March 7, 2005

MiBiz Network

By Karen Gentry

MUSKEGON - A new 40-year water agreement hammered out by Muskegon County and the townships of Muskegon, Laketon, Dalton and Fruitland will extend water to Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park Inc. and could pave the way for more housing, new businesses and a new industrial park.

Muskegon County Administrator James Borushko said an expanded water system could reach further north to Riley Thomson Road and Michigan’s Adventure and supply residences and businesses with public water.

On Feb. 10 the county and townships verbally agreed to a new Muskegon County Regional Water System Management contract that will merge the Northside Water System and Eastside Water System. By late February Laketon, Fruitland and Dalton townships officially approved the merger and a management contract with Muskegon Township is expected to follow suit.

County and township leaders hope the water expansion will spur growth at Michigan's Adventure, which straddles Fruitland and Dalton townships. Major additions to the park depend on municipal water. Fruitland Township Supervisor Greg Boughton said the township's board of trustees voted unanimously "with gusto" in favor of the agreement mainly because of Michigan's Adventure.

Michigan's Adventure Vice President and General Manager Camille Jourden-Mark said she is pleased about the new water agreement. Park executives began seeking an agreement to tap into the public water system when Cedar Fair LP purchased Michigan's Adventure in 2001 and had hoped to have public water by this spring, according to Jourden-Mark.

"Michigan's Adventure is the number one tourist attraction in the state. It's critical they have the ability to grow their business," said Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Larsen. The chamber has been working with local municipalities for quite some time on this water issue.

Michigan’s Adventure is not alone in its desire for public water. Borushko said businesses in the Whitehall Road corridor have requested public water for more than four years. Borushko and Larsen expect the Whitehall Road corridor to become more attractive for new businesses once public water reaches there.

"It will allow businesses to grow in the area and it will attract new businesses to the area," Larsen said.

Pending housing developments are also dependent on public water. Developers’ plans to construct more than 50 homes between River Road and McMillan Road on the west side of Whitehall Road and hundreds of homes on the north side of Muskegon Township above the Muskegon River depend on a public water supply.

Water will also reach a planned industrial park at the old Cordova Chemical plant on Agard Road above River Road, near the Whitehall Road corridor. The chemical site is located in a Renaissance Zone operated as a partnership between Dalton Township, the city of Muskegon and Muskegon County. Work on putting in public utilities will take place at the vacant site as soon as possible, according to Borushko.

This month Borushko expects the county will be able to apply for $2 million in grants for the industrial park through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. These grants will be matched 50 percent by the county. Upwards of $5 million in federal grants through the Economic Development Administration will also be sought.

“The indications we have is this is strongly supported by EDA,” Borushko said. Officials believe that this large lot industrial park with easy access to U.S. 31 and a railroad spur, will attract manufacturers and commercial businesses at a time when the region needs to replace lost jobs.

The new water deal with the townships and county has hopefully settled the controversy surrounding control of the water system.

“The townships wanted to have a stronger voice in how development occurs. The roadblock has been removed,” Borushko told MiBiz.

Muskegon Township Supervisor Pat Jordan said the new agreement takes the ambiguity out of who's in charge as townships had wrestled with county officials over control of the water system. As spelled out in Michigan Public Act 185, the county must seek township approval before laying pipe and expanding water systems, according to Jordan.

Laketon Township Supervisor Roland Crummel told MiBiz that the main advantage to the agreement is that it is more specific and spells out the powers and duties. The agreement creates a system policy board comprised of representatives from each township.

“This (water expansion agreement) has been a long time coming. We apologize to the community for the fact it did take so long. There was a lot of misunderstanding and unwillingness to cooperate for a while. That’s all been ironed out,” Crummel said.

"Hopefully this is the beginning of a new era of government cooperation in Muskegon County," Larsen said.

Cedar Fair LP is in line to receive a $2 million state loan to help with expansion plans, although company officials would like to see the job creation requirement for the loan lowered from 125 to 90 jobs. Jourden-Mark said plans to add a campground with cottages and cabins have been on hold.

Michigan's Adventure is still undergoing $2.4 million in improvements this year that are not dependent on public water. Improvements include Funnel of Fear, a huge new waterslide, an ice cream stand and additional landscaping. Jourden-Mark noted that since the park was purchased by Cedar Fair eight rides have been added as well as swan boats.

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This article appeared in the March 7, 2005 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who do business in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.