Board authorizes appraisal services for two Michigan Tax Tribunal cases

The Charter Township of Commerce Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Jan. 28 to authorize township attorneys to engage appraisal services for two Michigan Tax Tribunal cases.

MOTION by Clerk Melissa Creech, supported by Treasurer Molly Phillips, to authorize the attorneys to engage the services of John Widmer of Frohm & Widmer, Inc. for the amount as discussed in Closed Session for the Michigan Tax Tribunal, MTT Docket No. 24-001132, Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. v. Charter Township of Commerce; and to authorize the Appraisal Retainer Agreement to be executed by Supervisor Larry Gray. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (Ayes: Gray, Creech, Weber, Long, Sovel, Phillips; Absent: Berkheiser).

MOTION by Clerk Melissa Creech, supported by Treasurer Molly Phillips, to authorize the attorneys to engage the services of John Widmer of Frohm & Widmer, Inc. for the amount as discussed in Closed Session for the Michigan Tax Tribunal, MTT Docket No. 24-001250, Wal‑Mart Real Estate Business Trust v. Charter Township of Commerce; and to authorize the Appraisal Retainer Agreement to be executed by Supervisor Larry Gray. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (Ayes: Gray, Creech, Weber, Long, Sovel, Phillips; Absent: Berkheiser).

Both motions were taken after the board entered a closed session to discuss pending litigation and real estate appraisal services; the board returned to open session and approved the closed-session minutes before taking the two authorizing votes. The motions do not specify contract amounts in the public minutes; the motions reference the amount "as discussed in Closed Session." Supervisor Larry Gray was authorized to execute the Appraisal Retainer Agreements.