Gilman needs to make a plan to make a plan
Businesses are on the decline in Gilman, which is concerning for everyone; without business and industry, how is a community supposed to thrive? To help address that, the Gilman Village Board discussed what can be done, during their regular meeting July 12. At the previous meeting, village clerk Candice Grunseth handed out a Readiness Assessment Survey, where members could go around Gilman, and see if there are any things that needed to be improved upon – such as repainting a building or pulling some weeds around empty businesses.
“There are a whole bunch of different ideas,” said Grunseth, adding that pop-up shops would be a good option in the vacant buildings. “And maybe none of that will work, at least…we’re looking at stuff.”
Grunseth says there are a lot of comments within the community, about why nothing is being done to fill the empty buildings.
“I don’t know if it’s the responsibility of the village board to do these things,” said village trustee Bob Preston. “Are we supposed to tell people what they can and can’t do with their buildings?”
Grunseth said that is not what the survey is about, as it is just to present options to the property owners, such as a low or 0 percent interest loan.
“There are things that need to be talked about,” she said. “I really do think, as a community, we have to look forward, even if nothing can be done with the building. You don’t want empty spaces.”
Jane DeStaercke, village clerk, thinks the community would be happy to see any restorations in some of the empty buildings, which was agreed with by village trustee Russell Baker. Baker feels that if the property owners are involved, it will give them a greater sense of pride and with a more attractive downtown, it will make travelers want to stop.
“That would make a big difference,” said Baker. Village trustee Dee Bornheimer says she knows of people who want to purchase the vacant grocery store, but are afraid to do so, because they think the village will immediately make them fix up the entire property, which is too costly a venture at one time. However, Grunseth stated that is not the case and reiterated that is not the nature of the survey.
“We’re trying to be proactive and get businesses in,” said Grunseth.
There are avenues the business owners can turn to, such as the Revolving Loan Fund, while for housing, there’s a Community Development Block Grant Fund and a fund through Taylor County.
“I don’t think anybody on this board is against revitalizing our business district,” said Preston. “Certainly, we can make suggestions.”
Grunseth said if the community doesn’t take the help, at least the village tried and got the word out that there is help available. For the time being, DeStaercke suggested the board mull over the matter and put the item on the agenda for the next meeting, to come up with a plan to make a plan. They’re also sending out a community-wide invitation for the public to join them at the August meeting, to give input and ask questions.
“Everybody has to do their part,” said Grunseth. “This is a start.”
The board also heard a request from Gilman Fire Chief, Brian Welch, about installing no parking along the area directly in front of the fire hall, on the north and south sides on McSloy Street, as long as they make sure the no parking isn’t blocking access for the nearby businesses.
“Usually, it’s not an issue for us, there have just been a few occasions – mostly, when there are events going on in town – we try to get our trucks in and we cannot get them maneuvered decently enough on the street,” said Welch.
Admittedly, the fire hall was designed and constructed in the mid-1970s, when trucks were smaller, but the rigs are now double the size they were. Trustees had no problem with the request, but need to wait for the police department to review it, to make sure the wording corresponds to village codes. One thing that did get done during the meeting, was approving a Capacity Maintenance Operation Management (CMOM) plan, after Grunseth discovered the village needs to have one in place, with informational items such as the annual audit, emergency response, etc. Grunseth is still working on the CMOM, because the DNR only gave the village 28 days to have it done, and the deadline falls before the next board meeting.
In working on it, Grunseth has referenced several other municipalities, in order to create one for Gilman.
“We will have it done,” said Grunseth.
