The township board heard a presentation from residents in the Sunset Hills subdivision last week regarding maintenance of private roads in their neighborhood.
Sunset Hills was platted back in the 1920s and a neighborhood association was formed in the 1970s. That association continues today and their funding is entirely voluntary.
‘The condition and viability of our roads are a necessity,” said Neighborhood Board President Nate Butki.
‘Maintenance and improvements are required and the need is not being met with the current structure. It has not been met in many years.?
Butki noted that since 2000, on average, only 52 have paid their dues annually.
‘There’s a reason more neighborhoods don’t fund their roads this way,? he said.
As a result, the neighborhood association is seeking a Special Assessment District with the help of the township.
‘You can do assessments a lot of different ways as long as it’s fair,? said resident Tracy Jensen.
Based on the unique lot sizes and shapes, and wetlands in the neighborhood, Jensen said many neighbors have expressed an interest in paying by the homeowner as opposed to by road frontage footage — the way most SADs are calculated.
‘Because of their unique situation, there are many possible options, but those options also have limitations,? Clerk Jill Bastian said. ‘I think our board members are now getting educated, just as, hopefully, the citizens in that area are.?
The board authorized spending up to $1,500 on attorney fees, then Bastian, Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, Assessor John Attwell, Administrative Assistant Julie Savard, Township Attorney Shannon Ozga and three members of the subdivision met last Friday to discuss the situation.
‘The discussion centered around those different options,? Attwell said. ‘But with an August deadline, the clock is running against them.?
In order for the SAD to go into effect for next year, Attwell said the township must submit paperwork by the end of August. A public hearing must be held before then, and setting that date requires the submission of petitions signed by more than half of the land area frontage owners.
The neighborhood association turned in signed petitions last year under a different SAD request and is confident they can obtain signatures in time to return on the board’s July 7 agenda, according to Attwell.