Mayor Agrees To Establish Business Committee

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall says he will take the lead and form a 3-member committee that will work closely with local business owners.
Nuttall says he’s been waiting for years for the business community to come forward with their concerns, as they did at an open council meeting Monday night.
Nuttall says he would like someone from Finance and Public Works to sit on the working group.
He notes that some on Council won’t like the decision but stresses it’s time the City listens to the concerns of business owners.
Some on Council weren’t completely on-side with the request on Monday, noting it shadows a major services and operations review that is about to begin.
Norm Bush represented the group at the Council meeting.
Bush says he’s pleased to see that Dryden Council is taking an interest in the concerns of business owners.
Bush stresses they have a lot of expertise and can offer a fresh look on the situation.
He notes they may not have all the answers but they can offer some advice.
It’s their hope that they will work on behalf of Council and make recommendations.
Bush says they don’t want to act as a “shadow Council” but notes business owners can’t take any more tax hikes.
A number of concerned citizens and business owners met behind closed doors back in June to discuss the current tax situation and what can be done.
Several were fed up with a roughly 20% tax increase over a two year period.
Bush admits there’s plenty of frustration but stresses they want to move forward.
Council didn’t officially endorse the formation of a committee but Nuttall says he will get back to the business group within a week with a proposed framework.