Letter to the Editor
Dated: February 17, 1999
Published by: Milan News-Leader
Author: David J. Holek
To the Editor:
Recently at a public meeting at Milan Township Hall; we were told of a plan to install
a 400- acre parking lot with a train spur to load and unload automobile products. This
parking lot is in the middle of 1,000 acres that the Ann Arbor Railroad has optioned. Only
seven or eight property owners are involved. Some property has suddenly become available
because of being removed from government land bank restrictions, some with as much as 15
years left on the government contract.
While the people of Milan fought to stop the "dump," the "dumpings"
continue. We have two state dumps on Bemis Road, one federal dump on Arkona Road, one
toxic dump two miles down the same road, and don't forget the Forensic dump on Platt Road.
The Ann Arbor Railroad owner says it won't be a dump -it's called "Low Impact
Industrial". While in the past, Milan has embraced big business, like Ford Motor Co.
that said they would hire Milan people for the jobs they would offer, we know those jobs
went to a predetermined Local 600 from Rouge Complex in Dearborn.
Mr. Ann Arbor Railroad owner say we can expect 200 new jobs on this dump site. He would
purposely be vague on new jobs for Milan.
We lose a 1,000-acre parcel from our tax base, because most of the tax generation would
go to the Department of transportation.
We already have too many "dumps." The board members that allow this to go
through should consider changing their minds. If you were to change the rules for who
comes into our township, you should make one-acre building sites all the way around this
1,000-acre parcel and put a park in the middle. The land owners would get the same or more
money and we would hear squealing kids at play instead of a squealing train and trucks.
I personally find it hard to believe that the same township board that restricts
building homes to 40 acres so that our children have to go to other townships to build
would ever consider this plan!
The "Founding Farmers" of this agricultural township would expect more from
their government and I do as well! Don't give a windfall to seven or eight
landowners so that the rest of the people in and around this area have to pay 24 hours a
day for their mistake.
David J. Holek
Milan Township resident
PS. I wonder why we haven't heard anything from London Township as it lays on their
border as well?