A land exchange approved Tuesday by the Jackson City Council
will give a downtown firm more room for parking and the city space to develop a
walking and biking trail.
Council members voted 5-0 to approve a land exchange between
the city and Comtronics that will give the company 166 feet for additional
parking on the south side of its building at 315 Water Street.
In return, the city will get 173 feet of space to develop part
of a municipal biking and walking trail that extends along the Grand River from
the southern city limits to the northern boundary.
Councilman Dan Greer, a Comtronics employee, abstained from the
vote and former Councilwoman Ruth Rockwell resigned in September, leaving five
votes.
“This deal is good for a number of reasons,” City Manager
Warren Renando said after the meeting. “It gives Comtronics room to expand,
fulfilled a parking requirement for the Consumers Energy deal and will make room
for a Wendy’s restaurant.”
John A. Campau, president and CEO of
Comtronics, said company officials are working out details of a planned
multi-million-dollar expansion. That plan includes a four-story addition on the
north side of the facility and enough parking for its 135-employee work
force.
In other business, the City Council:
 Unanimously approved a process for
filling Rockwell’s seat. Candidates for the seat must be registered voters of
the 2nd Ward and need to request an application packet from the city clerk and
return it by Oct. 22. The council will vote on Nov. 19.
Accepted a $1,500 Promoting Active
Communities Award from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. According to
Julie Kelley, executive director of the Region 1 Fitness Council, Jackson was
targeted for the honor of its efforts to improve physical fitness through the
walking and biking community initiative.
Reprinted with permission from The Jackson Citizen
Patriot
Copyright January 2002
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