Let’s call Dexter City Council’s bluff on July 24
(as printed in The Sun Times News on July 20, 2023)
In November 2022, City of Dexter voters supported (60.7% to 39.3%) a public safety facilities millage permitting the City to borrow up to $8.4 million to pay the cost of acquiring, designing, renovating and/or constructing public safety facilities in the city, which facilities may be used by the Dexter Area Fire Department and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Notably, the ballot proposal language did not specify at which location such public safety facilities would be located.
At the time of the election and for two years prior, a sign reading “Proposed Future Home of the Dexter Fire Station” stood at the City-owned property at the corner of Meadow View Drive and Dexter-Ann Arbor Road. It is not surprising, then, that many of you who voted in support of the millage expected the monies to be used on a new fire station at that location.
In fact, after the composition of Council changed as a result of that election [two new members and one returning (previously appointed) member were elected in an uncontested election], Council voted (4-3) to designate the current fire station site (8140 Main Street) as the continuing location of the fire station. To say this is a flawed policy decision is an understatement (see https://www.griffinfordexter.com/newsletter/bait-and-switch for more).
Given my own and other residents’ disagreement with that decision, I worked with others to create a ballot proposal committee (www.friendsofmillcreekpark.org) and circulate a petition to restrict the use of 8140 Main Street to recreational purposes only (effectively expanding Mill Creek Park North) via a Charter amendment. With knowledge of, and only because of, the circulation of this petition, Council then voted (5-2) to restrict the voter-approved bond monies to three addresses only, intentionally excluding the City-owned property at Meadow View Drive and Dexter-Ann Arbor Road.
Although one council member claimed this move was to allow flexibility in the use of the bond monies, the City’s legal counsel confirmed there was no requirement to tie any address to the bond. In fact, leaving the bond free of any such restriction would have (1) maintained the greatest flexibility (and value) and (2) best reflected the will of the people who voted on a millage that was not tied to any address. Such flexibility would have allowed Council to pivot when new information about the pros/cons of either location came to light. New information like the recently discussed likelihood that keeping the fire station at its current site means that fire and police services will be relocated outside of the city limits during any construction.
Restricting the bond to specific addresses, then, was an attempt to discourage the public from supporting the proposed Charter amendment. What would it mean for the public to restrict the placement of a fire station at the site to which the approved monies were tied? I suspect that would be for the courts to decide. If this isn’t strong arming the public into doing what you want, I’m not sure what is. Interestingly, this is what our mayor and other members of council consider to be the “democratic process.” And yet your exercise of your first amendment right to petition your government is so objectionable that one council member has branded those of you associated with the Friends of Mill Creek Park initiative as the “enemies of the fire station.”
The circulated petitions have been validated by the City Clerk and state law requires that the citizen-initiated Charter amendment be placed in front of the voters at the next regular City election. Although our City Charter states that the next regular City election shall be in November 2023, state law permitted a change to that provision such that the Charter need not accurately reflect the actual regular election date of November 2024.
As it turns out (or as luck would have it?), Council can initiate its own Charter amendment to be placed in front of the voters at a special election in November 2023. All it takes is a 3/5 vote (i.e., at least 5 members) of the seven-member body. Ballot wording of proposals qualified to appear on the November ballot must be certified to local or county clerks by August 15 at 4:00 pm.
Ultimately, my goal is to put a controversial, long-lasting, and long-manipulated decision (i.e, the location of the fire station) back into the hands of the people. I am so confident in the facts that support my position of expanding Mill Creek Park, preserving greenspace in the developing downtown, and relocating the fire station as advertised that I would be willing to put a direct fire station location vote in front of the people. Can the five in support of leaving the fire station at 8140 Main Street say the same?
What say you? All members of the public are welcome, and encouraged, to attend any and all public meetings. City Council meets next on Monday, July 24 at 7:00 pm at 3515 Broad Street, the new City Hall. If email is your preferred manner of communication, here are the addresses of all members of Council: Mayor Shawn Keough skeough@dextermi.gov, Sanam Aldag saldag@dextermi.gov, Jamie Griffin jgriffin@dextermi.gov, Wa Hubbard whubbard@dextermi.gov, Zach Michels zmichels@dextermi.gov, Dan Schlaff dschlaff@dextermi.gov, and Joe Semifero jsemifero@dextermi.gov.
As for me, I’m here for you. I campaigned on a platform of increasing citizen engagement, making decisions supported by evidence, and stewarding our limited resources responsibly as we approach growth in the city. Since being elected in November 2020, I have worked diligently to make it as quick and easy as possible for interested parties to know what Council will be discussing and considering at each meeting via my own personal newsletter (www.griffinfordexter/newsletter) distributed via email and various online media outlets (Facebook, Nextdoor, The Sun Times News website). On a few occasions, I have also shared more detailed personal opinions about specific topics. I am so appreciative of those residents who have taken the time to share their questions, comments, and concerns with me as a result of those communications. I can best advocate for you when you reach out and engage.
Sincerely,
Jamie Griffin
Dexter, MI