Week in Review: The Multiplier Effect
“I kind of like the redundancy."
Week in Review
City Council, Monday, September 16
Hillsdale Municipal Airport Economic Benefits Presentation
Officials working for the Michigan Department of Aeronautics used their esoteric methods of economic analysis to educate the people.
Hilary Hoose of the Michigan Department of Aeronautics, delivering a PowerPoint presentation: “Aviation is vital to the economy and the quality of life for Michigan’s residents. It is essential to attract and retain industries.”
On the good the Airport does for everyone: “With Hillsdale Municipal Airport, they have a lot of community involvement.”1
Hoose was not optimistic about Hillsdale’s future as a tourist destination: “The areas that Hillsdale received a tier two or tier three were: tourism center; general population; regional capacity. . .”
On a bit of economic wizardry known as the Multiplier Effect, a “principle” that can be used to justify any and all Development without discretion: “Underneath. . . is the Multiplier Effect. These indirect impacts reflect the cycling of dollars, or the trickle-down effect. This goes through both the local and state economies. . . This gives us the full impact of each dollar generated due to the local airport, for a total of $16 million locally, and $24.5 million dollars statewide.”
Paladino, trying to glean some useful information from the presentation: “The basic claim of this report for our purposes is that 33 jobs are sustained in Hillsdale that wouldn’t otherwise be here without the Airport. . . Where is the 33 from?” No answer was provided; you must accept the conclusions of the algorithm without question.2
Bow Hunting Deer in the City (65)
Deer can now be lawfully hunted with bows in the City of Hillsdale, provided you fill out additional forms beforehand.
Socha, responding to some complaint emails sent to the City: “We did receive two emails this afternoon. . . There’s some in the community who think that the fee schedule and that what was on our agenda today is. . . an example of the City’s addiction to bureaucracy and stupidity. . . And I didn’t appreciate the stupidity part.”
Vear, on his love of forms, and his desire to replicate that love in others: “I kind of like the redundancy. . . It’s kind of like anything else. When you go to the doctor, how many people ask for date of birth, name?. . . I appreciate that.”3
Paladino, contra extra forms: “[The additional permit] doesn’t seem terribly necessary. . . I don’t know that we need to permit it if there’s already a law in place.”
Mackie, on the City’s need to monitor residents: “That’s more to keep track of where the hunters are located within the City.”
Council moved on after an unproductive exchange.
County Commissioner Update
Commissioner Ingles is an appreciator of the Three Meadows Workforce Dwelling Unit complex, built to satisfy the forthcoming influx of $100,000/year wage-earners: “I did attend the house tour of Three Meadows. . . very nice homes.”
Proposed 2025 Special Assessment District for Street Projects (78)
The following neighborhoods are in the early stages of being Specially Assessed.
Arch Avenue (from Carleton to Mechanic)
Monroe Street (from West to Hillsdale)
Barry Street (from Broad to West)
Staff/Council comments:
Mackie, asking Council to take the first (and ostensibly noncommittal) step in initiating the Special Assessments: “We’re asking for Council to approve for the engineer to put together the plan.”
Paladino: “If Council is going to continue the practice of Special Assessments, based on the money we have the Capital Improvement Fund and the new endowment, it would be great if we could get it down somewhat. . . or if we could charge [the interest rate] of whatever the City is currently borrowing money at. So if the City can get money for 4-percent, that’s the money we charge. Little interest was shown in not charging residents 7-percent interest rates.
The motion failed, 4-4, with Paladino, Stockford, Socha, and Pratt opposed, and Wolfram, Morrisey, Vear, Sharp for. Fauxglin is genuinely impressed that Councilman Socha took it on himself to put an end Special Assessments in Hillsdale. The motion however can be brought back at the next meeting either by a Councilman who was absent at this meeting (Stuchell), or someone who is changing his vote from nay to yay.
New Chipper (79)
City Staff recommended that the Council purchase the Vermeer—the most expensive of the three quotes that it received by $16,000.
Jason Blake, Public Services: “Vermeer is a better fit.”
Approved 8-0.
Upcoming Events
County Commissioners, Tuesday, September 24
External Links
“Efforts to revitalize the historic Keefer House Hotel in downtown Hillsdale came to an abrupt stop last week when support columns detached, raising safety concerns for crews working inside.” Hillsdale Daily News.
“Hillsdale Community Thrift and its homeless shelter, Camp Hope, could close unless it makes a large payment on its property by the end of this month.” The Collegian.
“We’re at peak numbers of refugees that we are welcoming into our care.” Samaritas’ Chief Growth Officer Kelli Dobner of Detroit.
“If you wanted a beautiful natural landscape with all the amenities of Metro Detroit, you end up with Metro Detroit. It too was once a beautiful landscape.” Michigan Enjoyer on the UP’s “culture clash with tourists.”
“People like Vladimir Putin are going to say, ‘hey, wait a minute, these guys, they truly have a democratic country.’” retired U.S. Army Brigadier Steven Anderson on electing Harris in order to impress other nations.
?
The calculation of the Multiplier Effect assumes the Airport’s sole responsibility for jobs and money that in reality came to Hillsdale for an incalculable variety of reasons.
Another assumption of those who make use of the Multiplier Effect is that all incoming money and jobs are good for the City, without question and no matter the source or purpose. Observe where that attitude has landed other small-town business-oriented City Councils in recent weeks.