[Updated 12-8-2015]
We have tentatively identified the property our Board has spent six closed door sessions talking themselves into buying. The rumor is that it's the house and 350 feet of lakefront immediately adjacent to Sam Iaquinto's marina and ice cream stand. $370,000 is the [tax dollar] asking price.
Obviously the Rainy Day fund is burning a hole in the Board's pocket.
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In a whistle-blower bombshell moment, Trustee Wayne Dockett read this statement during Board Member Comments:
“October 13th. The Township Board held an executive session to consider the purchase of real property for the residents of Northfield Township. The Minutes indicate that Dockett was in the building but refused to come to the Meeting Room to provide a fifth vote needed to vote in closed session. This is true. Dockett thinks if the Township is going to spend big, big dollars, it should be done with the vote of the People, not in the Boardroom with five Board members.”
What "big, big dollars" decision matches Dockett's description? Could it be Planning Commissioner Sam Iaquinto's notion that the Township buy the $3,300,000.00 Van Curler property in downtown Whitmore Lake? What else could the recent rash of closed door "real estate" Board meetings be about? It's a shame the Board didn't favor another of Sam Iaquinto's notions: meetings should be open unless there is no other way to discuss something. What qualifies? Discussions of legal options or personnel.
This story continues beneath the Read-More fold...
The following are links to this past year's official Board agendas on the Township website. All closed sessions are noted. There were no closed door discussions of real estate purchases until immediately after Van Curler appeared in July Board discussions. After that, four closed door sessions in a row.
Jan. 22, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(e) – To receive and discuss attorney-client privileged communication.
Apr. 14, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(e) – To consult with its attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in connection with specific pending litigation
May 8, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(e) To consult with its attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in connection with specific pending litigation.
Jul. 14, 2015: Agenda Discussion Item: Van Curler Property
July 28, 2015: Agenda Discussion Item: Van Curler Property
August 25, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(d) To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained
September 8th, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(d) – To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained
September 22, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(d) – To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained
October 13, 2015: CLOSED SESSION PER MCL 15.268(8)(d) – To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained
So how much discussion of Van Curler happened in public?
- 2 minutes 39 seconds on July 14th
- 1 minute 50 seconds more on July 14th
- 19 minutes 38 seconds on July 28th
Those are LiveAgenda links. Clicking will take you to Youtube video of the meeting starting at the point where the discussion happened.
Also at this meeting: Manager Fink told the Board they must formally engage a Financial Advisor to structure Bond offerings and Sales to finance the North Territorial Road at Whitmore Lake Road Special Assessment District.
At this meeting we learned that the owner of the Territorial Road Shell station hasn't paid for sewer service in 14 years. The Township hasn't billed once since the business was connected to the Township sewers in 2001. The error was discovered seven months ago by Pam Boegler (during the sewer system audit?) but got lost in the office bureaucracy. The issue didn't resurface until three weeks ago when potential buyers of the business contacted the Township to verify that the property was free of debt or liens. The Deputy Clerk re-noticed the complete absence of sewer billing.
Manager Fink issued a bill with no late fees or interest attached, reasoning that since the business had never been billed it was not responsible for late fees. The business responded with an offer to pay 50% of what it owed. At tonight's meeting, Manager Fink asked the Board for permission to cut a deal, to allow the business to pay 50% of its debt. The Board argued against this, saying it would be bad precident and bad policy. Trustee Chick objected to the demanding tone of the business owner's 50% offer. Wayne Dockett mentioned the relationship of the Shell Station owner to another business locally notorious for its agility in ducking Township fees and bills. Dockett recommended using the upcoming closing to force the owner to pay 100%. Supervisor Engstrom, a realtor, objected to to using this leverage. Trustee Braun asked if Manager Fink had set up controls to prevent a recurrence of this situation and to detect any remaining sewer system scofflaws. Fink dodged a bit, interpreting the question as a fishing expedition for someone to blame. Wayne proposed tabling the discussion. Engstrom talked over Dockett's attempt at a motion with a motion of her own, to approve Fink's settlement proposal. The motion failed.
Tetratech's Brian Rubel and Manager Fink led a discussion of Sewer System planning, cost accounting, policies, and the costs of maintenance and future expansion. The huge disparity between Northfield's Connection fee ($3,500) and the $12K, $15K, and $18,000 charged by neighboring townships was considered. The effects of that low cost on the future ability of the Wastewater Treatment Plant to expand or rebuild was mentioned by Rubel. Reasons for building an equalization tank were discussed. Present and future sewerage committments were discussed. Future discussions were discussed.
The gentrification of Whitmore Lake continues. At this meeting it surfaced in the form of a lawsuit successful in turning six Lakeside lots into two. Cozy cottages may be replaced by cozy starter castles at the address formerly known as 591 East Shore Drive. A large excavator is already on site.
- Click here to watch individual Agenda items using LiveAgenda
- Click here to view or download the Meeting Agenda
- Click here to view or download the Meeting Packet
- Click here to watch the entire meeting on Livestream
- Click here to view or download the official Meeting Minutes
