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Hillsdale residents demand vote on $15.5M Lifeways bond; commissioners table motion to rescind
Summary
Hundreds of residents urged the Hillsdale County Board to keep a proposed Lifeways building bond (up to $15,500,000) on the August ballot. After sustained public comment and allegations of conflicts of interest, the board voted 4–1 to table a motion to rescind the prior ballot placement decision and asked Lifeways for written cost figures.
Hundreds of Hillsdale County residents packed the courthouse on Feb. 24 and urged the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners to let voters decide whether the county should guarantee up to $15,500,000 for a new Lifeways facility.
The public-comment period opened with a readback of a Lifeways memorandum that described a board decision and a separate closed session about possible real estate linked to county projects. Dozens of speakers then took the podium to oppose removing the bond from the ballot and to press commissioners for more transparency.
"This 15 and a half million dollar bond needs to remain on the ballot, so the voters can do exactly what we intend to do with it, to make it go away," said David Hamilton, a resident who identified his address and spoke during public comment. Several speakers echoed that theme, saying the loss of a public vote would be a betrayal of prior promises and would improperly saddle taxpayers with long-term risk.
Speakers cited concrete figures and procedural claims raised in public documents: petition organizers said more than 2,400 people signed a petition last year; multiple commenters said a missed annual payment on a county‑backed bond could be on the order of $1,000,000 and would affect general‑fund priorities such as public safety and roads.
Several residents also alleged conflicts of interest, noting that at least one commissioner serves on a Lifeways board. Joseph Tendy said the perception of a conflict is profound and urged recusal: "Under no circumstance should you participate in voting to approve a $15,000,000 bond for this entity" (public comment). Board members and staff were asked repeatedly to produce email exchanges, minutes or other records that residents said show pre-meeting coordination with Lifeways executives.
When the board moved to rescind an earlier resolution that had placed the Lifeways bond on the August ballot, commissioners debated procedures and legal language. Brent Leininger moved to rescind resolution 25‑095 (the July/earlier resolution referenced in public comment). Commissioner Kevin Collins then moved to table the rescind motion for two weeks, asking staff to obtain written confirmation from Lifeways about the precise bond amount the agency seeks and whether the project could be phased. The motion to table passed 4–1, postponing any final action and directing staff to report back with clarified bond language and Lifeways’ written figures.
Board Chair Mark Wiley confirmed there was no resolution on the agenda that would immediately authorize issuance of a bond; commissioners asked for written documentation from Lifeways about any change in the requested amount. Several residents said they will use the two‑week window to continue organizing and to deliver additional records to the board.
The meeting closed public comment after a lengthy session and moved on to regular business. The next scheduled board meeting is expected to include follow‑up on the Lifeways materials requested by commissioners.
