Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — The LifeWays Board of Directors have voted to withdraw a $15.5 million bond request they had made to Hillsdale County to provide funds for the construction of a new LifeWays office building in Hillsdale.
The vote was held at the mental health organization’s Board Meeting on Wednesday (April 15), which was moved to their Jackson location at 1200 N. West Avenue to have a larger attendance capacity.
The bond request has drawn a large response from Hillsdale County residents who have expressed their desire for the request to be put on a ballot rather than being decided on by the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners.
Citizens also voiced concerns about the taxpayers being on the hook for the bond if LifeWays were to default on the $15.5 million worth of borrowed money.
The Hillsdale County Commissioners had voted in favor of a resolution to place the bond on a ballot in a split vote, but then later voted against it in another split vote.
Hillsdale County Board Chair and LifeWays Board Chair Mark Wiley, who had consistently voted against putting the issue on the ballot, recently said it was time to “pull the plug” on the bond request at the LifeWays Program and Finance Committee meeting on April 7.
The Program and Finance Committee officially recommended the full board withdraw the request.
Board Member Bruce Caswell voiced his frustration with the situation during the meeting, stating that Hillsdale citizens deserve the same access to mental health treatment as everyone else.
Board Member Earl Poleski voted against the withdrawal, saying that one potential source of funding for the building should not be abandoned before another one is found.
Poleski was joined by Board Members Christine Carlson and Ray Snell in the minority, with the motion passing 6-3.
