Oxford’s two governments were wheeling and dealing last week and it appears the village could end up owning both the old township hall and old fire station on W. Burdick St.
‘It’s been a long time since we agreed and actually got something done without spending $80,000 on attorneys,? noted township Supervisor Bill Dunn.
At their respective meetings, the township board and village council each voted to extend offers which included the village purchasing the 2,500-square-foot old township hall at 18 W. Burdick (vacant since September 2006) and all the parking that goes with it for $262,500.
As part of the deal, the township agreed to throw in the old fire hall, which is located behind the village offices and has sat vacant since November 2002.
‘I think it’s in the village’s best interests to probably consider purchasing that property to put all this land around us under one owner,? said Dunn, who presented the offer to council.
‘I think if the wrong individuals were to purchase that, I think we would be sorry for some time,? said village President Chris Bishop.
Back in June, the village offered $200,000 for the old township hall. But the township countered with an asking price of $262,500, which was an average derived from the village’s offer and a village-commissioned appraisal of $325,000.
The village council rejected the counteroffer and township later began to make plans to convert 18 W. Burdick St. into its new Oakland County Sheriff’s substation.
However, given the village elections in September added two new council members, Dunn decided to ask the village to reconsider its offer before going out for bids to remodel the old township hall to accommodate the sheriff’s substation. ‘I just wanted to give you one more chance to maybe change your mind,? the supervisor said.
Members of both boards were receptive to the idea. ‘I feel the whole complex should be owned by the village,? said village Councilman Tom Benner
‘I think the township did make a fair counteroffer to our offer,? Bishop said,
‘I agree with the village purchasing the building,? said twp. Clerk Clara Sanderson. ‘I think it’s ideal to have that whole complex as a village complex.?
Including the old fire hall in the deal helps settle one of the outstanding issues facing both governments as they continue to go through a court-ordered arbitration to divide up assets belonging to the Oxford Public Fire and EMS Commission.
Consisting of all seven township officials and all five village officials, OPFEC used to govern the fire department until a circuit judge ordered it’s dissolution in February 2005.
Although the township has owned and operated the fire department alone since January 2006, decisions over ownership of fire assets and how much equity the village has in the department were referred to an arbitrator.
The old fire hall is an OPFEC-owned asset, but the land it sits on is owned by the village.
Transferring ownership of the old fire hall to the village was seen by both sides as a way to resolve an issue and take one more thing off an already full plate.
‘Our intention was to try and put that portion of things to sleep,? Bishop said. ‘If we were to leave this fire thing kind of off to the side, we still haven’t solved that whole problem over there.?
Bishop noted the village wants to ‘clean that whole municipal site up and put it under (one owner).?
When asked if they were legally permitted to throw the old fire hall into the deal, Dunn said it was no problem.
‘It’s up to each municipality to decide what to do with it because we are OPFEC,? the supervisor explained. ‘Basically, the judge, through (the arbitrator), says if we agree on stuff, we can settle it ourselves. They don’t have to do it.?
One issue remains to be settled between the two boards ? a payment schedule.
The village proposed making a down payment of $52,500 followed by four equal payments over the next four years.
But township officials proposed the village put $87,500 down and make two equal payments over two years at an interest rate of 2 percent.
A bigger down payment will enable the township to finish off the lower level of its office complex on Dunlap Rd. in order to accommodate moving the sheriff’s substation there.
Although the change in proposed payment plans would have to be approved by the village, those council members who attended the township meeting didn’t seem to have a problem with paying in thirds.
‘I would look at a third as being reasonable,? said Councilman Mike Hamilton.