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Marketplace to be finished in July

ESCANABA — The Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) made amendments to its 2016-17 budget and heard an update on the progress of the construction of the Escanaba marketplace during its regular meeting Thursday.

DDA Director Ed Legault explained that annually, the DDA must make an estimate of the total budget expenditures for the current year prior to the closing of the budget cycle.

During Thursday’s meeting, Legualt recommended the board members present only amend the total revenues and expenditures. City Manager Jim O’Toole, Mayor Marc Tall, and Trustee Jolee Hughes were not present at Thursday’s meeting.

Total revenues for the 2016-17 budget were amended from $287,500 to $835,910 and total expenditures were amended from $474,920 to $1,458,727 due to additional grant monies and sidewalk repairs for the marketplace project. Legault said he will be meeting with the city controller to finalize the numbers, which will then be presented to city council at a meeting in June.

In addition to budget amendments, DDA members also heard an update on the progression of the Escanaba Marketplace project, which is set to be completed by July 1.

The marketplace is being constructed on the 1500 block of Ludington St. with landscaping, painting, and other finishing touches currently in full swing, said Industrial Maintenance Services, Inc. (IMS) contractor Andy LaPointe. IMS of Escanaba is the contractor for the project.

According to LaPointe, despite the rainy conditions that have been continual for the past couple of weeks, the 8,100 square-foot marketplace is on track to open the first weekend of July.

“I don’t see any issues at this time,” said LaPointe, adding all of the interior painting is completed in the structure.

Projects nearing completion include installation of flooring in the kitchen portion of the marketplace, along with bathroom tiling, said LaPointe.

On June 10, weather permitting, Payne and Dolan will come to the marketplace to do any final asphalt/curb repairs that may be needed, explained LaPointe.

“Overall, I’ve been very pleased,” said LaPointe.

Following the marketplace opening, Legault said a ribbon cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for July 15.

In other business, Legault updated the board on some of the current facade projects downtown. Two businesses that are nearing completion include the Raymond James/Family Eye Care building and Jim’s Music.

Legault also informed DDA members about the success of the Escanaba Downtown Clean-Up event that took place last Saturday. Efforts to clean-up the areas of Ludington Street, including picking up trash, pulling weeds, raking and sweeping, collected about 5,400 pounds of garbage. Around 400 participants took part in the spring cleaning event, noted Legault.

The farmer’s market season will also begin Saturday, June 3, at the current marketplace location at North 9th Street and 1st Avenue North.

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