Part II - Business, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.



DE-ANNEXATION AFFIRMS GROWTH IN TOWNSHIP

The City of Big Rapids and Buig Rapids Township were rocked by a firestorm of controversy nearly 15 years ago when city officials wanted a piece of the township's pie - a prime development corridor now known as Perry Street.

No one could have forseen the lawsuits that would ensue and the tempers that would flare throughout the months that lay ahead.

It all began through two petitions filed by the city of Big Rapids to annex a total oif 2,300 acres of township land. When the dust finaly settled a campaign was being run to recall city commisioners and township officials successfully detached 1,128 acres of city land.

Being coined a "fighting word" by one legal official. "annexation" divided a city and one of its closest neighbors. What made this coup d'etat possible? Public Act 425 of 1984.

This act was adopted by the Michigan Legislature to give townships an alternative to annexation, according to experts on the issue. However, the act proved to be anything but a perfect solution and battles were waged between cities and townships across Michigan.

The local battle had volunteers cancassing both the city and township spreading a message that the city's "hostile takeover attempt was unfair, unprovoked, unnecessary and unwise," as stated in an article published in the Michigan Township News June '1991' edition.

The attempt enraged township officials who commenced detachment procedures before the city's annexation process was final. The township's successful pre-emptive strike meant the area city officials hoped to annex were no longer contiguious to city land.

As said by Attorney William K. Fahey in the July 1991 edition of the Michigan Township News, "Detachment provides an element of fairness to boundary adjustments previously deficient in many annexation cases.

As long as boundary adjustments remain a two-way street, we can hope for a just putcome that reflects the general good of the community."

Since that time the development of Perry Street outside the city has been a major boon for the townshop with the addition of Walmart, Meijer, Isabella State Bank, Country Inn & Suites and Lowe's serving as the most recent examples.

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