The Orion Township library was packed with officials and citizens on Wednesday, May 6 for a Town Hall meeting that sought to answer the question: What can be done locally about the crisis facing the auto companies?
Leaders from Auburn Hills, Independence, Addison and Oxford townships were in attendance, as was state Rep. Jim Marleau.
The question is especially relevant in Orion, where one of the GM plant’s on the rumored chopping block is located. Chrysler, just down the road in Auburn Hills, also employees many area residents.
Recent announcements from the two beleaguered auto giants–GM cutting the Pontiac brand and Chrysler’s bankruptcy- -prompted the 8 a.m. Wednesday morning Town Hall meeting, which was organized in less than 24 hours.
Township Supervisor Matt Gibb compared Orion’s situation to that of truck on railroad tracks.
‘The train is rolling down that track, and are Orion and its neighbors going to get hit by that train, or are we going to do something about it?? he said.
The meeting was just the first in many brainstorming sessions the township hopes to hold to make sure Orion isn’t steamrolled if the GM plant closes.
Nothing has been heard from GM officials concerning the Orion plant, Gibb added.
‘We know we’re not going to get a straight answer until the [official] answer comes,? he said. ‘We can see the writing on the wall.?
Gibb gave grim facts and statistics.
The plant currently employs 2,700, down from 3,900 workers last year. Since 2002, they have invested $300 million in the plant for cars that will not be manufactured in the United States anymore. There are 26 suppliers in Orion who produce goods or services specifically for the GM plant.
‘How many families are part of those suppliers?? Gibb asked.
In all, he estimated 6,000 Orion families could potentially be impacted if the worst happens. Chrysler doesn’t have a plant in Orion, Gibb said, but since 1,500 families in Orion work there, the township may as well have one.
Auburn Hills City Manager Pete Auger commended the township for calling the meeting.
‘We’re willing to be your partner as we move forward.? he said, citing that 80 percent of his community is commercial. ‘The people who work there, live here.?
The solutions bandied about by officials and business leaders mostly revolved around how to keep Orion an attractive place to do business, though working with the state for more resources was also discussed.
The most tangible ideas got from the session included promoting the area as a great place to live and do business via videos and the Internet, as well as the formation of a township economic development committee.
Lisa Sokol, Orion’s director of community planning, posited a site that would feature all the resources the area offers–the Art Center, Senior Center, etc.–could help potential investors and residents consider the community.
‘We need to piece those together and have a toolbox for Lake Orion,? she said.
So who, exactly, would Orion be trying to woo?
‘We should all be learning Italian,? Gibb said, in reference to the partnership between Chrysler and Italian automaker Fiat. ‘We are in a critical state here. We need to open our arms to Fiat.?
Lois Golden, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, even proposed NOTA bus tours.
‘We have to be ready for Fiat, or anyone, and court them,? she said.
Village Manager Paul Zelenak said Lake Orion has a great base of community volunteers working through the library, Senior Center and Art Center that could help give Orion a polish.
‘I think this is a great time to potentially use some of these people to spruce up our community,? he said.
Zelenak also stressed just how important it is for people to shop locally.
Nick Christi, owner of Christi’s Bar and Grill, said downtown could use a bit of a makeover. Basically, he said, there’s Sagebrush and hair salons.
‘I think we need to make Orion a more vibrant place,? he said, saying more relaxed ordinance, fees and permits could make Lake Orion more business friendly.