Springfield trustees decide to further study Joint Economic Development Zone

1/18/2011
BLADE STAFF

Springfield Township voters will not be going to the polls in May to vote on forming a Joint Economic Development Zone with the village of Holland.

The trustees voted 3-0 Tuesday night to study the issue further. Trustee Marylin Yoder noted that a special election in May would cost the township $66,140. Her colleague Andy Glenn observed that business owners who opposed the measure had expressed valid concerns that a JEDZ would mean added expenses for them.

“I do think [the JEDZ] is the right thing for Springfield Township,” Mr. Glenn said, adding that the JEDZ is the only way the township could generate the revenues to pay for public services “without putting a burden on individual property owners.”

Trustee Bob Bethel agreed that further analysis of projected revenues and expenses was in order.