Malignant Growth Alliance (pt. 3): Is the Price Right? Enter (and Exit) Bob Barker

[XLFD]

In part 1 of this series  Malignant Growth 1  we had a history of the Mason County Growth Alliance (MCGA) up to 2010; we then checked out what they had been instrumental in spending over $5 million on an almost completely vacant and forgotten Industrial Park  Malignant Growth 2.  This part will look at the reign of Bob Barker, who was called on to take over the MCGA after Julie Van Dyke moved down the street to the Mason/Lake ISD.

 

First off, this isn't the same Bob Barker you are likely familiar with, but we are going to have some fun with the truth and consequences and figure out whether the price is right.

 

He has the suit, the salt and pepper hair, the pearly white teeth, and plenty of charisma, but our Bob Barker (right) was chosen for his excellent background in such areas.  This 1-25-2010 Mlive article tells us:  "He is the former head of the Mackinaw Area Tourist Bureau and director of the Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau, prior to heading the home builders group in Holland. Before coming to Michigan, Barker was head of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Barker was vice president of the former Muskegon Economic Growth Alliance from 1995-1998, heading the Muskegon County CVB when that agency had a contract with Muskegon County to use room tax dollars to promote local tourism. He left MEGA in a dispute over issues on hiring staff."

 

Kind of impressive.  Here is a chronology of what Bob Barker did as the head of the MCGA, until he resigned effective May 7, 2012 for the purpose of "developing his personal business enterprise."  You can decide whether he developed our County's business enterprise.  As before, my personal observations are in brackets.  TV's Bob Barker gave away money and prizes to people in The Price is Right and Truth or Consequences, this one did the same with public money if you were the right kind of people.

 

4-12-2010, Ludington City Council:  "Bob Barker reported that he is working on a industrial facilities exemption. Also learning more about renewable energy studying and researching ways to improve the county."  [The IF exemption and research was never publicly disclosed.]

 

6-28-2010, LCC:  "Bob Barker:  (The MCGA) are here for retention and expansion of business and industry and charged with the task of attracting new businesses. They are looking for ways to maximize and create efficiencies between complementary businesses and industries. The Growth Alliance is currently working with Lake Michigan Car Ferry on their strategic plans for the future as well as West Shore Community College with entrepreneurial opportunities.  [Not too surprising since the MCGA Board has/had LMC CEO Bob Manglitz and WSCC President Chuck Dillan on it.]

Councilor Peterson questioned the West Michigan Natural Region and asked what would be the benefit for Ludington when the area covers between Traverse City and to the south of Michigan.  Bob Barker explained that he is looking at Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and Holland and many companies are developing research and development for offshore wind projects as well as the battery plant in Muskegon. He explained that he cannot sell Mason County from within Mason County, but rather is encouraging a comprehensive collaborative effort."  [Sounds like he's all for offshore wind farms in Mason County; it figures, since he moves into the area and moves out after two years.  Actually, he never moved into the area, he commuted.]

 

9-13-2010, LCC:  Barker visited the City Council on 7-12 as well with a report about a speaker at WSCC, here he:  "reported that the alliance is working on an expansion in town. He reported that he will be attending the upcoming economic development Association meeting in Traverse City.  [This expansion is never publicly described.]

 

12-16-2010, Mason County Commissioners Meeting: "The county board also approved prepaying the county’s allocation to the Mason County Growth Alliance. Doing so would earn the county a 4.88 percent discount on its bill.
Pere Marquette Township, the City of Ludington and West Shore Community College are among the other members being asked to pony up early.
If all do, then the Growth Alliance will pay off a loan entered into in 2003 for 15 years to construct a building at 5115 Progress Drive. It houses Cone Drive Textron’s manufacturing operation in the Pere Marquette Industrial Park.  [They all ponied up the dough for paying off this loan.  Interestingly, the MCGA wasn't existing in 2003, so this was an outstanding debt from a prior "local economic development agency" that erected this building with public funds, finally paid off with accelerated amounts of public funds.  Must be nice to be so loved, Textron.  At least they are still here and in operation, providing jobs and tax money.]

 

12-20-2010, LCC:  "Moved by Councilor Holman, seconded by Councilor Taranko, to approve the prepayment of the City’s 2011, 2012, and 2013 contributions to the Mason County Growth Alliance in the amount of $34,929.92, which represents a savings of $2,570.08 over this same 3-year period of time. City Manager John Shay explained that the MCGA has a loan with some local banks which was recently renewed that was initially taken out to construct the Cone Drive manufacturing operations in Pere Marquette Township’s Industrial Park. The Growth Alliance is looking at paying off this $800,000 loan balance in full early and in order to do this the Growth Alliance would spend about $415,000 and then require the public sector members of the Alliance being Mason County, Pere Marquette Township, the City of Ludington, and West Shore Community College, to prepay three years of their annual contributions to the Alliance now at a discounted rate. Mason County, Pere Marquette Township, and West Shore Community College have all agreed to prepay their contributions. Motion Carried.  [This further explains the above.  Perhaps this explains his departure-- the MCGA ran out of money-- or maybe some funny business that has never been reported happened with this influx of public funds?]

 

1-12-2011, Ludington Daily News:  "Mason County Growth Alliance President and CEO Bob Barker said he anticipates changes in the job of creating jobs.
Barker said he’s not a job creator, but he can facilitate, enhance or lead discussions that may lead to growth in the area.
But bottom line, Barker said, it’s up to the businesses to decide to come here."  [Hmm, 'may' lead to growth, and 'up to the businesses to decide'; his job sounds pretty easy since there apparently isn't any expectations.]

 

1-20-2011, LDN:  Bob Barker comments on Rick Snyder's State of the State Address:  "The Governor made it clear that putting Michiganders back to work is job number one.
Relaxing uses for the 21st Century Jobs Fund should help to stimulate all kinds of development and not just a few hand-picked winners.
I liked his emphasis on P-20 instead of K-12.
I think the elimination of the MBT and replacement with a 6 percent corporate tax will assist in business attraction strategies. I also support permanent funding for the recently broadened $25 million Pure Michigan campaign.
Rural development, farm credit services and agricultural innovation support through the MEDC are critical to the state’s second largest industry.
Mason County has established relationships with key state departments and we plan to partner with the MEDC, DEQ, DNR and DOT in developing best practices, sharing potential investor leads and utilizing the Governor’s report card to measure our success.”  [After his first three responses, Bob shows his love of public funded economic development.]

 

3-9-2011, LDN:  " Mason County Growth Alliance President and CEO Bob Barker said he worked with Basic Communications to get the company information about the area.
He said with all of the wireless phone service providers in the area, it’s a competitive market place.
“We have a lot of companies offering similar services, so we think that will be competitive and perhaps impact favorably the rates,” he said.  [Basic Communications took over the old Starbuck's building at the beginning of the year, if there's one thing businesses like hearing it is 'competitive market place' and favorably impacting the rates for the consumer.  Even with that negative encouragement from Bob, the business moved in.]

 

4-11-2011, LCC:  "Barker reported MEDC is investigating regionalism, Mason County is in a 13 county region. Currently working with Brill and the City. DNP has another year. Lake winds
energy park economic impact is on their website." 

 

Barker throughout the summer of 2011 was busy pushing and pursuing the wind farm developments and continuing his efforts for tax breaks and subsidies for local businesses.  He then decided to expand the concept of regionalism.

 

9-12-2011, LCC:  " Barker reported that they are working with a German grower to grow orchids. Natural gas and extraction component supplier is looking at the area. A multi county meeting is
being held to discuss wind development. The geo delay could be indefinite.  [All four of these have never been publicly developed in the 9 months following.]

 

11-14-2011, LCC:  "Barker reported that the alliance is working on moving supply chains from china to west Michigan. Economic gardening initiatives are being worked on. He is also working on
long term energy solutions for the Badger."  [Three more items that never really get further developed publicly.]

 

Since then, until his May 2012 resignation, he remained out of the public picture.  Had his sights went beyond German and Chinese frontiers and into outer space?  The public may never know, since they are still withholding their records over a month after my first FOIA request.  The tenure of Bob Barker has the MCGA borrowing its funds two years in advance from the public (a $250,000 advance), and what does he leave us with, a communications company that would have been more likely to set up here if it wasn't for his information?  I would speculate that his sudden, neutral, departure in May was due to a loss of faith in his effectiveness. 

 

So now its been over a month since the MCGA lost its leader, and once again there is no rush to fill the spot.  A full review of the Growth Alliance so far finds no trophies on their wall, but a lot of ammunition being used.  Local government puts in over $125,000 each year and they undoubtedly have qualified for more state and/or federal grants than have been publicly reported.  A $5 million unused industrial park has been made, but nobody has come to play other than a welding partnership.  Is this not the very definition of wasted resources?

 

We caught up with Bob at a golf course to discuss these issues for more clarifications.  After he read them he was rather upset: 

 

I unwisely pressed him on the issue:

 

And we mutually determined that I had had enough:

 

[AQUAMAN]

It sounds like always, a nice fluffy cuddly type of agency, one that can only help the county attract more business and new jobs. That's always the theory anyhow. But, when realities show wasted resources, year after year, with failure as it's main historic path, then we no longer can justify such agencies into the future, or departments heads. At least that's the private sector view of such things, but, we are talking public sector here, and we all know that means, no matter the failures and inefficiencies proven, we must keep funding them into the abyss. So, where did Mr. BB go next to pasture?

[XLFD]

Government involvement in economic development remind me a lot of some endless civil war, where one city, county or state, cannot say "no" to the economic development bandwagon, because then all of the other cities, counties, or states would have an advantage over getting businesses to move or start up in their area.  So they continue to invest in it, even when it is not showing any results, and the money being used cuts into the money real, needed public services require. 

We need universal disarmament in economic development, or this is a path to mutually assured destruction of our free market system.  But can this happen?  Not likely, without some dramatic change of public opinion.

[AQUAMAN]

I see all your points X, true and accurate for sure. What does a guy in this position get paid I wonder? It always amazes me that these type government agencies continue to thrive and prosper, even though their intent is honorable, the bottom line is never evaluated for success. This guy's resume probably reads volumes of these type jobs, without much ado for the actual positive results of such actions. And as usual, another outsider not knowing the area, it's history, it's people, and then after a stint here, he conveniently and quietly moves on to another bastion of paychecks for the same type duties. The private sector is soooo much different, gasp.