If passed, the special assessment would hold the residents of Elm Court monetarily responsible for road repair. If not passed, the road repair would move to the bottom of the list of Hills- dale’s roads to be repaired with taxpayer revenue.
Desiree Howland took the podium to voice her concerns with the assessment.
“My family and I are not in favor of the special assessment and kindly reject the proposal,” Howland said. “My family personally cannot and will not be able to afford the payment, even with a ten-year payment plan.”
She continued to explain her family’s issue with the assessment.
“We just bought our first home last June and our budget is set with our bills and our house payment,” Howland said.
Howland also brought a letter from her neighbors rejecting the assessment.
Councilman Robert Socha said he visited the district and also noticed that the residents were strongly against the assessment.
The Council had two letters accepting the assessment, leaving the formal responses from affected residents at a 2-2 standstill.
The meeting then paused when a fifth couple that resides on Elm Court was identified in the audience. They were encouraged to write their response to the assessment and members of the audience shuffled to give them paper and a pen.
The meeting turned silent as the residents wrote their formal rejection of the assessment.
Upon this additional letter, five affected residents had weighed in, with a majority against the resolution. Following the new information, all council members in attendance voted against the resolution.
For the residents of Elm Court, this means that it will most likely be at least ten years before the road repair begins.
Hillsdale City Engineer Kristin Bauer explained the process following the vote against the special assessment.
“[Elm Court] would go to the bottom of the list if we don’t pass it. I can’t tell you when it would be done”, Bauer said. “There are roads in worse shape than that one if you believe it.”