Caro DDA chair quits, calls city council ‘toxic’
The longtime chairman of the Caro Downtown Development Authority resigned as a result of Caro City Council members essentially running a major investment out of the area – the latest manifestation of frustration on the part of downtown Caro business owner/operators.
Michael Bauerschmidt resigned from the position after more than 20 years on the board.
He said the final straw was Caro City Council voting 5-2 against recommending to the state that a developer receive liquor licenses for a project valued at more than $1 million in downtown Caro. The reason given to the state was that it was too close to a church.
Bauerschmidt, 55, was instrumental in helping the developer, Scott Romain, identify and acquire the building for the project at 119 N. State St., most recently a flea market.
His departure follows that of former Caro City Manager Jared Olson, who resigned Oct. 3, and Bauerschmidt said he wouldn’t be surprised if more departures are on the way.
“You can’t get anything done,” Bauerschmidt told The Advertiser. “The city council’s turned toxic, and I feel I can’t do my job.” (Read more)
(This story originally appeared in the Oct. 22, 2016 print edition of The Tuscola County Advertiser and can be read in its entirety online here.)
