by Joshua Kennedy, The Monroe Evening News, September 24 2008
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners "is on the hook" for $421,000 regarding the proposed plan to buy 129 acres of land associated with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) property in Monroe.
"God bless this board," Chairman William Sisk said after the board Tuesday voted unanimously to pony up up to $421,000 in a collaborative effort to buy the land, which includes Sister's Island in the River Raisin.
"Sometimes they get together and do the right things for the right reasons," Mr. Sisk said. "We want to preserve this property for future generations to use and enjoy. I used to play there too."
A packed board chambers bore witness to an "intense debate" regarding the newest proposal, which has the county guaranteeing to loan up to $421,000 to a citizen's group that's working with the Monroe County Community Foundation, the Friends of the IHM, the IHM itself, the City of Monroe and Frenchtown Township. Called the Friends of the Academy Preserve, the group has been raising money for the land purchase.
The loan - if ultimately necessary - would be repaid with private donations. Mr. Sisk said the loan may prove unnecessary as the group already raising funding for the project has managed to garner $350,000 to date.
"They did that in one year," Mr. Sisk said. "They've got two more years to get this money raised."
That's because the group of organizations is working with the state Department of Natural Resources on a $2.2 million grant for purchasing the property, which at last count was being offered for $2.9 million.
The grant is not expected to be awarded until 2010 - giving the groups more than 24 more months to raise the required $730,000 match.
"I suspect we may never have to give that money," Mr. Sisk said, referring to the amount approved by the board Tuesday. "But if we do, the money will come from one of our unreserved funds."
The county currently sits on a nearly $12 million unreserved fund balance, which various commissioners and groups like the Monroe County Road Commission have been trying to borrow from all year.
Chairman Sisk said that the board was working together to help the community preserve a piece of land that is worth much more than the asking price - sentimentally.
"I used to ice skate out there and play and now future generations will be allowed to do the same thing. This really is a great thing for the County of Monroe."