RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
2023-2032 ALGONQUIN LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
(AQUATIC VEGETATION CONTROL)
NOTICE OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023-2032
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL
(for levy in 2022-2031)
TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE 2023-2032 ALGONQUIN LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT (AQUATIC VEGETATION CONTROL) ENCOMPASSING ALL LANDS ABUTTING ALGONQUIN LAKE OR HAVING DEEDED ACCESS TO ALGONQUIN LAKE IN LAND SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, 11 AND 12 OF RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN; AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE the Supervisor/Assessing Officer of Rutland Charter Township has reported to the Township Board and filed in the office of the Township Clerk for public examination a proposed special assessment roll/special assessment column in the regular tax roll pertaining to the 2023-2032 Algonquin Lake Improvement Project Special Assessment District (Aquatic Vegetation Control) as reestablished and continued by the Township Board on August 10, 2022 (Resolution No. 2022-283).
This proposed special assessment roll proposes to allocate the costs of an aquatic vegetation control program for 2023 through 2032 in the approximate total amount of $882,000 over the ten-year program, after subtracting an anticipated surplus of approximately $25,000 from the similar 2016-2022 program now being concluded (approximately $88,200 per year, rounded off), which includes a contingency for potential cost overruns throughout the term of this ten-year continuation program, and legal and administrative expenses, to the various lots and parcels within the District as follows (in each instance treating multiple contiguous lots/parcels under the identical ownership as a single assessment unit):
• $3,630.00 to each improved lot/parcel abutting Algonquin Lake ($363.00 per year).
• $1,280.00 to each unimproved lot/parcel abutting Algonquin Lake and to each improved or unimproved lot/parcel with deeded access to Algonquin Lake ($128.00 per year).
The special assessment installments for each of years 2023-2032, to be levied and billed with the winter property taxes in 2022-2031, will be subject to annual redetermination by the Township Board when the actual costs of the yearly program and any relevant administrative costs are known. Any such annual redetermination of costs and assessments will be made at a regular meeting of the Township Board in September or October of 2023 – 2031, or thereabouts, without further notice or hearing except as may be required by law or as may be further determined by the Township Board; provided that the allocation of individual special assessments resulting from any such annual redetermination shall be based on the same allocation method used for the initial 2023-2032 special
assessment roll. Unpaid assessments will be subject to interest at a rate to be determined by the Township Board not exceeding 8.0% per annum (tentatively 3.0%).
A public hearing on any objections to the proposed special assessment roll will be held at the Rutland Charter Township Hall at 2461 Heath Road, Hastings, Michigan, on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 in conjunction with a regular meeting of the Township Board commencing at 7:00 p.m. Pursuant to this public hearing the Township Board may approve and confirm the proposed special assessment roll as submitted, or may approve the proposed special assessment roll with revisions, or may direct a new roll to be made.
The proposed special assessment roll, and the project plans, estimate of costs, the boundaries of the 2023-2032 Algonquin Lake Improvement Project Special Assessment District, and the Resolution of the Township Board reestablishing the Special Assessment District and directing the Supervisor/Assessing Officer of the Township to make the proposed special assessment roll, may be examined at the office of the Township Clerk and may further be examined at the public hearing.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT APPEARANCE AND PROTEST AT THIS HEARING IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO APPEAL A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO THE MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL. AN OWNER OR PARTY IN INTEREST OR HIS OR HER AGENT MAY APPEAR IN PERSON AT THIS HEARING TO PROTEST A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT, OR MAY FILE AN APPEARANCE OR PROTEST BY LETTER WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE HEARING OR WITHIN SUCH FURTHER TIME AS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD MAY GRANT, IF ANY, AND IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES A PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT THE HEARING SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED. THE OWNER OR ANY PERSON HAVING AN INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY WHO PROTESTS IN PERSON OR IN WRITING AS PROVIDED ABOVE MAY FILE A WRITTEN APPEAL OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL WITHIN 35 DAYS AFTER THE CONFIRMATION OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL.
The foregoing hearings and all proceedings associated with these special assessment matters will be conducted in accordance with and pursuant to 1954 PA 188, as amended, the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and any other applicable law.
Rutland Charter Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services at the meeting/hearing to individuals with disabilities, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered, upon reasonable notice to the Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township Clerk as designated below.
Robin Hawthorne, Clerk
Rutland Charter Township
2461 Heath Road
Hastings, MI 49058
(269) 948-2194
