It appears all that’s left is some paperwork and the seven-year legal battle between Oxford Township and Village over the fire department will be at an end.
Last week, township officials voted 5-2 to direct their attorney to draft a consent judgment based on the July 14 final offer they made to the village.
However, there was one exception.
Language requiring all 9-1-1 landline calls to go through Oakland County was deleted.
In their motion last week, township officials indicated 9-1-1 landline calls will continue to be answered by the village.
This adjustment in verbiage was requested by the village on July 27 when council voted unanimously to accept all the other points of the township’s offer.
Instead of being paid the $643,241 the village is owed for its share of fire department assets, the municipality agreed to accept the following from the township:
n Deeds to both the old township hall and old fire hall on W. Burdick St.
n $50,000 in cash.
n A five-year contract with village dispatch to handle all Oxford fire/EMS calls. The agreement will begin at the new lower rate of $34,000 per year with a 3 percent increase each year thereafter.
n The village will not be assessed an additional annual charge for the amount of fire/EMS services it consumes above what its residents pay in property taxes.
Both village and township residents will continue to pay the exact same millage rates to support the fire department.
A draft of the consent judgment is expected to be brought before the township board for review and disposition at its Aug. 11 meeting. ? CJC