April 9, 2008 - At the Ada Board Township meeting on March 26th, the six-member Ada Township Board unanimously agreed to apply for a grant with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for improvements to Roselle Park Nature Trails. According to Resolution R-032408-1 which was adopted on March 24th, the DNR grant application was created to apply for Grant Funds from the Michigan National Resource Trust Fund (MNRTF), which in turn will be used to improve the Roselle Park Nature Trails. The MNRTF grant application states that Roselle Park consists of 247 acres of woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and a mile of shoreline along the Grand River. The Grant Application continues to state that Roselle Park serves many uses, including serving as an established air route for migratory birds and housing numerous other forms of wildlife and unique vegetation.

The Michigan National Resource Trust Fund Grant Application explains the improvements that will be made to Roselle Park Nature Trails; the improvements include restoring wetland and prairie habitats, as well as adding a non-paved trail system, interpretative signs, benches, and also a canoe landing in Roselle Park Nature Trails. In an interview conducted on April 7th, George Haga explained that the time frame for the improvements of Roselle Park will depend on when the grant is passed, but Mr. Haga expects it to be a 2009 project. The Michigan National Resource Trust Fund Grant Application shows that the Ada Township Board is contributing $95, 448 dollars, which according to the MNRTF grant application is 56% of the total project cost; the MNRTF grant application states that the Ada Township Board only has to match twenty five percent of the total project cost. George Haga in the interview conducted on April 7th, explained that the extra money the Ada Township Board provided is to move the Roselle Parks improvement project up on the DNR’s priority list.

George Haga added in the interview that the cost is well worth the benefits which will be reaped by the Roselle Park improvements. According to the MNRTF grant application the addition of a second canoe access point will give fishers and other boaters the chance to stop safely along the river. The MNRTF grant application also explains how the addition of the unpaved trail system will allow visitors of Roselle Park to walk, jog, or hike, without harming the parks natural areas. The MNRTF grant application explains that with the inclusion of the observation decks to Roselle Park, it will produce a safe and accessible way to view numerous birds and other animals.

Thornapple River Drive Paving Project
BY MICHAEL CHALHOUB, BROOKS TWIST, AND BRENT SUTTERFIELD

March 19, 2008 - In an interview with George Haga conducted on March 14th, he stated that the residents of Ada Township had been waiting for a decision on the Thornapple River Drive paving project for over a year; the Thornapple River Drive paving project had finally received the “all clear.” The Ada Board Township, which met on March 10th, finally passed the plan with five board members approving the measure and one board member rejecting the proposal. George Haga also stated in the interview that the paving project would have an enormous effect on the community. Not only will it greatly improve the deteriorating roads, but it will also greatly improve the look of Ada.

At the Ada Board Township meeting on March 10th, Jim Ippel, owner of Ada Bike Shop, walked towards the microphone to display his support for the paving project. Ippel stated that numerous citizens of Ada make it a habit not to drive on Thornapple River Drive due to the deteriorating roads. Jim Ippel continued to state that he is losing out on a lot of business from Thornapple River Drive and is afraid it might lead to the closing of his shop. In the Cadence newspaper article titled “Paving Project Expedited by Ada Township's Fund Approval,” Frank Swanson, owner of the Paper Bag, also expressed his passionate support for the paving project on the night of March 10th; his business was also suffering from Thornapple River Drive’s disrepair.

In the interview conducted on March 14th, George Haga stated that the only drawback to the paving plan was the financial cost. George Haga added that the funding for the paving would not come from taxes but from the budget of the Ada Township Board. The Cadence newspaper article, “Paving Project Expedited by Ada Township's Fund Approval” also stated that the board decided that they will contribute $116,000 to the project. The article continues to state that the township funds will go to the Kent County Road Commission to move the Thornapple River Drive paving project up higher on the priority list. In the interview conducted on March 14th, George Haga stated that the reason it took over a year to finally pass funding for the paving project is that the Ada Township Board doesn’t own the roads on Thornapple River Drive; the Kent County Road Commission owns those roads. Mr. Haga added that the funding for the paving, which is coming from the Ada Township Board, is supposed to be paid for by the Kent County Road Commission, but is not. This is the main reason the Ada Township Board took so long to pass the paving funding.

Brownfield Plan
BY MICHAEL CHALHOUB, BROOKS TWIST, AND BRENT SUTTERFIELD

February 20, 2008 - At the Ada Board Township meeting on February 11th , Rick Van Dellen, employee of Access Business Group, received great news; the Ada Township Board unanimously passed the plan for the Brownfield redevelopment zone within the township of Ada. Little is known, outside of the township hall, regarding this Brownfield Plan, evident as the public was notably missing from the meeting. In the Grand Raids Press article entitled “Alticor eyes tax breaks,” it states that the Brownfield redevelopment authority grants permission to communities to offer incentives to companies that clean up contaminated land areas. The Grand Rapids Press article continues to state that the Brownfield Plan takes place at 7575 Fulton Street East, the property in which Alticor resides; Alticor, for those that are not familiar with the business, is the parent company of Access Business Group.

Rick Van Dellen, in an interview conducted on February 13th, stated that the company would not build a new facility on the property, but that it would upgrade an older, already existing building. The Brownfield Plan Draft mentions that to upgrade this building, the company must first clean up the contaminated Brownfield area; the contamination - chlorinated solvents and numerous metals - resides in the soil and groundwater at the property. Rick Van Dellen continued to explain in the interview that once the cleanup is complete and the Brownfield area is revitalized, the municipality receives a huge increase in property taxes, which allows the municipality to give the 10% Michigan Business Tax credit incentive back to the company for the cleanup.

Mr. Van Dellen also acknowledged in the interview conducted on February 13th that in most cases the local municipalities awarded the tax incentive to the companies to fund the cleanup; this was not the case for Alticor. Alticor already has paid for the cleanup, so the company will be using the tax incentive towards new equipment for the factory and the Brownfield Plan Draft states that the equipment will be used to manufacture various powder home care products. The tax incentive, while it is viewed as a positive for the company, also can be viewed negatively by the public; Jim Ferro, Planning Director of Ada Township, stated in an interview conducted on February 10th that some people view the business credit negatively as it is taking tax revenue away from other projects for which the taxes could be used.

Alticor spent countless funds and time to finance the cleanup of the Brownfield area, so receiving approval from the Ada Township Board was a must; to be exact, Rick Van Dellen also stated in the interview that the cleanup lasted 10 years, since it began in 1998. The Grand Rapids Press article entitled “Alticor eyes tax breaks,” also states that Alticor, upon arrival of the tax credit, will save an estimated one million dollars, but the Brownfield Plan will also create twenty-five fulltime jobs and eight temporary jobs to help upgrade the new machinery. At the Ada Board Township meeting, Trustee John Weston asked Rick whether the open jobs would have any source of impact on the revenue of the township; Rick quickly answered by stating that the jobs would first go to workers in the company; if any open spots were left, they would be open to the Ada community. Jim Ferro, in the interview, also stated the biggest benefit that the Brownfield Plan would have on Ada is that it encourages productive reuse of land that is contaminated, which can reduce sprawl. Faced with little opposition by the public, the Ada Township Board did not take much time in deciding the fate of the Brownfield Plan.

Ada Park A Great Family Place
BY HEATHER GAUTHIER

April 16, 2007 - Ada Township holds within its boundaries a truly remarkable family park this park would be the Ada Township Park. Ada Park is a 57-acre site located on the southern border of the Township, stated in the Ada Township Parks, Recreation and Open Space Planning Packet. This packet is a public document that can be accessed on-line or in hard copy, said by the Planning Director James Ferro. According to Ferro, Ada Township Park was once called Ada Bicentennial Park. Ada Township Park was established back in 1976, stated Ferro. Ferro also added, that Bud Locke, Les Craig and Al Hook were the three residents of Ada Township that had pushed the Township to put in this recreational park.

The planning packet stated quite a few of the existing facilities, but here are just a few of them: six tennis courts, two softball diamonds with bleachers, seven picnic areas each with a grill and tables, one shelter with a grill with electric, water, twelve picnic tables, barrier free restrooms, paved paths, nature trails, one children’s playground and two paved parking lots. According to Ferro walking, hiking, bicycling, leisure, and sledding were the among the top five most favorite things among the residents.

Ada Park still has a lot of the existing facilities but the Township plans on making a few additions, said Ferro. Ferro went on to say that the Township is planning to making the half-court basketball court into a full basketball court, as well as planning to add a sand volleyball court, plus some smaller projects that hold high priority.

The Addition To Roselle Park
BY HEATHER GAUTHIER

March 21, 2007 - According to Ada Townships planning director James Ferro, the board has adopted the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan on February 26th, 2007. One park that is going to be included in this plan is going to be Roselle Park, stated Ferro. According to the planning packet Ada Township’s parklands more than doubled in size in the year 2002, this was because of the purchase of the former Ada Beef property.

Also stated in the planning packet Ryven “Carl” Ezinga has donated 500,000 dollars in memory of his wife Roselle. According to the Ada Township clerk Deb Ensing-Millhuff the park was named after Mr. Ezinga’s wife because that is what he wanted to keep in memory of her and also by his donation of the 500,000 dollars. Also stated by Ensing-Millhuff 48,000 dollars was also donated by the Woodrick family.

Stated in the planning packet is that Roselle Park now totals 247 acres with 1.75 miles of frontage on the Grand River. According to Ferro buying the land that once held the Ada Beef Company has increased the amount of land by 17.5 acres. Stated in the planning packet the work will begin in the spring of 2007 and will consist of asphalt paving just about 1.3 miles of pedestrian trails, construction of a river overlook and canoe landing. According to the planning packet when completed, Roselle Park will be home to an enclosed pavilion, playground, fishing pond and covered picnic area. The existing silos will be renovated to create an observation deck and climbing walls, which is also stated in the planning packet. Stated by Ferro the total cost to renovate the silos will be an estimated 177,700 dollars. According to Ensing-Millhuff the cost will be paid for from state grants, Ada Township, and other donations.

According to Ensing-Millhuff once Roselle Park is complete it will be a wonderful place where people can come to enjoy nature.

New Trails Coming To Ada
BY HEATHER GAUTHIER

February 14, 2007 - The township has recently passed the November ballot proposal for the addition of more non-motorized trails throughout Ada Township. According to Supervisor George Haga the total cost for this project will be an estimated 4.7 million dollars and be approximately 15.5 miles in length. This plan is going to be carried out through the year 2009 if not a little bit longer, said Supervisor Haga. This first section that has been proposed, is to be started sometime this year stated Supervisor Haga. Carl Peters, a resident of Ada Township, said, “I believe the trails are a good idea, it gives the residents the chance of walking, running, biking etc. without the risk of being on the roads themselves.” Supervisor Haga had also stated that since Ada Township has already connected to the trails in Cascade Township, he hopes to connect with the Grand Rapids Township trails.

According to the Ada Townships’ fact sheet the placing of these trails is dependent on a variety of factors. These factors would include locations of major trees, terrain, wetlands, locations of homes and driveways, street crossings, public parks, school and other destinations. But Carl Peters had also stated that, “the only issue that I have with this plan is that in the past it has all been constructed with private donations and now the tax payers are going to pay for it. Meaning that even if some don’t use these trails we still have to pay for them along with the maintenance of them, which to me is not right.” It is also stated in the fact sheet that before the construction of each phase there will be meetings held by the Township so that there can be some input on the preliminary plans of that particular phase.

Local Park to be Expanded Thanks to Property Acquisition
BY DREW CLOUSE

December 12, 2006 - Expansion of Roselle Park is in the works here in Ada.

The township recently obtained new land adjacent to the park with the goal of expanding the park’s existing property. Township Clerk Deb Ensing Milhuff cites expanding river and trail access to the public, in addition to helping protect a very sensitive fen area, as factors that motivated the purchase. She adds that it is part of a greater effort to both expand and improve the park. The acquired land is described as “17.5 acres of riverfront land immediately north of [the park]” by Township Supervisor George Haga in a November 17 memo to the Township Board.

At the Township Board’s meeting on November 27, the option to purchase the property was authorized. Clerk Milhuff says the township initially approached the property owner, Ada Hospital for Animals, when it became aware that the veterinarian practice wasn’t utilizing or needing part of its property behind the establishment.

The $137,535 price of the land will be paid for with money from the Parks and Land Preservation Fund, as explained by Supervisor Haga. Under the terms of the agreement with Ada Hospital for Animals, Haga also states that the township will be obligated to pay the 2006 property taxes for the acreage. All told, this amounts to $6,691.40 worth of tax money according to Township Treasurer Diane Pratt.

Roselle Park, located on Grand River Drive, has been a praised addition to the township, offering great recreational opportunities for the community.

Liquor Licenses No Laughing Matter
BY DREW CLOUSE

October 31, 2006 - Liquor licenses can in a way be compared to the very beverages of which they permit sale and consumption. Ideally, they serve as a benefit and enjoyment for communities, providing for economic possibilities and growth. As Ada Township is now finding out, misuse of a license can lead to a rotten feeling in the stomach.

Dudley Larson, owner of Dudley’s Party Stores, was issued liquor licenses, one for on-premises sale and one for take-out, by the Ada Township Board in February of 2002 (according to Township Supervisor George Haga). In this process, licenses are then confirmed by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Haga adds that no activity ever took place within the township to utilize the licenses which were issued in good faith to Mr. Larson for a planned family restaurant. In fact, rather than put the licenses to use within Ada, Township Clerk Deb Ensing Milhuff relates that Mr. Larson planned on selling them to a buyer in Grand Rapids Township. Such a sale would inflict damage on the township’s supply of licenses.

This fact lies in the on-premises license (termed a Class C license) issued to Dudley’s Party Store. Under MLCC regulations, a Class C license is a “quota license.” These licenses are limited in number and depend on the population of a municipality. Take-out licenses of the kind Mr. Larson also possesses are not subject to this quota system. Due to this limitation of Class C licenses, a loss of a license in the township’s case would imply a lost opportunity. It would have one less license to possibly issue to businesses in the future.

The latest developments to come in this situation have raised questions about what might come next. Supervisor Haga confirms that on September 29, the licenses of Mr. Larson were suspended by the MLCC “until further order from the commission.” According to Tom Hagan, the District Supervisor for the MLCC’s Grand Rapids District Office, Dudley’s Party Store also was cited for twelve infractions (some were then combined for a total of nine) defined by the commission, leading to $1,200.00 in fines. The licenses remain suspended despite the payment of these fines. At this point, only time will tell what fate awaits Mr. Larson’s licenses and the resulting impact it will have on the township’s quota amount.

Blazing New Trails in Ada?
BY DREW CLOUSE

October 3, 2006 - In November, residents in Ada Township will have the opportunity to vote on a ballot proposal that calls for an additional fifteen and a half miles of non-motorized trails to be constructed throughout the township. The Ada Township Board has overseen preliminary planning work on locations for the trails, with the expectation of the proposal being approved in the coming elections.

Ada has had a non-motorized trail network in place for some time now, dating back to the early 1990s. “We started planning trails back in 1990,” said Ada Planning Director James Ferro. “We established as our highest priority getting a trail along Ada Drive.” In the time since those first non-motorized trails, public feedback has been very positive and the demand for an expansion of them has been high. Ferro described that hitting high population areas and popular destinations, along with providing better connections to similar non-motorized trails in Cascade Township, are the primary goals for this trail expansion. George Haga, the Supervisor of Ada Township, added, “The public inquiry and support for this millage has been very great.”

According to a preliminary report and accompanying map that the Ada Township Board has published, twelve locations have been studied by engineers and recommended as ideal trail locations including segments along Knapp Street, Fulton Street, and Thornapple River Drive. “The criteria we looked at in determining locations were population areas, destinations, and terrains,” said Ferro. The plan, as proposed, would call for completion of the trail network in phases that, all told, would take approximately three or four years. “It’s in the range of $5 million total cost,” stated Ferro, adding that the Township anticipates state grants covering as much as 10 percent of that cost.

With none of these plans finalized yet, they are subject to possible change in the future. As Supervisor Haga summed up, “We have no engineered plans; all the planning done so far is general and preliminary.” With Election Day coming up on November 6, Township residents will have the opportunity to give their stamp of approval on the plans for non-motorized trail expansion.

Abuse of Free Speech
BY JACOB SCHAFFSMA

October 20, 2004 - Its coming close to election time in Ada and the two most prominent candidates for Supervisor, George Haga and Bill Wood, have signs up in Ada. This reporter has seen several sings directly trying to defame both of the candidates. I spoke with George Haga on the telephone and he told me that he “…saw it as an unfortunate but legal thing that these citizens are choosing to do.” I then asked him if he had any signs in his yard his response was “I have a few signs for myself.” He jokingly said that he thought supporting himself was the way to go.

I then proceeded to ask him if there had been any solutions proposed to deal with the increased vandalism to the signs and or property. He said that no course of action had been taken to specifically deal with the vandalism and property damage (if any). This reporter personally knows people who have gotten away with destroying and or vandalizing political signs. I asked this person why they did this and they told me because it was fun. He also said that because all hollow’s eve (the night before Halloween) comes before the election that a lot more of these signs will be destroyed or mutilated.

I think that it is immature on both the level of the person who puts up “anti-Wood” or “anti-Haga” signs and of the impetuous youth who revels in destroying these signs. This reporter wishes that within his lifetime he will be able to see an election on some level where the tactic of “mudslinging” is not used. In reality though I do not think I will see this happen.

Morels: One of Ada’s Wonders!
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

April 20, 2004 - The Ada board meetings in the past two months have had spring in their step. The developments of new parks and preserved lands have been a hot topic this year. At the meeting on Monday, April 19, 2004, that trend has continued.

Now that it has been warmer and nice enough to go out into the landscape of Ada, a favorite pastime has taken over, Morel Hunting! The meeting was designated in order to inform the public of the safest and best ways to enjoy this project.

You may be asking yourself, what is a Morel? A Morel is a large, dome shaped mushroom that is native to Michigan’s soil. Not only are they interesting to come across and, of course, to watch explode (they do this in order to reproduce), but there not too tough on the taste buds either.

A baby morel

The people of Ada love to go “Morel Hunting”. It involves trying to find the largest one in the woods or just looking for a side dish to go with dinner. There are some important guidelines to consider, though, when hunting these Michigan marvels. The first being that one needs to realize if we pick them all, soon there will be none left to enjoy. Unless one is using it for food, it is best that they are enjoyed in the ground form which they came. The next important guideline is to only eat one if you are sure it is a morel. There are other mushrooms that look very similar to morels but are in fact very poisonous. If you have a mushroom that you’re not positive about, you can bring it in to any of Ada’s nature centers and they’ll help determine if it’s edible.

Morels are an interesting and important part of life in Ada. Preserving them so that future generations can enjoy their presence is what Ada has come together this week to discuss. Land and forest preservation is on the agenda this year in Ada, and no matter if it’s the bald eagle or a fungus, Ada considers it top priority!

Detour: Road Construction on the Way for Ada!
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

April 6, 2004 - Now that the weather has gotten warmer it is time to think road construction. That was the mindset at the Ada Board meeting on Monday, March 29, 2004. Road construction was discussed during the winter months, because it was apparent that something needed to be done. So this meeting was held in order to work out the details of when and where this construction would take place, what the major problem areas were and what areas are top priority?

This year motorists can expect a larger than usual navigation challenge with the planned closure of Thornapple River Drive, between Buttrick and Bridgewater drives. Construction has been ordered to maintain the “Camelback” bridge and the reconstruction of the intersection at Ada Drive and Spaulding Ave.

First, the Camelback Bridge Project, which is located just down the road from Thornapple Elementary School, will inconvenience motorists, but is a necessary revitalization. This bridge has been here as long as Ada has and it is protected by the National Register of Historic Places. The push the people of Ada have given in order to make sure the reconstruction holds the design and historic features of the bridge have been strong. Ada Township has promised the historic design will remain untouched. But with an estimated 8,300 motorists crossing it each day (Kent County Road Commission), the bridge has become unsafe. The much needed project will raise the bridge 1.5 feet to allow better boat passage and will widen it to two 12 foot wide lanes.

Then, at Ada Drive and Spaulding Ave, they will be adding a traffic light, which I personally see as a major improvement. The intersection lies right next to Forest Hills Central High School and Middle School, and across the street are Ada Elementary and Ada Christian Elementary. So between the hours of 7:00am to 9:00am and 2:00pm to 4:00pm, this intersection is incredibly busy with a mix of minivan moms and teenage drivers. These two groups of drivers are the highest accident prone groups in the United States (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

Work on these areas is scheduled to start April 15, 2004 and the project will close Thornapple and the Ada/Spaulding intersection. What will happen with the school traffic during the two week close will be frustrating to drivers, but the construction is very necessary and will be completed quite quickly for the motorist’s convenience.

Several other streets are targeted for construction, including Cascade, Buttrick and Laraway Lake. All together this is a $1.7 million reconstruction project. All of the construction should be completed by the end of October 2004, but the people of Ada should look forward to a summer of detours.

Excitement Circulates Around Roselle Park
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

March 23, 2004 - The meeting held on Monday 22, 2004 generated excitement around the new community center, wildlife preserve and unique public recreation amenities for the new Roselle Park, located on the corner of Michigan Ave. and Grand River Ave. in Ada Township. This is a $3.95 million plan which has the major feature of the many trails and boardwalks surrounding the newly preserved native plants and wildlife in the parks wetlands.

The majority of the facilities will be located where the abandoned Ada Beef Co. buildings stand now. What is most intriguing is what won’t be demolished, and that is the two existing silos which will be reconstructed into observation towers.

The architects to work on the project are O’Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates along with the township steering committee. The plan estimated multimillion dollar price, will be spread over seven to ten years and funds will come from an array of grants, contributions and township funds.

This park will allow people to experience 230 acres, of wetlands and riverfront property. The park will feature a playground, fishing pond, picnic area all surrounding the community canter which can accommodates 200 people for banquets or meetings, complete with kitchen and restroom facilities.

The first phase of this construction will begin this year and will include tearing down the old Ada Beef Co. buildings, installing fences and entrance ways, landscaping, and the picnic areas. The township wants to make the park safe and accessible for this fall and winter so people can hike and ski.

Land Preservation has lead to some astonishing new members to the Ada Community
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

March 7, 2004 - The Ada Township’s Parks and Land Preservation Ordinance has preserved several acres at the intersection of Thornapple and Grand River Ave. This area is a flood plain and wetlands area that has now been inhabited by a pair of bald eagles.

Last week, the Township Board members adopted funds in order to purchase more natural property for land protection and parks. This was made possible because last year the voters approved a .4mil tax, which has generated $250,000 in its first year.

In order to properly decide on issues of this ordinance, six Ada citizens are being sought for an advisory board, which will evaluate properties identified for preservation, and help spread the awareness of environmental protection and plan for new parks.

It seems Ada is sparked with excitement with the arrival of its newest members; almost everyone is out to spot the bald eagles, especially the children of Ada, who find them most fascinating to watch and study. Experts say this area is perfect for them to nest because during the winter months, the water does not freeze on the river. The people of Ada hope that in the summer they will continue to call this land home!

The citizens of Ada are doing everything they can to keep the eagles here and a new wave of environmental awareness has swept the township. It is good to see that the environment is such an important issue to Ada. Ada has so many beautiful natural lands and the fact that its citizens are so concerned with the preservation of those lands is amazing. It will be great to see what Ada’s new environmental board will be doing for our community and who will be serving on it.

Saving Historical Ada
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

February 19, 2004 - Saving Historical Ada is an essential issue in Ada Township. They pride themselves on the preservation of their original village, and keeping the Historical Museum alive is a big part of the conservation.

So far the museum has been funded through donations, memberships, and also fundraisers. All the work is done on a volunteer basis. The township pays for the utilities, and building and grounds expenses accumulating over four thousand dollars annually for the museum.

At the meeting held of February 9, 2004, Bob Hill, president of Ada’s Historical Society, explained the museums need for advances to enable them to do some major renovations. Upcoming plans were discussed, such as renovations to the museum and upkeep of the surrounding buildings, which date back to the 1800’s.
A vote decided to give a six thousand dollar annual budget to the Historical Society on top of the four thousand it pays exclusively to the museum. This was a very exciting motion to have been passed. It is the largest budget they have had so far and it will be interesting to observe what will com of it in the next year.

Along with this pressing issue, there were a number of others from the previous meeting that concluded. It has been decided that pot holes will be the first area of reconstruction on Leonard Street. The sidewalk details were worked out. Now everyone will share the load of taking care of them. This will save a large amount of money in the road and sidewalk maintenance budget. We are still waiting for details on the subject of the Alticor Brownfield Authority which should be discussed at the next meeting.

Ada Township Board Meeting: From the Sidewalks to the Streets
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

February 3, 2004 - The Ada township board meeting held on Monday, January 26, made some serious headway on various issues.

The first issue to be worked out in Monday’s meeting was the Sidewalk Maintenance Ordinance. There was quite a disagreement over this issue with the public. It would force the property owners in the immediate “Ada Village”

Area affected by the sidewalk maintenance ordinance
This map shows the area affected by the
Sidewalk Maintenance Ordinance.

area to maintain and shovel their share of the sidewalk. This would cut way down on plowing costs. (Area affected shown on map). No decision was made; the final details will be worked out next week.

Another issue that was strongly discussed was the Resolution of Intent to Create and Provide for the Operation of a Brownfield Development Authority. This allows Alticor to submit tax credits in the form of SBT’s from the state. The plan would allow Alticor to help in the clean up of contaminated sites in Ada. This would also provide for improvements to its factories and therefore create new jobs for our community. This motion passed and a detailed agreement will be ready by next month.

One of the last issues tackled was the Leonard Street Safety Improvement Project. This was a motion to pursue safety repairs on Leonard St. The public feels these are much-needed repairs and were quite adamant on passing the issue. Construction on Leonard could start in early spring.

The meeting held last Monday was a very satisfying and successful experience. The board solved many of the important issues Ada has been facing. And those that weren’t solved were still heavily discussed.

Alticor to Clean Up Ada
BY JAMIE GILLETTE

January 21, 2004 - Alticor has ask Ada Township to establish a Brownfield authority in order in to provide them with the financial incentives to clean up and redevelop the Ada area around their manufacturing site.

The meeting last Monday broke ground on the issue that would allow Alticor a ten percent tax credit for a proposed ten million dollar project.

This program would allow Alticor to clean up the facilities it already maintains, instead of looking for new ground to relocate some of its manufacturing facilities. This would save a lot of our rural and agricultural land from being further developed. The beauty of the land in Ada could then continue to be preserved.

This proposal also allows for economic growth, it creates more jobs, which Alticor strongly needs. Without Alticor in Ada, our town may cease to exist.

Although, as we may remember, Alticor contaminated our water supply and our beef.

The cattle were drinking unsafe water, and we were eating the cattle. Since then the Ada Beef Co. has shut down and Alticor has already done a number of things to clean up its act (390 acres). This is now a step to not only clean the
contaminated areas but to redevelop the land it destroyed.

The question still remains, should we give Alticor the tax break? This is a company that contaminated our land, water, cattle and ourselves and then complained about the clean up. They say, we’ve cleaned up your land but now we don’t have enough money to support ourselves. It would be nice to just say, “tough luck” but without Alticor in Ada, there isn’t enough economic growth to keep Ada alive. So we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It will be interesting to see what the board finally decides on this issue, and what the townspeople really think.

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