Webster Township denies permit for Civil War Days, placing Gordon Hall fundraiser in jeopardy
File photo of Gordon Hall, site of Civil War Days.
File photo
“Without (holding Civil War Days), we’ll default on the mortgage,” said Paul Bishop, the chairman of the finance committee for Gordon Hall. Last year, the event paid for half the historical society's mortgage payment on the home and property.
Re-enactors have already been booked, tents and chairs have already been rented, and preparations are in full swing for the event that’s scheduled for June 8-10 on the Gordon Hall property, which has portions of land in Webster and Scio townships.
“With this vote, it put us in a bind,” said Donna Fisher, chairman of the event, who vowed to move forward, hoping for a positive outcome.
At issue is vehicle parking on a conservation easement that the historical society sold to Webster Township for $33,000. It was the first money the township spent from a half-mill land preservation tax approved by township voters in August 2005.
John Kingsley, Webster Township supervisor, said there was a lengthy discussion about the permit. “Webster Township has very little interest in allowing anything that’s in violation of the easement agreement.”
But, he said, “the township board is supportive of the efforts of the historical society in trying to support Gordon Hall and their fundraising efforts. I’ll, personally, try to work for a resolution of the festival permit in time for the event.”
Fisher and Jim Smith, vice president of the historical society, said they have been meeting with Webster Township officials for months to get another agreement in place.
“The board wants them to be successful. We want them to move forward and be able to pay off the mortgage,” Kingsley said.
The denied permit request included a map that showed the majority of the parking will not be located on the Webster Township portion of the Gordon Hall property.
Smith said they plan to use the southeast side of the property, which is in Scio Township, for parking, but cars still have to drive over a part of the hay field in the Webster Township portion to get there.
“There is nothing in the agreement that says we can’t drive across the (Webster) easement,” Bishop said, adding that he plans to seek the advice of legal counsel in the matter.
When asked if the Scio Township Board had approved the parking on its site of the site, Supervisor Spaulding Clark said Thursday that this was the first time he’d heard of it. He said he’d received a number of emails about the situation that morning.
“The issue hasn’t come to the board,” Clark said.
The historical society purchased the historic 1841 mansion in March 2006 for $1.5 million and saved it from the wrecking ball when the University of Michigan decided to put the home and 37 acres surrounding it on the market.
Webster and Scio townships as well as the Village of Dexter contributed to the purchase of the home. Both Webster and Scio townships have conservation easements on portions of the property.
“We, as a historical society, wanted the townships involved,” Bishop said.
Since then, the historical society has been holding fundraisers to pay off the mortgage, which was $900,000 in 2006 and now stands at less than $300,000.
Civil War Days was first held last year. “The whole community comes together for this,” Fisher said, and the profits are crucial to the historical society, which wants to preserve and restore the historic home and make the property available for the community.
“We’re good stewards of the property,” she said, adding that Civil War Days is an “affordable and educational event” for the whole area. “It’s not like we’re bringing in a carnival and a Ferris wheel or something.”
Last year, the historical society signed a one-time agreement with Webster Township that allowed them to park what was estimated to be 300 to 400 cars on a hay field at various times throughout the three-day event.
In order to hold the event last year, the historical society “signed (an agreement) under protest” Bishop said, just a few days before Civil War Days was scheduled to take place.
In it, the township granted them permission to park cars on the easement area but “the township shall not have waived such parking limitation and shall have the right to require strict compliance ... with parking limitations contained within the easement in the future.”
There was no damage to the property during the event, historical society officials said, and Kingsley agreed.
However, township officials also want to make sure that nothing detrimental happens to the property in the future. Both sides agree that the conservation easement serves as protection for the property’s “natural resource and watershed values, agricultural soils, view sheds and historic structures,” as stated in the conservation easement.
Both Fisher and Smith said they began working with the township last fall to discuss issues involved with the event and both are frustrated that there’s still no agreement.
“Why would we work to restore Gordon Hall if not for people to use it; it's zoned public land,” Fisher asked.
The historical society has a master plan for the site and once the mortgage is paid off, members plan to move forward with restorations on the site that already has a historical designation.
“The main goal … has always been and will continue to be, to open Gordon Hall to the public,” a letter from the historical society to the township states.
The historical society wants, among other ideas, to re-establish a connection between Gordon Hall and the Dexter Community Schools and promote the site as a “cultural community as a venue for art shows, antique shows and Civil War re-enactments.”
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.
Comments
Turk Nailik
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Ah, there are no politics like small town politics! Why cannot these locals do whats good for the local community? Besides the festival, this also brings thousands of dollars into Dexter! The Dexter Pub, DQ, A&W, Aubrees,etc. all contribute to this community and help to make this a great place to live. By voting against this easement the township not only votes against the Festival, but also votes against the businesses in the area and against Dexter. Let's not let them do this to us. Webster Township resident should say Nay to Kleinschmidt, Estleman, Heller, and Westman.
Peggysue
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:52 a.m.
Looks like the circus is coming to dexter , the clowns are there already! omg have watch the township try to get rid of Jenny,s. let's count how many children have been injured on those terrible hay wagons for the last ten yrs.and the germs and food borne illness spread there from the hot and fresh donuts, can't have such a nasty straw maize for kids to have fun .check with Huron Ambulance to see how many runs they made to Jenny s every year. Dexters becoming a joke just like A.A.
Royalprince
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
I hope that the historical society is able to secure the funds to pay off the mortgage. I think that the Gordon Hall is a very beautiful building. I had no idea is was that old. It looks really good! I have passed it a number of times over the years, while driving through the Dexter area. I hope to go there sometime, to relive some history.
Laura Jones
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 5:53 a.m.
Completely petty. Some folks work really hard for Dexter, others inflate their ego's and do their level best to feel important while wrecking those efforts. Pathetic.
Carole
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
Totally disgusting that they can not go on with their event. Come on Webster, give them a break and even go to the event and enjoy yourself.
seasons
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
Oh my. How incredibly petty. How about approving with the stipulation that an alternative parking area be worked out if at all possible. Why wasn't this concern dealt with over the past year?
Jimmy McNulty
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.
This sounds like a urination for distance contest.
Laura Jones
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 5:51 a.m.
Yup, and the target is the good people of Dexter and their heritage.
DennisP
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 3:21 a.m.
Actually, Kingsely voted in favor of the motion to allow parking ingress and egress. The article quotes him correctly speaking about the position taken by the Township. It may not be a position he shared, but it's the way the Twp voted. So readers don't blame nor defend Kingsley for voting against the motion. He supported it: From the minutes of the 4/17/12 Webster Township Board meeting: "Motion Koch second Whitney to approve the Dexter Area Historical Society & Museum to hold Civil Wars Days at Gordon Hall, June 8-10, with egress & ingress over Webster Township grounds and Conservation easement with no parking on Webster Township grounds only Scio Township. Roll call vote; Koch Aye, Kleinschmidt Nay, Estleman Nay, Kingsley Aye, Heller Nay, Whitney Aye, Westman nay. Motion fails 4-3." I'm less concerned about this annual, limited parking off of the easement causing permanent damage to the conservation rights held by Webster because it was held last year and was done well. There are no permanent structures, nothing is being built nor is this proposed to be a permanent arrangement. It seems that concerns could easily be covered by the asking the Society for a bond or surety to cover restoration costs if the soil composition or other particulars are damaged. I'd say the Historical Society is a good steward and warrants some measure of trust based upon last year's management. As for Webster surrendering its responsibility over enforcing the easement, I think if it could ask for a bond and monitors the use with an inspection afterward, it would be acting within its capacity and responsibilities while respecting a landowner's right to ingress and egress to all parts of his land as may be needed. If the Society doesn't meet its responsibilities, the remedies and damages provisions in the easement can then be enforced.
judith bemis
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 12:37 a.m.
These Purchase of Development Rights easements are pretty new, and they are funded with taxpayer dollars (local township, local Ann Arbor City, and in some cases, state, and federal monies). John Kingsley is in a tough position, because allowing the PDR easements to be violated (once, maybe, but again...and again...?) risks not only the ire of taxpayers who thought they were funding farm preservation, but the possible intrusion of the City of Ann Arbor and other funding agencies into the game. I have negotiated several of these PDR agreements as an attorney, and I'm familiar with the restrictions which they contain (full disclosure: I also campaigned for the passage of the Webster Township millages to fund the PDR purchases). As difficult as this issue is at the truly local level, we would not want Ann Arbor or possibly the state or feds waltzing into the discussion, accusing the HS and the township of violating these agreements. It's a slippery slope, and I think Kingsley is doing the right thing in looking out for taxpayer interests which are embodied in these agreements. Steve Bemis, Webster Township
John Q
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
You can't have it both ways. If you don't want to follow the rules, don't take the money. It's that simple.
Laura Jones
Sun, Apr 22, 2012 : 5:50 a.m.
No, far better to have the historical society be foreclosed on and the property to go on the block - much better. Then we can have more condo's and maybe another sub division. By the way, since when is driving cars over grass once per year development? The most taxpayer ire I see in the future here will be directed at those folks who are short sighted about this and lack common sense. This is not an international treaty, its a friggen historical reenactment for the benefit of the taxpayers and the property. Just ridiculous.
Mike
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 8:31 p.m.
Welcome to environmental (and I stress the mental part!) whacko land. Get used to the new reality folks; there's lots of things in your future you're not going to be able to do with the land your tax dollars are paying for. Don't forget to re-elect John Kingsley for township supervisor and his other cronies that supported this.......................I live in Webster and have a long memory and lots of friends.
motorcycleminer
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
Sounds like the board is made up of scrooges who migrated from Ann Arbor......Thats our brand of " OZ " politics at its best ....
DennisP
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 6:09 p.m.
So, what exactly are the parking limitations within the easement? We know that last year's contract with the Twp. reserved the Twp's rights to retain those limitations. That's standard legalese for saying that the one-year agreement didn't constitute a permanent waiver of any rights/limitations that may be in the easement. But, Mr. Bishop argues that the Hall isn't seeking a parking permit but approval to drive across the Twp easement to a parking area situated on the Scio side. Easements are usually viewed narrowly. If the easement prohibits parking but doesn't prohibit access to the rest of the land it should mean the access right is still held by the original landowner. It would be a shame if this property is lost to foreclosure because of some non-issue. It would seem the better remedy would be to ask the Society to post a bond or surety to cover damage to the easement. If Webster Twp remains small-minded about this, then maybe the Society can make a deal with the Farm Market across the way there for some parking on some of his farm land there.
Vette96drvr
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
This is just rediculous!!!! Please post the names of the 4 members who voted against allowing it so myself and the other residents of Webster Township can make sure they are not re elected to the board! What a joke!
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
Thank you DennisP. I too will remember this come November. Suprised Mary D. was one of the nays however and sorry that I will have to refraim from voting for her again.
DennisP
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 5:59 p.m.
From the minutes of the 4/17/12 Webster Township Board meeting: B. Gordon Hall Motion Koch second Whitney to approve the Dexter Area Historical Society & Museum to hold Civil Wars Days at Gordon Hall, June 8-10, with egress & ingress over Webster Township grounds and Conservation easement with no parking on Webster Township grounds only Scio Township. Roll call vote; Koch Aye, Kleinschmidt Nay, Estleman Nay, Kingsley Aye, Heller Nay, Whitney Aye, Westman nay. Motion fails 4-3.
tom
Fri, Apr 20, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
Are they serious, two days is not going to ruin the easement but not funding it might cause it to be foreclosed. This is poor decision on the townships part, you cannot agree then disagree.