Comments on: Controversial golf development gets new tax credits as state board probes failed promises http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises The Michigan Messenger is a local news site covering politics and policy throughout Michigan. Its team delivers original reporting daily. The Michigan Messenger is published by the nonpartisan and nonprofit group American Independent News Network. Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: dual hinge driver http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises/comment-page-1#comment-24670 dual hinge driver Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:49:33 +0000 http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=32202#comment-24670 i just want to say thanks for your information i just want to say thanks for your information

]]> By: DMuchmore http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises/comment-page-1#comment-17319 DMuchmore Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:01:00 +0000 http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=32202#comment-17319 I feel it is important to clarify the content of the article that specifically refers to comments I made at the Natural Resources Trust Fund meeting. The speaker at the meeting made a number of serious charges about the city and its conduct and then alledged that a staff member was culpable. What I said was that I didn't believe that the staff member was, and that the assertions about the city and the development company and its dealings were serious charges of a criminal nature and if she believes they are true she should take them to the Attorney General. I did not assert that the Trust Fund would refer them to the Attorney General. I feel it is important to clarify the content of the article that specifically refers to comments I made at the Natural Resources Trust Fund meeting. The speaker at the meeting made a number of serious charges about the city and its conduct and then alledged that a staff member was culpable. What I said was that I didn't believe that the staff member was, and that the assertions about the city and the development company and its dealings were serious charges of a criminal nature and if she believes they are true she should take them to the Attorney General. I did not assert that the Trust Fund would refer them to the Attorney General.

]]> By: DMuchmore http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises/comment-page-1#comment-14735 DMuchmore Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:01:00 +0000 http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=32202#comment-14735 I feel it is important to clarify the content of the article that specifically refers to comments I made at the Natural Resources Trust Fund meeting. The speaker at the meeting made a number of serious charges about the city and its conduct and then alledged that a staff member was culpable. What I said was that I didn't believe that the staff member was, and that the assertions about the city and the development company and its dealings were serious charges of a criminal nature and if she believes they are true she should take them to the Attorney General. I did not assert that the Trust Fund would refer them to the Attorney General. I feel it is important to clarify the content of the article that specifically refers to comments I made at the Natural Resources Trust Fund meeting. The speaker at the meeting made a number of serious charges about the city and its conduct and then alledged that a staff member was culpable. What I said was that I didn't believe that the staff member was, and that the assertions about the city and the development company and its dealings were serious charges of a criminal nature and if she believes they are true she should take them to the Attorney General. I did not assert that the Trust Fund would refer them to the Attorney General.

]]> By: 461OceanBlvd http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises/comment-page-1#comment-13734 461OceanBlvd Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:35:08 +0000 http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=32202#comment-13734 Come on, you're not even trying to be the least bit fair with this story. You're the FOX news of left wing Michigan - and I'm a proud liberal. Whirlpool gives millions of dollars every year to help Benton Harbor. Answer me this Eartha - have you ever even been to Benton Harbor? Did you see the abandon, trash-filled Jean Klock park before they cleaned it up and turned it into a beautiful park - for the residents of Benton Harbor? Did you see the makeshift garbage dumps that the project cleaned up and will now be tax generating property? Major corporations have been trying to save Benton Harbor - from itself - for the twenty plus years I have lived in this area, and Harbor Shores is the best chance that might happen in decades. I realize you have an agenda - and it's good that all voice can be heard, but if you reread this story I think you will see why I say that you sound an awful lot like Glenn Beck - just from the other side. Come on, you're not even trying to be the least bit fair with this story. You're the FOX news of left wing Michigan – and I'm a proud liberal. Whirlpool gives millions of dollars every year to help Benton Harbor. Answer me this Eartha – have you ever even been to Benton Harbor? Did you see the abandon, trash-filled Jean Klock park before they cleaned it up and turned it into a beautiful park – for the residents of Benton Harbor? Did you see the makeshift garbage dumps that the project cleaned up and will now be tax generating property? Major corporations have been trying to save Benton Harbor – from itself – for the twenty plus years I have lived in this area, and Harbor Shores is the best chance that might happen in decades. I realize you have an agenda – and it's good that all voice can be heard, but if you reread this story I think you will see why I say that you sound an awful lot like Glenn Beck – just from the other side.

]]> By: Julie_Weiss http://michiganmessenger.com/32202/controversial-golf-development-gets-new-tax-credits-as-state-board-probes-failed-promises/comment-page-1#comment-13715 Julie_Weiss Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:03:31 +0000 http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=32202#comment-13715 There would be no need, presumably, to “set the law straight” if the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality had acted as regulators and guardians of the public trust, rather than as consultants to and hand holders of the developer. Harbor Shores has taken what appears to be carte blanche from the state of Michigan and is acting in its own best interest, as is to be expected from a private sector corporation. Although the October 18, 2006 Gongwer Report published comments from former Trust Fund Board chair Sam Washington, who stated that there were a lot of “ifs” and that if one of those “ifs” failed to cut it, then the deal would be DOA, it is apparent that Jean Klock Park is what is DOA alongside the public interest.<br><br>One of Mr. Washington’s “ifs” involved the land exchanged for Jean Klock Park. He said it couldn’t be contaminated land. The DNR was in possession of the appraisal for the highest dollar value mitigation parcel, part of a former Whirlpool Corporation manufacturing site, weeks before the October 18 decision. The appraisal, stamped received September 29, 2006 by Michigan DNR Grants Management, states the following: “As noted below, a foot of topsoil must be brought in to cover the existing ground due to environmental concerns.” and “An environmental study done by Earth Tech and furnished to this appraiser … indicates the following: Metals, VOCs and PNAs exceeded Part 201 soil and groundwater criteria.” <br><br>The recent Brownfield tax credits will be applied to the very parcel described above. Not only did the state fail to vet critical details of the one-sided deal, the taxpayer will now pick up the tab to ameliorate one of those “ifs” Mr. Washington cited.<br><br>As far as I can tell, the Board has never regretted its poor decision. What it apparently regrets is the unfortunate comparison of the former Jean Klock Park with Saugatuck Dunes, which the Board may decide to acquire for a reported $21,000,000. And if activity attending the implementation of the trail system and park mitigation appears in any way “criminal” then why doesn’t the Board rescind its approval? Why? They’d rather have us do the heavy lifting, let us spend our time and money, while they continue to protect incompetent or worse state employees and their beloved governor. There would be no need, presumably, to “set the law straight” if the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality had acted as regulators and guardians of the public trust, rather than as consultants to and hand holders of the developer. Harbor Shores has taken what appears to be carte blanche from the state of Michigan and is acting in its own best interest, as is to be expected from a private sector corporation. Although the October 18, 2006 Gongwer Report published comments from former Trust Fund Board chair Sam Washington, who stated that there were a lot of “ifs” and that if one of those “ifs” failed to cut it, then the deal would be DOA, it is apparent that Jean Klock Park is what is DOA alongside the public interest.

One of Mr. Washington’s “ifs” involved the land exchanged for Jean Klock Park. He said it couldn’t be contaminated land. The DNR was in possession of the appraisal for the highest dollar value mitigation parcel, part of a former Whirlpool Corporation manufacturing site, weeks before the October 18 decision. The appraisal, stamped received September 29, 2006 by Michigan DNR Grants Management, states the following: “As noted below, a foot of topsoil must be brought in to cover the existing ground due to environmental concerns.” and “An environmental study done by Earth Tech and furnished to this appraiser … indicates the following: Metals, VOCs and PNAs exceeded Part 201 soil and groundwater criteria.”

The recent Brownfield tax credits will be applied to the very parcel described above. Not only did the state fail to vet critical details of the one-sided deal, the taxpayer will now pick up the tab to ameliorate one of those “ifs” Mr. Washington cited.

As far as I can tell, the Board has never regretted its poor decision. What it apparently regrets is the unfortunate comparison of the former Jean Klock Park with Saugatuck Dunes, which the Board may decide to acquire for a reported $21,000,000. And if activity attending the implementation of the trail system and park mitigation appears in any way “criminal” then why doesn’t the Board rescind its approval? Why? They’d rather have us do the heavy lifting, let us spend our time and money, while they continue to protect incompetent or worse state employees and their beloved governor.

]]>