Village Vote: Candidates Talk About Downtown and the Economy

Over the past few years, despite the terrible economy, the local economy has seen its fair share of success stories. The opening of the new TLC Community Credit Union on the west side was a boon for town. On the east side, Dollar General opened a discount store.

But it’s difficult to find success stories downtown. In recent years, we’ve seen stores open and close. Treasures and Pleasures struggled for a couple of years before closing its doors. Old Country Store closed and was transformed into an auction house. The auction house closed and now a new business is moving in. Salon 223 recently closed its doors. The Hacker building at the towns’ most prominent intersection houses an internet video game business that is rarely open.  Downtown suffered another blow this year when fire struck in February. The fire closed two of downtown’s most successful businesses, Cakes N’ Shakes and Royal Expressions. Work still continues to reopen the stores in their rightful locations.

This year, the village government has stepped up efforts to revitalize downtown. As village administrator Jim Wonacott has said, the village economy has stayed afloat without much direction or assistance from the village. But with the downtown business district struggling, the village thought it was time to step in find ways to help get things turned around downtown. Council began working on Wonacott’s 13-point plan for downtown. One of those points was exploring the Michigan Main Street program, and village volunteers visited communities around the state to learn about the program for a year. They were so excited by what they saw, the they convinced the village to seek select-level membership in the program. The program has dominated the DDA agenda for a year. At the end of September, the DDA hired Michael Sessions as its new Main Street Director. For three days, visitors from Lansing toured Blissfield, talking to government leaders, business owners, employees and residents to learn about Blissfield. And in the coming months, we’ll be hearing a lot more about the Michigan Main Street Program.

Still, as we saw at a recent council meeting, there is some debate about how far government should go to help private business. That debate and downtown Blissfield’s future is at the heart of this week’s questions for Jae Guetschow and Mike Gunter, who are running for Village Council President, and Mark Burgermeister, Andrea Cueto, A. Ray Jones and Art Weeber, who are running for the three Blissfield Council Trustee positions.

Here are our questions, along with the candidates’ answers.

Why should Blissfield Village be concerned about the financial health of downtown businesses?

Jae Guetschow

Unless people would be content to live in a bedroom community, one with no identity beyond its name and without historical character, we must be concerned with the financial health of our downtown.  If people want a complete community, one they can take pride in, one with a historical patina, we must support and nurture our downtown as the anchor of our community.  Blissfield is not a suburb; it is a community.  It is exactly what developers have been struggling (and failing) to “invent” in projects like Mayberry.

Mike Gunter

A thriving downtown is meant to be the center of business for the whole community.  A downtown should be able to provide many goods and services for people to use every day.  The success of our downtown and its businesses make our village more attractive to residents and non-residents alike, and provides us with the convenience of centralized services and a place to promote our ways of life.  The financial success of downtown obviously allows our business owners to thrive, and the money spent in many of those businesses hopefully winds up being spent right back in our community.  The taxes that come from the downtown support the DDA, where those funds can be used to create more opportunity for these businesses and to attract more business and residents alike to our community.

Mark Burgermeister

Blissfield should be concerned not only with the downtown businesses, but with all businesses within the Village. A thriving community is one with the hope that future generations will continue to prosper and grow through the years.

Andrea Cueto

A vibrant downtown = a thriving community where residents (current & future) would want to live.

A Ray Jones

If the financial health deteriorates causing businesses to close and empty storefronts are the result, it will have a ripple effect of causing less people to move or remain in Blissfield and a "ghost town" will over time be the result. A vital,progressive downtown is necessary for the town to grow and remain a place people want to be.

Art Weeber

A vibrant local economy enhances Blissfield’s image as a great place to live, shop and raise a family.

Do you support the Michigan Main Street program for Blissfield? If you support it, tell us what you hope it will do for downtown Blissfield and Blissfield Village. If you don’t, tell us what your concerns are.

Guetschow

I have come out publicly in full support of the Michigan Main Street model since the first discussions about Blissfield being an Associate Level community. The current Council voted unanimously to support the application as a Select Level community, as well.  The MMS model is a proven model across Michigan and the U.S.  We do not need to reinvent the wheel.  As Blissfield follows the model, we will find the downtown area better able to offer goods and services to residents and visitors alike.

Gunter

I have to admit that I am still not completely sold on the Michigan Main Street program. A lot of people involved with MMS would probably say that would be due to me not being able to attend the trainings or information meetings. I have taken the time to do some reading about the MMS though, and the program does work for some communities. People need to remember that this is a DDA initiated program, but it takes more than just the council and the DDA to make it happen. It takes an overall combined effort from business owners and all sorts of citizens to be involved in what they want to get out of the program to see how much of a benefit it is to Blissfield. I feel that will be the hardest part - getting more than just a select group to get things going. I do know a lot of people worked very hard to get Blissfield accepted as a MMS community. I appreciate their dedication and hard work, and I hope that something good does come out of it.

Burgermeister

The Main Street program has been successful in other communities. The tools for the program are available. The program should be a success by following the Main Street Four-Point Approach.
1. Design
2. Economic restructuring
3. Promotion
4. Organization

Cueto

I do whole-heartedly support the Michigan Main Street Program. I have attended some of the associate level trainings, and have gone on a field trip with a group of people to see firsthand other Main Street communities and what the program has done for them. A quote from their website:  Michigan Main Street "helps communities develop main street districts and traditional commercial neighborhoods that attract residents and businesses, promote investment, and jump start economic growth." Besides hoping for this objective to be met, I hope that Michigan Main Street will be the catalyst that brings all of the businesses and various groups and boards in the village together to collectively work towards this goal.

Jones

Yes, I do support the MMS program. Through historic and economic  revitalization these positive activities will only make Blissfield more attractive both for additional businesses and more involvement of citizens as a whole in the downtown area.

Weeber

Yes. See my answers to question one.

Some people see the DDA and Main Street and say, “Government should get out of the way and let business sink or swim on its own.” Tell us what you think of that statement.

Guetschow

That sentiment represents a very narrow-minded and unrealistic mentality (and a minority opinion).  If business was given the same level playing field, regardless of size, it would not be necessary for local government to be involved in programs that benefit local small businesses.   For decades, the public has been lead to believe they must get in their cars and drive to the mall. I would rather use available resources to help local businesses gain any advantage possible to counteract that mentality.

Gunter

I do believe that government can play a limited part in helping our businesses be successful.  I feel very strongly that any government (and therefore taxpayer-funded) financial assistance is done in a way that's fair for any business who wants to benefit from that program.  There are grants available for small businesses like many of those located within our DDA boundaries, and a government-initiated application is often required for the initial request.  That's where council can step in, and utilize resources such as our Village Administrator to work with and help give those grant-seekers a better advantage for being chosen.  I also feel that council can play a part in seeking out the types of businesses that we want to bring to town, and work with other entities such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) or the Lenawee chapter to seek out opportunities for businesses looking to build or relocate in our area.

Burgermeister

My thought on this statement is that there is one benefit of helping businesses: To keep their heads above water. IFT's have been given by Village Council to L & W, Blissfield Manufacturing and Uckele's.

Cueto

If you believe what I said in response to questions 1 and 2, question 3 would be irrelevant. 

Jones

The two organizations we are talking about are tried and proven programs that assist all struggling and even non-struggling economies and I can't understand the attitudes of people who wish to stick their heads in the sand and don't want anything to improve or move ahead. These programs are all ways to bring some of the money we send to either the state or federal governments back to our community.

Weeber

Main Street and the DDA need to encourage, offer incentives and be totally supportive.

Tell us what a thriving downtown Blissfield would look like, and how the village council can help make that a reality.

Guetschow

A thriving downtown must have appeal to both residents and visitors alike.  Downtowns cannot thrive if either group is not attracted to local businesses.  “Buy local” initiatives alone cannot succeed if there is not a complete palate of goods and services available.  We need to be more creative, perhaps more unique, certainly more personal with the level of service to compete with malls and big box stores.  The DDA façade grant program, the rental rehabilitation grant program and property tax breaks are minimal incentives compared to the investment local businesses have already invested in our downtown.

Gunter

I can picture our downtown buildings full of stores that can be used by all sorts of residents and non-residents with all types of day-to-day uses.  I see stores where people have the convenience of parking easily, running in-and-out if needed, or having the time to spend an afternoon shopping for nothing in particular just looking around.  I would like to see pedestrian traffic mixed safely and as visually as the vehicular traffic.  I see banners and trees and a large clock chiming in on the hour.  I see restaurants with people enjoying themselves visually through the windows, and perhaps a few tables out along the sidewalk for patrons as well.  A pharmacy would be a great anchor store downtown.  Insurance and doctor's offices, and a varied assortment of hobby or gift shops to bring visitors into town.  A meshed experience of sounds and smells from all those businesses while walking along the sidewalk.  At night, storefronts that are lit up with doors still open, upstairs apartments with visual movement above, and just as much foot traffic as the daylight hours.

Burgermeister

A thriving downtown can be accomplished by supporting the D.D.A. and Main Street Program.  The Enhancement Grant for 2011, if the State stays with their plan, will create an inviting atmosphere to the Village.

Cueto

A thriving downtown would have every building occupied, with relevant businesses downstairs and people living in the apartments above. All of the buildings would have had a "historically-correct" face lift, with no more For Sale signs in the windows. There would be outdoor, cafe-like seating and throngs of people walking on the sidewalks. And all of the parking spaces would be full; even after 5 p.m.! I think Council could help this become a reality by supporting the Main Street directives in any way they could, and allowing for ordinances to be re-visited if there were any that would prohibit such things as permanent outdoor seating and so forth.

Jones

A thriving downtown would have people coming down for a combination of things, ranging from shopping, dining and entertainment. We as village officials need to help determine what some those things are to attract all people, young and old alike. These need to be activities for all seasons because all of us need to eat and shop regardless of the seasons. I think many times we need to concentrate on activities for the young because then they can get their parents excited.

Weeber

Great, inviting façades with well-lit, attractive windows and people walking the streets.

Should downtown Blissfield be a destination for the Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio? Or, would it be better served trying to focus on the local market (Blissfield, Riga, Palmyra, Deerfield, etc)?

Guetschow

I don’t see this as an either/or proposition.  Even when considering the data from a market analysis, business cannot restrict their market solely to local residents (Blissfield), nearby markets or those from farther away that choose Blissfield as a destination.  The challenge is being creative and innovative in discovering a business niche that has broad appeal.  It is a matter of choice; local businesses need to discover how best to appeal to their customers’ interests.

Gunter

Downtown Blissfield needs to be a destination for everyone - residents, visitors from Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan and beyond there as well.  I've said this many times before, but we need to get a correct mixture of businesses to bring in visitors, yet also give a reason for our residents to stay.  We need creative elements and stores to lure guests in, and to keep them coming back.  Blissfield can be a destination for day trippers or vacationers, but also be considered home to all of us who experience it every day.

Burgermeister

Not only should Blissfield be a destination for our local communities, but we should also strive to entice anyone passing through our Village to stop and take a look around to see just how much Blissfield has to offer.

Cueto

I believe our downtown should (and needs to) focus on both. We do have a lot of people coming to town for our shops, restaurants, and the dinner train. I applaud the business owners who see the value in staying open an extra hour on the days the dinner train is running, so the people who come into town early for it have something to do to kill time before its' departure. As for our locals, downtown used to be THE place to meet; see and be seen. The restaurants and bars seem to have taken on this function. I know my friends and I would much rather meet at an outdoor location than in a dimly-lit bar, which is why I would advocate for an Ann Arbor-like atmosphere for our downtown.

Jones

I don't think the areas mention have to be either one or the other. They are not exclusive and work towards both areas would benefit all.

Weeber

We need to be a destination that also serves local needs.

The DDA has been functioning for many years, capturing taxes and investing them in the district. Has it invested properly/wisely in the past? Name some successes/misses. How should the DDA reinvest the tax revenues it captures? 

Guetschow

I don’t recall the exact numbers, but the façade improvement grants through the DDA have resulted in triple digit capital improvements (investment) by business owners in the district. That, in turn, has increased the basis for the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) capture.  It is an absolute myth that the community’s tax rate would be reduced if the DDA ceased to exist.  The TIF capture comes from the businesses in the district based on increased valuation since 1992.  The façade grants go right back to those businesses.  The DDA has also invested in parking that benefits all businesses.

Gunter

I think that the creation of the DDA was done with good intentions and great ideas. I strongly feel that the DDA should deal more with physical attributes for our village, with an emphasis on projects rather than events.  Two investments that I am appreciative of the DDA's work would be the public parking lots behind both sides of the South Lane St. storefronts, and the facade grant program.  The lots added much-needed parking spaces, but also incorporated the beginning of a congruent design element - the globe lights that tie-in our boundaries of the downtown area. The facade grants, while one could argue that it's tax money going right-back to the owners, have provided opportunities for those owners to revitalize their buildings and dress up our downtown area.

In the past few years, however, I have seen the DDA focus their efforts more towards events and marketing, which doesn't show a longer-lasting effect to people viewing from the outside.  I would much rather see that money be spent on an updated project list of physical improvements to the downtown area. 

 Burgermeister

Façade grants were put in place for a few of our businesses, which helped with their outward appearance.  The Main Street Program in conjunction with the Council, together will utilize the dollars captured for all businesses within Village limits. Doing this will enhance the physical appearance of the area and create an atmosphere to attract new businesses and help our present businesses to economically succeed.

Cueto

I do believe the DDA has done a good job with the re-investment in the district.  The parking lots were a necessity that turned out very well. The façade grants have been utilized with beautiful results so far.  As I said before, I do believe in the Main Street philosophy, so I have no qualms about these tax incentives going to our local businesses. The Village gives out much larger tax abatements to the big companies and factories that come to town, when the smaller businesses are the ones who need it most.

Jones

I believe the projects undertaken by the DDA over the past 18 years have been a benefit to the village as a whole (parking lots) and the façades have only enhanced the downtown district.

Weeber

Yes, it has invested wisely. 1) Newspaper Street parking lot. 2) Pearl Street parking lot. 3) North Lane Street parking lot. 4) Façade grants. 5) Banners. 6) Billboards.

My priorities for DDA reinvestment are:

1. Capital improvements

2. Capital improvements

3. Capital improvements

4. Capital improvements

5. Advertising and promotion