MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - More than $320,000 dollars will be returned to Meijer from Meridian Township as a result of a recent property tax settlement. The same settlement prompted a loan from the Township to the Downtown Development Authority.

"What this money does is makes us solid to continue what we’ve been doing. It really doesn’t set the stage for additional projects, but I think that there are grant dollars out there and other ways to leverage funding to do additional things," said Peter Menser, Associate Planner for Meridian Township.

The Township Board approved the $60,000 loan at its June 4 board meeting. The DDA now owes Meridian Township $200,000. Without an infusion of money, the DDA would be unable to pay off the Meijer refund, and a loan for a past streetscape project.

Some have called for the dissolution of the DDA, but Julie Brixie, Treasurer for Meridian Township disagrees with this strategy.

"If we were to dissolve the DDA, the township would’ve been liable for not only the Meijer refund, but also the balance of the loan for the streetlights and the other improvements that the DDA has made," she said.

Menser said the he and others who work with the DDA are now renergized to fulfill the organization's mission to create a sense of place in downtown Okemos, increase property values, and make the area a destination.