Flat Rock council enters closed session to pursue due diligence on HCMA offer for Flat Rock Dam

Mayor Beller and city attorneys told residents the council has received a tentative offer from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority (HCMA) to purchase the Flat Rock Dam and associated bottomlands.

Mister Zick, addressing the public, described the current status as a letter of intent: "Basically, I've been calling that, an agreement to agree." He said that if the city and HCMA enter a letter of intent, "within about 10 days there would be a purchase agreement drafted," followed by a period for the city to perform due diligence. Mayor Beller likened the process to buying a house: "Our due diligence period is gonna be just that ... we're gonna be busy, and we're gonna get the answers that we need to find out if we can purchase this."

Several residents had urged additional environmental study before any commitment. Matthias Gladman read a letter from resident Guy Younglove asking that the city fund a comprehensive, data-driven fish study using the existing fish ladder and to clarify whether islands and bottomlands are included in HCMA's offer. Council members said they have not yet discussed or decided on the offer and that any action on a closed-session item would occur in open session if taken.

After outlining the purchase-agreement timeline and the role of due diligence, the council voted to recess briefly and move into closed session to review the HCMA proposal and next steps. The council noted the due-diligence period would be presumptively 90 days and could be extended if additional studies (environmental, fish passage, soil/sediment) are required.

Next steps: the council will examine HCMA's proposed purchase agreement and supporting documents during the closed-session review and return to open session for any formal action or vote on the matter.