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Local News

No decision on new COA building for at least two weeks

Barry County Commissioners Tuesday delayed a decision on moving ahead with plans for a new Commission On Aging  building until they get more information on several things; possibly lowering the $6 million price tag, how to handle operational costs if the building twice the size of the present one is built, if they should try  to meet a May 16 deadline to put the millage proposal on the August ballot, pay $50,000 for a special election, and hear more from their constituents.

 

Mark Nettleton, attorney with Mika Meyers law firm explained the funding. The recommendation is for unlimited general obligation bonds of $6,020,000 over 20 years. With a millage rate of 0.1843, a projected 4.5 percent interest rate and using the example of a residential property’s taxable value of $50,000 and state equalized value of $100,000, the cost to the homeowner would be $9.22 a year, Nettleton said. The first levy would be on interest only, or  $3.27, and subsequent years would be both interest and principal at $9.22 a year.

 

There are two conflicting sides, Commissioner David Jackson said.” We know it has to be taken care of.” But he questioned unknown figures in the cost of repairs, the savings in maintenance and repairs, operational costs and doing meals in house.

“The COA does a tremendous  job…it would be a benefit to have a building for 50 years in the future,” he said.

However, people are reminding them of all the millages they already pay, he said. “Barry County voters are very generous, but they’re tired. They’re just tired of millage taxes…it seems fast to me.” He also asked for more information from the COA.

 

Consideration was pushed back to a special board meeting after the committee of the whole meeting on May 16. // 

 
Commissioner Vivian Conner said based on what people are telling her, “There is not a lot of love for another millage.” “There may not be,” Commissioner Dan Parker responded, “but there is a lot of love for the COA and it will be needed more and more as the boomers age.” He asked if there would be higher operating costs with a larger building. “Have you thought of that?”

COA executive Director Tammy Pennington said there would be a additional costs, but the proposal came up so quickly, the board had not met; a special meeting has been called for Friday to discuss the proposal. Parker asked Pennington to see if she could get operating costs in a few weeks.

 

Pennington said money would be saved in maintenance and repair costs, additional income could come from offering more services, and they could find the difference in cost for catering Meals on Wheels, which they do now, to making the meals in house in a larger, commercial kitchen in a new building.

Conner suggested delaying the issue and more study on other options, like selling the FOC building, as the facility plan suggests. Commissioner Heather Wing said there was time to look closer at the proposal. Commissioner Jon Smelker agreed there was no rush; he pointed out that the November election would be just three months after the August election.

 

Commissioner Howard Gibson said an August ballot will have no other proposals, and the general election in November might have many issues and lessen the chance for passage of millage. The discussion was only on a new COA building. No commissioner spoke on the three-way move that is the alternative plan: Moving the COA to the Barry Eaton District Health Department, move the health department to the Friend of the Court building and the FOC to the Courts & Law Building for a total cost of $5,592,000 for renovations and additions.

 

Bob Van Putten, Landmark Designs, gave a brief overview of the new COA building that would cost $6 million, including architect’s fees and bonding: an expanded dining area, a commercial kitchen, adult day care, meeting room and classrooms, and mechanical improvements. The building would have a residential feel and ease of entrance, with the size going from 9,600 square feet to 25,000 square feet.

 

Carlton Township resident Larry Bass said the people have already taken on a big burden in taxes. At the local level, property owners pay millage to support the schools, Thornapple Manor, COA, Barry County Transit, Charlton Park, 911 and individual school bond proposals. Most townships also have millages for fire and police protection.

At the state level, Bass said, with cutting taxes on businesses $1.4 billion a year to make the state more attractive to businesses, the Snyder administration has put the tax burden from the business sector onto the people.

 

“There is the road funding bill with a gas tax and vehicle registration fee hikes, taxes on pensions, fewer child deductions, and tax on unemployment.”

And now, Bass said, he is paying a special assessment for the restoration of the Little Thornapple River Drain.

 

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