The Hastings Banner — Thursday, September 16, 2021 — Page 9167966
PRAIRIEVILLE TOWNSHIP
BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGANNOTICE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PUBLIC HEARING
SOUTHGATE DRIVE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 21-TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF PRAIRIEVILLE, BARRY
COUNTY, MICHIGAN AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, the Township Board of Prairieville Township, as authorized by PA 188
of 1954, as amended, proposes to undertake a road improvement project (including paving and related
improvements) on Southgate Drive in Prairieville Township as more particularly described below and to
create a special assessment district for the recovery of the costs thereof by special assessment against the
properties benefited. The Township Board of Prairieville Township is acting pursuant to petitions, as
authorized by PA 188 of 1954, as amended.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the special assessment district within which the foregoing
improvements are proposed to be made and within which the costs thereof are to be specially assessed
includes parcels on Southgate Drive generally extending 0.46 miles northerly from the intersection with 4
Mile Road and includes the following tax parcels:SOUTHGATE DRIVE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 21-1 - PROPOSED DISTRICT:The properties indicated by parcel numbers:12-007-009-10 12-007-009-30 12-007-011-00 12-450-001-
12-450-001-10 12-450-001-20 12-450-001-30 12-450-001-
12-450-001-55 12-450-001-70 12-450-001-90 12-450-002-
12-450-003-00 12-450-004-00 12-450-005-00 12-450-006-
12-450-007-00 12-450-008-00 12-450-009-00 12-450-010-
12-450-011-00 12-450-012-00 12-450-013-00 12-450-014-
12-450-015-00 12-450-016-00 12-450-017-00 12-450-018-
12-450-018-10 12-450-018-20 12-450-018-30 12-450-018-
12-450-018-50 12-450-019-00 12-450-019-10 12-450-020-
12-450-021-PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has received plans showing the
proposed road paving project and associated activities, together with an estimate of the cost of the project
in the amount of $158,064.38. The cost of the project is proposed to be raised by special assessment on
parcels in the proposed district. The Prairieville Township Board has passed a resolution tentatively
declaring its intention to undertake such project and to create the afore-described special assessment
district.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board has placed the project plans and
costs estimate on file with the Township Clerk and said plans, cost estimates and special assessment
district may be examined at the Township Clerk’s office from the date of this Notice to the date of the public
hearing and may further be examined at such public hearing.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Township Board proposes to make a per-parcel
special assessment each year for a period of ten years (2022-2031 inclusive) of approximately $451.61 per
year. Additionally, the Township Board reserves the right to levy a lesser assessment in any year that there
are more funds in the special assessment district fund than the amount needed.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing on the plans, district, and cost estimates
will be held at Prairieville Township Hall, 10115 S. Norris Road, Delton, Michigan, on September 30, 2021
at 7:00 p.m.At the hearing, the Board will consider any written objections and comments to any of the foregoing matters
which are filed with the Township Clerk at or before the hearing, and any objections or comments raised at
the hearing; and at the hearing (or any adjournment of the hearing which may be made without further
notice), the township board may revise, correct, amend or change the plans, cost estimates or special
assessment district.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if written objections to the project are filed with the
Township Board at or before the hearing, signed by the record owners of land constituting more than 20%
of the total frontage on the road, the township board may not proceed unless petitions in support of the
project, signed by record owners of more than 50% of the total frontage on the road proposed for
improvement and for inclusion in the special assessment district, are filed with the township. Written
comments or objections may be filed with the clerks at the address set out below.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that appearance and protest at the public hearing is required
in order to appeal the amount of the special assessment to the State Tax Tribunal within 30 days after the
special assessment roll is confirmed. An owner or party in interest, or his or her agent, may appear in
person at the hearing to protest the special assessment, or shall be permitted to file at or before the hearing
his or her appearance or protest by letter and his or her personal appearance shall not be required. All
interested persons are invited to be present in person or by representative and to express their views at the
public hearing.PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if the township board determines to proceed with the
special assessment, the board will cause a special assessment roll to be prepared and another hearing will
be held, after notice to record owners of property proposed to be specially assessed, to hear public
comments concerning the proposed special assessment.Prairieville Township will provide necessary reasonable aids and services to individuals with disabilities at
the hearing upon four (4) days’ notice to the Township Clerk at the address below.
Rod Goebel, Clerk
Prairieville Township
10115 S. Norris Road
Delton, MI 49046
(269) 623-Southgate Drive Special Assessment DistrictBarry County
MichiganBarry County Land Information Services08/10/
ESRI:Southgate Drive
Special Assessment DistrictSouthgate (450-)Buckley Plat (090-)Evictions up, but resources
available for tenants, landlords
Jean Gallup
Contributing Writer
A recent Barry County court docket showed
15 or more families listed for pretrial hearings
in eviction proceedings.
But an Eviction Diversion Assistance
program through the Barry County United
Way is helping to resolve issues before these
families are out on the street.
“It’s not as bad as it seems,” BCUW
Housing Impact Specialist Angie Metzger
said. “Typically, we’re able to resolve the
situation.”
That help begins in the courtroom.
“We have funds from COVID Emergency
Rental Assistance (CERA) that tenants can
apply for,” Metzger said. “If they qualify and
are approved, they will get the amount of
back-rent and possibly a couple of months’
forward, preventing eviction.
“At the pretrial, we’re right there; we help
with the application and, if we get the
application quickly, a lot of them are dismissed
before trial.”
For example, among the 15 tenants listed
on that recent court docket, several were
dismissed ahead of time, and the paperwork
just had not caught up, she said.
So far, they have helped 120 families with
CERA grants since March, “and we’re
working on getting more,” Metzger said. “We
are working very diligently with the courts,
landlords and tenants so that everyone can
stay housed.”
Helping a family avoid eviction is
rewarding, she said. “I love my job. This is a
team office, it’s not just me. Everyone here is
involved.”
The Michigan State Housing Development
Authority has a contract with each county that
handles tenant/landlord eviction assistance,
according to Karen Todd in the office of 24th
District state Sen. John Bizon.
A federal program operated by the states
helps people who have been impacted by
COVID-19 and are about to be evicted.
“Landlords literally can get back-rent and
sometimes even a few months’ rent in
advance, depending on income. Also, the
funds can help renters get help with utilities,”
Todd said.
In Barry County, that official agency is the
United Way.
Executive Director Lani Forbes said it’s
important to give credit to Barry County
Courts Court Administrator Ines Straube and
the Legal Services of Southwest Michigan for
their help in developing a program to handle
the responsibilities of the renter/landlord
assistance program.
“It took us literally two weeks to pull it all
together and be ready to roll,” Forbes said.
“We’re using the same program today. Our
concern was not only the tenants but also the
landlords: What if they have a mortgage on
the property? How do they pay their bills
without the rent payments?
“With federal and state grants, our
campaign, other grants, work with Michigan
United, COVID funds, volunteer hours,
in-kind donations and other help, United Way
has spent $4.55 million in Barry County for
Barry County residents.
“We’re trying to do the best we can for the
residents of our county.”Rutland Township hears plan
for Save A Lot property
Jean Gallup
Contributing Writer
The Rutland Township Planning
Commission got a preliminary look at
development plans for the former Save A Lot
store property at the 1670 W. M-43 Highway
near the corner of Heath Road.
Engineer Rob LaPlaca from Fleis &
Vandenbrink, a civil engineering firm that
will handle engineering and site plans for the
project, gave a short overview of the plans for
the 3.44-acre parcel.
LaPlaca said the former Save A Lot building
will be razed and two new buildings erected
to hold four retail businesses with 1,600 or
2,400 square-foot spaces.
He’s in talks with the Barry County Road
Commission and the Michigan Department of
Transportation about the project. A
comprehensive traffic study will be completed
in time for a Sept. 27 meeting of the M-
Corridor Committee and representatives of
MDOT, the township, road commission and
himself, he said.
Starbucks is “very interested” in a space, he
said, and several other retailers have made
inquiries. There are several options for a
variety of businesses; one retail space has a
drive-through in its plans, he said.
The “exit only” driveway onto Heath Road
is expected to be discussed at the Sept. 27
meeting.
Rutland Township Supervisor Larry Watson
has spoken against it, saying he saw a close
call involving two youngsters that almost
resulted in a tragedy, and it is too dangerous
to keep as an exit.
Larry Haywood, chairman of the planning
commission, said the exit doesn’t lend itself
well to the layout of the proposed buildings.
He suggested changing the direction of the
buildings.
LaPlaca said the exit is under the control of
MDOT.
“Our goal is to do what’s the safest and best
for everyone; we’ll try to find a middle
ground ... we may have to change the traffic
pattern to the exit,” LaPlaca said.
The current exit/entrance on M-37/M-43 is
not in question.
Commissioners set the Oct. 4 meeting for a
special land use designation and site plan
review for the project.
The developer, Alrig USA, is a privately
held commercial real estate investment and
development firm based in metro Detroit.
Rebecca Miller and Jordan Chapman from the
company were at the meeting to answer
questions from commissioners.
Miller said if the project is approved, Alrig
USA will execute its contract to buy the
property.
In other business Sept. 1, the commission
sent the master plan to the township board,
which will start the 42-day public comment
period. The document, which contains what
officials want to see for future land use in the
township, includes two amendments
commissioners made.
One extends the light-industrial zone in the
land-use plan by almost 39 acres in an area
along M-37 near D&S Machine Repair at 874
N. M-37 Highway.
Haywood questioned if they needed that
much acreage.
Zoning Administrator Les Raymond said
he felt they did.
“It’s only on the land-use plan; it’s not a
rezoning,” Raymond said.
The second change involves sewer service
to Algonquin Lake. Due to nutrient load,
Algonquin Lake would need wastewater
treatment facilities in 10 to 20 years, according
to the master plan.
Commissioner Jim Blake argued for
lowering the time frame to one to 10 years.
“There are a lot of funds out there for
improvement projects,” Blake said. “The
federal government is giving out monies we
could use ... we will never have the opportunity
to get federal money like we have right now.”
Commissioner Brenda Bellmore pointed
out that Carter Lake flows into Algonquin
Lake and would have to be addressed first. In
discussion, it was noted that an earlier attempt
to install sewer service to Algonquin Lake
“fizzled,” and residents were resistant to
special assessments.
Blake said, with cost-sharing, federal
money and low interest rates, now is the time
to “get things accomplished and stop sitting
on our hands.” He said it was important to the
township for growth and recommended
forming a committee, “to steer this thing,”
adding he would be glad to chair it.
The vote was unanimous to lower the time
frame to one to 10 years for action on sewer
service to Algonquin Lake.