Aggregate ups its incentive for town hall to move

Talk about it

Aggregate Industries has sweetened its offer of land to Grey Cloud Island Township officials in exchange for the town hall site.

Town Board Chair Dick Adams told the board at its April 13 meeting that the company would give the town 12 acres of land along County Road 75, two more acres than was proposed in March.

The offer comes from Bob Bieraugel, assistant vice-president of properties for the company, Adams said.

A land swap between the company and the township has been discussed over the past 10 years. The company wants to own the town hall land so it can mine closer to the road and still be within the setback.

The land could be subdivided by the township into three lots, under the March proposal, with two lots for sale to prospective homeowners.

Lot sales, estimated by town board members at more than $100,000 per lot, would be used to pay for the town hall.

Board members said a new hall, to replace the windowless concrete hall built in the ‘50s, would not be built until the lots were sold.

At the Grey Cloud Island Township annual meeting in March, residents didn’t even want to vote on the possibility of getting a new town hall. They told town board members to get more information about where it would be built and how it would be paid for.

Residents at the meeting, however, questioned the land value estimates. Considering the current economy, they asked for more detail.

They were also hesitant to give up ownership of the town hall to the company for $1 a year until a new town hall could be built.

Under the new proposal of 12 acres, it could be subdivided into four three-acre lots with three for sale, Adams said.

Also, the township could retain ownership of the town hall and permit additional mining, Adams said.

“We aren’t committed to building a building,” said Board Member Paul Schoenecker.

Township Treasurer Scott Leick asked if the township could subdivide into four two-and-one-half-acre lots to increase the proceeds.

“Three-acre lots are more saleable,” Adams said. “We’re going to have a tract of land and can decide later.”

Changing a town hall location in a township requires a positive vote by residents, usually at a town meeting with a show of hands.

If a deal more favorable to residents can be put together, Adams said the town board could call a special meeting without having to wait a year.

The seven-member Town Hall Committee meets at 5 p.m. on the first Monday of the month just before the planning commission meeting.

Tags: grey cloud island township, town hall