Residents ask Grosse Ile to sue Wayne County over detour tolls; board cites legal opinion advising against township suit

Two residents urged the township to pursue a court ruling to force free detours during county bridge work; the board said it had received written legal advice that makes a township-led lawsuit impractical.

Douglas Scott and Mary Bresnahan spoke during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Scott urged the board to file a declaratory-judgment action under Michigan statute MCL 247.292 to determine whether Wayne County is required to provide toll-free detours when the county closes its causeway and diverts traffic to the paid crossing. Scott said resident hardships during prior closures can be significant and called for township action rather than inaction.

Bresnahan likewise said repeated county closures have forced local drivers to use the toll bridge and that the community "deserves better," asking the township to take the matter to court if necessary.

Nut graf: Board members acknowledged residentsconcerns but said they had relied on their municipal attorneyfor counsel. Supervisor Portiarelli read from the attorney's written advice, saying the attorney concluded the township likely does not have proper standing to bring the claim and that pursuing litigation would be costly and might fail. The supervisor said residents who wish to pursue a private legal action could do so, but the township would not proceed based on the attorney's guidance.

Supporting details and context - Statute cited by residents: MCL 247.292 (detour rules). Residents urged a declaratory judgment to interpret the statute as it applies to Grosse Ile and Wayne County practice. - Township position: The supervisor said the township attorney wrote that the township is "not a proper plaintiff" for a court challenge in this case and warned the board that litigation could be prolonged and expensive. The supervisor offered to place the matter on a future agenda for further discussion if trustees choose to do so. - Local context: Commenters recalled a prior long-term county closure that had sent all island traffic over the toll bridge for about 18 months; they said the costs and hardship to residents during closures are real and recurring.

Board and community reaction Trustees and members of the public acknowledged the legal and political trade-offs. One resident, Greg Carhams, reported that the Grosse Ile Taxpayers Association had retained outside counsel who reached a similar conclusion on the difficulty of prevailing and cautioned that suing Wayne County could damage the townshiprelationship with the county at a time when the township will ask the county to invest in future bridge improvements.

Ending: The supervisor said the board would consider the issue if members brought a formal agenda item; for now, the legal advice in hand led the board not to sue on the township's behalf.