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Board rejects proposal to pay 50% of New Baltimore sidewalk assessment billed to district
Summary
After months of correspondence with the city, the Anchor Bay board rejected a finance‑committee recommendation to pay half of a $31,472 sidewalk assessment billed by the City of New Baltimore to district property owners. Trustees criticized the city’s notice and process; the motion failed 4–2 with one abstention.
The Anchor Bay School District Board of Education on April 25 declined to accept a city‑led offer to pay 50% of sidewalk repair assessments billed to the district by the City of New Baltimore, rejecting a finance‑committee recommendation after trustees raised procedural and notice concerns.
Background: In October 2024 the district received three invoices from the city, together totaling roughly $31,472, for sidewalk pad repairs on district property. District counsel reviewed Michigan statutory language and advised the district that school property used for public purposes generally is exempt from such special assessments. The district’s attorney sent the city two written opinions in November 2024 asserting the district believed it was not liable under state law.
The finance committee later met with city officials. District staff told trustees they did not receive routine pre‑work notices that the city said it had published. The district’s facilities staff documented roughly 127–230 repaired sidewalk pads across district properties; administration calculated an offer to pay 50% of the billed amount as a one‑time, nonnegotiable settlement to preserve relations with the city.
Board members criticized the city’s outreach and how the city presented the district’s later offer to its council members. “They graciously accepted an offer that we haven’t even made,” Trustee Powers said, and other trustees said the city’s packet gave the impression the full board had already authorized the payment when it had not. Several trustees said the committee had discussed a possible offer but that committees do not have unilateral authority to bind the full board.
A motion to approve the settlement — to pay 50% of $31,472 (district portion $15,736.15) — was made and seconded. The roll call vote: Powers — No; Richards — No; Sunnyberger — No; Bergmeier — No; Venetelli — Yes; Knox — No; Green — Abstain. The motion failed to pass.
District staff told trustees that accepting the offer was intended to avoid straining the working relationship with the city and that the district continues to pursue Safe Routes to School grant funding for future sidewalk projects; staff said the federal/state grant, if awarded, would not retroactively cover the already completed work.
Trustees instructed administration to document the timeline and communications, and several said the board and city should establish clearer processes to prevent a recurrence. No further payment was authorized.
