Mount Clemens commission affirms downtown maintenance assessment after public hearing
May 17, 2024 | Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan
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The Mount Clemens City Commission voted to confirm a special assessment roll for downtown maintenance (RO 16-1) following a second public hearing during its Nov. 2 meeting.
Property owners and downtown business representatives debated the assessment at length. John Van Camp, a downtown property owner, argued the original 20-year assessment had expired and "once it expires it's expired you can't continue it," urging the commission to stop collecting the assessment. Business owners including Michelle Weiss said the assessment funds necessary cleaning and snow removal downtown and that lessees commonly cover assessments under existing lease terms.
City Assessor Nancy Ster and staff reviewed the legal background and prior tribunal rulings during the hearing. The assessor quoted an administrative-law judge's reasoning that the petitioner "misconstrues this as a limitation" and explained that, under the state provisions discussed in the hearing (referred to in the transcript as Public Act 198/287), a municipality may authorize a new special assessment; staff said the petitioner's legal argument had failed in prior review.
The commission closed the public hearing and moved to confirm the special assessment roll. The commission confirmed the assessment by roll call; staff noted the roll lists 46 downtown parcels and that there has been one formal objection filed previously.
Why it matters: The assessment pays for services targeted to the downtown area—sidewalk cleaning, snow removal, street cleaning and holiday lighting—and has been a recurring source of tension between property owners who argue it suppresses downtown investment and business owners who say it funds essential services.
What comes next: With the roll confirmed, assessments will continue for the listed parcels as authorized. Property owners retain appeal rights through existing legal channels; staff and commissioners indicated the city will continue public outreach about the program and how assessments are calculated.
Property owners and downtown business representatives debated the assessment at length. John Van Camp, a downtown property owner, argued the original 20-year assessment had expired and "once it expires it's expired you can't continue it," urging the commission to stop collecting the assessment. Business owners including Michelle Weiss said the assessment funds necessary cleaning and snow removal downtown and that lessees commonly cover assessments under existing lease terms.
City Assessor Nancy Ster and staff reviewed the legal background and prior tribunal rulings during the hearing. The assessor quoted an administrative-law judge's reasoning that the petitioner "misconstrues this as a limitation" and explained that, under the state provisions discussed in the hearing (referred to in the transcript as Public Act 198/287), a municipality may authorize a new special assessment; staff said the petitioner's legal argument had failed in prior review.
The commission closed the public hearing and moved to confirm the special assessment roll. The commission confirmed the assessment by roll call; staff noted the roll lists 46 downtown parcels and that there has been one formal objection filed previously.
Why it matters: The assessment pays for services targeted to the downtown area—sidewalk cleaning, snow removal, street cleaning and holiday lighting—and has been a recurring source of tension between property owners who argue it suppresses downtown investment and business owners who say it funds essential services.
What comes next: With the roll confirmed, assessments will continue for the listed parcels as authorized. Property owners retain appeal rights through existing legal channels; staff and commissioners indicated the city will continue public outreach about the program and how assessments are calculated.
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