Milan Honors Hungry Howie’s, Approves Upgrades, Discusses Senior Millage

At its first June meeting, Milan City Council approved new city projects, honored local business owners and discussed use of the city’s senior millage.

City Improvements

The city approved $9,999 for a mobile watering system from Ottawa Co-op Elevator. The city received a Greater Milan Area Community Fund grant for the purchase, which will make it easier to water city planters and trees.  

The city also received a Destination Ann Arbor grant covering $10,000 of the $13,956.80 cost for a retractable shade system over the stage at Wilson Park.

Signage

The council approved $21,500 for signal work at West Main and Platt Road. A deteriorated pole will be replaced and the city will upgrade the signal using parts from Washtenaw County.

“This is an opportunity for us to get the whole thing upgraded,” City Manager Jim Lancaster said.

Hungry Howie’s

The city presented a proclamation to Milan’s Hungry Howie’s owners for serving the community for 30 years. Mayor Ed Kolar said he was warned the recognition could “open a can of worms” because so many local businesses contribute to Milan, but said the council would gladly honor any business with a similar impact after 25 years or more.

“You improve the city and donate to everything,” Kolar told the Shannon family, joining other council members who praised them as supportive employers and community partners.

“I remember when you bought that building,” Kolar said. “It was in poor shape….You guys kept working on that place and when you guys came into Milan it was a ghost town down there. So, I don’t know if you moved here because the prices were cheap or if you’re just a glut for punishment. You came to Milan, you bought a building and you started investing in the downtown. It wasn’t long before you had that whole front remodeled, opened up, all the glass looking fantastic.”

Patrick Shannon said he and his wife, Carole, moved to Milan two years after purchasing the location to raise their daughter. Rebecca Richards said she grew up during those years and is now involved in the family business. She said the Milan store remains their top-performing location.

“You can really see that people care and we are happy to give back,” Richards said, “continuing 30 years of giving that flavor.”

Senior Services

The city discussed a $360,000 Riverbank Center grant for improvements to the senior center. Lancaster said the city has completed $145,000 in window upgrades, $37,000 in HVAC improvements and $67,000 in deck repairs. However, bids for the remaining work came in at nearly double the funds left in the grant, and council members were reluctant to use general fund dollars. 

“We have this looming fire department issue coming,” said Councilmember Mary Kerkes, “and to me the thought of dedicating more money to this is really hard to swallow when we have a huge safety issue coming up that we have to figure out how we’re going to fund.”

Kolar said he understood from discussions with the Milan Seniors for Healthy Living board president and attorney that the senior center no longer needed the city millage as long as county funding continued and suggested that money could be used for building improvements.

“That seems like the easy answer,” Kolar said.

Councilmember Dave Snyder said the board president had said otherwise at the previous council meeting. He suggested using revenue from the MSHL lease.

Milan Seniors for Healthy Living Interim Director Angela Thomas said making the bathrooms ADA compliant is the organization’s highest priority. Thomas said the senior center would be willing to consider the millage money going to improvements on the city-owned building it leases, although her understanding was that her organization still hoped to receive city millage funding. City Attorney Steve Mann later said the city senior millage can only be used for services.

Thomas said MSHL is excited to collaborate with the city and noted the organization will celebrate its 16^thanniversary on July 16 with a public event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“We have the mindset of let’s work together and work this out,” Thomas said.

Washtenaw County Dispatch Contract Renewal

The city renewed its annual dispatch services contract with Washtenaw County at current rates. Kolar said the city switched to the county system about five years ago. Representatives from both the police and fire departments praised the change, citing safety concerns that arose when staffing levels limited responses to multiple emergencies at once.

“For us it’s made a huge impact,” said Fire Chief DJ Carpus, Jr.

Public Safety

The council also commended its police officers for their service, including staffing the city fair. 

Community House

The city voted 6-0 to accept a $50,000 grant from the Greater Milan Area Community Fund to pay for a structural analysis of The Community House, a former Henry Ford building and longtime gathering place that has fallen into disrepair. The grant was approved with the understanding that the city would take charge of hiring contractors. Snyder abstained since he serves on the fund’s board.

Bills

In addition, the city council approved more than $1.1 million for its monthly bill payment, including its final $900,000 water bond payment.

“We’ve officially paid it off, one of our biggest bonds,” Kolar said. “That will not be recurring again. So, today is a good day.”