Politics & Government

Brighton Township Trustees Aim to Boost Business Sector

State Rep. Bill Rogers spoke in favor of the Livingston County Economic Development SPARK agreement at the Brighton Township Trustees meeting Monday night.

The Brighton Township Board of Trustees have agreed to participate in an organization designed to help recruit and retain businesses in town.

At Monday's meeting, the board voted 6-1 to sign the Livingston County Economic Development Council (EDC) SPARK agreement pending review from the township attorney with the inclusion of an opt-out clause

The EDC is asking for Livingston County municipalities to contribute a total of $300,000 in order to enter into a three year contract with SPARK, an Ann Arbor based economic development organization, to provide recruiting and retention services for new and existing businesses. The County has approved a contribution of $150,000 per year. Another $36,000 would come from the private sector.

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Brighton Township's contribution would be $18,000 per year, with a three year commitment.

Trustee J. Michael Slaton was the lone dissenter saying he disagreed with the wording of the motion. Slaton said he didn't think the township should agree to participate in the EDC SPARK contract that night, and instead the motion should have went to the attorney to add the additional clause, then back before the Board of Trustees for approval.

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State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, said he believes the SPARK agreement will bring more opportunity and resources the township currently does not have.

"We are the crossroads of Michigan," Rogers said. "No other place has I-96 and US-23 like that. We are a very viable economic development corridor. Lansing knows, because we remind them daily, that we in Livingston County have done more for collaboration, consolidation and regionalization than almost any county in the state of Michigan. And they appreciate it. So that's one reason I'm here advocating for this change. We do not have the opportunity or the resources that they do have."

Township Manager Dan Bishop recommended approving the agreement saying he believes in being competitive.

"Economic development's one of those things where you either do it or you don't. You can't be a little bit pregnant. And if you do it, you need to do it well, you can't dabble in. And I, quite honestly, don't have the time to stay up with all of the legislation changing at the state level, to go out and recruit businesses to come to the area and just stay on top of it."

Brighton Township resident Mike Palmer spoke against the SPARK agreement, calling Scott Griffith, EDC Bord of Directors secretary, "quite a salesman."

"You guys had better wake up," Palmer said. "You're throwing tax payer dollars away for nothing you're going to get back. I've seen this 20 years ago with the City Council of Brighton. EDC is nothing more than just a game looking for employment at another level of government. They're looking for dollars and that's all they're looking for."

The City of Brighton, Hartland, Marion and Oceola Townships have all approved financial participation in the agreement.

Griffith said he expects approval from Hamburg and Genoa Townships soon.

The motion will come back to the Brighton Board of Trustees for approval at its next meeting, Dec. 5.


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