During their regular meeting last week, the Orion Township Board of Trustees continued their talks on a lawsuit filed by former assistant Jill Verros, the Friendship Park investigation and the Elkhorn Lake property issues.
All three discussions took place during executive session, as one is considered pending litigation and the other two centered on attorney opinion letters.
Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said it is possible for any of the three issues to be resolved by the end of the year; though he did not want to speculate on which ones have the best chance, saying that the township is taking all three matters ‘very seriously.?
With regards to the issue on Elkhorn Lake, Dywasuk said the township is looking into bringing in a wetlands expert/consultant.
He added that recent public perception regarding the township’s relationship with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and particularly Justin Smith (who has been the primary MDEQ representative on this case) is off-base and that they have a strong working relationship.
‘We do care about the wetlands in the township,? Dywasuk said. ‘We’re concerned with what is in the best interests of the community.?
Kempster resident Jerry Moon, who was cited again by the MDEQ in early October, said during public comment that he was simply trying to improve his property for a potential sale.
‘I am right now willingly complying with a detailed program of correction, which will greatly reduce the value of my land and delay for years any chance of me selling the home site,? he said.
Tracy Jensen, who brought the issue to the board’s attention along with her husband Nick Cucinelli, later said that Moon, along with her neighbor Dale Kotila, are trying to make themselves the victims and that is simply not the case.
‘Those of us who purchased property expecting that the laws be enforced have lost significant value,? she said. ‘Those concerns don’t even begin to account for potential contaminants in the fill, the loss of wildlife or what the aesthetic loss does to our property values.?
Dywasuk said it is likely that both that issue and the Friendship Park issue will come back to public session at an upcoming board meeting.
The Verros matter, meanwhile, has not had any documented activity since mid-October. Township officials say they have been instructed not to comment on any potential resolution, though the case, which is in the county system, changed judges in late September.