Oct 21, 1999

OFFICIALS GIVE OK TO RAILWAY CENTER
BY BRIAN COX -NEWS-LEADER SPECIAL WRITER

Milan Police were on hand last Wednesday at the monthly meeting of the Milan Township Board, held at Milan Middle School.

Upward of 250 residents packed the auditorium to hear the board’s decision on the Ann Arbor Railroad Properties’ intermodal distribution project. Township Supervisor John Bruckner opened the meeting by cautioning those in attendance to behave appropriately and "not like children." Despite high emotions and palpable disgust, the board’s 3-2 vote to approve the proposal did not provoke any highjinks.

An hour of public comment preceded the final vote and more than 20 residents made their way to the mike to plead with the board to reject the project, among them, Jim Hokenson. "It confuses me how you can characterize this project as not outside the essential character of the area," said Hokenson. "What rationale do you use on an approval or disapproval of this project?"

Added resident Carol Houston: "When our children grow a little older, they leave. But when they get married and have children, they come back because Milan is a wonderful place to live. If you build this railroad, they won’t come back. Nothing will be the same. Please don’t destroy our children’s heritage."

Kurt Vander Voort, representing Milan Area Concerned Citizens, chastised the board for lacking vision. "Someone came in here and told you what your vision should be," charged Vander Voort, who went on to assure the board that there would be a referendum. " There will be plenty of signatures and plenty of votes to vote this project down."   The lone supporter of  the proposal to address the board, Bill Hogan of Azalia, made it clear he believes the distribution center is vital to Milan’s future. "Milan is setting back on its heels and letting the future pass them by," he said. "The jobs this thing will bring in is a good thing."

After Bruckner closed the public comment session, Treasurer Sharon Jaworski moved to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation to rezone the parcel. Trustee Art Rock supported the motion.

Trustee Phil Bowerman, who opposed the project, took an opportunity to plead his case to the board. Bowerman was eloquent and passionate in his comments, at times addressing each member of the board personally. "How can we sit here with deaf ears?" he said. "These people have a right to help us wrong that a five-member board has this much power on a project this big. Hundreds of people cannot be wrong. Make the right choice, people, please and vote this thing down."

"We’re moving on," responded Trustee Art Rock. "We have to move ahead. I think this is a good thing for Milan Township." Jaworski clarified her position by outlining her concern that if the board does not work with the Ann Arbor Railroad, the railroad may "come in and take it all, leaving the township with nothing. "We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing," she said.

Bruckner addressed his fellow trustees, but also directed his comments to the public. "Do you know how many calls I get a day asking ‘When am I going to get a culvert? ‘When am I going to get my ditch cleaned?’ and more importantly, ‘When am I going to get water?"’ Bruckner explained. "My concern is drinkable water. And the railroad has pledged $700,000 toward the project. I think everyone knows the Milan Township does not have a lot of money. When you don’t have the money, you can’t go ahead with projects."

Bowerman and Township Clerk Emily Bowerman were the two dissenters in the vote. After the board made its decision official, about half of the crowd walked out. Bruckner acknowledged that a referendum was certain and that in all likelihood, the. township and the railroad would end up in court. "We’ll deal with that when we come to it," he said,