Chelsea Standard,A Group of T'.Wt-Ij

h i ! o n e h u n d r e d t w e n t y -e ig h t h y e a r * n o . 17 ( 'h e ls c a , Michigan, Thursday, September 2d, 1999 32 Pages This Week 1 Ht 1'IA ■ Historic district ordinance establishing such a efforts,” Higgins said. district. Heydlauf also felt that the divides local business However, under the terms of business community had. origi owriers. the 1997 ordinance; the council nated earlier restoration, could not. establish a historic efforts. By Jim Silver. 1 •""* S. district “less than 60 days after “We went to the business Staff W riter a majority of (affected) proper On the eve of a Sept. 28 public owners to fund (the downtown ‘**VK*r &8 ty. owners” agree to the estab restoration), and we raised one hearing about the- proposed lishment of such a district downtown historic district, sen million dollars without legisla NEWS BRIEF Responding to a guest editor-* tion for it," he said. timent is running high among ial in the Sept. 9 edition of The Heydlauf added that once the Cham ber holds New downtown residents and busi a group of renovation was under way, • M ember Expo ness owners. Chelsea Standard, downtown business owners business owners not initially New members of tfie There is already one historic placed an ad in the Sept. 16 edi interested had to join in, Chelsea Area Chamber of district downtown, consisting - tion, voicing their disapproval Commerce will be because their businesses only of the Welfare building. of the proposed district. The looked out of place in the new featured on Thurs The proposed district would day, Sept. 30, text of the ad was also submit downtown. .not be an expansion of thatdis— ted to the Village Council at With the history of downtown at a New "Member Expo As the Sept. 28 public hearing approaches, supporters and detrac from 5 p.m/ to trict, but would establish a new their Sept. 15 meeting. interest in historic restoration, 7 p.m. at the Chelsea one. Now, some members of the Higgins found the idea of estab tors of the proposed historic district are working to get the message out. Fairgrounds Service According to the original his downtown community speak lishing a historic district com Center. toric districts ordinance, out in opposition to and sup mission dictatorial, . Higgins-nnd-Heydlauf, is that Hors d’oeuvres and bev passed in 1997, the establish*- as do I, and Janice Ortbring port of the district. “What we.have seen in the no one on the proposed com runs her business out of down erages will be provided, ment of an historic district is a Paul Higgins and Mark pas.t is~ leadership,” he said. and new chamber mem decision of both governemnt mission or study group repre town,” says MacLeod, who sup bers will showcase their Heydlauf, two business owners “What we now see from the his ports the proposed district. and the public. in opposition, recalled the toric district commission is dic sented downtown property,, businesses. “So it’s just not valid to say Initially, a study committee downtown renovation of 15 tatorship. It should be the indi owners. Among those participat council members have no vest ing are Little Professor would recommend the estab years ago. vidual property owifer’s deci That complaint is invalid, and Nature’s Expressions, lishment of a district in a par “Historically, downtown sion to make.” says village trustee Robert ed interest.” and American Leak ticular area. The village coun- property owner’s initiated and One of the complaints voiced MacLeod. Jack Merkel, a co-owner of Detection of Southeast cil would then pass or reject an cooperated with restoration in the letter, and echoed by “Jim Myles lives downtown, See DEBATE — Page 2-A Michigan... “We wanted to do this (because) we have more than 50 new members this year,” Vote for library, fire authority set Oct. 5 said Chamber Executive Director Sue Starkey. ■ OcTober millage votes members raised the issue of 1.75 m ills.” : the upcoming vote at their The event is free to all increase funding, taxes. A millage of 1.75 mills trans chamber members. Non^ Sept. 14 meeting, as well as pos lates to $1.75 for every $1000 of members may attend for $2. By Jim Silver sible future millages. a home’s taxable value. > The event is sponsored by Staff W riter Trustee Robert MacLeod, According to Myers, the total KeyBank. For more informa Chelsea residents will soon Village Manager Jack Myers taxable value of village proper tion, call the chamber at 475- face the daunting task of decid and Village President Richard ties is !$137,834,179. The old 1145. ing how to spend their own Steele discussed several possi library millage resulted in money. An upcoming millage ble millages on Sept. 20. funding for the library of M eeting moved back vote on Oct, 5 will affect the “Right now, the millage for funding of the District Library the library stands at 1.7124 $236,027. Under the proposed one day for hearing and the- Chelsea Area Fire mills,’’ said Myers. “However, millage, this funding would The Chelsea Village Authority.-' if the new millage passes, it increase to $241,210. Council meeting scheduled Chelsea Village Council will replace the old one with ~ Sm MILLAGE — Page 2-A for Tuesday, Sept. 28 has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 27. The public hearing scheduled for Sept. Council discusses wellfield inspection 28, on a proposed historic district in downtown ■ Wellfield sparks lit the case of the Sibley Road whether the aquifer would Chelsea, is expected to draw site, a ground water sample resist contamination from the a large public attendance. debate, letter approved. from an existing well would nearby industrial park. By Jim Silver also be included. MacLeod, Trustee Frank Privacy Protection Staff W riter The assessment is intended Hammer and Bolt discussed sem inars expanded The proposed purchase by to determine if a property suf the issue. While, Bolt stressed the Village Council of a well- fers from contamination by haz Two Privacy Protection to the council that a Phase I seminars will be offered on field north of Sibley Road was ardous substances or the threat ESA is routine, MacLeod and Oct. 9, at the Washington the subject of continued debate of future contamination. Trustee Carol Rauschenberger- Street Education Center, 500 ~ a tth e1>ept. 14 council meeting. ' MacLeod later said he was were concerned about the pro* Washington St. The council’s consideration concerned about the historic posed assessment. The con* The first will last from 10 of an environmental site use of agricultural herbicides cern of MacLeod and a m. to 12 noon. The subject assessment by Midwest and pesticides on the site. Rauschenberger then shifted to is “Avoiding Identity Theft,” Environmental Consultants He added that, given what the whether the Phase I ESA would which will cover methods of sparked the discussion. council knows about the avoiding credit card fraud, be duplicated by later Phase II The newest plan for village hall, visualized here by Trustee Robert MacLeod aquifer there^ filtration of such testing. social security fraud, and grilled Walter Bolt of MEC chemicals into groundwater similar topics. DangerousArchitects, will add a front lightwell for basement Ultimately, the council and The subject of the second offices. Village Council chambers would be located on the top floor. iabout the adequacy of the pro could occur. Bolt resolved to move forward, posed assessment. “Groundwater at the site seminar is “Protecting Your with plans for a Phase I ESAv MEC has submitted to the could contaminate the. Privacy in the Information Bolt assured council members council a proposal fora Phase I aquifer,” MacLeod said. Age,” which will last from 1 Public views village hall plans that he would do his best tn to 4 p.m. -This sem inar will assessment of the property, A He inquired of the council ■ Plans for new hall directing incoming public con ensure that no processes for promote awareness of mail cerns. Billing offices and the Phase I ESA consists of a phys whether the proposed ESA ing lists, telephone solicita presented to public. ical survey of a site, a computer would provide enough informa the Phase I would be repeated tion and rights of. the con office of the village manager if MEC proceeds to a Phase IX> Spring start projected. would also be located* op the search for environmental cita tion to justify purchase of the. sumer in an age of market tions of the area around a site, wellfield. ESA. - : ing. first floor. At the Sept; 14 meeting, coun* By Jim Silver Second floor plans include and historical review of aerial MacLeod also asked whether Both seminars will be con Staff Writer ducted by Johnny May, and offices for zoning and engineer photographs of an area. the ESA would determine See COUNCIL — Page 2-A are sponsored by Chelsea Dangerous Architects pre- ing officials, as well as a map Community^Educatton.-For room for the village. The third more information, call 433- lage hall at a public hearing on floor would still largely be 2206, ext. 6011. Sept. 15. These plans embell occupied by council chambers, ish and expand upon conceptu which would take acoustfc t'.Wt-ij al designs presented to the advantage of the sloping roof of Village Council on Aug. 10. the building. The newest plans also take Basement plans call for a consideration of the proposed combination of storage areas* Historic District Guidelines for and conference and office ••• > the downtown, as the village space.

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