Benzie County commissioners approve letter of intent to buy property at 1020 Michigan Avenue

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 17 to approve a Letter of Intent to purchase property at 1020 Michigan Avenue in Benzie County and authorized Chair Art Jeannot to sign the document while directing administration to complete due diligence and return with findings and a draft purchase agreement.

Commissioner Len Mathieu moved to approve the LOI; Commissioner Bob Roelofs seconded. The motion carried unanimously with Commissioners Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Len Mathieu, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs, Gary Sauer and Christina Trigg recorded as voting aye.

Commissioner Christina Trigg later moved, and Commissioner Tim Markey seconded, to authorize the county administrator to release the Letter of Intent to purchase the property upon request, subject to the changes discussed during the meeting; that motion also passed unanimously.

Board discussion noted that the Letter of Intent needed corrections related to a Benzonia Township property reference before a final purchase agreement is drafted. The board authorized administration to work through due diligence on the purchase; the motion directs staff to return to the board with a draft purchase agreement and the results of that review.

Members of the public asked questions about the property. Deann Boman of Honor thanked the board and asked where the property is located and what the intended use would be. Eric Van Dussen of Benzonia Township raised concerns about a separate local process, asserting a township closed session had been held and telling commissioners an unedited Notice of Intent is available through FOIA; he urged the county to consult its attorney about the matter. The transcript does not record a response from a county official to those specific comments.

The special meeting was convened at 9:22 a.m. and adjourned at 9:57 a.m.