BIG RAPIDS – A coverage of not waiving the 4% assortment payment imposed on late cost of property taxes has been rescinded by the Metropolis of Large Rapids Fee.

Metropolis commissioners unanimously accredited a decision rescinding the coverage beforehand adopted at their assembly this week.

Large Rapids legal professional Eric Williams mentioned the decision was made following a number of requests for waivers of penalties that had been made to town in current months.

“It began with a enterprise after which unfold to a bigger base of people that had been assisted,” Williams mentioned. “When discussing the requests, it turned out that the coverage adopted by the fee years in the past was complicated or restricted the discretion of the incumbent fee.

In 2010, a decision was handed declaring that the Municipal Fee coverage “to not waive the 4% assortment payment” required that the municipal constitution be imposed on property taxes not paid on time.

The principle goal of the decision was to declare town fee’s place in opposition to granting the waivers, Williams mentioned.

“There was some hope that the decision would curtail and restrict the variety of requests for aid,” he added.

At a gathering in January, council heard a request from a resident to waive the penalties imposed. The fee, for lack of a movement to comply with up on the request, refused to approve the waiver.

“The (earlier) fee drew a line within the sand and mentioned they did not wish to do that each week for one purpose or one other,” Mayor Tom Hogenson mentioned on the time. “The issue with that is that the fee is all the time the courtroom of final resort for claims of this nature.

“We’re mainly being requested to comply with a coverage and on the identical time let the workplace employees break that coverage,” he mentioned. “These two issues collectively create a tough scenario.”

Commissioner Lorraine James recommended that if the fee will not be comfy with what has been accomplished in earlier years to not waive penalties, then town legal professional ought to work with metropolis employees to develop a distinct coverage.

It was recommended that requirements and standards be added to the coverage in order that members of the general public in search of redress know what proof town board would want to evaluate the claims.

Williams instructed council the coverage was not in metropolis code or state regulation, however was merely a coverage expressed in a decision on how the fee considered requests for waivers of penalties.

“It is not serving to as anticipated,” he mentioned. “In our evaluation, we decided that it might be higher to cancel the coverage and begin over. If we wish to have tips or procedures on it, now we have to place it within the metropolis code the place the general public can see it. It’s the formal expression of public coverage. “

Hogenson mentioned it appeared just like the wisest plan of action to take on the time.

“This isn’t the tip of the dialogue, however it appears like that is what we have to do now,” he mentioned.

“After rescinding the coverage, town board can focus on and decide whether or not or to not go a brand new decision with requirements and standards to determine instances,” Williams added.

In the course of the assembly, the municipal fee additionally accredited the next resolutions:

• A decision to just accept McNally Enterprises, LLC DBA Re / Max Collectively as town’s industrial actual property agent / dealer.

• A decision adopting the 2021-2027 capital enchancment plan.

• A decision authorizing the Inexperienced Township mutual hearth safety contract.

• A decision approving an interlocal settlement for the supply of IT providers to Mecosta County.

• An ordinance approving the adoption of the 2021 codification of the Metropolis of Large Rapids Code of Ordinances.