| Waterford fires back in dispute over annexation agreement |
By: By DAVID HENKE Staff Writer
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Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:03 pm
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The joint annexation agreement between Waterford Township and Northfield was good in 1980, township supervisor John Dudley said, and it is still good now.
At a meeting last night between the township board and city officials, Dudley and the board “respectfully disagreed” with the city attorney’s opinion that the 30-year-old agreement between Northfield and the township is invalid under state law.
The agreement, which allowed the city to annex 20 acres of land from the township, but required Northfield to pay tax reimbursements to Waterford for an indefinite period of time, was a landmark decision, Dudley said, and should be grandfathered in under state law.
But Northfield’s legal representatives issued an opinion last month on the agreement, saying the agreement has long-since expired, is not enforceable and has no binding effect on the city.
The city’s decision to review the agreement at next Tuesday’s city council meeting is “unethical,” Dudley said after the meeting, since it doesn’t provide enough time for Waterford to weigh its legal options.
Furthermore, Dudley and other township officials say, Waterford is entitled to its cut of the tax revenue generated from the site, especially since the city still receives the lion’s share of tax revenue from the property.
At this point, the township hasn’t ruled out suing the city, Dudley said, but he believes the board needs more time to consider alternate paths.
“Before this is over, there’s going to be a fight, there’s no doubt about it,” Dudley said.
— David Henke covers city, business and youth issues. He can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100. |
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