My Fellow Acme Township Residents,
I am writing this letter in response to Acme Township's announcement that they
need six more months to decide on the Meijer project.
The Acme township officials use the same tired excuse "that they are looking out for the community."
This excuse can justify just about any action, and it is difficult for the opposition
to argue against such ostensibly "warm and fuzzy" intentions. The only way to determine
whether their intentions are true or if their words are mere rhetoric designed to mask a
hidden agenda is the passing of time. Well, more time has passed on this project then the
rebuilding of the Twin Towers in New York. The New York developers are already building there.
The Acme Township board is showing its true "no growth" agenda. Even the much less cynical can
finally see through their cloak.
The question was asked at one of the meetings "...do we want a Michigan Corporation like Meijers,
or do we want a multi national like Wal-Mart?" It is no secret that Wal-Mart wants to buy
this property from the developers. At what point will they throw their hands up in disgust
at the obvious obfuscation and sell to the 800 pound gorilla of retail? The Acme Board will
surely not be able to play the same games with Wal-Mart - just ask Frankenmuth what happens to
a small community when you impede on property rights. Frankenmuth played the same games Acme is
playing, and Wal-Mart took them into Federal Court and in a relatively short period of time
received a multi million dollar judgment against the city. The residents of Frankenmuth ended
up paying the cost for their township elders' "no growth" agenda. Or stated another way, they
paid for Wal-Mart's new store. Acme Township residents - wake up! Do you want to foot the bill
for this Board's actions? Did you know that you have already paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of
legal bills in an attempt to stop this project? Yes. Your and my tax dollars have footed this bill
so a few can promote their agenda. Money that could have went to build new parks, trails, or a much
needed fire house has went to attorneys.
Elections are next year and the Acme Township residents must decide if this
is the course they want for their township. If they are voted in again, then
I will forever hold my peace. Everyone I talk with in the community states they
support this development. The majority of Acme residents understand they
would have access to hundreds of new jobs both in both the construction phases and
retail once the project is complete. Our tax base would also enjoy a much needed infusion; thus,
relieving the Acme residents of carrying the bill for the countless mistakes this Board has made.
Paul Turowski
Acme Township Resident
ACME, Mich. -- The Acme Business Association (ABA) believes Acme Township needs a balance of commerce, conservation and community parks.
The ABA supports Acme Township’s Shoreline Development Project. Several businesses have been removed and that portion of the shoreline has been opened as a park for our community. The ABA has several fund raisers in motion with proceeds to help with the shoreline project.The Acme Business Association believes the Meijer development is good for our community.
The Meijer project is forecasted to bring 200 to 300 permanent jobs to our area. Many in our community are in need of a job to help support their families.The Meijer project will bring much needed jobs and make up for the lost tax revenue of those businesses that were removed for the Shoreline Project.
Balance between commerce, conservation and community parks + needed jobs + needed tax revenue = a win for the Acme Community!The Acme Township Planning Commission will discuss the Meijer development on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at The Williamsburg Dinner Theater located on M-72 in Acme.
The Acme Business Association encourages all Acme Township citizens to attend and let your voice be heard.
On August 4th from 5:30 to 8:30 - URHOUZZ Furniture & Outdoor Design located in Acme directly across from East Bay in conjunction with the Acme Business Association will host a fund raiser for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
Traverse City's own Ron Jolly will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. There will be a cookout in URHOUZZ's new outdoor patio area. Burger, brats, and dogs will be cooked on the grill, and you can enjoy your own personal pizza made on URHOUZZ's portable outdoor pizza oven. Wine poured by Bry's Winery and hors d'oeuvres by Natural Northern Foods.
There will be an auction hosted by Ron Jolly, and a hat will be passed for donations. All proceeds will go to the Grand Traverse Conservancy. The Conservancy has been an integral part of Acme's Shoreline project. The Acme Business Association supports this community project and felt the fund raiser to benefit the Conservancy was a good way to demonstrate a balance between business and community.
Come and enjoy a wonderful summer evening with good food, great wine and panoramic scenery on East Bay with Ron Jolly, URHOUZZ Furniture & Design, the Acme Business Association and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
From:
James Taylor
Special Olympics Michigan
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to you, as well as the members of the Acme Business Association. Your support and welcome of our athletes at the Special Olympics Michigan Winter Games was great. I appreciate your members who came out and made our VIP reception at the Grand traverse Resort a success. I hope everyone enjoyed our opening ce remonies, I know our athletes loved it.
I hope that you will join us again February 8-10,2012 when we again bring our states finest athletes to Grand Traverse Resort for our Winter Games. Perhaps I can attend a meeting soon and discuss how things went this year and how to make them better for you next year. Let me know when to attend and I am happy to come and sit with you.
Please give everyone my thanks, our athletes don't always have a crowd cheering for them, so it especially nice when the community comes together to welcome them to their competitions. Your support is needed and appreciated ! My apologies that this thank you is late in coming, I jumped from Winter Games right into our basketball season the day after Winter Games, and I got behind on saying a critical thank you to my friends this year!
Warmly,