Hartland approves $475,000 Tipsico Lake Road rehab; trustees continue debate over subdivision assessment
July 01, 2026 | Hartland, Livingston County, Michigan
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Hartland Township trustees voted unanimously on May 19 to approve a contract with the Livingston County Road Commission to rehabilitate Tipsico Lake Road at a Township cost not to exceed $475,000.
The vote came after public comment and staff discussion about an unresolved question from a 2022 subdivision-assessment effort for Dunham Lake Estates. Resident Tom Waypa said he has worked with Township staff for years to get the subdivision's internal roads paved and that Tipsico Lake Road residents declined to participate in a 2022 assessment because they expected a future millage would cover their road. "We are now voting on paving Tipsico Lake Rd., and they still want to get the internal roads of Dunham Lake subdivision paved," Waypa told the Board, adding that internal-road residents previously approved the project at high rates and that prior per-resident costs were around $8,000.
Township Manager Mike Luce told the Board the Livingston County Road Commission proposed the Tipsico Lake Road project with a Township cost share of $475,000 and that Oakland County will not participate in the Township's portion. Luce said staff is pursuing legal advice about whether the Township can proceed with a special assessment district (SAD) for the subdivision's internal roads without including Tipsico Lake Road residents.
Supervisor Fountain said the Board will "discuss this issue with legal counsel to see what options there may be for this project" and proposed a work session to review legal options.
The motion to approve the Livingston County Road Commission contract was made by Treasurer Horning and seconded by Trustee Lubeski; voting in favor were Supervisor Fountain, Clerk Larry N. Ciofu, Treasurer Horning, Trustee Lubeski, Trustee McMullen, Trustee O'Connell and Trustee Petrucci (7'0yea, 0'0nay). The Board directed staff to continue work with legal counsel and with the Livingston County Road Commission on next steps and cost estimates for the subdivision's internal roads.
The vote came after public comment and staff discussion about an unresolved question from a 2022 subdivision-assessment effort for Dunham Lake Estates. Resident Tom Waypa said he has worked with Township staff for years to get the subdivision's internal roads paved and that Tipsico Lake Road residents declined to participate in a 2022 assessment because they expected a future millage would cover their road. "We are now voting on paving Tipsico Lake Rd., and they still want to get the internal roads of Dunham Lake subdivision paved," Waypa told the Board, adding that internal-road residents previously approved the project at high rates and that prior per-resident costs were around $8,000.
Township Manager Mike Luce told the Board the Livingston County Road Commission proposed the Tipsico Lake Road project with a Township cost share of $475,000 and that Oakland County will not participate in the Township's portion. Luce said staff is pursuing legal advice about whether the Township can proceed with a special assessment district (SAD) for the subdivision's internal roads without including Tipsico Lake Road residents.
Supervisor Fountain said the Board will "discuss this issue with legal counsel to see what options there may be for this project" and proposed a work session to review legal options.
The motion to approve the Livingston County Road Commission contract was made by Treasurer Horning and seconded by Trustee Lubeski; voting in favor were Supervisor Fountain, Clerk Larry N. Ciofu, Treasurer Horning, Trustee Lubeski, Trustee McMullen, Trustee O'Connell and Trustee Petrucci (7'0yea, 0'0nay). The Board directed staff to continue work with legal counsel and with the Livingston County Road Commission on next steps and cost estimates for the subdivision's internal roads.
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