Quincy Appeal - Wohlers - Answer to appeal.pdf
Amy R Wohlers, Petitioner V Township Of Quincy, Respondent · 25-003754-TT
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Page 1
MTT Docket #: 25-003754 Parcel #: 12-080-029-200-015-00 Respondent’s answer to Appeal: Per Public Act 188 of 1954 section 41.721 thru 41.738 (Exhibit A) the Township established a special Assessment District for Road Maintenance for Pleasant Ridge on September 3, 2025. 41.721. Sec 1. states “The township board has the power to make an improvement named in this act ....” and to “determine that the whole or any part of the cost of an improvement shall be defrayed by special assessments against the property especially benefited by the improvement. 41.722. Sec 2 (1)(c) states the following improvements may be made under this act: The construction, improvement, and maintenance of public roads. The Quincy Township Board received a petition from the residents of Pleasant Ridge after August 17, 2025 put prior to August 19, 2025 (clerk did not record date of receiving) requesting the road be chip and sealed and requested each homeowner be charged a $275 fee. (Exhibit B) This is allowed per 41.724 sec 4(1). The Township Clerk and Treasurer verified that over 51% of the road frontage members had signed the petition. The Township then set the hearing date for September 3, 2025 at 7 pm at the Quincy Village Office per 41.724 Sec 4(2). Per 41.724a. Sec 4a (1 & 2), the Township Assessor prepared the mailing list of residents on Pleasant Ridge per the 2025 assessment roll along with a map of the district (Exhibit C) on August 19, 2025. The Township Clerk sent out the notice to owners letting them know of the hearings (Exhibit D) on August 20, 2025. In addition, the Clerk ran the notice (Exhibit D) in the local newspaper, The Coldwater Daily Reporter, on August 21, 2025. Exhibit E is the proof of publication. The Township Board held the public hearing to determine the validity of the petition on September 3, 2025 at 7 pm at the Quincy Village Office. This hearing was immediately followed by the hearing to approve the special assessment roll. The project scope was explained by the road spokesperson and then concerns from those in attendance were heard by Mr. & Mrs. Wohlers (aka Amy Hollister) and another couple in attendance. [41.725 Sec 5 and 41.726 Sec 6] The estimated cost of the chip and seal bid was $5.750. with the newspaper cost of $77.80 and 2 mailing costs of $23.17 each for a total of $5,874.14. The Township Assessor presented 3 options to the Township Board and residents. The first was an estimate of $267.01 if paid in full prior to the winter tax bills; the second was to spread the assessment out over 3 years ($89 for 2025 and 6% interest for 2026 and 2027 for $94.34 each year): and lastly to spread it over the 2025 tax year at $133.50 and 2026 at $141.51 (with 6% interest). (Exhibit F) The Township Board listened to the concerns of the owners present and due to six residents still paying on the initial road assessment from 2024 (Exhibit G). the board decided to waive the interest and allow them to spread the assessment over 3 years. The Township Board approved the special assessment per their September 3. 2025 minutes (Exhibit H) and confirmed the special assessment roll (Exhibit I) giving them the option of paying in full up front or spreading it over the 3 years at $89/year with no interest.
Page 2
The Township Assessor and Township Treasurer in establishing the winter tax roll special assessments discovered the 2" mailing allowing residents to pay the special assessment up front was not sent out. Therefore. the cost of the 2" mailing was removed from the special assessment roll, making the revised total expenses of $5,850.97 or $88.65/year for 3 years interest free. (Exhibit J). Exhibit K. is a 2025 record card for Amy Hollister, aka Amy Wolhers showing the mailing address of record and name on file. Photo also shows the garage and driveway are accessible from Pleasant Ridge rather than from Ridge Road as the house number would indicate. Exhibit L. is the aerial showing the approximate location of Pleasant Ridge. This road cuts thru some properties and thus they own on both sides of it, others have frontage on only one section of road and others have access to three sections of the road. Thus, the reason the members of the road decided to spread the assessment per household rather than per parcel or road frontage.