Industry Layoffs Hit Hard in EJ Industrial Park Instead of Airport?
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V Lakeside Players Out & about are at it again Restaurants, movies, Page! music, recreation Page 8 Vol. 14, No. 19 Thursday, March 6, 1980 *arfavoix Qountu 25 cents YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER C/ Industry layoffs hit hard in EJ BY BARB CRUDEN slowed-up." But she, like Baker, believes 15 percent off its gross, because that the general economic situation has been plant employed about 15 percent of the East Jordan has had its profile altered the cause. Local layoffs don't show up on people in this area." from time to time in the past. Now, hand tax collections as a particular effect, they At Glen's Market and Family Center. to mouth, it considers what features say. Rob Westfall, assistant manager, says in might be in for a change in the face of Unemployment figures at the Petoskey the period since December, they have recent industry layoffs. office of Michigan Employment Security taken in 30 percent more food stamps ITT Electrical Automotive shut down Commission are not broken down by city. than they did last year for the same completely in 1979, which meant a loss of According to DeWayne Cox, who is months. He notes also an increase of WIC 175 jobs to the community. branch office manager, 1.125 are un- (Women. Infants, Children) credits- East Jordan Iron Works is always employed countywide, as of December Last year, $395; this year. $648. slower in winter, according to Bruce 1979. At the same period in 1978, the He adds on a note of optimism: "We Malpass, executive vice-president, but he figure was 1,050. That is a comparison of haven't lost faith in the community, and is reluctant to give figures on the 11.9 percent of the work force with last they haven't lost faith in us." To keep fluctuating employment there, because year's 11.6 percent. prices down, Glen's is doing as much they would appear out of context. County food stamp distribution has advance buying as possible on staple Gulf and Western's work force is down gone up, says Vasco Zucchiatti, Services products, which will be going up sharply, 65 people. Michael Speer, personnel Supervisor at Charlevoix County Westfall says, keeping the retail price manager, hopes hiring will begin again in Department of Social Services. But, he down until the stocked-up stock is used less than a year. comments, the reasons may also be up. Northwestern State Bank's board increased publicity on the food stamp JOB SEARCH FRUSTRATING chairman, Charles McDowell comments program. Those most conscious of local stress, of that although East Jordan economics BARS SUFFER MOST course, are the people who have been laid Grandvae residential aide BUlIe Jo Clark gave tours of the new supervised residential wing daring reflect auto industry trends, consumer The businesses hurt most by the off. grand opening festivities Sunday at the Grandvne Medical Care Facility in East Jordan. The new traffic at the bank has dropped only sagging economy are probably bars. Michael and Jina Berkshire were 27-bed addition will be ready to have residents move into in a week or two. slightly. Chuck Sherk, owner of Chuck's Place at having a Sunday afternoon "outing" at At Colwell and Company, Realtors, Bill 115 Main St., estimates that unemploy- Peters' West Side Laundromat. Michael iit'cflth says nobody seems to have moved ment in the East Jordan area is about 40 has been looking for a job since October away because of job loss. "A lot of layoff percent, and he says that's about how when he and others were laid off from is seasonal," he says. "They play it up a much his business is down. Gulf and Western after about two years Ohs and ahs for Grandvue lot." He adds, "If it continues, then I "In a recession, a bar is reasonably on the job. would say it would make a difference." durable because people have more time As he and Jina toss the week's wash EAST JORDAN - Grandvue adminis- and was open to the public. About 120 A day-room with a television and books East Jordan Plastics continues a stable on their hands," he said. But he into the dryers, he explains most want-ad trators and area county commissioners people attended. is shared by the wing's residents. work force, rpeorts Personnel Manager considers East Jordan's current problems jobs are temporary or for low wages. • i were on hand Sunday to show off the Residents will start moving into the Total construction costs for the new Shirley Diller. They are just about where much more than just a recession. Mike and Jina have a baby son. While newest addition to Grandvue Medical new facility in a week or two, Director wing was approximately $680,000, in- they usually are this time of year, she "With the current economic situation Jina goes to' her CETA job, Mike takes Care Facility, and it indeed is something Richard Tilien said. Residents will be cluding $85,000 for the room furnishings says. we have, by the time a guy pays for all the care of the baby and hunts for work. to "show off." screened for admittance and their $400 and landscaping. Construction on the TAX PAYMENTS SLOW basics—food, heat and gas—he has He has gone as far away as the The nine spacious three-bedroom per month rent will be paid for mostly 7,500 square ft. addition began in 1976. People are slow in paying taxes, Joann nothing left from his unemployment Kalkaska gas refineries and army enlist- facilities, which will house 27 residents through state and federal aid to the The kitchen in the older section of the Baker says. The Wilson Township check," Sherk said. ment in Grayling. He found nothing at who must be supervised at ail times, were elderly, he said. building was renovated to adequately treasurer notes that last year at this He said East Jordan has yet to feel the the former, and the net $190 per month met with ohs and ahs from patients, The nine rooms in the new facility each serve 27 additional residents, Tilien said. time over 800 of the taxpayers had their long-term effects of the ITT plant closing. for 13 weeks of Army basic training would family and curious folks who wandered have a beautiful view of rolling hill- Grandvue is the First medical care taxes in, while the figure is down to 715 "Right now those people are still drawing only pay for rent and utilities. through the new wing's grand opening. side, are equipped with an intercom facility in the state to have supervised this year. unemployment, but that doesn't go on So how are things? The grand opening festivities included system to call an aide and have separate residential rooms attached to the facility, East Jordan's City Clerk Fern Morris forever. Unless those jobs are replaced "No more going out. Snowmobil- refreshments and a tour of the new wing bathrooms. he added. agrees that "tax collections—kind of virtually every business in town can take [ Continued on page 21 Boyne band top in district Boyne City and East Jordan were participants In high school and Junior high school band festivals held recently. The Boyne City High School Band, pictured here, received a Division I (excellent] rating qualifying them for state competition. East Jordan's band received a D [good] rating. For a complete story on both area bands see page 12. Master plan maps the future Industrial park instead of airport? BOYNE CITY - The preliminary com- trial park, suggestions for the lakefront Woodrow and Dave Tyler, representa- currently located is very favorable for an be interested in developing within the TANNERY PROPERTY prehensive plan for Boyne City was development, new areas for mobile tives of the Johnson, Johnson and Roy industrial park, the planners said, be- city "at a moment's notice what ac- "We concur that a mixed-use revealed Tuesday night with a number of homes and apartments, growth for the planning firm of Ann Arbor, presented cause the land is flat, developable, commodations, the city has to offer," development would be the best and major land use recommendations. downtown business area, and develop- land use recommendations. They used located near public utilities and has easy Woodrow said. proper Ose for this property," Woodrow The land use recommendations include ment of city park?. slides, maps and graphs to show the access to highway M-75, The newly formed Economic Develop- said. making the dty airport into an indus- At the third and final workshop Kim planned growth opportunities available to An alternative site considered was ment Corporation might draft the site Rick and Dave Smith of Lake As- Boyne City. approximately 20 acres on State Street plan, Woodrow suggested. The 40 acres sociates have an option on 13 acres of "Implementation of many of these past Rotary Park. But the planners should be divided into 10 acre plots, he property located between Lake Master plan time table recommendations does not occur over- suggested that it is not a suitable said, so the city could attract smaller Charlevoix and Front Street. night," Tyler stressed. He said many of alternative for industrial expansion be- industries and not have one large The planners recommend that a multi- BOYNE CITY - Input received from city document finished by May. A public the changes would have to gradually be cause it is too small. Traffic would have to industry settle on the whole forty acres.