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Waterford Township board approves OCC Highland Lakes purchase addendum and temporary $2.79M transfer
Summary
Waterford Township approved an addendum and related leases to purchase part of the Oakland Community College (OCC) Highland Lakes campus and a temporary transfer from the general fund to the 406 community center construction fund described at the meeting as $2,787,346 plus a $100,000 deposit; the vote passed with board member Harris opposed.
Waterford Township’s board voted to approve a resolution advancing the township’s purchase of a portion of the Oakland Community College Highland Lakes campus and associated legal documents, and authorized a temporary transfer from the general fund to the 406 Community Center construction fund to finance the transaction.
The resolution covered a first addendum to the real estate purchase agreement and related access and utility easements, a rental agreement, a historical easement and the Levinson Hall lease with Oakland Community College. During discussion, one board member warned the board was moving too quickly without a finalized plan and sufficient public input. “We don’t have a plan. We haven’t had any public forums on the plan,” a board member said, urging the board to delay a vote. The board scheduled a public presentation of architect renderings for July 10.
Supporters of immediate closing argued that a timely closing was required to get the property onto the winter tax roll and to access bond financing; one board member, Jeff, told the board that “closing is step number 1 on any project this size, getting to a set of buildable documents,” and warned that delaying could increase construction costs through inflation and push back the schedule.
On the financial side, the board approved a budget amendment moving funds described at the meeting as $2,787,346 plus a $100,000 deposit from the general fund to the 406 Community Center construction fund, with direction that township staff replenish the general fund after the planned Series 2025 bond sale. (The meeting transcript contained inconsistent total-line figures for the transfer; the amount above reflects the figures as stated on the record.)
The resolution to proceed with the OCC purchase addendum passed in roll call with one dissent: Board member Harris voted no; other board members voted yes. The budget amendment to temporarily fund the purchase likewise passed with Harris recorded as the lone no vote.
The board chair said an architect presentation will be shown at a special meeting on July 10 to provide the public with design details and that closing logistics were being finalized for early July.
