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BELLAIRE - Letters of inquiry have been sent from Bellaire to other villages seeking their opinions of inviting Wal-Mart or Meijer into Antrim County.

The Bellaire Village Planning Commission drafted the letters after reviewing the minutes of the County Planning Commission's Feb. 5 meeting, which state that big-box developments were discussed after a member asked the commission to "write a letter to Wal-Mart and Meijer asking them to look at Antrim County as a store location."

As Bellaire's letter arrived before the Mancelona Village Council at the March 11 meeting, a discussion of mixed feelings ensued on the issue.

Concerned by what the presence of such a retail development would do to downtown areas, the Village Planning Commission is asking the opinions of other villages in Antrim County, and if opinions match, a joint letter will likely be sent to the Antrim County Planning Commission (ACPC), detailing those opinions, according to VPC staff member Janet Person.

"What if the new business was located outside Mancelona limits and we're in a struggle to keep our downtown together," Village President Robert Wilcox asked. "Would that have a devastating effect?"

Some thought it wouldn't

"I think it's a good idea because it means jobs," Trustee Kathy Altrock said. "And we need jobs in this county and in this town." Others spoke out on either side before Wilcox concluded, "I would ask each and every one of us to think about this for a few days."

Writing to Wal-Mart or Meijer was proposed by ACPC member Barb Bradford, who named the two options as examples only. With the task of increasing the amount of jobs in Antrim County on her mind, Bradford asked the commission to write a letter as an act of exploration. (According to meeting minutes, other members from the ACPC disagreed with the concept.)

Proposing the letter was not an attempt to doom downtown areas by bringing in hurtful competition, Bradford claimed. It was, however, exploratory dialogue to stimulate action.

"Can't we just open the door? If we are going to start courting business, we must find out what they need," Bradford said. "By inviting a big-box store to take a look at Antrim County, we could begin to prepare."

Citing the success of Traverse City's downtown area despite the big-box developments which surround it, Bradford sees competition within a community as a sharpening tool, and the "beginning of a new flourishing community."

Noting the benefit of added jobs to the community, but admitting he cannot compete with larger, lower-priced stores, Bellaire businessman and VPC Chairman Bill Drollinger said, "In any small town it is a huge pinch on downtown businesses. We can offer better customer service, but we also need low prices. There has to be a balance."

As far as the reality of finding Wal-Mart or Meijer excavating a parking lot in Antrim County, few claimed it probable, but if the county's downtown areas do find themselves surrounded by super-stores, Bellaire Pharmacy owner Ken Fifelski is confident that smaller businesses will not be run-off. "They sell everything at the lowest prices but offer no customer service," Fifelski said. "You have to know your customers."

Chris Tredway can be reached at ctredway@michigannewspapers .com or by calling 231-533-8523.