Dexter's quest for cityhood inches forward

Last month, the commission unanimously recommended the village’s cityhood petition with a revised boundary that was mutually agreed to by the village, Webster Township and the Dexter Area Historical Society. The current city boundary leaves out Gordon Hall and the Mill Creek Sporting goods store.

This revised boundary will now be sent to the director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for his signature.

“If the director takes the commission’s recommendations and signs the final order of approval, the 45-day referendum will begin,” Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager, said in a recent memo to the Village Council.

If he doesn’t agree with the recommendation, then the village’s incorporation process ends.

During the 45-day referendum period, citizens may gather signatures of 5 percent of the village’s registered voters, and if there are enough valid signatures, the question of whether the incorporation process should continue will be put on ballot for a yes or no vote.

If a referendum isn’t filed or there aren’t enough valid signatures, village voters will be asked to elect a Charter Commission, which will be comprised of nine members, who once elected would write the governing document for the new city of Dexter.

Elected members must meet within 10 days of the election, pick officers and establish rules, including how vacancies must be filled.

Once the charter is drafted, it is sent to the Michigan attorney general. If found “in compliance with Michigan law,” village voters will vote on whether to accept the document.

If the charter passes, the village officially becomes a city and a new slate of elected officials are chosen simultaneously.

The Village of Dexter adopted a resolution declaring its intent to incorporate as the City of Dexter in May, 2007 and it’s been a long process to this point, which has included several different city boundaries.

More information can be viewed here.

For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.