Stuffed Elk

[Husky Pride]

I just left Freddies and notice the Atlanta COC has a large color flier posted asking for donations for the restoration of the elk in front of the post office.

I, like "Blame Me" would like to know where in the hell did the monies go that was raised to purchase the elementry school that fell through and the monies that was raised for the playground for Briley township park that was never built.

I don't mind donating money for something that represents Atlanta, But the members of the ACE and COC has some explaining to what happened to the money that has already been raised.

Any comments????

[Get a grip]

I believe that Betty, the COC president, was also the one in charge of the ACE committee. She has also run for the PIE&G board of directors.

[Husky Pride]

I agree, Betty seems to have her hand in everyone's pie.
I just wonder what happened to all the money. It sure wasn't spent on Elk fest or the fireworks.

[Putzs]

Maybe we need a full investigation like Gaylord Downtown Authority hada on the keeper of their money.

[Husky Pride]

I contacted the state of Michigan COC last year for that very thing and they stated that each COC has to police themselves, The state doesn't get involved the local COC office.

We need to get rid of the current board and get some new and experienced people in there.
The chamber should be trying to get businesses into the community or have a hand into incorporating Atlanta, Not puting on the Easter party,elk fest, holloween in the parkand the Christmas party.

I know in the past the COC took out a loan to pay for the Elk Fest, Get rid of the beer tent and let Elk Fest pay for itself.
OH and PUT IT BACK IN THE STREET, Betty will tell you it was Grandfathered when it was in the street and we can't have it back there anymore.
I contacted the trasportation Dept in Lansing and they said the township had to ask for a permit to close off the street, Ofcourse with ample time and that was it. I know Rosie and Betty teamed up to keep it in the park. Keep in mind they're both elected officals.

[Charger07]

Husky Pride wrote:

I contacted the state of Michigan COC last year for that very thing and they stated that each COC has to police themselves, The state doesn't get involved the local COC office.
We need to get rid of the current board and get some new and experienced people in there.
The chamber should be trying to get businesses into the community or have a hand into incorporating Atlanta, Not puting on the Easter party,elk fest, holloween in the parkand the Christmas party.
I know in the past the COC took out a loan to pay for the Elk Fest, Get rid of the beer tent and let Elk Fest pay for itself.
OH and PUT IT BACK IN THE STREET, Betty will tell you it was Grandfathered when it was in the street and we can't have it back there anymore.
I contacted the trasportation Dept in Lansing and they said the township had to ask for a permit to close off the street, Ofcourse with ample time and that was it. I know Rosie and Betty teamed up to keep it in the park. Keep in mind they're both elected officals.

If you got rid of the beer tent, the elk festival would not be able to pay for itself. Sad, but true.

[Husky Pride]

It paid for itself before they had a beer tent. Other communities have festivals and no beer tent and grow bigger each year, Ours on the other hand is dwindling to nothing more than a yard sale with a beer tent. Poor managment at the Atlanta COC.

[Charger07]

I believe there was only one festival before the beer tent was brought in. And it paid for itself only because it was the first one and everyone was excited that Atlanta finally had a festival of its own.

I agree that the COC needs to be reorganized and realize that they need to regroup and start thinking about the good of Atlanta, not their own personal agendas.

[Get a grip]

Husky Pride wrote:

I contacted the state of Michigan COC last year for that very thing and they stated that each COC has to police themselves, The state doesn't get involved the local COC office.
We need to get rid of the current board and get some new and experienced people in there.
The chamber should be trying to get businesses into the community or have a hand into incorporating Atlanta, Not puting on the Easter party,elk fest, holloween in the parkand the Christmas party.
I know in the past the COC took out a loan to pay for the Elk Fest, Get rid of the beer tent and let Elk Fest pay for itself.
OH and PUT IT BACK IN THE STREET, Betty will tell you it was Grandfathered when it was in the street and we can't have it back there anymore.
I contacted the trasportation Dept in Lansing and they said the township had to ask for a permit to close off the street, Ofcourse with ample time and that was it. I know Rosie and Betty teamed up to keep it in the park. Keep in mind they're both elected officals.

Betty is elected to a not profit organization and Rose is an elected public official. Both have been caught lieing about the street closure. We can have it back on the street if we follow the proper proceedures in a timely fashion.

The beer tent makes money for the COC, but it doesn't have to be the primary reason for the festival. In the past the beer tent had been manned by non profit organizations. The money to pay the bills came from the tent and most of the rest went to the non profits that worked the tent.

The COC charges each vendor for a spot at the festival. Huron Distributors pays for most, if not all of the advertising. The COC really doesn't have any expenses to put on the Elk Festival. All the help is voluntary and the electric bill for the park is paid out of vendors rentals. So, tell me again why the COC has to run the beer tent?

Many other festivals have beer tents that are run independently of their COC's. The COC's primary job should be for the planning and coordinating of activities not the actual running of everything.

We definately need to take the COC back and use it for what it is meant for, promoting business in Atlanta. It needs different leadership and that means the town has to get involved and take it back. Betty's dictatorial term has to end.

[Husky Pride]

The reason for COC running the beer tent is Betty's son wouldn't have a job. Have to say nice hummer for someone that spends a lot of time at J&J Backwater tipping them back, Oh and still living at home

[SillyMe2]

If memory serves me correctly, 2008 Elkfest vendor forms weren't sent out till about 6 wk before the festival. We're going to continue seeing a flea market instead of good crafters for Elkfest until someone is put in the COC with business sense, marketing skills and fiscal responsibility. Atlanta doesn't need a COC social director, it needs to have someone with marketing skills, people skills and the real interest of the Business community!

We need to go to various other festivals early in the year and try to recruit vendors with good quality items to sell for Elkfest!

We have Sno Drift Rally with people and race teams coming in from all over the world. Where is the hospitality? Where are the people opening up their homes for the teams and volunteers? Where are the local restaurants, Private Clubs and Community Organizations that could really make some money with providing more choices for meals and lodging to lure in more people!

We have the Blue Grass Festival that is getting bigger each year! Where are the Community Organizations that could provide good quality foods for the event and support the event and make some money on the side?

We have the ever growing Motorcycle event out to the Fairgrounds and where is the Community Organizations that could provide more crafters, food vendors and other fundraising things and also make the Bikers welcome?

Where is the support and the Organizations who used to make Montmorency County Fair a source of Pride in Atlanta every August? 2008 County Fair was a bit anemic with lack of people participating in the event, both with competition with animals, baked goods, booths and good quality food vendors!

Why isn't COC working to utilize the visiting Political Dignitaries that happen to drive through our fair area from time to time. Why not organize some photo ops to promote the area?

Why aren't we encouraging, helping and promoting the new busineses that are trying to make a go of it here in town. We are so blessed now to have gas wars going on with Freddie and Chatter and that is a draw to our fair town. We have an awesome Detroit Style Deli that is under publicized. So many possibilities and so many opportunities and with being the crossroads for North, South, East and Westbound travelers, we need to give them a reason to stop here in Atlanta, Mi!

We fought to be the Elk Capitol of Michigan and what in the blue blazes have we done to promote that much coveted title? We don't deserve the title since we don't even promote it!

It's fine to post this stuff but till folks in the area put their time, energy and money where their mouths and words are then what's the point?

We need to have the Elkfest taken out of the hands of COC and put into a special Elkfest Committee so that their sole responsibility is to plan and put on Elkfest. We need to get the vendor forms out in January. We need Elkfest buttons, advertising and bumperstickers ready to sell by Memorial Day weekend. It would provide the seed money for Elkfest. Put the vendors back in the street of Atlanta and then have the food vendors and other activities stay in the park where the electricity and water are.

It's embarrassing when the Cheerleaders of Atlanta Public Schools can put on one heck of a fireworks display for 2008 Homecoming and then COC has their little anemic 4th of July Fireworks! Good job Huskies!

Only when Montmorency County, the residents and Business people ban together to make Atlanta something to be proud of again, will we truly be able to raise our heads high with pride and truly be a community to be proud of!

[I see]

Husky Pride wrote:

The reason for COC running the beer tent is Betty's son wouldn't have a job. Have to say nice hummer for someone that spends a lot of time at J&J Backwater tipping them back, Oh and still living at home

Well there may be some truth to the drinking part, you are mininformed other than that. He does not live at home.

[Get a grip]

To SillyMe2: Many of the things you said have been said before. You are exactly right about the COC and what it should be doing in coordinating the activities in the are as I mentioned earlier. Many comments have been made about putting the Elk Fest in the hands of a separate group whose sole function it the Elk Fest. Then the COC could spend time on promoting and advertising the area. The COC calendar should include all of the activities in Atlanta, not just COC events. There is too much of a conflict of interest for the COC doing and advertising their own events and not promoting and advertising all of the events as you mentioned.

You are correct when you say we fought hard to get the Elk Capitol designation. It is something no other town in Michigan can claim. We even have an elk on the Michigan State map. We have to start promoting it again along with all of the other events in town.

You want restaurants to offer more and better varieties for the tourists. The tourists have to start coming first. The restaurants cannot start putting out "gourmet food" in the hopes that someone shows up. The two things pretty much have to grow together. Once we get people here for worthwhile events the businesses can start making some money and reinvest some of it for improvements.

You are right again when you said we can talk forever and nothing will get done. The ABA tried to get some things done such as promoting the incorporation of Atlanta as a village. That is still in the works. I believe that the first step is for the business people and interested non-business people to get involved and take back the COC. Then separate the Elk Fest into a separate organization such as the Alpen Fest Committee in Gaylord (which is not through the Gaylord COC). Our COC can then begin promoting the area again to draw people here. The new Elk Fest Committee can spend all of its time planning, promoting, advertising and running the festival the way it should be run. If it starts making money it could even have a part time administrator whose job it is to run it like a business.

[Husky Pride]

I stand corrected and apologize for my comment about Betty's son still living at home.

[Hey Ya]

I don't think incorporating Atlanta will do anything but pay for the Businesses to have water and sewer. I think folks in the outlying areas will me paying double for Police protection, they will be paying for water and sewer that will never make it out to them. They will NOT be the recipients of any grants that come to Atlanta at all.

Atlanta has one if not the highest unemployment rate in Michigan and where do the people wanted to incorporate Atlanta think these folks are going to get more money for taxes? Huh?

For transplants of this area you need to wake up and smell the coffee, till we get a good solid tax base up here, that means big business and lots of tourists and revenue coming in then your pipe dreams will remain just that, pipe dreams. Sad huh!

[Get a grip]

Hey Ya wrote:

I don't think incorporating Atlanta will do anything but pay for the Businesses to have water and sewer. I think folks in the outlying areas will me paying double for Police protection, they will be paying for water and sewer that will never make it out to them. They will NOT be the recipients of any grants that come to Atlanta at all.
Atlanta has one if not the highest unemployment rate in Michigan and where do the people wanted to incorporate Atlanta think these folks are going to get more money for taxes? Huh?
For transplants of this area you need to wake up and smell the coffee, till we get a good solid tax base up here, that means big business and lots of tourists and revenue coming in then your pipe dreams will remain just that, pipe dreams. Sad huh!

I don’t want to sound overly critical, but with all due respect you don’t know what you are talking about. It sounds like knee jerk reaction and scare tactics.

The downtown area, as well as along M-32 west, already has municipal water. That was primarily paid for by mostly state and federal grant money because of the water contamination in that area. As for the sewer system, it is absolutely necessary to do something to address this situation in the downtown area because of the proximity of the rivers on both the north and south of the downtown area. The whole purpose of the incorporation is so that people within the incorporated boundaries who will be benefiting from the sewer will be paying for it. Those living outside of the incorporated village will NOT be paying for either the sewer or anything else within the incorporated village.

I do not know where you get the idea that the folks in the outlying areas will be paying double for Police protection, or that they will be paying for water and sewer that they will never receive? The people outside of the village limits will not be paying for the services inside of the village. It is irresponsible to say or suggest any different.

The higher taxes you talk about are in the form of property taxes, and only for those inside the village limits. Those who are at lower income brackets can get a homestead property tax credit which will end up not costing them any more money in taxes. As for the unemployment in Atlanta you are right. That is one primary reason that Atlanta needs to incorporate. We just recently lost another business downtown because the septic system failed and cannot be fixed. The only way downtown can begin to rebound is to address the sewer system. There is no way that the Township could address this issue because the taxes would have to be spread over the entire township. With the village, only those within the village limits would be paying for a service they would be getting.

Years ago we had a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) which could have done what the village would do. The problem was that the township treasurer did not deposit any of the taxes that belonged to the DDA into that fund. The DDA funding fell under tax increment financing. In order to cover their actions the Township voted to dissolve the DDA. There were shenanigans regarding how that was done also, but that is a different story.

The sad part of your post is that it sounds as if you did not attend any of the incorporation meetings to ask these same questions, which had been raised and answered. Your post also sounds like an attack against something that would benefit Atlanta while you have ulterior motives you do not reveal.

[Felicitous]

Get a grip wrote:

<quoted text>
The whole purpose of the incorporation is so that people within the incorporated boundaries who will be benefiting from the sewer will be paying for it. Those living outside of the incorporated village will NOT be paying for either the sewer or anything else within the incorporated village.

Correct me if I am wrong, but...
I can not believe that the village sewer system would be run all the way out west of town, plus all the way out north, south and east that the proposed incorporation area map contains. The cost of that would be enormous.
If that service was not provided to those areas, then yes, they would be paying for something they will never ever be able to take advantage of.

[Get a grip]

Felicitous wrote:

<quoted text>
Correct me if I am wrong, but...
I can not believe that the village sewer system would be run all the way out west of town, plus all the way out north, south and east that the proposed incorporation area map contains. The cost of that would be enormous.
If that service was not provided to those areas, then yes, they would be paying for something they will never ever be able to take advantage of.

The proposed map of the area is just that, proposed. It will in all probability be much smaller if and when it is ever adopted. As for claiming that people not hooked up to sewer would not gain from that is untrue. By having a sewer system which would enable more businesses to open and provide opportunities and jobs here would be a direct benefit for everyone.

[Ponderer]

Get a grip wrote:

<quoted text>
The proposed map of the area is just that, proposed. It will in all probability be much smaller if and when it is ever adopted. As for claiming that people not hooked up to sewer would not gain from that is untrue. By having a sewer system which would enable more businesses to open and provide opportunities and jobs here would be a direct benefit for everyone.

And Get a grip, I would like to point out also that if the downtown area were to benefit from all the things that incorporating will bring (grants, new business's, jobs, people, tourists) the people who live within the incorporated area, as well as the entire county would benefit. They would benefit from increased property values, new business coming in might mean not having to drive so far to get things. So many people are focusing on the sewer system, but that is only a small part of what could come if we were to incorporate this town. Look at the entire picture and not just one line item. Those that choose to look at only the sewer and say why should I pay for something I don't get to use need to look at the bigger picture. How many of the tax dollars you pay now to the state and the feds do you get to use or benefit from? On the small side probably very few, but in the big picture you receive a lot for what you pay.

[wheelzzs]

Hey Ya wrote:

I don't think incorporating Atlanta will do anything but pay for the Businesses to have water and sewer. I think folks in the outlying areas will me paying double for Police protection, they will be paying for water and sewer that will never make it out to them. They will NOT be the recipients of any grants that come to Atlanta at all.
Atlanta has one if not the highest unemployment rate in Michigan and where do the people wanted to incorporate Atlanta think these folks are going to get more money for taxes? Huh?
For transplants of this area you need to wake up and smell the coffee, till we get a good solid tax base up here, that means big business and lots of tourists and revenue coming in then your pipe dreams will remain just that, pipe dreams. Sad huh!

There were a lot more considerations in the incorporated village boundaries than a sewer system. Meetings were held with the village manager from Hillman over a year ago. His information was most enlightening about the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating. The village would be responsible for its own road maintenance ( Hillman contracts the county) He advised that the state PAYS us monthly for each mile of highway in the village, and that they make enough money from the state to pay for sidewalks, side roads and much more.(consideration #1)

We wanted a little more unity in the community as the incorporated village would be in 2 townships so it would be OUR town, not just Briley Townships.(consideration #2)

We looked at where we thought the future business growth potential of Atlanta would be hence along M32 + M33 corridor.(consideration # 3)

We had to look where the population met state standards to incorporate.(consideration #4)

And last but not least, as the village would have to be run by people that live within the boundaries, where do people capable of running it live?(consideration #5)