Promotion Committee 10/6/08 Meeting Minutes
Present: Jason Gault, Molly LaLone, Debbie Baker, Robert Renchik
Walking Tour Brochure:
Ask Brenda Timmermans to do it this year again. Change picture to maybe Glass with Class Bead store and the entrance to Crossman Park. Ask Portia to draw. Talk to merchants associations about adding a coupon on the back of the brochure. Idea’s were – $5.00 off a purchase of $25.00 or 10% off. See what business would be interested in participating. When a customer “filled up the form” i.e went to all the businesses and were checked off they could bring the brochure to the village office and receive “Main Street money” or “ Downtown dollars” to use at any DDA business and the DDA would reimburse the merchant. Work plan needs to be modified.
Web Site:
Needs to be improved, calendar needs to work or link to Google calendar. Spot light a DDA merchant and their specials for the month.
Database:
Talked about which program would be better, outlook or access. Raffle tickets that were filled out at BB&E are to Greg Swix to be entered in a data base and run statistics.
Tag Line:
One main marketing idea for “Ortonville” One sentence that describes Ortonville. Make into a contest, press release to papers, forms and collections at the DDA businesses.
Examples: “Keep Austin weird” Austin TX and “Just do it” Nike
501C3:
Jason to fill out and send in appropriate forms to get the DDA certified.
Get High School involved:
Set up meeting with High School principal Dr. Michael Ferguson. See what specialty classes they offer and what kids could fit into areas where we could use them and they would earn community service hours. Molly will add this to the DDA Board agenda to come up with ideas of what areas we could use the kids in. Talk to Jodi Burkett about graphic designs for Tshirts and printing.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Reinvestment Stats
Ortonville DDA Reinvestment Statistics
July 2008 – Sept 2008
1. $106,700 is the DDA Budget for 2008-2009 fiscal year.
2.The Village of Ortonville invested $2613 dollars in public improvement.
3.There was one public improvement project.
4.$20,835 was spent by the private sector for building rehabilitation and improvements.
5.There were no new construction projects.
6.Eight building rehabilitation projects were completed.
7.There were no new housing units.
8.No new buildings or additions.
9.No businesses left the DDA district and 1 new business opened.
10.There was no net gain or loss of jobs. We lost 1 full time job and 6 part time jobs. We gained 1 full time job and 6 part time jobs.
11.28 special events were held in the DDA district.
12.$2,852 were spent for paid advertising.
13.$5,169 were spent for special events.
14.1200 volunteer hours were devoted to the DDA and special event activities.
15.The DDA received $9,366 in sponsorship and in kind donations.
July 2008 – Sept 2008
1. $106,700 is the DDA Budget for 2008-2009 fiscal year.
2.The Village of Ortonville invested $2613 dollars in public improvement.
3.There was one public improvement project.
4.$20,835 was spent by the private sector for building rehabilitation and improvements.
5.There were no new construction projects.
6.Eight building rehabilitation projects were completed.
7.There were no new housing units.
8.No new buildings or additions.
9.No businesses left the DDA district and 1 new business opened.
10.There was no net gain or loss of jobs. We lost 1 full time job and 6 part time jobs. We gained 1 full time job and 6 part time jobs.
11.28 special events were held in the DDA district.
12.$2,852 were spent for paid advertising.
13.$5,169 were spent for special events.
14.1200 volunteer hours were devoted to the DDA and special event activities.
15.The DDA received $9,366 in sponsorship and in kind donations.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Board of Directors September Meeting
The Board of Directors for the Ortonville DDA met Monday morning at 9am. Five board members were present. The board approved the agenda, minutes, treasurer's reports, and disbursements.
Executive Director, Molly LaLone, talked about becoming present on the web. "People trust other people, not things." To promote the revitalization of downtown Ortonville, Molly encouraged board members to become members of facebook and to contribute to the Ortonville DDA blog.
Jane Derry, chairperson of the Organization Committee, presented two work plans. The first plan set out a calendar of events for the DDA booth. Jane plans to have a booth at all special events happening in the downtown area. She is looking for a person to be in charge. This person would reserve a spot at each special event, schedule people to run the booth, and oversee the necessary supplies. The purpose of this booth is to provide education about the Main Street program in Ortonville and to recruit volunteers. This work plan was approved by the board.
The second work plan is for Christmas in the Village, an event presented in partnership with the Greater Ortonville Chamber of Commerce. She plans to empower all the subcommittees to do their part. The steering committee will have four members: a representative each from the chamber and DDA, Jane and Molly LaLone. The challenge, as always, is coordinating and communicating across the entire community. This work plan was approved by the board.
The Design Committee presented two work plans as well. The first was a plan to fix the fountain at Mill and South. The board wants lasting repairs, not temporary ones as have been used in the past. The board will review a maintenance schedule and the cost of the materials before deciding to make these repairs. The board approved the work plan as presented.
The second design work plan is for building a pavilion in Crossman Park. The pavilion would be located at the south east corner of the park, have a roof and a concrete floor framed by bricks. The bricks will have imprinted upon them the names of contributors. The design committee hopes to have community volunteers build the pavilion. The board approved the plan as presented.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15am.
Executive Director, Molly LaLone, talked about becoming present on the web. "People trust other people, not things." To promote the revitalization of downtown Ortonville, Molly encouraged board members to become members of facebook and to contribute to the Ortonville DDA blog.
Jane Derry, chairperson of the Organization Committee, presented two work plans. The first plan set out a calendar of events for the DDA booth. Jane plans to have a booth at all special events happening in the downtown area. She is looking for a person to be in charge. This person would reserve a spot at each special event, schedule people to run the booth, and oversee the necessary supplies. The purpose of this booth is to provide education about the Main Street program in Ortonville and to recruit volunteers. This work plan was approved by the board.
The second work plan is for Christmas in the Village, an event presented in partnership with the Greater Ortonville Chamber of Commerce. She plans to empower all the subcommittees to do their part. The steering committee will have four members: a representative each from the chamber and DDA, Jane and Molly LaLone. The challenge, as always, is coordinating and communicating across the entire community. This work plan was approved by the board.
The Design Committee presented two work plans as well. The first was a plan to fix the fountain at Mill and South. The board wants lasting repairs, not temporary ones as have been used in the past. The board will review a maintenance schedule and the cost of the materials before deciding to make these repairs. The board approved the work plan as presented.
The second design work plan is for building a pavilion in Crossman Park. The pavilion would be located at the south east corner of the park, have a roof and a concrete floor framed by bricks. The bricks will have imprinted upon them the names of contributors. The design committee hopes to have community volunteers build the pavilion. The board approved the plan as presented.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15am.
Heritage Garden Update
From Lois Robbins:
FYI, last Sunday, the Native Landscape Team took out all switchgrass plants from behind the benches; 4 of the showy goldenrod plants by the East sidewalk, replacing these with 3 new England asters & one spiderwort plant (both deep purple), and behind each bench, several blazing star (tall, spikey, purple) and several hairy beardstongue (pentstemon), (smaller, light purple blossoms). We also added three butterfly weed (orange blossoms) plants near the walkway in the large bed, and transplanted 3 of the switchgrass plants back toward the building, where they will provide structure and background for blossoming plants. All of the new plants were donated by Ruth Vrbensky’s Oakland Wildflower Farm.
We also installed chicken wire winter protection from hungry rabbits around the two serviceberry trees in the west beds. We are now on a strict watering schedule till the new plants develop root systems to sustain them over the winter.
These modifications will provide more color variety for 2009 and beyond. The height of our more enthusiastic plants, such as the helianthus (prairie sunflower) and showy goldenrod will be tamed next year by early cutting back.
FYI, last Sunday, the Native Landscape Team took out all switchgrass plants from behind the benches; 4 of the showy goldenrod plants by the East sidewalk, replacing these with 3 new England asters & one spiderwort plant (both deep purple), and behind each bench, several blazing star (tall, spikey, purple) and several hairy beardstongue (pentstemon), (smaller, light purple blossoms). We also added three butterfly weed (orange blossoms) plants near the walkway in the large bed, and transplanted 3 of the switchgrass plants back toward the building, where they will provide structure and background for blossoming plants. All of the new plants were donated by Ruth Vrbensky’s Oakland Wildflower Farm.
We also installed chicken wire winter protection from hungry rabbits around the two serviceberry trees in the west beds. We are now on a strict watering schedule till the new plants develop root systems to sustain them over the winter.
These modifications will provide more color variety for 2009 and beyond. The height of our more enthusiastic plants, such as the helianthus (prairie sunflower) and showy goldenrod will be tamed next year by early cutting back.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Christmas in the Village
Christmas is on our minds in Ortonville. It takes times for all the elves to plan this holiday stuff - it doesn't just happen by magic!
The objectives of the Christmas in the Village are:
1. Provide a full service family Christmas experience in historic downtown Ortonville
2. Promote businesses located in the downtown area and businesses belonging to the Greater Ortonville Chamber of Commerce
3. Collaborate as a community - government agencies,service organizations, and businesses all working together
4. Recognize sponsors prominently
Work Structure: There will be a steering committee and many sub committees. Each subcommittee is empowered to achieve their piece of the whole the way they see fit and will report directly to the Xmas in the Village Coordinator.
Members of the community, do you have plans for Christmas in the Village? Please let us know by October 15th.
The objectives of the Christmas in the Village are:
1. Provide a full service family Christmas experience in historic downtown Ortonville
2. Promote businesses located in the downtown area and businesses belonging to the Greater Ortonville Chamber of Commerce
3. Collaborate as a community - government agencies,service organizations, and businesses all working together
4. Recognize sponsors prominently
Work Structure: There will be a steering committee and many sub committees. Each subcommittee is empowered to achieve their piece of the whole the way they see fit and will report directly to the Xmas in the Village Coordinator.
Members of the community, do you have plans for Christmas in the Village? Please let us know by October 15th.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Native Plants Team Meeting
Have you ever found yourself in awe of the knowledge flowing around you? That is exactly how I felt yesterday when the Native Plants Team met. Listening to botanical names batted around the table by everyone but me (I did recognize some of the names.) Simple, practical solutions to some of the problems in the Heritage Garden. Plans for creative research and problem solving - wow.
For my friends new to the area, Ortonville has some native plant gardens. This means they are plants native to Michigan back when the land got to run wild without supervision by people. These plants provide a natural habitat for creatures native to Michigan as well.
We have a Creek Buffer garden next to Kearsley Creek. The purpose of these plants is to hold the soil with a complex system of roots and to help filter impurities from the water with that root system. When Kearsley flooded its banks earlier this week, we saw the buffer in action, keeping the geography of the creekside stable.
Another Native garden we have is Heritage Garden, located next to Old Town Hall on the corner of Church and Mill. This garden gets full sun and holds fauna native to prairies.
This summer it was very happy, growing tall and wild. In the formal hardscape of the heritage garden, the look was overwhelming for most residents. To the Native Plants Team, it looked like a thriving wildlife habitat - but to others it was out of scale and too much resembled wild fields in the area.
In response to public concerns, the native plant team met and discussed ways to create order in the Heritage Garden while continuing to use native plants. Why continue using the native plants? Because Ortonville received a grant to create these "native plant gardens" and is required to keep the garden "native" for a number of years.
The team talked about grouping colors together, rearranging plants for better display, and moving large plants away from the sidewalk area. New England Asters and Mountain mint will be added for additional color. Larger plants will be trimmed in the spring to keep at a smaller scale when they bloom in the summer.
I am excited to see how all the solutions work. I hope we will have a garden residents are pleased to walk by and to visit.
I commend our Native Plants Team for their objective and creative problem solving. This is a group of people who love gardening and love the native plants they use. I am confident they are going to create a garden we all grow to love and we all learn from.
For my friends new to the area, Ortonville has some native plant gardens. This means they are plants native to Michigan back when the land got to run wild without supervision by people. These plants provide a natural habitat for creatures native to Michigan as well.
We have a Creek Buffer garden next to Kearsley Creek. The purpose of these plants is to hold the soil with a complex system of roots and to help filter impurities from the water with that root system. When Kearsley flooded its banks earlier this week, we saw the buffer in action, keeping the geography of the creekside stable.
Another Native garden we have is Heritage Garden, located next to Old Town Hall on the corner of Church and Mill. This garden gets full sun and holds fauna native to prairies.
This summer it was very happy, growing tall and wild. In the formal hardscape of the heritage garden, the look was overwhelming for most residents. To the Native Plants Team, it looked like a thriving wildlife habitat - but to others it was out of scale and too much resembled wild fields in the area.
In response to public concerns, the native plant team met and discussed ways to create order in the Heritage Garden while continuing to use native plants. Why continue using the native plants? Because Ortonville received a grant to create these "native plant gardens" and is required to keep the garden "native" for a number of years.
The team talked about grouping colors together, rearranging plants for better display, and moving large plants away from the sidewalk area. New England Asters and Mountain mint will be added for additional color. Larger plants will be trimmed in the spring to keep at a smaller scale when they bloom in the summer.
I am excited to see how all the solutions work. I hope we will have a garden residents are pleased to walk by and to visit.
I commend our Native Plants Team for their objective and creative problem solving. This is a group of people who love gardening and love the native plants they use. I am confident they are going to create a garden we all grow to love and we all learn from.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Design Committee Meeting
Thank you to Brenda Heffernan and Ray Waters for their enthusiasm about Ortonville this evening. Thank you to Debbie and Pam for their apologies, maybe we'll see you next time.
Despite our low numbers, we had a very productive meeting. Two work plans were formulated, one for fixing the fountain and one for building a pavilion in Crossman Park.
For the fountain, we decided to make inquiries. What will the parts would cost? What will the maintenance for the fountain be and what will it cost to keep it running after it is fixed? Will it stay fixed? Can we keep it running through out the winter? We hope to find a skilled volunteer to donate the work.
For the pavilion, Brenda brought in a schematic of one built up north near her vacation property. She also had a supplies list we can use to project our costs. We created a work plan to finish this project by June 2009. Brenda wants to raise the funds by selling "tribute" brick pavers to Ortonville families. We hope to find volunteers to help us build the pavilion itself with the supplies we provide.
Both of these work plans are ready for approval by the DDA Board next Monday.
Despite our low numbers, we had a very productive meeting. Two work plans were formulated, one for fixing the fountain and one for building a pavilion in Crossman Park.
For the fountain, we decided to make inquiries. What will the parts would cost? What will the maintenance for the fountain be and what will it cost to keep it running after it is fixed? Will it stay fixed? Can we keep it running through out the winter? We hope to find a skilled volunteer to donate the work.
For the pavilion, Brenda brought in a schematic of one built up north near her vacation property. She also had a supplies list we can use to project our costs. We created a work plan to finish this project by June 2009. Brenda wants to raise the funds by selling "tribute" brick pavers to Ortonville families. We hope to find volunteers to help us build the pavilion itself with the supplies we provide.
Both of these work plans are ready for approval by the DDA Board next Monday.
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