An overflow crowd turned out for Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners, as residents voiced their opposition to the Commissioners’ recent reversal of an earlier move to place a $15.5-million bond issue for Lifeways Community Health before voters.
Lifeways has asked for the County’s backing for a bond to fund the construction of a new facility.
Under the proposal, the bond would be paid by Lifeways over 30 years.
The concern among opponents of the proposal is that if Lifeways were to default on the loan, residents of Hillsdale County would be burdened with the debt.
Potential cuts in federal funding have heightened the concerns.
The commissioners voted 3-2 last July on a resolution to place the issue on the ballot.
Two weeks ago, they voted to reverse that decision, placing the decision to back the bond in the hands of the commissioners. There was a plan to officially rescind the July resolution at Tuesday’s meeting.
However, after two hours of heated public comment, including reading a number of written statements into the record, Commissioner Kevin Collins motioned to table the issue. The motion was seconded by Chairman Mark Wiley.
The Commissioners voted 4-1 to table.
Brad Benzing cast the only vote against tabling. He called on his fellow commissioners to reintroduce the resolution to place the bond on an upcoming ballot.
Benzing said he is unable to reintroduce it himself because he was in the minority in voting for the resolution, which failed 3-2 at the February 10th meeting.
Collins, who cast the deciding vote in reversing the county’s position on the issue two weeks ago, said he wants more information before making any final decisions on the issue.
Supporters of the bond argue that the county is responsible for providing necessary mental health services for residents who are most in need.
Opponents contend that residents should not be burdened with Lifeways’ debt.