Brandon Twp.- A new park, sewers and keeping miles of gravel roads smooth, are just a few of the goals Township Supervisor Ron Lapp has outlined for the upcoming year.
‘By fall, families should be playing in the new township park near Oakwood and Hadley roads,? said Lapp. ‘Although building projects have dropped in the township, we’ll focus on a sewer project for the township and village.?
Like other communities, building permits in the township have sagged in recent years. In 2004, 62 new home permits were issued. In 2005, a total of 59 permits were issued. In 2006, those totals dropped to a mere 22 permits. According to a report issued by township based Real Estate One, 34 homes were sold in the township and Ortonville between January and September of 2006. A total of 226 were on the market.
‘Home sales are slow right now, and while our township master plan does not leave a lot of room for commercial development, several businesses have eyed property along M-15 for commercial building. (There is) interest in the vacant James Lumber building and another drug store along with a new food store are possibilities for 2007.?
‘The Smokehouse, (910 S. Ortonville Road, Suite 100) opened up this year and Little Caesar’s, 969 S. Ortonville Road. To help other businesses, we’ll take a look at the sign ordinance that currently exists.?
The commercial area of the township includes several car dealerships, which comprise a significant sector of the local economy.
‘It’s going to be an average year with regard to new car sales’nothing out of the ordinary,? said John Thomas, industry analyst for the National Automobile Dealers Association representing more than 19,700 new car and truck dealers, both domestic and international.
While an official NADA projection for 2007 won’t be released until mid-February Thomas says an estimated 16.2 to 16.5 million automobiles will be sold this year, about the same as 2006.
‘If interest rates stay low and gas prices continue to decline and stabilize toward the end of 2007, sales should pick up and could exceed 2006 levels,? he said. ‘Customers often balk at buying large vehicles when gas prices are high. There’s also lots of inventory in North America right now for 2007, plus both Ford and GM have excellent, fresh lineups’choices in products are great for 2007.?
Larry Simms, owner of Simms Chevrolet, 110 Ortonville Road, has been selling cars in the township for more than 15 years and while he agrees with Thomas that a nationwide upturn in car sales is possible, believes the Mid-Michigan market differs.
‘With the current economic climate in Michigan, it might take us longer to reap the benefits of the lower gas prices and fresh product line, than nationwide,? said Simms. ‘Locally it’s going to depend on GM. When they decided to not lose market share, they will offer incentives to buy. However, right now customers are still looking for the next great lease payment or sales incentive before they buy.?
Editor’s note: For the next three weeks, The Citizen will examine the state of our local communities and the forecast for 2007.