I. Introductions

The meeting came to order at 7:10 p.m. See Appendix A for the list of attendees.

II. Meeting Orientation

Mr. Sych briefly highlighted what we would cover during the meeting.

III. December 19th Response from MDOT

Mr. Sych asked for comments and reactions to the December 19th response from MDOT Director Gloria Jeff. Mr. Brown indicated he was disappointed and displeased with the response. He indicated it didn't recognize the significant effort made by the community over the last two years. Others felt that the response failed to recognize the need to restore the by-pass of Schoolcraft as a priority since the truck traffic and the at-grade rail crossing in Schoolcraft were two of the three primary reasons to start the by-pass planning years ago. Mr. Reid suggested that local leaders need to provide political support for this issue. Mr. Maturen recommended providing a written response to Ms. Jeff with our concerns. It was decided that Mr. Sych would begin a draft response letter to be delivered in the same manner as the first Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee (SAUPC) letter. The draft response letter will be available for review by the SAUPC prior to the March meeting. It is further anticipated that the letter would not be sent until after the March meeting.

It was also suggested that the SAUPC invited Ms. Jeff to Schoolcraft for a visit and see first hand the issues that the community faces with US-131.

IV. Presentation to Other Communities in Kalamazoo County

Mr. Sych presented the first draft of a summary paper of all the activities of the SAUPC over the last two years. He would like to present it to a Kalamazoo County Coordinating Council (KC3) meeting being sponsored by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners on February 26. It was at a KC3 meeting in April, 2002 that eventually led to the formation of the SAUPC. A presentation of the summary paper would bring other communities up to date as well help gauge if there is political support to move this issue forward and restore it as a priority with MDOT. Mr. Sych will provide the summary paper to the SAUPC for review prior to the KC3 meeting.

V. Access Management Updates

There was nothing significant to report on Access Management at this time.

VI. Next Steps

It was decided to postpone whether to change the meeting dates from monthly to bi-monthly or quarterly at this time. It was further decided to cancel the February meeting, but that the SAUPC should provide any input on the summary paper or the response letter being drafted by Mr. Sych.

Mr. Sych indicated that Mr. Jason Latham, the Southwest Region planner for MDOT, would be available to attend future meetings. Mr. Latham will be able to discuss the freeway planning process and other issues related to US-13.

VII. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 8:03 p.m. The next meeting will be held on 24 March 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at Schoolcraft Village Hall.

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Attachment 1
List of Attendees