Whitmer family asks supervisors for help resolving county-created right‑of‑way issue on Clough Avenue

Members of the Whitmer family raised concerns during the Aug. 18 call to the public that a county minor land division created a gap in public access to Clough Avenue and left the family’s trust holding the strip of land without a recorded easement. Lon Whitmer said he and county staff met Aug. 15 about the matter. He said the Whitmer Family Trust agreed to donate Clough Avenue to the county under three conditions: the county assist in cleaning up boundary issues on three parcels, address historical road issues as it has in prior cases, and chip‑seal the road. Whitmer said two draft contracts presented by the county contained problematic language that weakened protections for the trust or allowed the county to back out, and he asked supervisors for help to mitigate litigation risk and to take up the matter in a work session. Rachel Whitmer said she previously worked in the county engineer’s office and asked the board to expedite correction because the family’s property remains held up in the process. Why it matters: The dispute affects property title clarity and can delay development, building permits, and financing. Whitmer said two building permits were issued that currently have no public access to Clough Avenue, and he warned that opposing the quiet‑title conveyance could generate attorney fees, litigation and delay for developers. Board response and next steps: Board members said they could not respond substantively during call to the public but directed staff to address the issue in a work session. The chairman and supervisors indicated they would discuss the matter further in the appropriate forum and asked staff to follow up with the Whitmers.