DDA Board Retains, Adds New Members
(Monroe, MI) – When the Monroe Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors convened virtually for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 16, two new faces appeared on participants’ screens. Mary Hastings and William Slicker were appointed by the honorable Mayor and City Council on September 8, along with Scott Kegerreis, who was reappointed to serve a second term.
Mayor Robert Clark recommended the appointments, noting that “each of these appointed DDA Board members are experienced downtown business or property owners that have invested in and improved Downtown Monroe. I am thankful for their willingness to serve and for the full support of the City Council on these appointments.”
Ms. Hastings is co-owner of Brown Bag Boutique, a 2018 addition to the business inventory in Downtown Monroe, located at 15 West Monroe Street. She brings marketing savvy to the board roster. "I look forward to joining as a member of the board to contribute towards making the DDA Vision come to life and developing Downtown Monroe as a preferred destination to attract both residents and visitors,” she exclaimed. She fills an unexpired term through June 30, 2023.
William Slicker is experienced in property development and can share his experiences to bring realism to the DDA’s work. Slicker owns, and rehabilitated, the property at 54 South Monroe Street, at the corner of West First. He was appointed to a four-year term ending June 30, 2024. “Since moving to Monroe over 20 years ago, I have always envisioned that Downtown Monroe could become a vibrant ‘destination place’ that would attract locals as well as neighboring communities to a unique residential, dining, shopping, and entertainment experience. I had such belief in this potential for Monroe, that I purchased and renovated a property within Downtown’s Historical District. I felt that serving on the DDA would allow this experience and my passion for a renewed Downtown to be an asset towards achieving the DDA’s similar, even more exciting Vision Statement,” he shared.
Opting to return to the board for another four-year term ending June 30, 2024 is Scott Kegerreis, co-owner of Scally Waggs Doggy Bakery & Pet Supplies at 44 West Front Street. As a returning board member, he has participated in recent strategic planning processes that resulted in documents such as the Downtown Master Plan, the Riverwalk Enhancement and Expansion Plan and Streetscape Design Guidelines, which will set the tone for the next iteration of development project in the downtown. Kegerreis stated, “As a lifelong Monroe resident and downtown business owner I am very interested in helping Monroe continue to develop and transform into a destination for unique shopping and dining opportunities.”
Current chairperson Anthony Trujillo praised the selections, stating that “these newest members and a seasoned returner have the skill sets to keep the DDA on track as we progress with implementing the Downtown Master Plan. I am happy to be working with them for the betterment of the downtown district.”
The next big step for the new board members is orientation, which is scheduled for early October.