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Board authorizes $29,500 escrow to Garfield Township for Project Alpha, asks township to waive fees
Summary
The board authorized a $29,500 escrow payment to Garfield Township to cover plan-review fees needed for permitting of Project Alpha and approved asking Garfield Township to waive fee charges while preserving required technical reviews.
The Grand Traverse County Board authorized payment of a $29,500 escrow to Garfield Township to cover township plan-review costs needed for Project Alpha’s permitting phase, and the board asked county staff to request a fee waiver from the township.
County project staff said the escrow covers review work by the township engineer and other township staff as the project moves from design development to permitting. Staff noted local zoning does not apply to the state project but that township ordinances can apply to public-infrastructure reviews.
"What we're asking for is a motion to authorize the payment of escrow in the amount reflected in Jennifer Graham's letter to Garfield Township," project staff said; the amount shown in the packet was $29,500.
Commissioners approved the escrow payment and—by a friendly amendment—directed staff to ask Garfield Township to waive the fees (not the review itself) as a courtesy; county staff said delays in the review could compound project schedule and potential cost increases. Staff also said the county expects to present additional Project Alpha contracts and agreements (including a construction-manager agreement) at a future meeting.
Next steps: staff will authorize the escrow payment as approved and follow up with Garfield Township to request a fee waiver; the board will receive additional Project Alpha contract and financing materials at a future meeting.
