With denial upheld, Dexter must ponder next move in cityhood quest
As expected, the state boundary commission Thursday upheld last month’s unanimous decision that found the Village of Dexter’s proposed boundaries legally insufficient.
At its August meeting, the boundary commission denied the village’s proposed boundaries, which include two parcels located in Webster Township. At issue is an Act 425 agreement, which includes Gordon Hall, and whether land included in this type of agreement can be incorporated into a new Home Rule City.
Officials from both the Dexter Area Historical Society and Webster Township opposed the new boundaries. Now village officials have 60 days to decide if they will fight the decision in circuit court.
But first, it’s expected that the village will meet with Dexter Area Historical Society and Webster Township officials to see if a mutually agreeable solution can be found before any potential court proceedings take place.
Tom Ryan, the village’s special counsel for its cityhood quest, said previously that it would be difficult for the commission to reconsider its original decision. Once the minutes of the previous meeting approved, he said, the village now 60 days to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court.
If the village decides to appeal the decision in Circuit Court, it must decide on a venue — Washtenaw County or Ingham County, where the boundary commission hearings take place. Ryan estimates an appeal would cost the village between $5,000-$10,000.
The Village Council meets on Sept. 26, when it's expected to further discuss cityhood.
For information about the history of Dexter’s quest for cityhood, click here.
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter with AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.
Comments
Jim
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
As a Village resident, I don't think the Village and Webster will be able settle this except in a courtroom. I feel that the Boundary Commission lacked the backbone to make a decision and simply "passed the buck" to the next person. Even though, based on population, the Village is one of the largest in the state, and larger than more than 133 cities. It's administration already handles nearly every function it would be responsible for as a city, however, is double taxed by the townships to pay for their administration as well. While many people in town feel that city hood is long over due I do think that the time this process is taking is giving some residents a chance to come to terms with the idea of city hood. That said, I wound't mind saving a few hundred dollars in taxes every year. Multiply that by over 4,000 residents and maybe we could have our own "mini" stimulus program...
Gordon
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
Seems we don't hear much from the citizens of Dexter. It would be a case of non-caring by the residents? Just so few comments. Odd the argument would be about the technicals and not more about the benefits and non-benefits for & by the residents. If the residents don't care why does the council care? As pointed out if the residents care a vote would change the boundries. A more expensive way; but that certainly help clarify the position of the residents. Nothing like the republican form of government to leave everything up to the voted representitives. Sometimes you just can't leave it up to them.
John Q
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
This position by the Boundary Commission is nonsense. The incorporation of a city creates a new municipality, even if it shares the same name as the village. Whatever agreements existed before hand are irrelevant to the creation of the city.