The Gingellville Community Center will remain open, for now.
GCC members met on May 8 to discuss their options and ultimately vowed to do whatever they can to remain open.
In early April, a Michigan Tax Tribunal sided with Orion Township and the Board of Review, agreeing the GCC should be required to pay state property taxes.
The center owes taxes back to 2004, when the Board of Review made its decision, and has already paid the 2004 bill using credit.
GCC Director Pam Hutchinson said that in addition to attorney fees, the center currently owes around $22,000 for 2005 taxes, and will soon receive a total for 2006.
With all of this in mind, the membership spent most of the May 8 meeting discussing the sale of their property on Waldon Road in order to pay off the bills.
A motion to this effect was put on the table, but narrowly failed.
Instead, the members decided that if they could possibly regain their exempt status, they should look into that first.
Their hope is that the Orion Township Board will create a committee that will then create a report with options for how the center can become exempt again.
The members passed a motion to attempt to put this item on the township board’s May 15 agenda.
‘The only thing the judge recognizes as being entirely charitable was Freedom Works,? Hutchinson said. ‘He listed other things as being ‘questionably charitable.??
‘What I want to know is what makes something charitable?? she asked.
Township Clerk Jill Bastian, also a GCC member, acknowledged that the township cannot overturn the tribunal’s decision, but she hopes that they can help in providing possible solutions for the center.
Bastian served on the Board of Review in the early 1990s.
‘I don’t think that anyone is saying that you’re not doing wonderful things,? Bastian said. ‘It’s just a matter of following state law.?
After unanimously passing the motion to take the issue to the township, the members then passed a motion to begin looking into the very basics of selling the building, recognizing that the entire process will take some time to complete.
The motion was to address ‘dissolution procedures,? such as assessing the current property value.
Just over 25 members were in attendance at the meeting, and most vowed to come to the next township board meeting to offer their support for the center.
Regardless of what the long-term outcome for the center is, Hutchinson said that the GCC will continue to function and will honor its obligations for the remainder of 2006. makes something charitable?? she asked.
GCC member Jill Bastian acknowledged that the township board cannot overturn the decision, but she hopes that they can help in providing possible solutions for the center.
Bastian served on the Board of Review in the early 1990s.
‘I don’t think that anyone is saying that you’re not doing wonderful things,? Bastian said. ‘It’s just a matter of following state law.?
After unanimously passing the motion to take the issue to the township, the members then passed a motion to begin looking into the very basics of selling the building, recognizing that the entire process will take some time to complete.
The motion was to address ‘dissolution procedures,? such as assessing the current property value.
Just over 25 members were in attendance at the meeting and most vowed to come to the next township board meeting to offer their support for the center.
Regardless of what the long-term outcome for the center is, Hutchinson said that the GCC will continue to function and will honor its obligations for the remainder of 2006.