Commission deadlocks on Live Buchanan Main Street funding, asks group to rewrite agreement

The Buchanan City Commission on July 29 declined to approve an amended resolution to fund Live Buchanan’s Michigan Main Street application and instead voted to postpone final action until Aug. 26 so the organization can return with a revised agreement and budget.

The evening opened with public commenters sharply divided over the proposed allocation and oversight. “I’m only assuming…that’s about Ashley’s salary,” said Tom Jolly, questioning the packet’s funding breakdown and urging clearer detail about where multi-year funds would be spent. Michael Roland defended the incubator model, saying, “the point of an incubator is for a business to eventually leave and become part of our town,” and argued vendor interest downtown is a sign of success. Tracy Dipo, a former downtown business owner, urged support: “I am asking you to support resolution 2024-0721 and Ashley and the Michigan Main Street program.”

Commissioners spent much of the meeting probing the contract language and budgetary controls. Peter Ley, who identified himself as a Live Buchanan board member, told the commission the community had already budgeted for economic development, saying there is “$215,000 in this year’s budget for economic development, public relations, grants and special projects,” and described the request as using existing resources to leverage additional work.

Other commenters warned the draft agreement gave Live Buchanan too much discretion. “It’s so open-ended as a contract; there are no checks and balances,” said Jeffrey (identified in the record as Jeffrey an tisell), urging narrower approval authorities and outside oversight.

The motion on the floor would have approved resolution 2024-0721 with amendments requiring the city manager and city treasurer to assemble the budget (including any Main Street executive salary) and to require Live Buchanan to present quarterly budget reports to the commission. After discussion the commission took a roll-call vote; the motion failed (Dennison: yes; Weeden: no; Bonsky: no; Money: no). Following the defeat, a separate motion to postpone and direct Live Buchanan to rewrite the agreement and return on Aug. 26 passed by roll call.

City staff explained that Michigan Main Street (MEC) requires a five-year commitment, a full-time manager and a professional-development budget as the minimum elements for acceptance into the statewide program; staff also said communities may vary contract semantics so long as MEC’s investment protections are met. Commissioners asked that any revised packet clearly break out the dollar amounts that would cover the executive position versus program expense and that Live Buchanan provide the commission with sufficient lead time so the packet can be reviewed before a vote.

The commission’s postponement leaves the Main Street application and the proposed funding allocation pending. The commission instructed Live Buchanan to return with a revised agreement and explicit budget detail for inclusion in the Aug. 26 packet; the body did not adopt the proposed resolution on July 29.