Issues Facing Saline
The residents of a community should have a say in what large developments are built, especially when they're close to residential areas. Residents from Saline and Saline Township made it clear they didn't want a data center in their community, but the corporations wouldn't take no for an answer and forced their development through. I attended the very first informational meeting given by Related Digital about the "Barn" and I continue to keep up on developments related to the data center. We may not have been able to prevent it from being built, but I will do my best to ensure that they are held to the most stringent standards possible
The Saline River Dam is an historical landmark in the city of Saline. With roots back to Henry Ford, it's a vital part of Saline's history. Beyond those sentimental reasons, removal of the dam would cost far more than proper maintenance. Supporters of removal often say there's more money available for removal efforts, however, those funds are becoming limited as state and federal priorities change. On top of the price to remove the dam, the cost to renovate the park afterwards would be entirely on Saline citizens. As a member of the Park Commission, I have seen first-hand how much these renovations can cost and it isn't cheap. From an environmental perspective, while dams are not traditionally considered environmentally "good", one cannot ignore the fact that the dam has allowed multiple species, including some endangered, to call Mill Pond Park and the surrounding area home. To remove the dam now would damage those ecosystems. And simply from a practical perspective, removing the dam would remove Saline's ability to control extreme amounts of precipitation. Extreme rainfall is an ever-increasing problem and to ignore it could cause expensive damage to Saline and its citizens.
For far too long water quality issues have plagued the city of Saline. Instead of paying for endless studies that are never implemented, we need to start taking action to actually execute a plan that will correct the issues. City Council needs to pay more attention to the activities around essential services in Saline to ensure citizens receive quality utilities for their tax money. Competent people need to be hired to oversee these utilities and should report, at a minimum, annually to the City Council.
The heart of Saline, Main Street, needs to have City Council enact policies and updates that will encourage the continued growth of this vital part of the city. We need to focus on attracting quality businesses to downtown and improve the parking situation to help foster that interest. In addition, improvements like more crosswalks (or better placed ones) need to be added to make it easier for citizens to move across Michigan Ave. to enjoy all of the businesses Saline has to offer.
Saline is a wonderful place to live, but right now it's a dream that's not open to everyone. We need to increase affordable housing, not just to rent, but to own in the city. Rather than building endless amounts of apartment buildings and townhouses, at outrageous market value prices, City Council should work to attract developers who will build single-family homes at reasonable prices, starter homes that will give young people a chance to actually enter the housing market. Beyond affordable housing, the city also needs to make sure development is done in a way that makes sense for the surrounding areas. Saline is a charming city, let's keep it that way.