(Milford)– The city of Milford continues to explore the possibility of applying to become part of the state’s Main Street program.
With one member absent, the city council voted unanimously to direct city staff to schedule a townhall meeting on the matter–the first requirement that’s needed prior to applying. City Administrator Matt Skaret says a representative of the state’s Main Street program will be on hand for the session to explain the program to the public. If sufficient interest is expressed at the meeting, Skaret says the next step would be to appoint a core group to further explore the program and to visit other Main Street cities and report back. If there’s still interest after that, Skaret says the next step would be to submit an application.
Skaret says the city will publicize a date, place and time for the meeting once it’s been set.
The council also Monday stopped short of scheduling a special election to a hotel/motel tax. If approved by a majority of voters, the city could collect up to seven percent in gross receipts with the proceeds being used to promote tourism and help fund various projects in the city.
But Roger Devries, a business owner who was at Monday’s meeting, said it isn’t fair to single out one particular business to help boost city coffers. Councilman Mike Anderson said that’s why the city opted not to have an election on the tax years ago when the county and several other cities were voting on it.
The council did, however, agree to have city staff gather more information on the matter.
