Positive Plaza Alternatives

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	Positive Plaza Alternatives PPA presented a list of questions to the County Commissioners. Below are the questions and the responses received. Commissioners Steve Simasko and Wallace Evans were the only commissioners that responded; Commissioners Dennis Kearns, Howard Heidemann, Patrick Quain, Jeff Bohm, and Pamela Wall did not. Question #1: How well do you think St. Clair County exploits its status as the site of a major border crossing? Commissioner Evans: Our efforts are long range financial gain to all St. Clair County residents. My push has been for the entertainment complex to act as a point of interest 24 hours per day. We could design an area for people to plan their stop. Commissioner Simasko: Probably not to the full extent we could. Question #2: Do you think a redesigned Blue Water Bridge Plaza could help the county benefit from border traffic? Evans: We need to input any ideas in the design but we also need to step up and take our own leap for economic development. Create a destination point. Simasko: Yes, several ways. Question #3: What do you see as the major economic challenges facing St. Clair County in the upcoming decade? Evans: Balancing budgets, invest in economic opportunity with our government agencies, promote jobs through partnership with interested businesses. [We need] much more cooperative effort between government agencies. Simasko: Jobs, lessening of county property values/assessments, reduction in revenue for county operations, increased county costs especially in the area of employee and retiree health care. Educating department heads on expected budget problems coming our way due to state budget problems we see for 2007, 2008, and beyond. Question #4: Do you have any thoughts about opportunties for growth or economic diversification? Do you think that a properly redesigned Bridge Plaza could assist these ideas? Evans: We need a 24 hour complex which is well lit, advertised, secure, and has lots of diverse businesses around it. Simasko: Our County Administration and EOC indicate that this is a priority for the county and I believe we will pursue this as a general county goal. The Bridge Plaza could assist. Question #5: What challenges and problems do you see the Bridge Plaza expansion presenting? Evans: I see opportunity! All we need is a plan and cooperation will follow! Simasko: Being allowed to provide input on what is a federal site, essentially. Question #6: Do you have any other thoughts or comments you would like to add? Evans: The County will assist any agency interested in economic development through its scope and divisions. If investments are well thought out and benefite cities in jobs, quality of life, etc., we will offer our help "including dollars"! Simasko: Not really.

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Positive Plaza Alternatives
PPA presented a list of questions to the County Commissioners. Below are the questions and the responses received. Commissioners Steve Simasko and Wallace Evans were the only commissioners that responded; Commissioners Dennis Kearns, Howard Heidemann, Patrick Quain, Jeff Bohm, and Pamela Wall did not.

Question #1: How well do you think St. Clair County exploits its status as the site of a major border crossing?

Commissioner Evans: Our efforts are long range financial gain to all St. Clair County residents. My push has been for the entertainment complex to act as a point of interest 24 hours per day. We could design an area for people to plan their stop.

Commissioner Simasko: Probably not to the full extent we could.

Question #2: Do you think a redesigned Blue Water Bridge Plaza could help the county benefit from border traffic?

Evans: We need to input any ideas in the design but we also need to step up and take our own leap for economic development. Create a destination point.

Simasko: Yes, several ways.

Question #3: What do you see as the major economic challenges facing St. Clair County in the upcoming decade?

Evans: Balancing budgets, invest in economic opportunity with our government agencies, promote jobs through partnership with interested businesses. [We need] much more cooperative effort between government agencies.

Simasko: Jobs, lessening of county property values/assessments, reduction in revenue for county operations, increased county costs especially in the area of employee and retiree health care. Educating department heads on expected budget problems coming our way due to state budget problems we see for 2007, 2008, and beyond.

Question #4: Do you have any thoughts about opportunties for growth or economic diversification? Do you think that a properly redesigned Bridge Plaza could assist these ideas?

Evans: We need a 24 hour complex which is well lit, advertised, secure, and has lots of diverse businesses around it.

Simasko: Our County Administration and EOC indicate that this is a priority for the county and I believe we will pursue this as a general county goal. The Bridge Plaza could assist.

Question #5: What challenges and problems do you see the Bridge Plaza expansion presenting?

Evans: I see opportunity! All we need is a plan and cooperation will follow!

Simasko: Being allowed to provide input on what is a federal site, essentially.

Question #6: Do you have any other thoughts or comments you would like to add?

Evans: The County will assist any agency interested in economic development through its scope and divisions. If investments are well thought out and benefite cities in jobs, quality of life, etc., we will offer our help "including dollars"!

Simasko: Not really.

Positive Plaza Alternatives
Which would be worse? Port Huron getting stuck with an expanded Bridge Plaza? Or Port Huron getting stuck with an expanded Bridge Plaza while reaping no benefit from it?

"Come, let us reason together." Isaiah 1:18a