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Veterans park group disappointed by village fees

The Argus-Press - 3/29/2018

LENNON - A nonprofit group that hopes to build a veterans memorial park says the village charged zoning variance fees they believe should have been waived.

"We're a 501(c)(3) status," Friends of Doyle Knight committee member and Clayton Township resident Don Austin said Tuesday. "It's a shame (the village) wouldn't bend over backwards for us when there are several veterans that live in the area."

The Friends group is named after the late Doyle H. Knight, a Lennon native who served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

The memorial park space at the corner of Lennon Road and South Sheridan Avenue was donated to the group by Venice Township. The site will feature names of veterans of all military branches on a granite wall.

The group began construction of the memorial dedicated to Lennon area veterans last year with Phase 1, which included removing the wire fence and trees that ran along the adjacent property.

Phase 2, with a yet-to-be-determined start date, will include pouring concrete, installing a flagstone and a privacy fence. Phase 3 will include benches and a granite wall engraved with the names of local veterans. The final phase will include a life-size statue of Knight, lights and other finishing touches.

The Friends have gathered more than 175 names of Lennon-area veterans.

According to Austin, the Friends were charged $885 by the village in 2017 for such things as a fence permit, land use permit and variance. Because of the group's nonprofit status, Austin said the village should have waived those fees, but instead chose not to.

According to village president Barbara BakerOmerod, the village followed proper procedures and went by what the law says for private property owners. The memorial park property belongs to the Friends.

"The Friends of Doyle Knight have not been charged for anything that any other property owner would have been charged. We treat everyone the same," BakerOmerod said via email.

BakerOmerod said the council has no legal authority to waive fees for anyone.

"There was brainstorming on how we might be able to do it, and a thought was allowing all 501(c)(3) organzations to ask for waivers," she said via email. "Our attorney pointed out that that would be a slippery slope and very problematic and it was never approved by the council."

She added the planning commission could have voted to recommend a waiver to the council and from there have the council vote, but BakerOmerod said the issue never made it to that point.

"We looked for legal opinion on this," BakerOmerod said. "We didn't want to do anything that could get the village sued. We want to make sure we treat everyone fair and we explained everything very clearly (when Austin attended meetings)."

Funds for the park are being raised through the sale of stone/brick memorials. Bricks range from $25 to $100. People interested in purchasing a brick can send a check made out to Friends of Doyle Knight, in care of Sharon Patsey at Lennon Telephone Company, PO Box 309, Lennon, MI 48449.

Austin said despite the village not waiving the fees, the group will continue moving forward with the park.

"It's going to be a sore taste (in our mouth)," Austin said, "but we'll continue on and do the best we can. It might take a long time but we'll get it done."