Brownfield Authority Cuts Two Seats

The Grand Traverse Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) voted Wednesday to reduce its board to seven members, eliminating two seats.

The move removes the county administrator and county treasurer from the BRA. County Administrator Tom Menzel tells The Ticker he suggested the move so staff wouldn't be put in the "uncomfortable" position of having to vote on brownfield projects. "It can be a political board...and I'd rather not be put in that position," Menzel says.

County Treasurer Heidi Scheppe will still serve as treasurer of the BRA, but will not sit on the board in a voting capacity.

The seat eliminations were part of a set of recommended bylaw changes approved by BRA members, which also included moving meeting times for the board from 8am to 8:30am the last Wednesday of every month.