GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A woman who the county board chairman dismissed in an interview after a public meeting as a "little girl" is the point person in the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for policy statements on blight.

County officials are still considering whether to back a

that the Land Bank says it needs to carry out a massive demolition program with federal funds.

But backers of the proposal, including county Treasurer Deb Cherry, have scored one point in the debate with county board Chairman Jamie Curtis, who's among those questioning whether the county should pledge its full faith and credit to back the borrowing.

Curtis questioned Michele Wildman, d

irector of special programs for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, during a committee meeting Wednesday, Jan. 29, and later said he's relied on information from another MSHDA staffer, Roxanne Eaton, instead.

Curtis said after the meeting that information from Eaton "Trumps anything that little girl" said, and called Wildman "Somebody Deb (Cherry) found."

But a MSHDA spokeswoman said Thursday, Jan. 30, that Wildman speaks for the agency on such policy questions -- not just in the county, but statewide.

"Michele is the point person for all issues related to blight," said MSHDA spokeswoman Katie Bach.

One issue discussed Wednesday was whether there was a requirement under the Hardest Hit Blight Program for the Land Bank to pay demolition contractors before seeking reimbursement from the state, which administers the federal funds.

Officials now agree that there is no such requirement, but Cherry and Land Bank Executive Director Doug Weiland have said the line of credit is still necessary in order to pay contractors in a timely way.