SECORD TOWNSHIP SPECIAL ASSSESSMENT DISTRICT HEARING
THENDARA AREA
January 5, 2008

Supervisor Pat Dean opening with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag called the meeting to order at 10 AM.  Treasurer, Jan Alley, Clerk, Kathie Hart and Trustees Mike Fagan and Vince Barry were present. 

Dean advised that the purpose of this Special Meeting was to discuss the preparation and blacktopping of one half mile of Pineway Drive in Clement Township that is an access road for Secord Township residents in the Thendara area; present the program as outlined by the Gladwin County Road Commission; costs associated with the program; establishment of a Special Assessment District encompassing the property owners within the Thendara area and have an open discussion with residents for and against the program.

Dean provided a history of past communications with Clement and concerns of the condition of the road from Secord residents that are dependent on Pineway Drive to access their residences in the Thendara Subdivision.  He reiterated the fact that the Secord Township attorney had been contacted and stated that Township money could not be used for this project since the road was owned by Clement and that a Special Assessment District would need to be established for the 96 taxpayers using the access.  He provided a Gladwin County Road Commission cost estimate for the Secord residents to be approximately $50,825.00 or a total assessment to each resident of approximately $600.00. 

Bill Karbowski of B&K Appraisal provided a presentation of the area in question and reiterated the fact that since the road was owned by Clement Township Secord Township money could not be used to assist Clement in the project since statutes specifically state the township money can only bu used to improve roads within the township.

The floor was opened for comments by attendees both in favor and against the proposed program.

• Comments against the proposal:
  • Concern regarding maintaining the road after construction is completed; questions regarding annexation of the road and property to Secord Township; meetings for program being held in winter instead of summer and increase in property taxes.
  • Discussion on these concerns with the Board to address these issues included responses from the Board that a legal agreement by our attorney would be issued to ensure that there is an understanding with Clement that once the construction is completed the maintenance costs will be assumed by Clement since it is their road; annexation of the property bordering the road and the Clement residents in the area would be a substantial task since most of the area is State owned land; regarding the winter meeting – all property owners affected by the proposed program were advised by mail and offered the opportunity to provide their comments prior to the meeting – Dean advised that only 2 letters were received against the project and letters were read.
• Comments for the proposal:
  • Only 5 residents signed in at the meeting and subsequent to explanations provided the majority agreed to proceed with the proposal.  Board members stated that they had personally discussed the program with neighbors and down state Secord Township property owners affected by the program had had received favorable comments.

The public hearing was then closed at 10:50 AM.

Deliberation and decision by Board meeting opened at 10:55 AM.

After discussion:

Motion by Dean and Alley to pass the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

2008-01

 

WHEREAS, The Township Board of Secord Township recognizes the problems associated with the use of Township Road millage funds to finance a project in a neighboring township and that the proposed project will have a direct benefit to the residents of the Thendara area and

WHEREAS, the Township Board of Secord Township passed a motion on November 21, 2007 at a general meeting, that a public hearing be held on January 5, 2008 at 10:00AM to hear a proposal to participate on a 50/50 basis with Clement Township to finance the preparation and blacktopping of one half mile of Pineway Drive that comes into the Thendara Area and is the only piece of road which is not paved.  Upon completion of that portion of Pineway Dr the residents of the Thendara Area located in Secord Township will have a paved/improved roadway out to highway M30.

WHEREAS, the Township recognizes the cost associated with this project necessitates the creation of a special assessment district of the Secord residents who shall be directly benefited by the project. The Special Assessment District shall be known as the Thendara Area which shall be include all property owners of Secord Township that own property on the following streets, Drives or private drives and courts. . E. Thendara Dr., W. Thendara Dr., Thendara Court and Peninsular Dr. 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Township Board of Secord Township shall proceed with the process under Public

Act 188 of 1954 as amended being MCL 41.721.

That the Township Board of Secord Township shall establish an Assessment District to finance the proposed road construction program on Pineway Dr in Clement Township.

The Assessment District shall have duration of 2 years beginning with the 2008 tax collection period beginning in December of 2008 and ending with the 2009 collection that ends on the last day of February in 2010.

Resolution offered  - Dean

Second - Alley

Roll Call Vote            AYE                          NAY

Clerk Hart                     X    

Treas. Alley                 X

Trustee Fagan              X

Trustee Barry               X

Supervisor Dean          X                                                                                                    

RESOLUTION PASSED

Motion by Dean and Barry to pass the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

2008-02

WHEREAS, The Board of Secord Township recognizes that the preparation and blacktopping of one half mile of Pineway Drive will be a direct benefit to the residents of the Thendara area and the creation of the Special Assessment District authorized by Resolution 2008-01 shall be the instrument to pay 50% of the cost associated with the project.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Special assessment district shall have a duration of two years and the total cost of the project for the taxpayers within the district shall not exceed $53,760.00.

Resolution offered by Dean

Second by Barry

Roll Call Vote:               AYE                          NAY

Treas. Alley                           X

Trustee Fagan                      X

Trustee Barry                       X

Clerk Hart                             X

Supervisor Dean                  X

RESOLUTION PASSED

Dean then advised that a 2^nd meeting regarding the proposed program would be held on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 10 AM.

Motion by Barry and Fagan to adjourn at 11:15 AM

Kathie Hart, Secord Township Clerk