To the disappointment of many Hi Hill residents who attended the April 4 Orion Township Board of Trustees meeting, the board voted unanimously to deny any further payments or costs for the Hi Hill Subdivision’s sewer reimbursement.
The board had delayed any action on the issue at its March 21 meeting, and held an extensive executive session again on April 4 to discuss its attorney’s opinion.
Trustee Matt Gibb said it was time to bring the matter to a close.
‘Based upon the review of the totality of everything involved in this…and the opinion of our attorneys…I believe this board expresses sympathy that inferences were made,? he said.
Gibb said he hoped his motion would bring closure.
‘Based on the weight of case law…We should uphold the prior findings of the board,? he said. ‘It would be in breach of the judiciary duties of this board, for the whole township, to do anything but uphold (the board’s original findings).?
Gibb said to do anything else would ‘place the township as a whole in jeopardy from a liability standpoint.?
‘This matter has not been taken lightly,? he said.
Hi Hill residents had hoped that additional host fee funds from the Eagle Valley Landfill might be used to help defer costs from the sewer project. Resident Joseph Geraci addressed the board prior to its going into executive session and then announcing their decision.
‘In regards to the issue at the March 21 meeting about trustee Gingell’s concern over special treatment…that is not relevant,? Geraci said.
Geraci said that part of the settlement of a lawsuit with Eagle Valley maintained that ‘the host agreement necessitates special treatment for those affected (by the landfill).?
‘We are affected by the landfill, I don’t think there’s any question of that,? Geraci added. ‘Since July 9 of 2000, Hi Hill has waited for debts to be paid off.?
After the board passed the motion to deny further payments, Geraci asked that the wording ‘at this time? be removed from the official language.
‘I would like it final,? he said. ‘Make it done.?
‘I cannot do anything else in good conscious except say (for the board’s purpose) this matter is closed,? said Gibb. ‘The intent of my motion was to close this with finality.?