By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN, MI – Buchanan City Commissioners gave a boost to a new business venture in the city at their meeting last week. Commissioners also heard updates on the downtown infrastructure construction project.
City Manager Tony McGhee reported on the $19.4 million downtown infrastructure project as well as other work going on in the city. He said the McCoy’s Creek Trail extension project is pretty much complete with just punch list items left to do.
He said the first phase of the downtown project on Red Bud and adjacent streets is getting closer to completion with streets being paved. The second phase of the project on Front Street is also moving forward. Work is still set to be done in November.
As for the business venture, it involves the rehabilitation of the former Stark Elementary School into a new nursing and health sciences educational facility. Commissioners voted last week to transfer an obsolete property rehabilitation tax break already on the building to the new venture.
The obsolete property rehabilitation district and accompanying tax break had originally been approved for a different venture at the former school in 2022. That project never came to fruition at that site. Stark School is located at 502 Claremont St. on the city’s southeast side.
Buchanan Community Development Director Rich Murphy told commissioners that 10 years remain on the 12-year property tax break. Commissioners then voted unanimously to transfer the tax break to the new nursing college being run by Dr. Ayana Redding of ALR Educational Health Services.
The tax break is similar to those granted to industrial and manufacturing developments but is for eligible commercial and residential developments. The taxable value of the property is frozen for the duration of the tax break.
Murphy told commissioners that Redding has submitted all the required documentation to make the transfer. He noted as well that she has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the project already. He said the building is the “perfect definition” of an obsolete property as it is an old school that has been vacant for years.
For her part, Redding said that she paid $347,000 to buy the building in early August and spent more on the building and site renovations. That work has included cleaning and painting the building, putting in new flooring, making plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs and redoing the parking lot.
She told commissioners that the tax break will help her in getting the building ready for students and will also create jobs. “It will help in workforce development in the nursing and allied health fields,” she said. “We plan to use the whole building.”
Commissioner Dan Vigansky noted that the property had been cleaned up and he was excited about the project. Commissioner Larry Money noted that Redding has done a great job with a similar venture in Niles and thanked her for bringing this to Buchanan.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Mayor Mark Weedon said. “It will provide opportunities for the kids coming out of high school. We’re all aware of the nursing shortage in the country.”
Redding is the director of education for ALR. She said in July that the plan is to offer one-year courses not only in practical nursing but also in medical assisting and phlebotomy. She said she already has clinical relationships with Corewell Health and Beacon Health. She hopes to start accepting students later this fall or in January.
Also last week, commissioners approved an agreement with Buchanan Community Schools for a school resource officer, entered into a formal agreement with the Buchanan District Library on excluding them from any future brownfield redevelopment district tax captures, and approved the sale of excess city inventory.
The school district has received a state grant to pay for the bulk of the school resource officer costs for the 2025-26 school year. Under the agreement, the school district will pay nearly $53,000 and the city over $17,000.
The officer will be available for city duties during non school hours, McGhee said. He noted that the arrangement will help the city’s budget and also allow for an officer is on hand at the schools in case any incident happens.
With the formal agreement with the Buchanan District Library, McGhee said he doesn’t envision a time when a brownfield district would capture tax funds from the library but this will make sure that the library will be informed if there is any intention to do so.
Commissioners approved a second round of excess inventory sales. McGhee said that the city netted around $10,500 with the first round of excess inventory sales. This new round of excess inventory includes a large safe as well as other items.
A commission workshop session to discuss strategy and budget matters has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 13 at city hall.