County Commissioner Brian Elder, right, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, discusses legislative initiatives with County Executive Tom Hickner.

---

Bay County Aims to Save $80,000 With Payoff of Depot Parking Lot Bonds

"Hire Michigan First" Program Support Eyed by Ways and Means Committee

April 2, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

Bay County commissioners are poised to consider:

Saving $80,000 by early redemption of a $600,000 bond issue that built the Pere Marquette Depot parking lot;

Supporting the "Hire Michigan First" bills being considered in the Michigan Senate;

Chipping in $25,000 to the regional marketing effort for solar energy industries to locate here;

Applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to promote local opportunities for growth in the wind energy industry; and

Establishing an Agricultural Conservation Easement program to preserve farmland.

Commissioner Brian Elder, chair, will call the Ways and Means Committee together at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 with the series of economic advancement issues foremost on the agenda.

On recommendation of Robert Redmond, legislative-financial aide, commissioners will consider paying off the $321,408 balance on the original $600,000 parking lot bond issue for the depot using the $439,237 obtained from sale of a parking lot at the southeast corner of Madison and 4th to the Bay Arenac Behavioral Health Authority.

That early payoff of a bond issue due in 2017, would save an estimated $80,000, according to Mr. Redmond, who indicated he will make other recommendations for payoff of other bonds by August using the remaining $118,000.

The "Hire Michigan First" program, proposed by State Rep. Fred Miller, Mt. Clemens Democrat, would require companies that get tax breaks to hire Michigan workers before importing out-of-state employees.

Stiff penalties would apply to any company not complying with tax break contracts.

Exceptions are allowed only if Michigan residents are not available or trained for specific jobs and hiring of illegal workers is banned.

Bay County would contribute $25,000 to the regional marketing effort through Bay Future, Inc., a partner with Saginaw Future, Inc., and Midland Tomorrow. The economic agencies have formed a compact to market the area worldwide as a location near the source of supply of solar energy materials, the Dow Corning Corp. of Williams Township and The Dow Chemical Co. of Midland.

The City of Bay City has committed to a $10,000 contribution while Saginaw County and Midland County are contributing estimated equal amounts to the Bay County portion, according to reports.

Other agenda items include consideration of a proposal to expand the Community Center weight room at a cost of $35,000, filling the gap left by the closure of the YWCA, and application for a stimulus grant through the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a grant to conduct phragmites control at various locations including Pinconning Park.

Commissioners also will consider seeking a Justice Assistance Grant of $103,210, to be shared 50-50 with the Bay City Police Department, for law enforcement equipment, and a $155,000 federal Byrne Grant and State Court Administrator's Grant for the 74th District Court Treatment Court program.###