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Novi district outlines partnership with city on proposed activity center, pond ownership and road work
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Summary
Superintendent Mica briefed the board on a proposed partnership with the City of Novi to build an activity center, transfer ownership of a nearby retention pond to the district (with a city easement for use and future expansion), reconstruct Novi Way and add bus turnarounds; board members asked for maintenance‑cost estimates and noted permitting needs with EGLE.
Superintendent Mica told the Novi Board of Education on April 23 that the district and the City of Novi are advancing discussions about a joint activity center near the civic center campus and several related site‑work items, including ownership of an existing retention pond, an easement arrangement, and roadway and utility work on Novi Way.
Mica said transferring ownership of the pond south of the civic center to the district while granting the city an easement for continued use and future expansion would avoid building a separate drainage pond on district land and save taxpayer dollars. He said the pond has reached capacity at times and that moving the property line slightly south would allow expansion and landscaping to create a more natural amenity for the community.
The superintendent described three bus turnarounds proposed along Novi Way, improved road construction to higher specifications for bus traffic and added utility easements; the city would retain ownership of the road while the district would gain easement for utilities and access. Mica said renderings and design work are preliminary and that memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements are being drafted by district and city attorneys.
Board members asked technical and fiscal questions. Trustees requested an estimate of ongoing maintenance costs for the pond should the district assume ownership; Mica said staff will provide cost estimates at a future meeting. Trustees also asked whether the pond could be split or expanded entirely on district property; the superintendent said engineers and attorneys advised that ownership transfer with a city easement is the cleanest legal and operational solution, reducing maintenance complexity and preserving the city's right to future expansion.
Mica said next steps include parallel presentations to city council (in May) and a target for each governing body to act by June so that earthwork and phase‑1 site work (foundations and utilities) could begin in the fall if permits and agreements proceed as planned. He noted permitting questions that may involve the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
Trustees asked about wetlands, additional pond sites to the south, and the potential need for underground storage; transportation and site engineers told the board they believe there is capacity to expand to the south and east on district property and that multiple options were available to avoid underground storage. Several trustees praised the city‑district partnership as an opportunity to deliver a shared community asset and to leverage joint funding for a facility to serve students and residents.
Next steps: district staff will provide follow‑up materials including maintenance‑cost estimates and finalized draft memoranda of understanding to the board before June action; administrators plan a similar briefing for city council in May.
