Wakefield Township considers shared costs on roads

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Wakefield — Members of the Wakefield Township board may use a state option of shared costs to address problem roads within township boundaries.

According to Wakefield Township supervisor John Cox, board members discussed the possibility at their Tuesday evening meeting this week.

“We’re looking at special assessment districts as a way to fund roads,” said Cox, who declined to share any roads under consideration at this time.

An article on the website of the Michigan Townships Association defines a special assessment as “a charge imposed on real property to pay costs of a specific service or public improvement.”

The MTA article by Kalamazoo attorney Lynda E. Thomsen adds that the only property that would qualify is that which “has a special benefit” from the proposed project.

“Part or all of the project costs can be paid by special assessment, with the balance from the general fund, user charges, grants or other sources,” states Thomsen.

The attorney notes that Michigan’s Public Act 188 of 1954 includes a list of projects that qualify for such consideration.

Those projects include not only roads, but also police, fire and ambulance services; recycling options; water and sewer mains; sidewalks and street lights; and weed control in lakes.

As Cox explained, if the Gogebic County Road Commission informs him that it does not have funds to pave a particular township road, then the residents using that road might wish to contribute to the related costs.

In that case, said Cox, “The township would assign a number to each party.”

The MTA article states a number of requirements and options in relation to the use of special assessments. For instance, parties seeking to improve a road may petition toward that end, after which the township board would determine related public support for the prospective project.

Regarding the many steps involved in addressing the issue, Cox warned, “It’s going to take us awhile.”

Shooting complaint

In other news, the board declined to take action on a noise complaint referred by the township’s planning commission.

It involved complaints by city of Wakefield residents who were disturbed by noise resulting from target practice that occurs on bordering township property.

“We made it clear that we’re going to honor the Second Amendment,” said Cox in a reference to the U.S. Constitution’s protection of the right of citizens to bear arms.

The supervisor, who said he learned that only a pistol has been used, does not believe there is a problem with the person continuing to practice shooting. In fact, he added, “You should practice before you shoot an animal.”

Cox said the person engaging in the shooting has informed another neighbor in advance when occasional target practice will occur, so that the neighbor can make the choice to leave the house to do errands or to block the sound by using a fan, etc.

The supervisor added that the same warning might be helpful to the city resident who complained.

Neither the subjects nor object of the complaint were named.

The board also:

— Learned that a door-to-door survey regarding the township’s pending master plan is scheduled to begin next week.

— Learned that a recent state Audit of Minimum Assessment Requirements, which checks for uniformity among property assessment records, resulted with only minor issues to be addressed. Cox attributed the lack of problems to township assessor Melissa Prisbe, whom he said “does a great job.”

The board will meet next on Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wakefield Township Hall at 414 N. County Road 519.

The public is welcome to attend.