Board of Commissioners May Cast Final Vote on LifeWays Bond Tuesday
If petition efforts to put the building bond on the ballot fall short, the matter will come to the Board one final time.
Hillsdale County—At the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners’ meeting on 8 July, the board will vote to reject or deny a resolution to issue a $15.5 million building bond to LifeWays.
Bringing resolution to the table will presumably be contingent on the outcome of Citizens for Hillsdale County’s efforts to put the building bond issue to the ballot.
If the group surpasses the threshold of 3,400-odd signatures, the building bond will go before the people of Hillsdale County to be decided. If they do not reach the minimum number, the commissioners will make their final decision on Tuesday.
Resolution No. 25-095, which is on the agenda for the Commissioners’ 8 July meeting, would direct the County to “issue its bonds known as ‘Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025’…in the aggregate principal sum of not to exceed $15,500,000.”
According to the resolution, “it is necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare of the County to make the Improvements and issue bonds of the County, pursuant to Act 34, to finance the Improvements.”
LifeWays representatives have told the board in the past that they can secure financing without the county’s backing.
The resolution would pledge “the full faith and credit of the County” to the “payment of the principal and interest on the Bonds authorized.”
Commissioner Kevin Collins, District 2, previously committed to voting against the issuance of any bond that would make Hillsdale County liable, though he voted in favor of the building bond at the board’s meeting on 13 May.
He was joined in his support by Commissioners Mark Wiley, District 3, and Brent Leininger, District 5.
Commissioner Doug Ingles, District 1, says he opposes the bond on the grounds that it would be fiscally reckless.
“I am very concerned that Commissioners could pass a bond for $15.5 million that the County is responsible for repaying,” Ingles told the Hillsdalian. “Commissioners are Stewards for Hillsdale County. Issuing the bond is not good Stewardship.”
Ingles’ suspicions were confirmed at the board’s 24 June meeting, at which LifeWays’ CEO Maribeth Leonard announced that the United States Department of Health and Human Services—from which LifeWays receives the majority of its revenue—will slash over one-quarter of its annual spending.
Jacob Bruns
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LifeWays to Solicit $15.5 Million Bond from Hillsdale County Commissioners
After canvasing my neighborhood. No one signed to be fiscally responsible, no one signed anti lifeways-matter of fact a few people didn't sign pro lifeways, no one was rude I have great neighbors, a lot of people wouldn't sign because they didn't know enough they tended to be older than 50, younger people were 100% supportive. I as I do shifted sales pitches but what I found was just being honest about my reason to sign was best. Over 50 people came to the meeting to say no, but yet the commissioners voted yes, that can not stand. If we just engaged more with our community we'd find a better one.... We don't have to agree but we do have to see each other as neighbors and humans. I'm so proud of my neighbors, every one of them takes pride in their property and is welcoming and polite to a neighbor..... That being said getting signatures till I got a few on the sheet was hard.