Board of Director Meeting

@bridgedet313.bsky.social
@chalkbeat.org
@freep.com
@metrotimes.com
@michiganpublic.bsky.social
@outliermedia.org
@planetdetroit.org
@wdet.bsky.social
@wxyzdetroit.bsky.social
…who have been doing a lot of great coverage on the DLBA

Now, in case you did not know, DLBA stands for Detroit Land Bank Authority which is ‘a public authority dedicated to returning Detroit’s vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed property to productive use. Current programs include auction, side lot, community partnership and demolition.’

This meeting is the Board of Directors…these folks:

Erica Ward Gerson, Chair
Richard Hosey, Vice Chair - Finance Committee
Carol Walters, Treasurer - Finance Committee
Patricia Pernell-Shelton, Secretary - Community Engagement Committee
Miranda Morrow-Bartell, Community Engagement Committee

You can attend the meeting live at 1301 3rd Street, or access it remotely or via phone…details available here 👇🔗
buildihttps://buildingdetroit.org/events/meetings

You can access the agenda from the link above, but here it is again…primarily a big bouquet of resolutions without accompanying information (i.e. Magic Packet™️🧙‍♂️🎩🐰)
dlba-production-buchttps://dlba-production-bucket.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Meetings/BOD+Agenda.pdf

You can get some current context for what is happening with DLBA via @detdocumenters.bsky.social reporting…you can check last BoD meeting with Notes from Craig Notte and Live Coverage from AJ Johnson @detroitjcs.bsky.social here👇🔗
www.dohttps://www.documenters.org/assignments/dlba-board-of-directors-15252/

DLBA says it ‘envisions a Detroit where all neighborhoods provide residents with access to a high quality of life’ by ‘aligning our policies and practices together with our partners in city and county government.’ You can read their vision here👇📄
communhttps://communityprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-dlba-next-five-strategic-plan.pdf

Meanwhile, DLBA is facing some challenges as it faces a loss of more than $10 million in City funding & so plans to cut staff members, lower maintenance and operational expenses, and dip into its reserve funds😯

For great context, check out the Q&A with DLBA CEO Tammy Daniels from media partner @bridgedet313.bsky.social reporters Christine Ferretti and @malachibarrett.bsky.social here👇🔗
www.brhttps://www.bridgedetroit.com/detroit-land-bank-qa-future/

& then there is this from @bridgedet313.bsky.social Jena Brooker👇🔗
www.brhttps://www.bridgedetroit.com/thechi%C8%9Fila-collective-detroit-indigenous-land-bank-property/

Okay, #DETdocumenters @detdocumenters.bsky.social it is 10:02 and the ‘Zoom room’ is slowly filling up…15 participants so far

Tick tock, tick tock…now we are at 22 participants and it is 10:10 and the Talking Heads are bouncing around my brain with 🎶same as it ever was, same as it ever was🎶

10:15…and I’m testing speakers again (like, have they started and I just can’t hear anything?)

Finally…a signal from the Silent Planet 😆

Awrighty! They start at 10:18…they have a quorum, approve minutes and take first public comment…Kalissa Maxwell speaks, asking for DLBA to release deed to her for property in Islandview neighborhood. They are now discussing her situation–she doesn’t qualify for help from DLBA, but…

…she might qualify for help with some other partner/entity & ‘who knows’…all rather, I dunno, glib for such a serious matter…but that’s just me

B Lloyd now speaking…she had put down a deposit on a property but ultimately was not able to enter it – 5769 Belvedere (sp?) – seeking to give property back a get her deposit returned, which seems like something that is doable

There is now a Tamiko & her husband…looking to acquire properties on Pearson, have been doing so for sometime, but frustrated that no one gets back or there is some reason given for why he cannot proceed. He has been doing lawn maintenance during this time…Rob Lynn gives them his contact info

‼️so, I keep getting ‘Your WIFI connection is unstable’‼️I hope this doesn’t interfere with coverage but I’m just going to try and plow forward rather than mess with the modem & router

They finish with public comments move to CEO report…Tammy Daniels reportsthey will reengage with MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) after legislative recess…they secured service with PR firm…annual audit underway with new auditors–same group that did internal audit…will begin August 4th

They move to New Business & resolutions…first three are amendments to existing contracts, all approved

Next three resolutions are for entering into agreements with title companies…all three are the winners from a RFP…purpose is to have a diverse range of title companies…these are Chirco, Etitle and Colonial…they have worked with Chirco & Etitle before…all approved

Series of resolutions pass…dealing with contractor agreements for blight elimination and new developments, all approved

Next up is V.a.xii.–entering into agreement with a Perry Columbus Jenkins…this is for securing stable housing for disabled veteran, matter being championed by Councilmember Young–motion passes

Motion approved for mineral rights agreement with Detroit Salt Company 🤔👇🔗
detroitsahttp://detroitsalt.com/

An overview of Detroit salt mining available here👇🔗
www.clhttps://www.clickondetroit.com/features/2024/09/03/a-look-inside-detroits-epic-salt-mines/

And a look into mineral rights in Michigan here 👇🔗
www.phhttps://www.pheasantenergy.com/michigan-mineral-rights/

So that just about does it for my coverage of the 7/22/2025 DLBA BoD meeting…they motion to close at 10:52 AM with the same chuckle & appearance of satisfaction given to the first person during public comments 🫤

📣‼️IMPORTANT‼️If anything in this coverage is incorrect, email documenters@outliermedia.org with ‘Correction Request’ in the subject line

As always, look for more coverage and stories at https://documenters.org