By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Village Council hopes a controversy surrounding a lien the Council placed on property in the Village over a year ago may be heading to resolution after the Council approved a recommendation by the Village attorney at its regular meeting February 3.
The lien at 110 South Main Street is for what was stated at a previous council meeting a $25 per day fine for permit non-compliance through a court order that totals $10,675. It has been noted the Council has also absorbed approximately $2,000 in attorney fees during the process at the location.
According to tax records on the BS&A website the property is owned by Anthony Bates.
The 4-2 (Joline Chaney and Janet Sutherland voted no) approved motion allows the Village attorney to work Bates and his attorney directly. The approved motion establishes a deadline of February 20 when Bates and his attorney will need to provide information to the Village attorney offering a resolution or a compromise that will lead to ending a stalemate that exists between the two sides at the property the village holds a lien on.
The Council unanimously approved a motion at the November 4, 2025 meeting to have the attorney review the lien at the property.
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis said the $10,675 for permit noncompliance, was placed on the property as a lien just a short time before new council members entered office in November, 2024.
DPW Report
Water samples and pumpage reports have been completed for February.
The Water Quality Report has been approved by EGLE and will now go to the printer. The Water Quality Reports will then be mailed to village residents.
The Council expects to review a maintenance contract at the February 17 meeting for the new generator at a well house DPW Manager T.J. Gibson recommended.
Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement and Disaster Planning
Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement and Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig was not present at the February 3 meeting, however his report from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department notes there were 30 officer initiated calls, 26 direct patrols and 17 citizen initiated calls for service in the Village the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department responded to in January.
The Council is asking village residents if possible, to remove snow in front of fire hydrants in the village.
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said the committee has been working with a few citizens on ordinance violations, however she is seeing improvement at the locations.
She plans to send another letter to a resident who did not respond to an initial letter for an ordinance violation. Her committee recently received two new complaints that will be reviewed.
The Climax Village Council hopes a controversy surrounding a lien the Council placed on property in the Village over a year ago may be heading to resolution after the Council approved a recommendation by the Village attorney at its regular meeting February 3.
The lien at 110 South Main Street is for what was stated at a previous council meeting a $25 per day fine for permit non-compliance through a court order that totals $10,675. It has been noted the Council has also absorbed approximately $2,000 in attorney fees during the process at the location.
According to tax records on the BS&A website the property is owned by Anthony Bates.
The 4-2 (Joline Chaney and Janet Sutherland voted no) approved motion allows the Village attorney to work Bates and his attorney directly. The approved motion establishes a deadline of February 20 when Bates and his attorney will need to provide information to the Village attorney offering a resolution or a compromise that will lead to ending a stalemate that exists between the two sides at the property the village holds a lien on.
The Council unanimously approved a motion at the November 4, 2025 meeting to have the attorney review the lien at the property.
Climax Village Council President Bill Lewis said the $10,675 for permit noncompliance, was placed on the property as a lien just a short time before new council members entered office in November, 2024.
DPW Report
Water samples and pumpage reports have been completed for February.
The Water Quality Report has been approved by EGLE and will now go to the printer. The Water Quality Reports will then be mailed to village residents.
The Council expects to review a maintenance contract at the February 17 meeting for the new generator at a well house DPW Manager T.J. Gibson recommended.
Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement and Disaster Planning
Public Safety/Fire/Law Enforcement and Disaster Planning Chairman Nick Ludwig was not present at the February 3 meeting, however his report from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department notes there were 30 officer initiated calls, 26 direct patrols and 17 citizen initiated calls for service in the Village the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Department responded to in January.
The Council is asking village residents if possible, to remove snow in front of fire hydrants in the village.
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development
Ordinance/Zoning/Planning And Development Chairperson Carolyn Kelly said the committee has been working with a few citizens on ordinance violations, however she is seeing improvement at the locations.
She plans to send another letter to a resident who did not respond to an initial letter for an ordinance violation. Her committee recently received two new complaints that will be reviewed.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
