BERTRAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP – FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR COSTS FOR A STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT – BERTRAND CROSSING

BERTRAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP
BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF FINAL ASSESSEMENT ROLL FOR COSTS FOR A STREET LIGHTING DISTRICT IN BERTRAND CROSSING

TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE PROPOSED BERTRAND TOWNSHIP LIGHTING SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT IN BERTRAND CROSSING, AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS – NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A FINAL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL, Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Bertrand Charter Township Hall, 3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI 49107
WHEREAS, the Bertrand Township Board determined that a Special Assessment Lighting District in Bertrand Crossing is desired and necessary to provide adequate lighting for the safety and security of commercial and personal vehicles and pedestrian traffic within the Industrial Park at Betrand Crossing, and
WHEREAS, the Bertrand Township Board held a public hearing on April 11, 2024, and adopted and approved a final legal description and boundaries for the Special Assessment District for Lighting in Bertrand Crossing, and considered cost estimates for infrastructure, a report by the Township Engineer, and final proposed costs for electricity provided by American Electric Power, and
WHEREAS, the Township Board, after a public hearing with all documents available to the public, adopted a Resolution to approve the final costs for the District at Bertrand Crossing, and to direct the Township Assessor to prepare a Final Special Assessment Roll consistent with the Township Board’s Resolution and findings on costs for the District, and
WHEREAS, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a hearing will be held on May 9, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall, 3835 Buffalo Road, to hear comments and objections to the Special Assessment Roll showing an assessment of $596.76 per parcel in the first year of the assessment (2024), subject to the following explanation discussed by the Township Board at a public hearing on April 9, 2024:
Total annual electricity estimated cost for the entire District in 2024 is $3,940.00, with each of the ten (10) parcels in the District being assessed $396.00 in 2024 for electricity, AND with infrastructure costs included for $200.76 for each year from 2024 through 2026. The total infrastructure costs for the District is $6,023.00, with each parcel being charged $200.76 in 2024 and for 2 years thereafter, for 3 years total (through 2026) to pay for infrastructure costs, with infrastructure costs being paid off entirely after 3 years. THE TOTAL 2024 ASSESSMENT WILL BE $596.76 per parcel for the first year of the assessment. Each year after 2024, the costs assessed for electricity will be based on the estimate of costs of electricity each year in the District and divided by the current number of parcels in the District. After 2026, the parcels will only be assessed for the estimated costs of the electricity each year.
WHEREAS, in future years, the annual determination of costs and review will remain consistent with the above calculations, with the Township Board meeting to adjust the annual electricity costs, which shall be done without mailed notice. The future hearings to determine annual costs and assessment for the parcels in the District will be held the second Thursday in May of each year, at 7:00 p.m. at the Bertrand Township Hall, 3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI 49107.
APPEARANCE AND PROTEST IN WRITING AT THE HEARING ON MAY 9, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO APPEAL THE AMOUNT OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO THE STATE TAX TRIBUNAL. AN OWNER OR PARTY IN INTEREST MAY APPEAR IN PERSON OR BY A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE HEARING TO PROTEST THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT IN WRITING OR SHALL BE PERMITTED TO FILE A WRITTEN PROTEST BEFORE THE HEARING. IF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT IS CONFIRMED, THE OWNER OR ANY PERSONS HAVING AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY SPECIALLY ASSESSED MAY FILE A WRITTEN APPEAL OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WITH THE STATE TAX TRIBUNAL OF MICHIGAN WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE CONFIRMATION OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ROLL IF THAT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT WAS PROTESTED IN WRITING AT OR BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SEE ACT 188 OF THE PUBLIC ACTS OF 1954, AS AMENDED.
Bertrand Charter Township will provide reasonable auxiliary aids and services upon four (4) days’ notice to the Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township by writing, emailing, or calling the Township Clerk at the address below.
Copies of all materials related to the proposed Special Assessment Lighting District, including a copy of the Special Assessment Roll, cost estimates, project details, and District Map, may be requested and examined at the office of the Township Clerk at the address set forth below during regular business hours any time on or after April 24, 2024. These documents will be made available during regular business hours until the date of the hearing and will be available for examination at the hearing.

POLLY WHITE, CLERK
BERTRAND CHARTER TOWSHIP
Bertrand Charter Township Hall
3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI 49107
Telephone: (269) 695-5001
Email: clerk@bertrandtownship.com