TOWNSHIP OF COLUMBIA

COUNTY OF VAN BUREN, STATE OF MICHIGAN

RESOLUTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY

EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR STOKES BLUEBERRY FARMS & NURSERY

WHEREAS, Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery is the owner of property located in the Township of Columbia, and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Act 198 of 1974, (MCL 207.551 et seq), after a duly noticed public hearing by the Board of Trustees of the Township of Columbia, held on May 17, 2005, by resolution established an Industrial Development District, as requested by the applicant; and

WHEREAS, Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery has filed an application for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate with respect to a new facility to be acquired and installed within the Industrial Development District, and

WHEREAS, before acting on said application, the Columbia Township Board held a hearing on May 17, 2005, at the Columbia Township Hall, at 7:00 p.m., at which hearing the applicant, the Assessor and a representative of the affected taxing units were given written notice and were afforded an opportunity to be heard on said application; and

WHEREAS, construction of the facility and installation of new machinery and equipment had not begun earlier than six (6) months before March 18, 2004, the date of the acceptance of the application for the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate; and

WHEREAS, completion of the facility is calculated to and will at the time of issuance of the certificate have the reasonable likelihood to retain, create or prevent the loss of employment in Columbia Township, and

WHEREAS the aggregate SEV of real and personal property exempt from ad valorem taxes within the Township of Columbia, after granting this certificate, will not exceed 5% of an amount equal to the sum of the SEV of the unit, plus the SEV of personal and real property thus exempted,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP that:

1) The Township Board finds and determines that the granting of the Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate considered together with the aggregate amount of certificates previously granted and currently in force under Act No. 198 of the Public Acts of 1974 and Act No. 255 of the Public Acts of 1978, shall not have the effect of substantially impeding the operation of Columbia Township, or impairing the financial soundness of a taxing unit which levies ad valorem property taxes in Columbia Township.

2) The application of Stokes Blueberry Farms & Nursery for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate with respect to a new facility and new equipment to be acquired and installed on the following described parcel of real property situated within the Industrial Development District, to wit:

Township of Columbia, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan, to wit:

That part of the North half of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section lying Easterly of the railroad, EXCEPT the South 196.87' of the East 553.16 feet thereof.

Tax ID #80-06-020-007-10

be and the same is hereby approved.

3. The Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, when issued, shall be and remain in force and effect for a period of twelve (12) years. The effective date of the certificate shall be December 31, 2005 next, following the date of issuance of the certificate.

FURTHER the Assessor for the Township of Columbia is directed to issue an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, after the State Tax Commission finds the facility complies with Section 9 and with the other provisions of the Act.

The State Tax Commission shall send an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, when issued, by certified mail to the applicant, and a certified copy by certified mail to the assessor of the Township of Columbia, which copy shall be filed of record in his or her office. Notice of the commission’s refusal to issue a certificate shall be sent by certified mail to the same persons.

Roll call vote: 

Ayes: 4

Nays:  1

Absent:  0

Abstain:  0

Resolution declared ADOPTED  COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP

Date:  May 17, 2005

Mary Burgett, Clerk

I hereby certify that the foregoing constitutes a true and complete copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Board of Columbia Township, County of Van Buren, Michigan, at a regular meeting held on May 17, 2005.

Mary Burgett, Clerk

Columbia Township