mean, I'll use the museum as an example. There's a person listed on here. Do we
088know that person is authorized by that organization to ask for it? >> We do know that this person in particular, but I I get what you're saying. I think that we should >> Yeah, there's something there's something on here that requires a building owner um approval, >> right? So, it's in our bylaws. >> Yeah. Oh, the I'm sorry, the property owner. >> So, yeah, that's interesting. >> It's under uh well, sign brand improvement program. Uh actually item number two on the uh qualifications for >> assignments. Do you want a copy of it too? >> You want to pass it down to >> I mean we just went through the process fixing it up. >> Part of it could just be clarification. I just want to make sure that >> that and that could be part
089of my pro my error in that she mentioned she spoke with Joe. So I assume that everything was legit with her to be able to move forward. I didn't recognize Certainly totally making them dire. So >> yeah. >> Okay. >> They're not going. They've been longanding. So I think they can wait a month while we figure it out. >> Got it. >> Can we vote on it? >> Scott, I think the problem I think we can just move on it and >> we just want >> I just don't want to like if a sign is in production or something but [clears throat] it would be pending >> pending your should >> your approval >> be moving forward without council knowing about it again. Sure. >> The outside of the building, the only thing that they
090can do anything with right now is the windows. And so or outside of the building has to be a village decision. And I'm not trying to be >> No. No, you're not. Those are the bylaws. We have bylaw us for a reason. So, absolutely. Let's just move on. >> You don't want somebody to do anything on your building without going. >> Not at all. >> No problem. >> Sorry. You want to solve Washington? >> Yes. Uh the third and final signed grant is for Foil Salon, formerly Caputo's uh a 50% grant not to exceed 700 $735. >> Oh, that that is a motion. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Yes. >> Taylor, >> yes. >> Ross, >> yes. >> How? >> Yes. Charles, >> yes. >> And Schultz, >> yes. >> Uh, 10 E. >> I'm sorry,
091who seconded that? >> Me. >> Okay. Thank you. >> 10 E D I A inside out. >> Yes. So, we do not have this in the packet because we are not authorized to communicate as of yet. So, it cannot be publicly shared. But we have um the artwork that has been selected. We have contracts signed from all but two of these uh property owners. Um we don't have a specific date, but we will we're looking at sometime in May. These are all the locations and the artwork that was selected for each of those locations. So, this is more of just an FYI. No motions needed. As we continue to move through the process, we will keep you updated. Um, I believe we are invited to go to the DIA in April um to do kind
092of an orientation of what the program looks like and get more details. >> Awesome. >> All right. So, that was information. >> Yep. >> Very interesting. >> All right. Any There were no items that were removed from the consent agenda. Board member comments [laughter] >> chief. Thank >> he and appreciate all the board and everything tonight. We accomplished quite a bit in quite during the time that we talked about everything. So looking forward to spring finally. >> Well, hello to the board and the millions of people watching [laughter] at home. Uh my name's Ron Gaski. I'm running for state representative in the 54th district which includes Bloomfield, Auburn Hills, a little bit of Oakland Township, and then as you guys all call it, Lower Oxford. [laughter] Um, and I'm also lucky enough to be on
093the economic vitality committee and I just wanted to speak a little bit more to some of the outside traffic that comes into Oxford since I do now live in uh, Orient Township. And uh so when we looked at this with the economic vitality committee a few meetings ago, we found that I believe Brandon and Orient, there are almost more people coming in from Brandon and Orient than from Oxford. So there's really no reason in my opinion that we can't do more to do better with converting some of these people who are just coming into one business in the village into coming into many more businesses. I think about these events like concerts in the park, which Kimberly and Jess, you guys do a great job with that, but speaking to business owners like Marie anecdotally,
094the problem is people are literally not willing to cross the street to patronize these other businesses. And that's why I think it's important that Chief Soald was here. I know you guys may have felt like you were just spinning your wheels, but I do think it was productive in the sense that he clarified it's not necessarily a speed issue. It's partially a norms issue. I mean, I'll say from personal experience. I feel like outside of Ann Arbor and Birmingham, there's a real lack of respect for pedestrians in our state because we're so car centric. So, that's partially um a problem. And I also just think about how much of an opportunity there is for other businesses to go to Oxford. In my opinion, the fact that Rochester is over three times as much per square
095foot for rent is crazy. I mean, people are willing to come into Oxford from Brandon, from Orian, from Metamora. There's really no reason that we shouldn't have people begging to come in for these low prices. And I think that again gets to the walkability issue. So, at the next economic vitality committee, I'm going to work with Rod Charles, Marie Powers, and our other board members and Kimberly as well, and we're going to come up with some concrete asks for Chief Soald because I think we all agree that this is one of the biggest problems that's been facing the village for the long time. And we can't have the old Oxford mentality of just letting things stay the same. We have to finally make a change. So, thank you. >> Thank you, that was great. >>
096[laughter] >> Roman has a saving grace of having lived in Oxford Township before by the way. >> Yes, that's why I mean I'm not just a carpet. >> And I'll make a motion to adjourn at 87 paper. I