001Call the meeting to order of the Oxford Downtown Development Authority, April 21st at 704. Please rise. Pay respects to the flag. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have roll call, please. Yes. Pete Schultz here. Brad Charles here. Marie Powers here. Ashley Ross here. Jacob Nosia here. Piper here. Scott Taylor is excused. Um and Jay Choy excused. Any public comment on non-aggenda items? I have a question. I'm sorry. Jay did reach out to me earlier today to mention he wasn't going to come. I don't know if that would be considered excused or unexcused. Did he not be able to come or he going to not not able to come? Yeah, he called out. Okay.
002Thank you. Uh consent agenda. We have approval of the agenda, please. I am going to make a recommendation that we move 9A. um to right below 6B support. All right. Any other questions or anything? A question. Yes, ma'am. So, we're putting that as could you repeat that again, please. Ashton, I would just like to make a recommendation to the 9A. Yeah. Under 6B. So, right in between financials and DBA reports so that okay, our folks don't have to stay in long. All right. Any other questions? Not. All in favor? I I oppose. Anything? Um, approval of the March 2025 meeting minutes and uh please report the code report. I'll I'll make a motion to approve the March 2025 meeting minutes, please report and code enforcement report as presented and filed. Second. Move as a worded.
003Any questions? All in favor? I I financials including the bills. I'll make a motion to receive and file items 6A and 6B and the bills for March 2025 in the amount of $27,2201. I second that. Right. Move by Ross, supported by Charles. Any questions? Uh, roll call, please. Um, let's see. Jacob Nosia. Uh, yes. Hi. Ashley Ross, yes. Marie Powers, yes. Rod Charles, yes. Pete Schulz, yes. And Holly Piper, yes. Uh, next on the agenda under 9A, which has been moved up to 6C, and that is for the pro or renovation program of light. Sorry. Are we on seven? We have a separate sheet on that. Oh, thank you. No, I thought that was going to be seven eight. No, we're good. We're good. Okay. At the last meeting, um it was discussed for the
004um removal of the blight grant to Sarah Construction for the property, the old Hampton to block property and everybody had requested a signed agreement with them explaining you know what they were going to do and everything and then they had submitted this to it as what it is and then it is their fully u understanding also the payment will be due upon the completion of the project. Any questions? So completion of the project. So is that something that we would confirm with the available manager for example? Yes. Could they have the demolition permit so that approval of that and then we can go? Dan, you want to come up to the microphone for a second? So Mr. Madora will be the one who verifies it. Evening. Oh. Can you give us please just a brief
005description of what you intend on doing? Uh well, we've started already, but um we're trying to clean up any of the debris that's been laying around for years and uh demolish that existing Hampton block building that's falling down and kind of going to be a hazard. Anyways, only question I have on it after driving by it, passed it a million times in my life, the wall that's on the east property line, which is basically acts as a fence right now, will that wall stay or will that come down? Taking that down. I think that's part of the building. Yeah, that's that's what I was questioning about because otherwise it just leaves it wide open at that point, too. So, I believe Sarah was going to get in contact with the owner of that property just
006to kind of give them a heads up. I believe it's right on the property. Yeah, that's it's right there. So, okay. Quick question, Brad. Any thoughts what might take place there? Really? That's not holding you accountable for doing it, but any thoughts that might end up there? Uh, no. I mean, we talked to Joel a little bit about it, but um I mean, I know they had kind of a master plan going at this, but nothing's clear. Yeah. I mean, we just thought it's a good investment, right? Get local, get it cleaned up. We're very capable of cleaning it up. So, I think we all look forward to it. Thank you very much. Do we need a motion to approve anything pending? Okay. I will make a motion to approve the bladed structure grant to
007Saridan in the amount of $7,500 once uh completion is received by village manager. I'll second that. Been moved in support. Any questions? Uh roll call, please. Rod Charles. Yes. Marie Powers. Yes. Ashley Ross. Yes. Pete Schultz. Yes. Jacob Nosia. Yes. Holly Piper. Yes. Thank you. Good luck. There you go. Tear it down. Can you have it done by the end of this meeting? Yeah. Couple swings. All right. Under DDA reports, the OR committee report. Well, you want me to Well, sure. You and I can chime in together. Is that okay? Yeah. Go ahead. So, we had a meeting uh this past end of the week rather uh pretty I thought efficient meeting went quickly. Basically, we had some uh questions initiated by our executive director regarding renting or letting other groups use the Oxford DDA
008trolley. And remember, we own the trolley. We've purchased it. Um so, there's discussion about that at length with great input. Uh and the committee made a suggestion that we do not rent it out for a variety of reasons other than you know the things that if you want to talk about it later on but that's a re strong recommendation from the organization committee that we do not allow it to be rented by non DDA entities you want to kick in at the meeting the um the committee um passed a motion with a recommendation to the uh BDA board that only be available for DDA sponsored events for both entities at this point. Make a motion. I'm I'll make a motion to adopt the or committee's recommendation into DDA policy that the trial only be used
009for Oxford and or Lakean DDA's um sanctioned events. I'll second that. But it is part of our agenda. Should we do it now or do it later on? Uh should do it later on. Yeah, I apologize but trying to be efficient. Appreciate. No, no, that's how meetings. No, that's good. We want efficient meetings. Okay, so that was it for the the uh the or committee. Next was the EV committee report. They they did not meet in April. Correct. Right. I will say this, we um haven't met. Uh there is a gentleman who I've given your stuff to or his stuff to you, Peter, and I think uh Mrs. Smith has discussed a gentleman named Roman Gatsby who I think would be a big help to that committee for a lot of reasons, but that's to
010be up to uh the chairperson to put him on the committee or not. So, we reached out to him. I think Jess talked to him today. I emailed him. He has been invited to our next EV committee meeting, but I did reach out to the current EV committee members. We don't we do have a meeting on the schedule, but we will need to reschedule that just due to scheduling issues. When did you reach out? I already got a message this morning. Huh? This morning? I never got a message. Okay. Well, I'll read your schedule. So, we need we can reschedule the EV committee meeting and then he'll be invited to that meeting to see if he's a good fit for if he's interested, if we're interested. And then at our next meeting, we can if
011he's a good fit, um, appoint him. Good. The promo committee report. Yes. So, uh, we did have a new face. um Alexa from the Wincy uh studio that's coming in the White House district. She was there. She was excellent. Had a lot to contribute and was excited to get involved. Um we went over the St. Patty's Day feedback and um we discussed um let's see, a couple maybe changes or suggestions for next year. um possibly um asking or requesting for the locations to have like a separated area or a sectioned off area so that the pulp crawl people had somewhere to go and maybe a couple quicker cash items, you know, just to make it a little more so that they could hit every place successfully. Um, and then we also talked about um instead
012of doing the t-shirts, possibly coming up with a smaller item like such as like a button or a bracelet um just to make it so that we can do those last minute sales and allow more people to join in. Um let's see. We discussed the Easter egg hunt and that was this last week and how that was going to roll out. uh the May 4th cleanup. We currently have five volunteers signed up to help. And then Colin, the gentleman that is championing that, he has some extra friends that aren't signed up that are going to be down there helping move dirt and clean things up. Um we the concerts in the park, um we're all booked up for that. And um we are still I think we still have some vendors that we can fill
013and um but we are looking for volunteers yet to help out those evenings um which we were reaching out directly to the schools to see if we could grab some of the students um for their volunteer hours. Um and that just so you know has been completed. Um, uh, geez. Uh, we're meeting with, uh, so or I'm not not sure who's meeting with Brian for the calling. You did. Okay. Do you want to talk on that or No, we're still kind everything's we're quite a bit. Yeah, we're looking for additional sponsors because some of the sponsors that he was planning on have backed out. So, if anybody knows of anyone that's interested in sponsoring the event in either Oxford or Lake Orian, he would be more than happy to speak with you or them. Yeah.
014And um we also have some Mother's Day events coming up. Um the homegrown uh vendor, do you need anything there? A lot of this, just to inter interject very quickly, a lot of this is just FYI for the promo committee. A lot of these events are events that are being managed by other groups. So, it was just more of a heads up to the promo committee so that they're aware of the activities happening downtown over the next month. Um, it's not necessarily things that we as a DDA are managing or adding a bunch of time into. Right. Thank you. Yep. And then the the volunteer signup genius is out there for everybody to sign up. And we do have some one that is going to do the line dancing and manage that. And um I
015think we're still communicating with the cornhole. We're good. We're good. We have people to manage line dancing in cornhole. And then pending our intern hire, we will have the intern kind of as the point person just to help support as a DBA person on site during those activities. Yeah. And then last but not least, we discussed the marketing plan and um we're kind of putting the reaching out outside of Oxford on hold for now just due to the funding and us voting to put it towards the trolley instead of using it in other areas. Um but um we are also looking to really keep our local people coming back and we're kind of focusing on that a bit is what we discussed. Do you want to You did a great job. Okay. And that's about
016it. Very good. Thank you. Uh design committee report. Yep. That's me. Uh we had a lot of discussion at our meeting about the um facade grants for my Sharia Moore. uh we ended up needing more information from the owner. So, uh that was that took place after the meeting and then uh we had a special meeting called to order uh which I'll get to in a minute. Um but at a regular design committee meeting, we talked about a number of things. There's a uh desire to do a building inventory downtown where we look at the historical buildings and document their past history. Um Sue Basardi had an a older copy of a paper copy of um a survey that was done in 1999 through 2004, but nothing's been done since then. So there's uh I
017I would believe it'd be software available through Main Street of Oakland County called Boom. So we're looking into that. Uh the trolley update, we we just discussed that. Uh it did run great for St. Patty's Day and we had about 500 people who used the trolley that day. And then we discussed placemaking furniture. Uh some of the items need to be replaced. So, um Kimberly is looking into that um including umbrellas and I believe some of the furniture was going to be either refurbished or replaced. And uh we discussed upcoming events. Um, we mentioned Earth Day, but I see here we didn't actually schedule an event date for that. So, that was we had talked about typically the last couple years we've done two separate events. We'd have like a cleanup day in April usually
018or sometimes May and then a second like planting day. This year we're just doing one and that's the May 4th. Okay. Okay. Yep. The May cleanup day. May the 4th be with be with you, is it? Or be clean up our downtown. Clean up our downtown. I knew it wasn't an exact. That is May 4th this year. And flower planting day is still TBD. So with the weather we've been having, who knows? Um and then uh we have the main street event at the Roxy in Rochester. So there are tickets available for that. And then um on the sign a f excuse me facade grant. Uh the the owner has requested a front facade and a rear facade grant. And the design committee is making a um recommendation to the board for a uh front
019facade grant at 50% not to exceed 6500. And then for the back facade grant uh it's not to exceed $1,000. So, we'll need to vote on that later, too. Yeah. Okay, that's it. Excellent. Any questions? Later on, moving on. The home and history subcommittee. So, um we met over at the library in the strander room this past week. Um unfortunately, Kimberly couldn't be there, but um you can see on the agenda what we took talked about. I also had a chance to assemble a list of mural folks and I think Ashley has some too because not that we're dissatisfied with the person who's done a lot of the murals currently but we want to have a uh corral of people available. Um so I put a list together of those folks and uh thanks to
020Mr. Mador we have um kind of a tenative okayave from the building owner to proceed on one of the murals. Uh I've also that's the uh what what's the address there Mr. Pardon? Three. Three. Okay. And um I'll give Mrs. Collins a call just to firm it up this week. I also talked with the owners of the building next door for access to that building if we need it. So that's in place. So the next step would be to um find the appropriate person to do the work and all that kind of thing like that and get some bids out. Okay. I think it'll be pretty outstanding. Um the other thing I did was the um welcome tour. Before we talk about that, you had a question. I have a question before you move on.
021So, is this something just from a process standpoint, the recommendations that you have, do you are we going through like motions to get these approved or are you just moving forward with like the mural? So, are we as a board going to talk about the mural? And what we'll do is we'll come back with a proposal from the committee to do it and with a price with it, too. Okay. Right now, go ahead. I have a related question. Um, from an aesthetic standpoint, would it be the design committee who would perhaps weigh in on continuity or at least so that all we're doing is replicating a previous So, we're going to go with the same design. It would be exactly the same. If we do it, if we make a recommendation, it would have for
022historic purposes would be the exact same thing, just repainting it. If we went to design committee, we would be talking about doing adding a different flavor and that kind of defeats the purpose of having the history. I guess I wasn't talking about the historic one. I I I know I We're not going to do anything besides the Oh, okay. So, there's no plans to to create We're not doing anything new. Okay. Nash off. That's okay. Yeah. Anything else would be design committee over here. Okay. And this committee, by the way, has the board voted to have the home and history committee handle historical type projects if you recall. Yeah. Yeah. I know which one you including what you mentioned previously. Kimberly, I have another question. Is is there a reason because that's a large space.
023I think I share it. Just curiosity. That's a very large wall in which you could in theory add a lot of art. Is there a reason why it were utilizing just a portion of that wall? That's where the historic mural was. Is that considered a mural though? Yes. to do with the if we it would be considered a mural if we kept with the original intent of the artist and exactly what it looked like. If we did anything beyond that, it is no longer in common history. It becomes a design committee completely different mural type project. This is solely just redoing what was there. So yes, there's a lot more space. So I guess that's at the purview of all the DDA if something beyond that. But that is no longer yeah being a historic
024mural and changes like we would not make I I can't speak for everyone but I would not make the recommendation from a historic preservation standpoint if we were going to do the history mural to redo that and then do something else it defeats the purpose of the history part exactly before Mr. Mador kicks in. When I had this concept of doing this here, I was thinking sign, but then as you point out, it's really more of a mural that helps us get through the paperwork kind of process. The building owner also would prefer it this way, not to do some other stuff like that, too. So, there's a lot of moving parts of this, but I think uh that phrase I love that Marie came up with, it adds to the the quaintness of the
025whole downtown area. And it's not really a sign because it's not advertised to any business. There's no business that exists that is right. And as it it we're very strict on murals and wall signings and things like that, right? And but replicating a historic mural as it was. I think it's much easier to accomplish and without sending out bells and whistles or um because you can't put a sign up or a mural up nowadays have any indication of what your business is. When we worked with the folks on mainstream boutique, um they wanted to have like jeans or something like that on the mural and they couldn't. They couldn't depict any imaging or wording that related to the business. Now, of course, his hardware was exactly what the business was because long gone and now
026it's just historical 1862. So, I think it it better lines up that by doing that with our ordinance. You don't get out of bounds as much. Well, you try to add things. I'm just curious preservation element would not allow you to do anything further. So, if you wanted to do anything beyond that, it's no longer historic preservation wasting time. Makes a lot better. I just don't recall having a conversation with feedback from every board member on if they were thumbs up or thumbs down. So that's what we're going to identify a malo artist be able to present just like any other committee would do here is to come and say hey this is what we would this is what home history is recommending here is the price and then we if everyone is in agreement
027we make a motion to move forward with that work but we're still we're trying to not you know let everyone know what's going on but we're not at that point of saying yes let's move forward yet. So anything costing money would be a motion and approval by the full board. Got it. Okay. So, this will be on the May agenda. Then depends how much time we uh take to get the mural people, get quotes from them, etc. Because we want to define this to them. I also think that I should ask them if they have some insurance, those sorts of things like that, especially if you're going to be well, there's there's access to the building without going up the ladders, but just in case. Okay. Which brings up the next part of this too.
028By the way, since the other conver there's a number of things and maybe some folks forgot some of the issues we had on this particular committee, but we have a list of about eight things we're looking at. You know, plaques or whatever the heck you call them, Ashley. Did what the heck you call those things on the buildings? Didactics. We've had spent hours on it. Uh oh, I have good news. Sorry. Well, go ahead with your good news. Well, Leslie Pilock was just appointed to the State of Michigan Historic Commission and is now very um will be part of part of her role will be doing state of Michigan historic markers um and approving the language and so she's within the DDA district serves on our planning commission so I think that'd be a really
029great asset to have Sure and to the board I want to remember recall that the whole purpose was to restore points not to do something new or different that's a diff that's more design committee that's that's a totally unrelated historical and the design committee should probably let the home and history committee do their home and history thing. Um the other part I'll bring up on this meeting we had though is the um we talked about a welcome tour. Um so I spent some time with the not director and some of the drivers and then we did our committee meeting. We talked about some of the people that um or not some of the people but some ways we could introduce people to some of the historical interest in the downtown area, maybe even some areas
030on the fringe. Uh we have a list of about 20 places that we would visit. I mean the obvious ones that you know like Daniel Axford's house, that kind of thing like that. In fact, I found a land grant uh from 1830 something from Andrew Jackson when I was screwing around for where DA elementary school is now. So, I think that's kind of interesting. But, so anyhow, what we did is I talked with Nod and Lindowski very graciously said she'll make it very inexpensive for us. Uh Brad Jacobson who drives for NOTA and then Tom Hoover who lived here, Curtis Wright who's a township clerk. Um there's somebody else too. I forgot now. Um but we're going we want to do a test run. It'll come up later on the proposal using the notab bus
031and drive some folks around and show them these spots. The notab bus holds only 13 people though. Um but that's that's one of the things we talked about is doing a couple test runs. Brad Jacobson is available this month. So that's why later on our meeting I'll bring this back again too. But but that's the idea is to do like a welcome tour and show some spots. The possibility would be we start here at village hall and move around inside the village and show some spots. So, somebody has some suggestions going forward on places you think we should visit. Let me know because I I want to put this together especially for May because this this one Brad has time available and I think it'll be more efficient to do some test runs and jump
032right into it. So, anyhow, any that clear everybody clear as much? Okay. um executive director's report. Um I won't go into all of this. I think you know you guys I'm sure have read through it and have taken it to heart all the things that we have working uh going on right now. But really what we're doing is just making sure we're up to speed and ready to go for the summer. Uh creating relationships with community members. um trying to help support our businesses with events that they're uh planning and implementing and helping to support their development. Um looking at the volunteer and then I'm going to have Jess uh in your packet as well. She put together an event report for St. Patty's Day. So I'm going to have her uh report on that.
033And then also a couple promotional things that we've done over the last uh month or two around just highlighting Oxford as a community and what a wonderful place this is. Um some of it is just for fun just to do it and be able to you know share that feedback and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from the small video that was um shared a couple weeks ago. And then we have another one that's um being completed right now that will be out hopefully later this week um that's a little bit longer um that kind of highlights Oxford as well. Very good. So I did this for restaurant week there was so the pregame was on Saturday March 15th. There were seven restaurants that participated and we wanted to bring people downtown to patronize
034the restaurants and clubs for early St. Patrick's Day celebration. Um each ticket that was bought with a t-shirt and then on the left field some discounts at restaurants and clubs here and then in the so we have the trolley going between the two. Um, this event is kind of expensive for us and it's not we don't need to make money on it, but it's good to break it down and look and think about it for next year. Um, so the breakdown's there, how many tickets we sold, and then um I sent out a business survey to everyone that participated um on April 3rd. The results were mixed. Um, businesses are on the fence on if we should do it again, which is talked about it with promo this last time. And then it was also
035a learning experience for me and Kimberly. Um Lake Oran wanted to have two check-ins um one here and one in Lake Oran. And that kind of messed people up on the day. Like people that bought tickets in Lake Oran came to check in at Oxford and we didn't want to turn them away. So the t-shirts were we ran out of t-shirts for like Oxford people. Anyone have any questions? How many restaurants participated in? Probably five. I think that's it. Yeah. And then with mixed reviews, did we only survey our businesses? Yes. which is what we did for a restaurant week is just our businesses. We did talk as like because we meet with Lakean typically once a week and so we did you know kind of debrief between us and I think we're both on
036the same page. There was a lot of concern on their part leading up to the event around if we were going to proceed with it because they weren't getting like the traction with their business owners. And I think we all agreed that you know we had some learning lessons and we would do things differently next year. Um, and we did talk about potentially transitioning it to business owners versus DDA with this event. So, it's still kind of in discussions. I think they have the same thought process that we do that it's we're we as a DDA are not necessarily seeing it. We're not getting necessarily the feedback from the businesses. Would that many people be out that Saturday night before St. Patty's Day anyway? Or are we really bringing people in because of our event?
037I have a question on the trolley cost. I mean, the trolley would be running anyway, right? So, the trolley would be running anyway on a Saturday night, so it's not really an additional cost. It was for this one. Well, I don't know. We didn't The trolley didn't officially start competing. That's true. Oh, that's true. So, it was like a special event. Okay. Yeah. For half that. Yeah. Yeah. So this is just our half of Do you think it's worth I'm sorry Pete want to Yeah, go ahead. Is it worth doing again next year or not if we have such That's a great question. I mean that's the ultimate question right now. That sounds like it's something that needs to be washed off. I think it's definitely on the on the chopping block. I don't know
038that it's going to get chopped, but I we've been talking about potential other things to do in Q1 in 2026, and I think if we can proceed with some other larger events, um we may not do this one. I think with the the pub crawl as it was separately, you know, full events last year that we did with them and then also the St. Patrick's Day last year and the St. this year. There has been a history, if you want to call it, over the last couple years that it's down to the last minute every single time on their end of it as far as, you know, a getting restaurants to sign up and getting interest and so on so forth. I mean, we seem to do a really good job up here getting it
039all organized and it's all put together and, you know, getting ready to go to print and yet we're still waiting the next day yet they still haven't got them, you know, their restaurants signed up. So I mean it just it's kind of frustrating having to wait and at the same time I don't think the effort is there. I think we you know we have made a decision to focus on Oxford and really focus on the businesses within Oxford and promoting Oxford and the specials and the businesses we have here. Even if it is a larger shared event, we will promote that it's a shared event. Um but we're not as um what's the word? I can't think of the word. But we will share and pres promote and present with what Lake Oran provides us.
040Um, but that I think our focus being on Oxford and supporting our downtown is really where we're head our head is at, right? I I think there's there's value in having a pub crawl, but I really think that this is probably something that the businesses ought to take on and maybe we do it only in in Oxford and not both Oxford and Lakean. Um, you know, I know we as a business owner, I know we benefited from it, but this is this is a lot of cost and especially if we're shouldering the majority of it, it's it's probably not a good fit for the DBA to be part of the surveys that came back to were that they Well, then the other thing I heard too, just anecdotally, is that people were joining in on
041the pub crawl, but they weren't buying the tickets. So they said, "Why should I buy the ticket when I could go anyway?" Right? So again, as a business owner, I don't really care what format it takes as long as we get people downtown. And honestly, we don't either. I mean, we just our goal is to bring people downtown to spend money. So if it's just, you know, free-for-all, just show up this night. I mean, that would take a lot off us, you know, from a an administrative if it was well communicated and promoted. It was packed that night. Yeah. much more definitely beneficial. Yeah. Jess, did we was there any kind of report that came back from not that night as far as ridership with the trolley? Yes, I believe it was close to 500
042or something. 500. Oh, good. Okay. I I think the trolley is is kind of key to that. And if we had it as an Oxford only event, we could we could change the route, you know. And I will say we have received some feedback from business owners that they would prefer to have Oxford only events when it comes to the pub crawls. So just something to note. Yeah, I'll I'll uh second that because when I've done a couple pub crawls in the past as fundraisers, it's it's efficient to have it in Oxford because you don't have to drive. you know, all those issues with driving and people drinking and the two I've done in town here, the group I was with, we financially came out pretty good. I think we made around 6,000 bucks and
043it was safe. It was fun. So, I would encourage it to be in Oxford only out of pole. Sounds like you want to do that next year. Rod, I love this for you. I think that this would be a really great Well, first, let me back up. I want to remind us that even though we're not showing a profit, I think it's important to note that we are a governmental agency. We don't necessarily have to turn a profit. The idea is money we spend goes into the businesses. So, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I do love the idea of keeping it and maybe this starts our new thoughts for next year of the kickoff into the neighborhoods, thinking toward right picking up picking up in the neighborhoods and bringing people down. I think that
044this is a super way to all the safety things that go along with St. Patrick's Day. Um, and maybe launch into this new initiative for next year that we've kind of all been talking about bringing Oxford people into Oxford. I think just to I do we do understand that it's not all about making a profit. But I think when we just look at the costs of the t-shirts specifically, it was a little eye opening to me that I was like, "Oh, that's how much t-shirts are." You know, like that. To me, I think, you know, as Holly mentioned, maybe we could do something a little more cost effective that would still be fun and still um be in the spirit of a pub crawl that maybe just isn't a t-shirt. I would say to like
045in terms of the trolley, we got to be a little bit conscious obviously that Lake Orans also put money towards that. So, they're going to want to be able to use the trolley um for those nights and events too that they're going to have heavy traffic go and there's way we can be creative with that. We could do a Friday, Saturday, one night's in Oxford, one night's in Lake Orum, but we all or two weekends in a row. I we can try and be creative, but to your point, if we're going to just keep it in Oxford, we have to assume that they're going to want to do events just in Lake Or moving on to unfinished business number 8A. The crosswalk project got to get the agendas again. Yeah. Um There's nothing in here
046from low in the package. There's not just because we didn't have at the time of sending it out. We didn't have the finalized drawings. I couldn't get that to the board. But where we're at is we have the finalized drawings I believe and they are going to go to bid this week. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Mr. the door. So, in the while he's walking, um Joe and Pete, Joe, Pete and Jess and I, and then Joe and Pete and I all walked the project plan and we looked at, you know, the initial drawings to say, does this look like what we want it to look like? And we were able to kind of remove some of the suggestions from the initial drawings to save some costing. Um, so that was pretty exciting. Scaling back some of
047the removal, removal, copy removal. wasn't quite as necessary. Yes, it's a nice but you know we were able to scale back a little bit. The only wild chart I see right now is we we have here prepared and Ruby liant and I was looking over the traffic management plan as people come around and turn east and westbound on B Street. We're going to have a section of curb for cut you know in a concrete setup. So there's going to be some um narrowing of that driving area on eastbound and westbound verdict. We've tried to we have a plan together. We're going to submit it down to MDOT with TSC and Pontiac. And hopefully they'll accept what we have. What we hope that they do is realize that that east west traffic is not nearly as
048intense or important as north and south traffic. And we don't want them to put any signage up where you can't turn right. If you're in southbound, we don't want them to say no no right turn on on westbound verdict and vice versa on the other side. We were hoping that what we have put together they come around and we may eliminate as you come southbound and turn right at the museum to head westbound. You may we may have to push them over into that center lane where we may not have a left turn lane for a week or so as you're heading up leaving here and heading to the 1024 to head north. So there's some of those considerations that we have in place. We think that's less of a problem perhaps than messing with
049the north and south 1024. So that plan was going to be sent today or tomorrow morning. I think today all the road today we looked it over. We think it's the best approach. Um it's it's only a couple feet off the curve whether it be blockaded off you know where curve torn out and has concrete formed up and poured but yet it still gets into that traffic a little bit. We're hoping our plan um is good with them and they don't come back and and if they go back and want to change it, it'll still it'll drive up some cost perhaps on the contractor has to do additional barricading or additional signing, additional um temporary street markings and stuff to make sure that motorists know exactly where to go that they can't go. So, but
050we're hoping they like our plan and don't change it. As soon as we get something back and as far as as far as the project, we get the prices back how much it's going to cost we award the bid at that point I think you know once we get the approved plan from dot and everything I think at that point then we need to basically flood you know the auction leader and um social media and everything like that and putting out all that to people ahead of time so as many avenues as they can potentially see it to let them you know hey this is coming in you know a month or something like that and keep reminding them almost daily practically but it's you know it's going to be inconvenient but I mean the
051more we can get it out there the better it is Could we use the texting service perhaps? I got to get the optin option mailed down. People can do it. We I've sent some out specific letters like the Moyer Street residents sent a letter out or again we're prepared now. It's not out yet. Park Street one went out um about opining program kind of just blowing up small bits. Um that one that one is because it affects people much further out but yeah for some of the locals it you know I don't know but I'm more of a uh isolated incident like street and stuff we definitely are going down that path for that because not everybody checks email not everybody checks social media has it so we're using this and rolling out on smaller
052isolated areas but eventually further um one other thing before you leave one of the things we noticed while we were about doing the walk is that the stained concrete, is that what? Yeah. Was looking a little rough from the courtyard um from last year. So Paul reached out to the BSI contracting. Yep. To see if they could if where it's under warranty and they could update it and see like what the response back. Yeah. I'm glad BSI responded back. You better receive that. That'd be great. That'd be great because it is warm. Yeah. Yeah. just as a heads up that they'll be out maybe this week at that see what if anything they can do but all the employment that's still within warranty periods. Very good. Cool. Thank you. Great. Um next 8 B the
053intern program approval. So yes so we had talked before and I got approval to move forward with interviews for the candidates for intern and we have identified a candidate. Um because it's a financial decision, we will need a motion to move forward with officially hiring her. Her resume is on the desk there. Um if you don't have your own copy, you can share with a friend next to you. Um I will say though, I happen to be at a lunchon this afternoon with the four counties community foundation and they mentioned that they may have some funding to help support our internship. So, I'm going to reach out to her and send her the resume so that she can compare it to other candidates that are of interest. Um, because we're so far along in the
054process, I would hate because we have kind of verbally indicated to this candidate that we would like to move forward with her pending approval with the board. I don't know that we would back out of that. But, um, I think she's a strong candidate and I think, uh, the four corners, four communities, four counties, four counties, I'll get it one day. I think they're gonna look at her as well. Um, she is local. Her she grew up around here. She goes to Michigan State, so I think she seems like a very strong candidate. Check the spelling. Go state. Yeah. All right. So, you need a motion then for us to go ahead and authorize you to hire. Correct. Correct. And I don't know if you need to like from a financial standpoint, I know we
055talked about before not to exceed 5,000 for the summer. I don't know if we need to do that again or if we're just okay. 20 max of 20 hours a week approximately eight weeks. That's what we're doing. Anybody for a motion? I'll make a motion that we approve the um intern as described. Sorry. Seconded by Ashley Ross. Move second by to go ahead and extend the offer of deployment to Clarise Roberts. I'm adding that part of it for the name. So, thank you. And I do have a since we have a motion and a second. Can I have a discussion? Discussion. You said strengths. What would you say her primary strength is? She wants to learn and she's willing to do anything. Okay. What about her existing skills? Her existing skills. So, she does have
056some experience in communications, public relations, and uh promotions, but I think we're looking to help support her full business knowledge. So, we would like for her to have some special projects around our business directory, around our volunteer program, around um interactions with the businesses. Well, that's a job description, but I was asking about her existing job skills. I I believe that that fits that. So, you're saying that's her her skills in those areas? Yeah, I mean, I think she's very personable. She's easy to talk to. I think she has the confidence to go in and speak to business owners and not get ruffled. um she can have, you know, she seems approachable. Um she's willing to work hard. I think she's not set on coming in and posting on Facebook or posting on Instagram. She
057wants to come in and learn about everything and that's what we need. Very good. Good. I think um for county maybe we can talk offline, but I think if obviously if that comes through Yeah. I don't know if we need to in there. Not the motion, but I think that'd be fine. That's great. Okay. Um, roll call. Roll call. Um, Pete Schultz, yes. Rod Charles, yes. Marie Powers, yes. Ashley Ross, Jacob Neosia, yes. Holly Piper, yes. Who? Me. Uh next I Jenna under unfinished business 8C legal services. So just to continue the conversation I met with a third candidate um for our legal services. Uh it's a local gentleman who is with a larger organization. Um and he came in uh right around the same pricing as some of the other candidates. Um, so I
058don't know are there are there other recommendations that we have that I should look into. Do we feel comfortable in moving forward with one of the candidates that we've like what is the next step in the process I guess is the question. Rob, that's a great question just brought up. Where do we go with this? Is there a is it time sensitive we find someone right away? I mean I would like to by the way, but is there a certain deadline that we must meet? No, I don't think so. So, you have those two law firms. Great. Um, does Kelly uh uh what's the name of the firm? Uh, Kelly Legal Services, they offer this because they do Orian, don't they? Oh, Dan Kelly. Dan Kelly. Does his office have DDA? I think you mentioned
059that. Well, I know we Yeah, Joe and I talked about it. I have not looked into seeing if there was somebody else within that firm that would be open to supporting, but we can talk offline. I mean, I don't care about this. I mean, I did look into these firms, as you know, a little bit myself with people I know in that business. So, I don't have anything against them, per se. I just didn't know if there's a third one that you might be looking for. Yeah. She said she has three. I do. So, it would be a fourth one. I think it would just be bringing it to or committee and or committee making the recommendation, right? Oh, I would say um bringing their qualific or their resume qualifications forward, but I think when
060it's getting down to like the final two, I think the final two should actually be interviewed by the or committee or whatever by, you know, somebody doing an actual interview so we can kind of compare apples to apples kind of thing to make sure we're talking the same thing and get the feel for them. Somebody we got to be able to work with. Yeah. I like one thing that Kimberly said there was that the uh person should be somewhat geographically friendly to you. They're not driving 40 a long ways to get here so they can come here and attend a meeting on occasion without a two-hour drive or something. Right. Next on 8 B is the gazebo. So in your packet you have the report um what are they called? The visual site visit and
061visual inspection report. Um, this organization is going to be putting together the drawings and the bid packages. Um, so I just wanted to make sure you had a copy of this if you had any questions or concerns around what was identified in the report. Um, we're going to have two separate packages out for bid. One that would include the ABA ramp and one that does not just so that we can have like cost information and make a decision that way. Mhm. Um, but it sounds like from what we were there when we were talking to the gentleman is that it's not quite as bad as we thought. We can salvage a little bit more than I think we thought originally. So, that's good news. Mr. Mador, and I saw some of the pictures and comments
062from the architect about um upgrading maybe some of the elements and stuff on there. And I think at once we had mentioned about the power panel that feeds it and how there might it would be best to have that thing replicated or upgraded to where it's more user friendly. We don't have EW does not leave this panel unlocked in evenings. Haven't spoke to your you or or that much. We've been kind of with spring break going on last few weeks, but I think it's a good idea to try to get a grip on that a little bit as well too. Yep. I did reach out for a quote on that and I haven't heard anything back. All right. So, we're hoping to add see where that lands take care of the Okay, quick ref. Uh,
063two comments. Kimberly, as far as reaching out for electrician, is that what you're looking for? I've got a couple names later on if you want a couple that I think might fit the bill. You do. And then secondly, uh, in the park there, I don't know if this is related, but that one spruce tree that looks like it's fading away. Is there any plan to um chop that down or something? I mean, it's not going to fall immediately, but the blue spruce in the park. Christmas tree. Yeah. Yeah. The Christmas tree one is what he's talking about. That's exactly last year. And so I don't think it's got Christmas tree at the moment. Okay. No, because I know a lot of the spruces there's around the whole country there's a disease going on that's killing
064a lot of blue spruces. Whole in front of house. All right, that's something as far as future projects we're looking at or to be recommended because there's more than just you know replace something substantial as opposed to a twig. Yeah, I want to see it by lifetime. All right. Um house or you need to call or make contact with design house now to tell them we're okay with this to go ahead and move it together to put the packet together. He's already putting a package together. So, I don't know. I'm assuming I bring it to the May meeting for everyone to be okay with before we submitted it or are we okay to move forward as soon as he gets that? With this, we're okay to move forward. Okay. We'll make a motion for our
065executive director to move forward with design house. Uh what are we doing? RPS or Okay, perfect. So, we'll get I'll second that then. or has it been Jacob, did you? Uh, yes. Sure. Go ahead. Yeah, it's been moved and seconded. Um, the actual costwise to design house was already approved at the prior meeting because that they're doing new work right now. So, moneywise is already approved for it. So, right now it's just a, you know, support of it. So, you know, yay or nay is going forward. So, move and second it. Can I second it with the amendment um with in addition to the electrical work that Joe's the other panel is that I mean is that a separate item? I'm not sure what else to discuss with it might already be in the work.
066Okay. If not, to your point, we make sure it is. The day the day we met him up there, the electrical panel was locked, so we couldn't open that up or do anything. I mean, we just referred to it that they're talking about updating. So, he has no knowledge of what's involved with the panel. So, we probably would include another visit or something or an electrical engineer to come out and take a look at it. Wait, is this a financial roll call? It's already been approved for design. are just approved to move forward that we're approving their what they're finding. So all in favor I oppose the same thing. Okay, very good. 8 the budget. Well, this is the best part of the night. I know we all start to start. I will make a
067motion to be approved the budget as presented to make a recommendation for approval to village council support moved by Ross and supported by any questions discussion. First of all, Kimberly, thank you for putting this or Jess, whoever did this. This is nice. I think it's the nicest one I've seen since I can't take credit. It was all Joe. Forget anything I said then. But thank you. My number. I appreciate it. Delete that from the camera. Nice job, somebody. No, I mean, I think the board would agree. This is uh it's clear. It's this thing. So, thank you. Thank you. I concur. I was telling Joe last week, I'm like, it's plug and play. You know, it's so organized. It's very There's so many formulas that if you change one thing, it autopop populates everything else.
068It's It was very easy to do. The best I've seen ever. Couple of questions I while I'm on the stage here on the um $10,000 for the sponsorships on trolley which is um under 675 if you're looking on the sheet on the left side says or I'm sorry 676 $10,000. Are we pretty confident we can get $10,000 in sponsorships? We already got it. Okay, cool. So then we're confident we have cashed those checks. Good. Good. No, no, no, no. Good job. And the questions are just inquiries. They're not attacking or anything. Okay. But I think that's that's the sort of stuff cuz our fiscal year is what July 1, right? Correct. So that's where it's a little wonky is because we open the sponsorships for the trolley in the calendar year Q1, right? So we
069have sponsorships for calendar year 2025 and then in, you know, theoretically early Q1 of 2026, we'll get whatever else we're looking for. And on the uh budget item number, let's see, I'm putting up earlier here. The um item seven, what was it? 712. No, I'm sorry. 710 audit. Who does the audit for the DDA? I think they're about the same folks that do the village that I assume. And they may have some radio. You pay an annual insurance policy. They'll call prepaid and put an expense out every month for 12 months versus I take it out all at once, you know, in my mind. But that's the way you do it. They when it comes time to your revenues on those sponsorships and things like that, yeah, if you take it all in cash for
070you, but some of those Yeah. Well, that's going to funky weird, you know, expensing versus Yeah, it's That stuff always messes me up. Anything else? Anybody questions? I have a one more question. I'll let you go then. Um 726. Let's see. We've got I'm sorry. 727 transfer to debt service. When does our bond get paid off, Mr. Mador? 2028. Okay. So, we'll have about how much a year available there? $70,000. Just to keep that in mind, folks. So, 2020 issue. I mean, the issue always is making sure the property values stay at a certain level because the DDA ran into that years ago and wiped out the DDA people who've never been around, you know, but just just an FYI, 70,000 bucks will be paid off. It's like paying off a mortgage. At the same
071time, that's our portion of it for our water fund, which is 71% of the year, 29% of it overall was combined. It was refinanced in the summer of 2017 to roll out those two bonds together and water. So, we're looking forward to that date. Let's have a party. Yeah. Um, one comment on it on line number 7 744 under capital improvements. There is the money that was rolled or basically in the 2024 2025 budget. And then there's also the 2025 2026 budget that we're doing right here which covers our match for the ARPA fund or the ARPA grant I should say. So that number that's what that's coming from. So that our match. Yeah, I did pad that a little bit so that we had some extra funding to do other projects outside of ARPA
072if we deem appropriate. Y there's no other questions. Uh roll call, please. Yes. So, um, Jacob Nosia, yes. Ashley Ross, yes. Maria Powers, yes. Rod Charles, yes. Deep Schultz, yes. I'm a Yes. Woohoo. This goes for the village now. Then the village has to approve to set their 94. A nice there. I was going to say you could just come late. She'll leave a light on a under 8F the trolley we have in part packet was the letter from DDA so as mentioned we've had conversations over the last couple months uh with Lake Orian and they've always expressed wanting to proceed pending the results of our um maintenance plan and so we finally have that in writing. I think Scott and I met with them a couple weeks ago and, you know, kind of talked
073through some concerns or questions that they had around the program for 2025 and, you know, answered all of their questions and they were very positive and excited about participating. So, it was a very positive meeting. Um, along with that one, actually, these all roll in together. Then um the next on the list is the private event request. So that is you know I'm just trying to find the language I had earlier. Yep. For a motion. Yeah. And while you're looking I'm going to say this uh to compliment uh Kimberly and Scott because early on when the ED committee was still in existence I had contacted the orda people a few times and at that point they were pretty set on not continuing. So whatever powers of persuasion you have are pretty good. Well, thank you.
074But I also cannot take credit for that. Well, only because I think I don't I know who you talk to. I don't know where the disconnect is, but we as the DDA I talked to the DDA uh chairperson. I know, but from the people that I meet with on a regular basis, there was not much indicated that they didn't want to do it. So again, I'm not sure where that disconnect was, but at the end of the day, you know, we worked it out. We're partnering on it and everyone can go home happy. Yep. Good job. Thank you. Thank you. Wait, repeat. No, I Yeah, I will make a motion for the Oxford DVA to adopt a policy that um only events hosted by DDA Oxford DDA or Lakeorian DDA. Um trolley can only be
075used for events for Oxford and Lakeanian DDAS. No private event requests will be accepted. Okay. Is this where we have conversation discussion? So I think and I would be interested to hear Pete's because we've had a little bit of a conversation about it is you know getting back to Lake Orian is we have this agreement with them that we were to run Fridays and Saturdays throughout the calendar year until the end of October and then special events. So there wasn't a lot of detail in that discussion of special events and I wonder if we go back to them and say you do not get to decide what your special events are. You know because there have been events that have been approved that are not necessarily DDA events in Lake Orian, but we just made
076the motion to use it only for DDA events. So that would that answers the question. That would answer that question. but they've already committed to it because it was prior to this discussion. So, for example, Lake Orion has already approved a request from a private organ like private group. I think that's different though because it's it was in their DDA district and they're doing something to support their DDA and I don't know does that make I mean yeah to change the verbiage I think a little bit to just say what the DDA deems appropriate by sanctioned by that's what I said the first time I could sanction because I just don't want to We're not doing it doesn't have to be sponsored by the but we should vote it down first and then do a
077new new one. So Peter, you want to just Can I resend? Well, not really. You have to vote this one down first, then we start over from scratch. Okay. If you want to call for a vote for vote on that, then to this one. Yeah. Roll call. Do we roll call? Yeah. Okay. Um, so let's go with uh Pete Schultz. Uh, no. Rod Charles, no. Ray Powers, no. Ashley Rob, no. Jacob Nicoia, and whatever I'm supposed to do, just tell them. Okay. I will make a motion that the trolley owned by Oxford only be used for Oxford DBA or Lakean DVDA sanctioned events and programs support discussion any questions or discussions on it. I have a question. So from a process standpoint does the board want to approve these or is it something that I
078can do? You don't want to approve it. Okay. That would take up so much of your time. I understand. I agree with you. I'm just asking I don't need to have a motion for that. I just think the events are obviously right. So for example, we have a entity that sits in the district that has requested to utilize the trolley, but they're utilizing it for an event that is both in and outside of the district. But it does support the relationship with this entity. It does support the historic nature of our district. Oxford or Oxford. Oxford. Well, Pete, right? Well, the other thing uh that ties into this one is uh uh D-Day sanctioned, but also the cost because, you know, the noted drivers get paid 30, they get build out $35 an hour. You
079know, the drivers get paid then the benefits and all that stuff and there's some other fees that go with it. So then we got the wear and tear, the tires, the oil, the gas, our time of our paid employees, there's administration cost. So the first part of this is to say is it a sanctioned group. Then we also apparently are going to need to have some way of saying who's going to reimburse us. So in this particular one, it would be self-funded from this organization. They just want to use the the trolley and this was sanctioned last year. So there's kind of last year's last year. that has no bearing on it. My point is whether or not they're using that's fine, but then they need to reimburse us for the Well, they would be
080paying directly to Nota for that. Well, what about your time and the wear and tear on the trolley? Yeah, that's a factor in any business life that it's not just, you know, because I know when Kelly was here, she spent a lot of time when the thing would break down on Saturday nights and things like that. So if we want to really do this, then we also need to have a plan to say how would we recover our costs? Well, in this particular event, I'm not doing anything for it. So I'm fine with that. Well, you're still handling the No, no, no, no. Handling everything. I just would say you could do it or no, you can't. That's inaccurate because there's still just the fact that they called you and contacted you is not that
081makes it, you know, not an accurate statement. I'm not against using it, by the way. I'm just saying that if we're going to do this, we need to be in reimburse for our expenses and identify and you know and also I put a little email out. I don't know if uh did I send it to you, Kimberly? I don't know if I did. I um with the list, but I did say you know that any group that wants to use it, we have to talk about liability. If someone runs into it, I mean the other night I was walking around downtown showing some people around downtown and there's somebody just about hit the trolley. I assume are covered. But and if somebody asks to use the trolley, how do we know that person represents the
082entity that wants to use it? Or is it just somebody that says, "Hey, I'm going to use it and I'll use the name of an organization." So if we are to use the trolley in a sanction event and some entity wants to use it, we need to have some steps involved. We can't just say somebody calls up Kimberly says, "Hey, my club wants to use it." I hear you, but can you back up just really quickly? Did you say somebody hit the trolley? Pardon? Did you say somebody hit the trolley? No, I said somebody came close to what made me think about the liability issues. I like I said, I'm going to repeat this. I'm okay with this if we're going to let somebody use it. I just want to make sure reimbursed and that
083the person who's asking has a legitimate right to ask about it. It's not just agreed. Somebody says, "Oh, I think my club wants to use it." Or and I think I would say maybe maybe like your application fee or something might cover some of those bucks. No, no. Everything else is covered dollar, but you're worried. No, it's not. Well, I mean, they're paying note. I mean, the driver costs. If you want something for mileage, someone mile or flat fee, 75 bucks, 100 bucks for an option. That's my point is we need to have something to find just like we did before. I think that helps you a lot in in these things here. The other thought would be is um we want something in writing from that group's board of directors or something like that.
084So is this something is this something that should go to the or committee then to define that? I mean as opposed to doing it wasting time at a board meeting. I mean I would think the or committee should should define. Is why we're talking about it because we just said no. I must be missing something. I think he's talking he's referring to sanctioned events. the sanctioned events like if someone comes to the DDA and says we want to use the trolley for an event that to me makes sense and she says yes and I say yes Rod is saying that there needs to be more criteria committee so let's should go to the or committee sanction event if it's a DA sanctioned event yeah just just committ who covers the liability when we let someone
085use the trolley for a sanctioned event then consider DDA. That's what's Yeah, I don't think we've let anybody like we personally have not let anybody other than this one that I'm referring to, but they're going it's Nova, isn't it? Well, I'll say this. At our at our meeting we had that was pretty black and white. We didn't want anyone using it. Charie, we did not want anyone else using it. That was pretty strong. I I was the only one who really wanted to use it for outside Earth sanctuary then. Yeah. Shut down. But but I'm just saying if we are going to go this route then we need to go to step B. I I believe that it's plated and insured on our policy. I'll double check. Okay. But that's the or committee cons before
086we waste any more time. She asked who's covered liability. I believe because we agreed that it's a sanctioned under we cover the liability. So I believe that liability for the vehicle already. Right. I can verify these details. Okay. Right. Cuz I know well I'll come up when I do this thing on the other tour. Does that make sense? I was saying that it does. Yeah. Motion was made. Is there any further discussion that needs to be? If so, I think we can do a regular on it. So the motion that the meeting a long time ago. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Same thing. Motion carries. And now it comes to the welcome tours on there. Oh, that's next. Yes. So, on the home and history committee, we talked about a number of
087things. I have a list of things that someone Well, I gave out one time before, but uh one of the issues was the welcome tour. Um, as I mentioned earlier in this meeting, we had discussed with NOTA. They were very helpful in saying what they would do for us. Basically, they would just charge us to the driver's time and a mileage cost. Um, Brad Jacobson is a licensed driver. U, Brad's involved with us as well. Brad does a lot about the community. Uh, Tom Hoover also volunteered and Curtis Wright over at the township. They all have a lot of local history under their belt, so they wanted to participate. So, what I'd like to do is some test runs of some routes. I have a list of 16 place, actually 20 places that we could
088visit, such as Daniel Axford's house and some of the places downtown. Uh, I thought we could start here at the village hall. And there's three days in May that Brad would be available, Brad Jacobson. So, I'd like to move forward on this to be able to reimburse not for the use just like we're talking about um for the test runs. I said three because Brad said he's got three days available. It might be two days is all we need. In fact, some of the board members might want to participate on those tour just to get some feedback. Good. No, I mean I I have, you know, I think that would be fun. You know, the routes, the time, all those kind of factors go into play. Uh but we do have to pay not even
089though they wave some of their fees. And Brad may or may not I don't know if he's required to wave his uh or he can wave his uh compensation for driving. I know he said he's going to but he might not be able to per union contracts. So, I'm guessing I talked to Brad today and Lynn, 175 bucks for three trips or 175 per trip is what we guesstimated. Assuming 25 miles, which is a little bit higher than I think we drive, and 3 hours, which might be a little bit longer, but I want to give us some fluff in there. So that's So what I'd like to propose is that we approve an expenditure not exceeding 555 $550 for up to three trial runs during the month of May for the home and history
090welcome tour. That's what I want to propose. Second discussion wise on it. Who who is going to be writing it? Where are where are we inviting them or are we advertising or is this word of mouth or how are we targeting? I already have a list uh of people that I've met in the different committees and groups I'm with of 22 people myself and the trolley hold or the uh notab bus holds 13. So I think we could do that. Plus I'd like to have some people on this board be on it too. I think we'd find it interesting. And then even on the township board there's a few members there that probably could afford to know more about the history of Oxford to give a more of a holistic approach. But I think I
091could easily come up. But I welcome more people by the way. You know, especially some of the new business owners might find it interesting. And if this works, you know, it might be something we do to encourage more businesses to come into town as kind of an economic de uh development activity. Actually, one can we try to include whenever appropriate DDA boundaries, NV boundaries? I think that I mean when we drove around and did it I think it was so helpful especially if we're talking about targeted pilot where things end where your perks begin. and we're talking about saying, "Hey, why have business in the DDA district?" Well, here's all the things that we can do for you. And can we drop them off and pick them up in places where there would be financial
092benefit? I think so. One of the things that bothers me is how many people live in the area that never come downtown Oxford. Especially when I look at uh East Trainer, for example, since I'm on the township board and all the development we have going on in East Drainer, there's a couple hundred homes there. And those people come out and they turn left heading south. Very few times do they head north. Very few times. A lot of people in the Waterstone subdivision downtown action is just drive-thru. That's part of what I like to do something is to get them accustomed to coming to downtown a do some shopping. I I one of the things when I did the Low Ranger event, as I told you, we had 10,000 people show up and I remember at
093the staging area, we had the Orian cheerleading team and the Orian band show up and I'm showing people where to line up and things like this and the one of the couple of parents from Orian said to me, "Wow, this is really great. I've never been to Oxford before." Mhm. And they live three miles south of us. Think about that. I've never been to Oxford before. And they live three miles away because it's so much easier to head south. So part of the home history tour was to do exactly what you talked about. Ashley, we might not hit the boundary lines because it is such a small district, but the concept is drive some business down here in addition to the restaurants, the pug crawls and stuff like that. So did that get a long
094enough answer? Yeah. Any questions for everybody? Um Ashley Rouse, yes. Jacob Nosio, yes. Hurry Powers, yes. Rod Charles, yes. Pete Schultz, yes. Mama, yes. Okay. Now, new business 9B, Y County Main Street Main Event, June 11th. Yeah, June 12th. Um, so that is coming up. We've submitted the award nominations for our written um awards and then we'll be submitting the video one later this week. So very excited about that. We submitted for five. They changed the categories this year from in the past. Um so we submitted for five and then we'll do the video which makes it six. Um the question that I have for discussion tonight is in the past we have um provided tickets or paid for tickets for board members uh committee members. Um I don't know if it was just the
095board member committee member or if it was that person plus a guest. Um but I did want to just get a motion for conversation and if you were in agreement to do that what the motion would be for um supporting I can't think. I'm sorry it's late. Um paying for tickets for um those that are giving their time to the DA and would like to go. Any questions or comments? Anybody? How many tickets did we pay for last year? That's a great question. I don't know off the top of my head. I know we had a really large group, but I think a lot of people paid on their own last year because if we make a motion, we probably want to cap it at a certain amount, a dollar amount. Yeah, I can email
096that. I would I mean, I guess we could wait until the May meeting as well um to finalize that. I think people are just wanting to get their tickets, but I'm happy. I can either email that or we can do it in May. Pete, right? How many people are you guessing? I would guess no more than 20. If we're do if we're opening it up to board members and committee members um and then staff, I would think no more than 20 or 25. And how much are the tickets again? 25 35 35. So roughly 800 bucks. A little bit less than $800. So do we want to just cap it at like a thousand? I mean, I think we had a couple people cancel last minute last year or the year before, I think it
097was. Um, but keep it specifically to only those that are board members or committee members. I mean, we're not going to just I don't I don't think we've ever supported like paying for business owners to go. Um, one thing we do might want to think about though is I did submit awards to business owners uh this year or submit awards based on the work of business owners within our district this year. So, I would like to be able to tell them you've been nominated for this award. We're so happy. Here's a ticket for you. Here's how you write out your check. I think we should pay. I'm sorry, Pete. Rough. Yeah, it sounds to me if we did something kind of what Kimberly is suggesting that we put a dollar amount cap on this and
098then the business owners who are nominated should not have to pay. I mean, that makes sense. So, are you putting that into a motion? I'd like to um make a motion that we uh set aside up to $1,000 to pay for tickets for people attending the event for board members, committee members, and business owners who have been nominated for a an award. I'll second that. Been moved and supported. Any questions on that? Roll call, please. Um Ashley Ross. Yeah. Pete Schultz. Yes. Rod Charles. Yes. Marie Powers. Yes. Jacob Neosia. Yes. And yes. Very good. Thank you. 9C power washing. Um the last several years we have worked with Excel Brothers to offer discounted rates to business owners to have their facads powerwashed. Um, last year we offered um the DDA pays 50% up to $150
099and that includes awning wash, power wash, soft scrub. Um, and then it's to the first 30 businesses that submit. Um, that was not utilized up to 30 last year. There was only a handful of people that utilized it. It was much more popular right after the streetscape was completed. Um, but I was wanting to open discussion for if that's something we would like to offer our businesses again this year. I think it was successful in the past when they did do it. I mean, it definitely cleaned up the whole, you know, refreshed everything downtown and everything. Got all the salt and grime and gum, whatever off place. Definitely made a lot of the canopy look a lot better, too. So, I think it was well worth it in the past. Okay. I participated. I thought
100it was worthwhile. Okay. Any other comments motion please? Um, so what was done last year was 30 the first up to the first 30 buildings. So 50% up to $150. So 30 times 150 which is beyond my Is that the same that's in the process here or we're just going to stick with it no matter what? Excel. I talked to Excel and they're willing to support that the same this year. I'll make a motion to um have Excel Brothers um no have businesses uh cover 50% of power washing uh up to $150 and up to the first 30 businesses. I'll second that. been moved and second. Any other further discussion or questions on it? Every voice clear? Roll call, please. Marie Powers, yes. Ashley Ross, yes. Jacob Nosia, yes. Pete Schulz, yes. Rod Charles, yes.
101And I'm a guest. Very good. Ning with trash cans and benches. So, this is not something that we necessarily have to do this year, but it was brought to our attention that the the benches and some of the garbage cans downtown are starting to flake and the black coating is coming off and it's looking a little rusty. So, just got some quotes on that and it's looking to be about $600 per garbage can. And what about the benches? Wow. Um, did we get a number? We did not get a number on the benches. How much is a new gir? It's about It's between 1,00 and,300 depending on the style. So, if you get an open top versus a closed top versus a double. So, it is about half the price in theory per garbage can,
102but we had a hard time, and correct me if I'm wrong, finding businesses that are willing to sand it all down and powder coat it. Yeah. Same glass. Yeah, thank you. Um the ones we're basically we're talking the ones on Washington Street. Correct. South which were purchased as part of the streetscape project from the MD project. Um I drove through the other day Washington and even the benches I mean they're like 50% rust covered and it's just from all the salt and stuff like that the corrosion that's you know. Same thing with with the uh the trash pants. I mean, all those were new at that time of the of the purchase of that thing. Again, it's a lot of money to spend for a trash can, but again, if you're, you know, for 600
103bucks, we can get another five years out of it as opposed to, you know, it's hard to get and spending 1,200 or whatever it is for another a new trash can. And again, it's only going to get us, you know, five years or something that way either. Okay, I misspoke earlier because when we met with a business owner last week, Rudy did provide a quote for the bench and I want to say it was about 12 to,500 for a new bench. For a new bench, correct? And keep in mind that they whoever does unless the DPW is going to do it ahead of time, they all got to be unbolted because those all bolted down that that as well. Just to Yeah, clarify this my mind. So to redo them, sand blast them, we would
104have to unbolt them. Yep. Take them to someone's shop. They do the sand blasting, then they reinstall coat them and then bring them back. And then bring them back versus buy new ones. Correct. Which is there any kind of warranty on these or not? Doesn't seem like very satisfactory performance for I mean, if there's bad as you're saying, that's my thought. Exactly what Marie says. Commercial grade. They've been what, five years on them? Yeah, they went in the fall. Well, in spring of 21, so four years heavy duty builds had to be all stuff and had to be made in the US and US steel and all stuff. It's pretty expensive stuff. Yeah. What you need stuff that But do we have a warranty on this? My question I would imagine probably two years. Yeah.
105The biggest issue is all the road salt and everything. I mean it's you know when you drive by in the winter time when it snows all I mean, that's basically where it is. Right on top of the benches and right on top of the, you know, all the sidewalks and everything gets pushed right up to them. So, they're they're covered in salt almost the entire winter. So, it's it's seen sales. Yeah. Ones by the trolley stops. You didn't see me doing it. Do we have powder or can you paint them? If you want them to last year's the best the best option as far as you know getting good how many do we need to do Joe? Do you know how many we have downtown like on 24? I don't either. Oh, wait. Are you
106talking about the carries? The garbage can. Probably both. Yeah. How many? We don't know. We can put take this asformational for right now and then we can get it tighter by the y the main meeting and bring it back and actually do an actual inventory of what we're talking about doing everything because we would also need to talk about logistics. I mean, are they going to all take take all of them at once? Are they going to do it in and are they charging for pickup and delivery? You know, there's a lot of moving pieces and we can cycle it out over a couple years. For sure. So, go ahead. Um, so the comp what's the company doing this potentially? Um, they're on glass. Well, I guess that's where I'm going to go with this
107because I know years ago, and you would remember this, Peter, we had problem with the uh cemetery fence. Remember that? Oh, a long time ago. Yeah. Yeah. A long time ago, the cemetery fence needed to be cleaned, power coded, and the guy disappeared with the fence. Yep. What? Well, that's that's why I'm bringing this up. I guess institutional uh knowledge. Was that the term, Pete? So, gentlemen, Pardon? I couldn't hear you. Express metal coatings. So the question is here again to repeat just so the folks weren't around here. We had somebody remove the fencing up by the cemetery. Mhm. And they disappeared. 20 years ago. Just disappeared with the fencing. With the fencing. Some of them we got back and some of them we didn't. Um a little background on the trash cans and everything
108from the street project. the existing benches and existing trash cans that we had before the streetscape project. Those were all collected and taken down to the place there on Glass Street. And those were all blasted and all powder coated. And then those are the ones that are all installed in the back of the stores or the back. Okay? Because we, you know, wasn't throwing them away. So at that time the task force said, "Why can't we reuse them?" So we found this local guy. He gave us a super deal on them. Um, sand blasted them. Actually, they picked them up over the DPW because everything had been cleaned out of town at that point by MDOT for the contractor. Took them all over the DPWR. The contractor picked them up there at the yard, took
109them down and blasted them, you know, and he brought them back and dropped them off. So then in the spring when the project was, you know, finished, those were the ones that all been reinstalled on the back sides of the buildings because at that time there was hardly anything on the back side of the building. So, this is what got those trash cans and a few benches across the back. That's how those holding up. I was just going to I haven't I haven't looked at the ones on the back side of them. I just, you know, I saw one driving down here that But those were wood and metal, right? Most of them were all metal. Do they get used? I It's random. I mean, sometimes you go and there'll be, you know, three, four
110people sitting there, you know, having a coffee or doing something. I mean, for most of us, you know, downtown with all the truck traffic, it's not pleasant, but it's all part of part of the ambiance. So, we'll put that to the May agenda. Come back with more information on this. What's that? It's all for Yeah. And then some 9E the grant for my Shar. I've never seen this. Do you want me to make a motion for this one? Okay. Can I combine them or you do we need them separate? We probably need them separate. Um I'll make a motion to uh present a 50% grant for not to exceed $6,500 for a front grant facade grant for my sher Amore. So I need a motion. I made the motion. I'll second that. All right, this
111move is supported. Uh, roll call, please. Uh, Jacob Nosia, yes. Ashley Ross, yes. Marie Powers, yes. Rod Charles, yes. Pete Schultz, yes. Piper, yes. All right. And on top of that, we now have the back entrance grant for my Sharia. Right. I'll make a motion for 1,00 for a 50% grant um not to exceed $1,000 for a back entrance facade grant for my Sharia Moore support. It's been moved and supported. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Pete Schultz. Yes. Rod Charles. Can I I own the building. Can I vote on this or should I stand? I mean, it's not for me, but you should. Pardon? I'll stay then. Yeah. I don't It's your asset. Yeah. What' you say? He's still mad about that thing on the budget. [Laughter] Marie Power. Yes. Ashley Ross. Yes. Jacob
112Nicoia. Yes. And yes. Very good. Did you vote on the first one? Yes. Didn't you vote? Did they not call you in? No, I did. I was just asking. No. Oh, okay. Okay. For the facade in the back entrance. I think technically I could but I'm not going to finally benefit at the end of the day. We don't need you to vote. I know. Okay. I'll for uh we have no items that were removed from the consent agenda. So we will now move on to board member comments. No comments. No tires. Um um the one comment I have is I've noticed you girls out on social media quite a bit on doing your little promos and stuff like that and it's exciting. It's fun to see you do it. So nice job. And um I
113would like to do the test run if possible. I would enjoy that. So Okay. Yeah. Cool. Please keep me included. And that's it. Right. Just what Holly said on this little tour thing. I've had people call me who are excited about doing this by the way. So, um, we'll have to raise ticket prices. Yeah. Yeah. That's it. From zero to cash only, by the way. Yeah. Nothing really, but count me in too for the All right. Um, welcome to Thank you for the report for the St. Patrick's Day report. I mean, obviously the two of you put that together, but she didn't want a couple minutes on it. So, I'm giving her That's fine. I love it. Of course, she did a nice job on that. And it's that kind of information is helpful for
114us going forward for a lot of the projects that we've been doing or events that we've been doing with no, no backup. So, this way it kind of gives us a background, something we can look at and say, "Yay or nay, how can we approve or do you want forward?" So, great job. I think the both of you um I've been talking to you guys almost all winter, but it's been remotely back and forth and everything, but thanks for the support and everything, but I think um you guys are doing a great job and you know, it's it started to show around town everything. So, you look fantastic. To the rest of the board and the community, everything. Um sorry I've been gone for so long. I started out in November to have a kidney
115transplant and the day before surgery, I got diagnosed with CO. So I was in bed with COVID for a week after that. Um through all the November then rescheduled into December. They were giving me the imunosuppressant drugs. So you know my systems been knocked out ever since November. So I couldn't leave the house or do anything hardly. So it was rather limited you know what I could do all winter and everything. Then finally had surgery in January and my wife or my my daughter was the actual donor for me and everything. So perfect match on everything. So worked out fantastic. Um results and everything afterwards. Everything is going great and healing and moving on and everything. So sorry to be gone for so long, but look forward to get back into it. So thank you
116and extended public comments. I don't know if that's where I fit in. Um welcome back Pete and thank you Marie for uh filling in for him while he was gone. Thank you to everyone for all of your time. I know the last couple meetings have been pretty lengthy, so I'm hoping that we can not have to do these long meetings again and the budget. We're done. Yay. Yee-haw. Two quick things. Jess went through her 90-day evaluation with flying colors. Is that the right term? Yeah. Okay. And so, she's decided that she's willing to stay for a little bit longer, which we are so excited about. You give her a choice? No, not really. But I like to let her think she has a choice. I told her the other day I had a dream that
117she quit and she like was very angry when she left and I was like what happened? We just had this beautiful moment about how you're doing so well. What happened? Um so I'm super excited to have her like official official out of her probationary period. She's doing fantastic. So thank you Jess. We're I'm super pumped. Um and then second um stickers and little handouts for the trolley are on your desks up there. This is a new initiative that we're doing. We've heard feedback that some people aren't aware of the trolley or they don't know that it's free to ride. So, we've started um I cannot talk tonight. Sorry. Placing them in the businesses downtown and we'll make sure that everybody gets some. Um and then we'll do some more promo as you know the summer
118gets going about the trolley and how to ride it and where the stops are and all that kind of stuff. So, um just doing you know a little bit more promo, a little bit more education. Very good. That's all. Yeah. Uh at this point motion to adjurnn. Hallelujah. 8:40. Yep. All in favor? I thank you everyone.