Edmore council begins process to vacate one‑block section of Norway Street

The Village of Edmore Council voted unanimously June 9 to begin the legal process to vacate the one‑block section of Norway Street west of 10th Street and approved up to $1,500 in legal fees to cover the work.

Manager Mark Borden told trustees the paved block, installed in the early 1990s and only about 11 feet wide, is shown as dedicated on the village plat but does not appear on the village ACT 51 street map. Because it is not formally accepted by council action, the village cannot use ACT 51 funds to improve or maintain it, yet the village has maintained the block (including snow plowing) for decades. Borden said that under Michigan law a municipality may have liability for bodily injury or property damage if it fails to maintain a public roadway it has effectively accepted by maintaining it.

Trustee McParland moved to begin the vacation process and to authorize up to $1,500 in legal fees; the motion was supported by Trustee Pierce and passed by roll call vote with Trustees Colburn, Griswold, Kanine, McParland, Moore, Pierce and President Chet Guild voting yes.

Council discussion emphasized that the short block effectively benefits only two parcels and that vacating it would clarify maintenance responsibility and reduce village liability. The resolution to initiate the vacation process is a first step; formal vacation requires further legal notices and any statutory steps under Michigan law before ownership and maintenance responsibilities can change.

Next steps: the village attorney will begin the statutory vacation process and the council will receive updates at subsequent meetings as the legal work and public‑notice requirements proceed.