Owosso Carnegie Library Property Committee adopts mission and rules, requests legal briefing on deed reverter

The Owosso Carnegie Library Property Committee adopted its mission statement and committee rules and asked the City Attorney to brief members on a deed reverter clause and any quiet-title steps at the committee’s May meeting.

The committee held its first regular meeting April 23 at Owosso City Hall. Tom Cook moved to approve the committee’s mission statement, Piper Brewer seconded and the minutes record "Ayes all; motion carried." Vice Chairman Justin Horvath moved to adopt the committee rules, seconded by Gary Wilson; the minutes again record "Ayes all." The minutes do not list individual vote tallies.

Members received an informational overview of the Owosso Carnegie Library’s history and examples of how other Carnegie libraries in Michigan have been repurposed. Staff also presented information about the deed for the Carnegie Library property and a reverter clause contained in that deed. Committee members asked questions about the quiet-title process; the group requested that the City Attorney attend the May meeting to summarize efforts to date, including contact with members of the Woodard family.

During public comment, Nicky Sheldon of 619 N. Hickory Street urged the committee to have the disability-accessibility consultant present at a formal public meeting rather than at a library walkthrough so members of the public can hear the consultant’s findings. "The Carnegie Library is an important community asset with deep ties for residents of all ages," Sheldon said, and she cautioned that when cities sell assets, "the community benefit tends to be less lasting than retaining ownership for future generations." The minutes do not record any public rebuttal to those remarks.

Committee members closed the meeting by asking staff to prepare a packet for the May meeting that includes building financials (utilities and maintenance costs), the existing lease agreement with the library (if any), a list of known maintenance needs, whether the property is referenced in the City’s Master Plan and in what context, current zoning, number of available parking spaces, any appraisal on file, and building floor plans. Members also asked staff to report whether the City currently needs or anticipates needing the space for municipal operations.

The committee set its next meeting for May 28, 2026, and adjourned at 7:08 p.m.