News Flash - October 28, 2008:

At the Board meeting held October 28, 2008, Township Attorney Doug Winters came before the Board and audience with wonderful news. He reported that negotiations with YCUA (Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority) were successfully completed to release Augusta Township from a "Capacity Lease" costing $2.3 Million dollars. This lease committed the residents of Augusta Township to pay YCUA for 15 years to reserve sewage capacity for future developers.

This lease was promoted by Supervisor Jackson in 2005, and was approved by a 4 to 3 vote on October 25, 2005. William Tobler, Kathy Giszczak and Joann Kidder voted against the lease.  Kathy Jackson and Lynda Dew voted for the Lease.

The cost of being released from the $2.3 Million dollar contract is about $450,000.  This includes about $200,000 already paid to YCUA, and an additional $250,000 that needs to be paid before December 31, 2008. This $450,000 is money "thrown down the sewer" as it buys absolutely nothing for you or the township.

It was already clear in October 2005 that the real estate market was failing.  I (William Tobler) argued then that approving this binding contract with YCUA without an equally binding contract from the developers was risky and foolish.

The Only Team is claiming that the information sent to the voters on the Big Postcard (and on the previous window) before the Primary is untrue. I stand behind the statements as absolutely true, and the events of the October 28 Board meeting show the reality of this big ticket item.  I spoke about their voting record. The Only Team is fabricating untrue stories to cover their misdeeds.