Mattawan Business Association
Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2003
 
The meeting was held at the Mattawan Village Hall Council Chambers.
 
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lori Anthony, Leslie Benson, Tom Brown, Kim Cox, John Jackson, Rob Keorkunian, Dawn Kobreek, Kayla Ranger-Dean, Chad Slider.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Dan Carlson, Janet Zagar.
OTHERS PRESENT: Rob Brown, Sharon Jackson, Mark Thomas
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 12:15 pm.
AGENDA
No changes were made to the agenda. Mr. Keorkunian, supported by Mr. Jackson, moved to approve the agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Jackson, supported by Ms. Cox, moved to accept the December 18th Minutes without changes. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
The Valentine in the Village event of the past several years was considered for this year. Several local businesses, including Heaven Scent Floral and Broadway Tobacco are interested in participating.
OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Anthony stated that the Mattawan Business Association has obtained its Federal tax identification number. A bank account will be opened this week at Kalamazoo County State Bank.
Ms. Anthony asked MBA liaison to the Mattawan Village Council, Rob Brown to present our proposal to share publishing and distribution expenses for a community newsletter at the next council meeting. The newsletter would be funded equally by the Mattawan Business Association, Mattawan Days Festival, and the Village of Mattawan. Mr. Jackson asked what would be included in the newsletter. Ms. Anthony stated that her vision included information about public services, area events and festivals, local businesses, and a classified section. It will be distributed to village residents and the parents of children in Mattawan schools. Several distribution strategies were discussed, including direct mail and insertion in Paw Paw Flashes, Hometown Gazette, and in school packets sent home with students. Ms. Benson, Ms. Ranger-Dean, and Mr. Slider volunteered to form a committee to develop ideas and guidelines for the newsletter. Mr. Keorkunian asked what the size of the village mailing is. Ms. Benson stated that it is about 600 households.
Mark Thomas of the Michigan State University Extension spoke on behalf of the the Red Arrow Corridor study. Mattawan has not made final payment for their portion of the project. Mattawan’s portion is $6000. Of that amount $2000 has been contributed by local businesses; MPI, EPC, and Molson. Mattawan’s balance is $4000. The Village of Mattawan supported the project, but did not allocate funds for its completion. The study has been completed and is available at www.aegI.com. The Red Arrow Steering Committee is meeting every month to exchange information, develop ideas and motivate communities to use the study as a marketing tool. If Mattawan does not fulfill its obligation, Community Development Block Grants applied for by Mattawan entities will not be considered until the Red Arrow study is paid in full. Ms. Kobreek asked if Antwerp or Almena townships had been approached to help pay for the study. It was stated that neither has been asked since it was designed to focus on the cities and villages specifically. However, Mr. Thomas stated that the city of Hartford did share its expenses with Hartford township.
Mr. Jackson stated that he believed that the business association should voice its concern over the unpaid bill to the Village council and show its support of Mattawan’s participation in the study. Mr. Jackson moved, supported by Ms. Cox to pass a resolution in support of the Red Arrow Corridor project with the recommendation that the Village consider paying part or all of the outstanding balance. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Anthony suggested that Mr. Thomas invite other village managers to accompany him to the Mattawan Village Council meeting to provide testimonials about the value of the study to their communities. Mr. Rob Brown believes that in order for the Village council to allocate funds, it will be necessary for the business community to show their support financially. At some point during the discussion, the Mattawan Village Council was referred to as a commission. Ms. Benson stated for the record that it is a council, not commission form of government. Ms. Benson also stated that she understood the prior Village Manager, Mike Moran to have supported the Red Arrow Corridor project with the belief that local businesses would provide the majority of the funding, with a small portion coming from the Village of Mattawan. Mr. Thomas reiterated the benefits of participation in the Red Arrow Corridor project, such as cooperation and information sharing among communities, developing a branded image and promoting the area jointly to people and businesses.
COMMENTS
The Mattawan Business Association mailbox was incorrectly printed on some of our literature. It is postal box 416.
ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Cox, supported by Mr. Jackson, moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passes unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 1:15 pm.