Dexter in a holding pattern on its cityhood quest until official document from the state arrives
The Village of Dexter is taking a breather in its drive for cityhood at the moment as it waits for official notification from the state that the village's proposed boundaries were denied approval a second time.
Monday night, several council members questioned how much taxpayer money fellow elected officials were willing to spend on a quest toward cityhood and requested a “better understanding of the costs” from village staff.
At this point, about $47,000 has been spent on cityhood, about $35,000 on an accurate village boundary, something the village didn’t have before, said Council member Paul Cousins said.
Village officials hope to make Dexter into a city, but the effort has so far been thwarted by state officials who say proposed boundaries are not sufficient for cityhood.
Downtown Dexter MI
At issue is whether a current Public Act 425 annexation and tax revenue-sharing agreement, which includes parcels in Webster Township, can be incorporated into a new Home Rule City.
Earlier this month, the state boundary commission upheld its original August ruling that the village's proposed boundaries were legally insufficient, and denied the village’s proposed boundaries, which include historic Gordon Hall, located in Webster Township.
In a memo to the Village Council, Tom Ryan, Dexter’s special boundary attorney, said he was “sorely disappointed” in the decision.
Once the village receives a signed decision from the state, the attorney recommends that, if the village wants to appeal, it do so within 21 days to the Circuit Court in Ingham County, where the boundary commission hearings take place.
Then, it would be up to a judge to decide whether land in a 425 agreement can be incorporated into a new Home Rule City.
After the state ruled the original village boundaries “legally insufficient” on April 12, 2010, the council voted to resubmit a petition and changed the boundaries to include Gordon Hall and the back half of the Mill Creek Sporting Goods store property so the village had a contiguous boundary.
Ultimately, the exact boundaries would be determined by the state.
At both boundary commission hearings, both the Dexter Area Historical Society and Webster Township objected to including Gordon Hall in the proposed city limits.
Dexter’s website has extensive information about all the steps involved as well as the history of the process to date.
It's expected that the next step will be discussed at the village's next regular council meeting on Oct. 10.
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
dexterfan
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
I have questioned how many people really want to become a city. I would ask any Village resident to speak with a few homeowner's in Chelsea, yes they are only taxed by one municipality but the cost is more than when they were not a city. I would like to see the Village Council focus on how to run the Village efficiently and effectively and quit wasting time and money on becoming a city. Bigger is not always better so let's focus on being the very best Village in the State!
John Q
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.
"I would ask any Village resident to speak with a few homeowner's in Chelsea, yes they are only taxed by one municipality but the cost is more than when they were not a city." Not true. The tax rate is about the same. Tax rates have actually come down the past couple of years. "Bigger is not always better so let's focus on being the very best Village in the State!" The village isn't getting bigger by changing its status to be a city. The best way to become more efficient is to change the village status to a city.
jns131
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:15 p.m.
You get more subsidies and monies then you do as a village. Plus you are more readily recognized by the state as such. Chelsea is a city and with Dexter at its border, I see no reason why not to make a city. I am all for it.
John Q
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
Incorporation as a city has nothing to do with whether Dexter grows or not. It's changing the form of government so that residents are no longer taxed by both the village and township. It's too bad that people have the misconception that becoming a city automatically equals more development. There are many Michigan cities that have moved from Village to City without changing the character of the community. The same would be true of Dexter.
JustMyOpinion
Fri, Oct 7, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
@John Q. Public records say the land is not belonging to the Village and the application for city hood was denied in part on this basis. Who is misinformed?
John Q
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
I'm sorry that you are misinformed but the "land grab" is including land that's already under the village's control. In any case, if Dexter is "already acting like a city", it means that it can do those things you don't like just as easily as a village as it can as a city. The same is true of any growth that can happen. The only thing staying a village guarantees is that you'll continue to be double taxed.
JustMyOpinion
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.
That's not exactly true when you consider a land grab in necessary to make a city out of Dexter. Dexter is already acting like a city, making grandiose decisions about sidewalks without a single care for what the residents want or think - the people they are supposed to be representing. Seems like a giant ego trip to me and no gain for the residents.
JustMyOpinion
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.
With all the cities in financial ruin, this seems like an idea that is simply too much for Dexter. It's a great place, it doesn't need this right now. Dexter has some of the best schools around, as much growth as we can handle, why push it over the edge? I have no desire to see Dexter become a city, seems like a lot of headache for not much gain.