MARQUETTE, MI— Questions were raised about the selection of the Veridea Group as master developer for the old hospital property at Monday night’s special meeting of the Marquette City Commission.
Some members of the public are calling the deal suspect, noting Veridea President Bob Mahaney is also a member of the NMU Board of Trustees.
Commissioner Jenn Hill said several residents have asked her whom the deal benefits most, but Mayor pro tem Cody Mayer said NMU and Mahaney have been very transparent throughout the RFQ process.
“I don’t really know how to explain this very well for the public, but both the commission and city staff… we have, I guess, investigated this rather thoroughly, and as far as I can tell, there is absolutely no conflict of interest here that we could find.”
Commissioner Fred Stonehouse called the talk “conspiracy theories.”
The commission set a May 31 meeting to discuss and vote on a Brownfield Redevelopment plan for the hospital site. The $44.6 Brownfield TIF proposal would last about 16 years.
Officials project about $4 million in tax revenue when the project is complete. About $1.5 million of that would go to the city.
A closing date on the project is expected at the end of June.
