TRAVERSE CITY -- A big-ticket meeting is on the horizon for city commissioners.
They'll meet Monday to discuss four major community issues, including priorities for the Traverse City Police Department and Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department, along with a proposed contract with Michigan State University's Wharton Center for Performing Arts to manage the City Opera House.
Commissioners also will hear updates on the proposed Riverwest development with public parking on West Front Street, plus financing options for the county's septage treatment facility.
All are key community issues, Mayor Chris Bzdok said.
He cited taxpayer equity for city and county law enforcement agencies as an important topic for city commissioners and residents. A city committee that studied city finances and operations voiced concern that taxpayers receive no patrol services, despite paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to the county.
New city Commissioners Michael Gillman and MaryAnn Moore -- both served on the finance study committee -- pressed the matter during their campaigns.
"The issue is what Traverse City residents should be getting out of our county tax dollars," Gillman said.
Additionally, a proposed opera house management contract has drawn attention.
The city's Downtown Development Authority Board voted 7 to 4 on Friday to support the Wharton deal concept, though some issues were raised, including why a management contract wasn't put out for bids, Bzdok said.
DDA board members Nathan Elkins, T. Michael Jackson, Michael Kelly and Victoria Springer opposed the management deal.
Another topic is public parking in downtown's west side and the proposed Riverwest development. City Manager R. Ben Bifoss will give an update on the project.
Finally, an interim county official will discuss financing options for the Grand Traverse County's troubled septage treatment facility, specifically a plan to assess an annual $44 annual tax on township homeowners with septic tanks. City taxpayers do not have a direct financial stake in the plant.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Ave. in Traverse City.
Print this story
E-mail this story
