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Commissioners approve $254,000 lake-level assessment, to be billed over seven years
Summary
Van Buren County commissioners approved two resolutions to adopt an assessment role and computation of costs totaling $254,000 for a lake-level structure, to be assessed over seven years and financed by borrowing if prepayments do not cover the balance.
Van Buren County commissioners voted to approve two resolutions that adopt an assessment roll and the computation of costs for a lake-level structure, approving a $254,000 project cost to be apportioned to nearby property owners and assessed over seven years.
The project covers replacement and permitting work for a lake-level control structure that a county presenter said is “40 something years old” and has holes. The board approved two separate resolutions: one adopting the assessment roll and computation of costs and a second authorizing the county to borrow on its full faith and credit if prepayments do not eliminate the need to borrow.
Why it matters: The approved assessments fund design, EGLE permitting (the state environmental permitting process), structure replacement and future lake monitoring tied to the lake-level control act. County staff said the longer amortization (seven years) was chosen to reduce annual payments for property owners.
What the board approved and how it will be charged: County staff told commissioners the total project cost is $254,000. That amount will be spread over seven years. The assessment district covers direct-access lakefront properties and back-lot or limited-access parcels. Direct-access parcels will pay a larger annual share (the presenter described a top factor of $100 per year for direct-access parcels), while some back-lot properties will be assessed smaller amounts (as low as $25 per year for certain back-lot parcels). Staff also said there will be a two-week prepayment period during which property owners may pay their assessed share without interest; otherwise assessments will carry interest for amounts rolled into the county borrowing.
County staff said notices and an online portal were used for an assessment hearing on June 5; about eight to ten members of the public attended that hearing. During the meeting a commissioner asked how many parcels were in the district; the presenter replied “254.” The presenter described other routine elements of the project scope as engineering/design work, EGLE permitting, and ongoing lake-level monitoring after replacement.
Board action: A commissioner moved and another supported approval of the two resolutions. The board called the vote and the motion was carried. The resolutions were scheduled for formal adoption on the county’s June 24 meeting (staff described the June 24 schedule as the time to approve the resolutions as motions were presented as two separate items requiring separate votes under the lake-level act).
What the board did not decide: Commissioners did not authorize the county to perform unrelated road or subdivision improvements; staff said the lake-level statute limits the county’s work to lake-level structures and monitoring, and that road or subdivision development questions are separate and not eligible for this assessment under the lake-level law.
Notes and next steps: If enough property owners prepay, the county will borrow less; otherwise the county will proceed with borrowing on its full faith and credit to fund the project. Staff expects to move forward with permitting and design once the assessment roll is finalized.
