By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS - A list of people for a Cool Cities Advisory Board, presented by Village President Julia Bell to her board Monday evening, was approved by a 4 to 3 vote.
Some board members objected to the lack of diversity in the selection and residency of some of the members.
Included are local artists, Larry Balok and Harold Nelson; Patty Dresser, new business owner; Richard Doolittle and Troy Treat, developers; Victoria Maione, entrepreneur; Dave Mehelich, housing consultant; Scott Ward, store owner; and Art Sciorra, Cassopolis village manager.
A new slate of members for the Downtown Development Authority was also chosen. When questioned by board member Michelle Andrews whether those who had been serving were asked to continue, Bell answered "I can't say that we did."
The new presidential appointments include: John Loupee, owner of Service Oil; Jim Morris, manager of C. Wimberly Ford in Cassopolis; Mary McFarland, of Helping Hands; Tex Sheteron, school board member; Troy Treat, business owner and developer; Scott Ward, jeweler; and Terry L. Wright, business owner.
In other business:
set the time for trick or treaters in the Village of Cassopolis for Friday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.
the board learned about the progress on the Stone Lake Apartments for seniors from Dave Mehelich, its housing consultant. If funds are approved for the 49 units, building might begin still this year, after a four year wait. The units will have elevators and call buttons, and a community space.
Mehelich said this was "one of the best sites for affordable housing" he had seen in 30 years, "overlooking a lake." He added "what's going on downtown is an added benefit to a beautiful site."
approved the 10 percent match to an almost $70,000 grant to the Cassopolis Fire Department
only two firms responded to me planning commission's request for bids for a master plan for the village. The commission will meet to look at the proposals next week.
the board agreed to pay up to $750, as its part of an audit of the 2003 year of the Cassopolis Ambulance Department.