Advertisement

A public hearing on the plan will be held Oct. 6, prior to the regular city council meeting.

J&K Manufacturing, a maker of marine parts, continues to grow and owners want to consolidate the company's three plants into one new building in Croswell's industrial park.

Croswell's Tax Increment Financing Association has been negotiating to buy J&K's three current buildings - two located in the industrial park and one in the former Dean Foods plant - to use as incubator sites to draw new industry.

Sale of the old buildings will help J&K build a new building somewhere within the city's industrial park, although a location has not yet been chosen, said City Administrator Dave Tait.

"We are looking at available lots. Work already has started on putting together a building and site plan. They (TIFA) must issue bonds to buy the old buildings first," Tait said. "It is important we keep these jobs, utility use and taxes here in Croswell."

J&K and TIFA have been discussing the plan for the past two years.

The city council needs public input on whether TIFA should issue bonds to buy J&K's three current buildings.

The city's bond attorney was expected last week to tour J&K's three current locations and assess the taxable value of the property.

The city council on Aug. 18 also heard Jim Rutkowski, new chairman of the Sanilac Economic Alliance, outline a number of new plans the Alliance is considering to help municipalities throughout Sanilac County draw new business and industry.

Croswell's TIFA in 2007 substantially scaled back funding for the Alliance, because it was believed the city was not receiving enough benefit by supporting it.

Rutkowski, who was hired a month ago, said he is meeting with county and city leaders.

In 2009, he would like to schedule a town hall meeting to learn what direction residents envision for Croswell and set up a task force to go about getting it done.

Rutkowski told council of plans to set up classes for entrepreneurs, and of a plan to create an online network system so Sanilac businesses can exchange bids and products online.

Tait said that it sounds as if the Alliance is moving in the right direction.

"I would like to see more commitment from the group, as we have remained committed to them," he said.

Council also:

- Approved renewing an agreement between Croswell-Lexington Community Schools and Croswell to provide a Liaison Police Officer for the 2008-09 school year. The officer will work eight hours a day for the district, each day the school is in session.

Supervision of evening events may be included in the eight-hour day. The school district will pay 70 percent of the payroll and benefits of the officer to work 2,080 hours per year.

- Approved allowing the Croswell Lions to collect donations at the corner of Wells and Howard streets, to be used by the Lions for local, state and district charities. Collections would start Sept. 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. through 3 p.m.

- Approved reappointing Nancy Duff to a five-year term on the Council Compensation Committee, expiring in 2013.

- Appointed council members Mary Willis and Mike McMillan to work on a new place to hold city council meetings. The council has been meeting in Aitkin Memorial Library, but is seeking a location that will provide...

- Discussed providing better surveillance for the gazebo in River Bend Park and the Swinging Bridge, to prevent vandalism. Tait informed council a rotating camera already is installed for the area.