Residents of Hi Hill subdivision will have to wait until April 4 to find out if they will be reimbursed by Orion Township for sewer fees paid to the township.
Board members went into an executive session during the March 21 meeting to discuss the request for reimbursement. Joseph Geraci of Hi Hill said an answer was needed to provide closure for the residents.
‘In July a promise was made, and that resolution was real,? he said.
Geraci referred to a resolution adopted by trustees at their July 31, 2000 meeting, regarding the use of host fee funds for Hi Hill improvements, and dedicating any remaining host fee funds from Eagle Valley to paying for sewer and road capping costs connected with the SAD project.
Trustee Matt Gibb said that he understood residents were relying on written documentation, but that he needed more details.
‘Will there be money left after host fee funds pay the residuals?? he asked.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said ‘substantial sums? were spent, totaling $7.9 million.
‘The host fees coming in have paid off most of that debt (for the Hi Hill project),? he said, adding that the township was paying money back to the water/sewer fund for the project, and that $2.5 million was to be paid off this year.
‘My understanding is there are no other debts,? Dywasuk said, acknowledging that expectations had been raised.
Trustee Michael Gingell agreed that there were expectations.
‘Unfortunately, I think it’s a really difficult situation,? he said. ‘Lots of conversations took place.?
Geraci said if it would be one thing if the reimbursement was a ‘campaign promise,? but that documentation existed.
‘Everything was very clear,? he said. ‘It’s black and white. To keep going back and forth and spinning the motions around is ridiculous.?
After the executive session, Gingell made a motion to uphold the board’s Sept. 20, 2004 decision to decline any future repayment to Hi Hill, exceeding the 50 percent already committed or road capping costs exceeding the 10 percent already given.
Gibb said he was having a hard time going in that direction.
‘It’s an accountability issue,? he said. ‘Honest mistakes or errors in judgment…I personally believe the township is skirting some accountability for its prior actions.?
Gingell said it was part of the board’s responsibility to protect the whole township and all of its citizens, who pay into the water/sewer fund.
‘We aren’t to spend money that isn’t fair practice to all the residents,? he said. ‘There is also an issue of accountability to the citizens at large.?
There were not enough votes in agreement to pass Gingell’s motion, and the board voted to postpone the matter until their next meeting on April 4.
‘We need to go back and get additional input,? said Dywasuk. ‘I apologize for the people of Hi Hill, but it’s been a difficult issue to even get this far.?