County Board Sets Special Working Session

The Washtenaw County board of commissioners has called a special working session for Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss possible amendments to the county’s full faith and credit policy. In a related item, they will also discuss the proposed Packard Square brownfield redevelopment project, which was previously addressed at a May 4 board meeting and May 5 working session.

At its May 4 meeting, the county board was asked to give initial approval of a $1 million grant application and $1 million loan from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment, for brownfield cleanup at the Packard Square site – the former Georgetown Mall in Ann Arbor. Commissioners were also asked to authorize designation of the county’s full faith and credit as a guarantee to any loan that might be awarded, up to $1 million.

Commissioner Wes Prater argued that items related to significant financial issues must first be addressed at a working session, according to board rules. After some debate, Prater’s motion to postpone action on Packard Square was approved by a majority of commissioners, moving it to a working session the following day. A Chronicle report on that working session will be forthcoming: [link]

The May 17 special working session begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Washtenaw County administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor.

The board has also called three “chair’s briefings” during the summer – on May 24, June 28 and July 26, all starting at 4 p.m. These meetings will be similar to the previously held administrative briefings, which were eliminated earlier this year. [See Chronicle coverage: "County Board to Eliminate Admin Briefings"] The purpose of the briefings, which are open to the public, is to preview the upcoming board meeting agendas. The briefings will also be held at the Washtenaw County administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor.