The Orion Township Board was the first of the three communities involved in a proposal for a combined senior center to approve language to place bond and millage proposals on the November general election ballot.
Along with Orion, Addison and Oxford townships must also approve the two resolutions and vote to take the issue to the public, if the proposal is to move forward.
‘We’re really excited that the township has the vision to take the proposal to the voters,? said Orion Senior Center Director Lisa Sokol.
Because Orion will be the most heavily involved financially, Treasurer Alice Young said having approval from the board should pave the way for the other two township boards to follow.
Oxford’s board meets July 12, and Addison’s board will meet on the July 17.
For the issue to get onto the November ballot, all three townships must approve the language by Aug. 20.
The Orion board’s approval was contingent on the review of the proposal by their legal counsel, Secrest & Wardle.
Young noted that the Secrest & Wardle attorney fees will be the first time money has been spent on the proposal.
‘So far we’ve done it completely for free,? she said.
The board asked a number of questions to presenters Jim Milford of Orion, and Helen Mann of Oxford, as well as Young, architect John Waldrop, finance advisor Jonathan Wheatley and Paul Wyzgoski of Dickinson Wright, PLLC (a law firm that specializes in bonds).
‘I always think it’s good to ask questions,? Young said, noting that the board was just doing their job.
Some of the questions revolved around Orion’s financial obligation to the project, which, due to its population, will be just over 60 percent of the nearly $10 million construction (which will be covered by the bond).
The millage is for the operating cost of the center, and would be for a term of 10 years at .25 mills (or $25 for every $100,000 of taxable value of real and personal property).
That means, Orion’s percentage for the millage could fluctuate, but it will begin around 60 percent as well.
In all, taxpayers will pay roughly $45 for every $100,000 of taxable property, or 12 cents a day, a fee that the presenters called ‘reasonable,? among other things.
‘We know that there’s a lot of work ahead of us,? said Young, who knows that approval from the other boards means the Senior Center Task Force will have only a few months to spread the word about the center and educate voters on the proposal.
‘It’s time that the seniors in these three communities got the facilities they need,? she added.
‘There’s so much that we’ll be able to offer seniors,? Sokol said.
The board unanimously approved both proposals, and trustee Mike Gingell encouraged the group to ‘keep it up,? saying that getting things approved through Orion voters on a first ballot has historically been ‘sticky.?
From the start of the process with the county commissioners some two years ago, those involved have all pledged their continued dedication to the project and it’s hard to envision them letting up now.
‘We’re very hopeful,? Young said. ‘We’re very positive.