The Orion Township board narrowly passed a resolution last week, accepting the donation of the Howarth Schoolhouse from the Howarth United Methodist Church.
The resolution was passed by a 4-3 vote, with dissenters Jill Bastian, Jerry Dywasuk and John Garlicki all saying they were in favor of accepting the donation, but had issues with language in the resolution.
Among the concerns was agreeing to move the schoolhouse to Friendship Park without first investigating costs. Bastian said it could make sense to move the structure to a different township park, closer to its current Silverbell Road location, just east of M-24.
Garlicki raised a question about insurance costs, and if the township was prepared to take on that responsibility.
The township’s legal counsel, Shannon Ozga, suggested acknowledging the donation with a sale certificate of $1 for the records. She and other members of the board said it would be possible to give the schoolhouse back to the church if unforeseeable circumstances arise.
A year ago a $10,000 grant was secured by the historical society from the History Channel. A math-a-thon in the Lake Orion Community Schools also helped raise funds for the project.
‘We’re getting very close, but the next step is to acknowledge the donation of the school to the township,? said Trustee Matt Gibb.
In addition to acquiring funding, work has been done on the schoolhouse in the past two years to prepare it for possible relocation/donation.
‘It has been renovated to the point that it is ready to be moved,? said Treasurer Alice Young.