After extended debate, committee sends Hall Road property transfer to full board amid title questions

The committee voted 9-2 to refer to the full Macomb County Board of Commissioners a resolution authorizing transfer of a county-owned parcel and former Wayne State library building on Hall Road back to Macomb Community College for $1.

County staff (John) told the committee the county acquired 5.188 acres fronting Hall Road from the college in 1994 for $1, subject to use restrictions requiring educational use and architectural compatibility. Staff said the county later leased the building to Wayne State University for $1 per year through a 25-year lease that was terminated this year; the building is now vacant. John described the structure as "musty, dusty" and in need of major roofing, HVAC and interior work, and staff said the county has not completed a lot split that would separate the parcel on county property records.

John recommended transferring the property back to Macomb Community College for $1, saying the building would be costly for the county to maintain and that, because of deed restrictions limiting use to educational purposes, there is limited market interest. Commissioners pressed for alternatives: marketing the parcel, leasing rather than transferring outright, obtaining appraisals, clarifying the deed and lot-split history, and quantifying ongoing utility costs. Several commissioners warned that an immediate full transfer for $1 could be perceived poorly by the public and asked whether the county should pursue a short marketing period or require the college to commit funds for rehabilitation.

County corporate counsel and other commissioners noted difficulty locating original sales-contract documents and that county-records gaps make clear title complicated; staff said Wayne State property staff recently returned building keys to the county. Proponents of the transfer argued that the county paid $1 for the land originally and that returning the property to the college places responsibility for rehabilitation with an educational institution rather than the county.

After extended discussion, the committee instructed the clerk to call the roll for a referral vote. The motion to refer the resolution to the full board passed 9 to 2; Commissioners Perna and Romano voted no. The matter will be considered by the full board at its next meeting.

Key details from committee discussion:

- Parcel and building: 5.188 acres on Hall Road; building constructed in the 1990s; county staff described major exterior/interior systems as beyond expected service life.

- Use restriction: Staff and college representatives described a deed-based restriction limiting the parcel to educational uses; committee members asked staff to provide documentary evidence of the restriction prior to full-board action.

- Financial impact to county: Staff said continued county ownership would require utilities, groundskeeping, parking-lot resurfacing and eventual capital investment that could total in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

- Recommended action: Committee referred the resolution authorizing transfer to Macomb Community College to the full board by a 9-2 roll-call vote; staff to provide supporting deed/contract documents where available before the full-board consideration.