GROSSE ILE — The Grosse Ile Greenways & Open Space Committee spent much of its meeting reviewing outstanding encroachment cases on township open space and discussing how the township should enforce and remediate violations.

Staff member James said the committee’s previous point person, Ross, has left the township and that inspections and letters to homeowners have been disrupted. “Ross is no longer working with us. He moved to a new place. Congratulations to him,” James said, and offered to schedule inspections and follow up with homeowners and specialists on specific sites.

Committee members described several sites needing follow-up, including a property referenced in the meeting as the Voigt (stalled when the property was listed for sale), and multiple issues on Fourth and Fifth streets, where a fire pit was removed. James said a tree and shrub plan from a landscape and tree specialist existed but stalled when owners listed the house for sale.

The group discussed which work is advisory and which is enforcement. James outlined the township’s usual enforcement path: an initial inspection and notice, a two-week reinspection, a second notice and reinspection, then fines or tickets and, if needed, court referral. “We do about three inspections on a lot of those things … If you don't do what is needed to be done, then we'll have someone go out and cut it, and then it's put on the taxes of the homeowner,” he said. He also reminded members the township accepts anonymous citizen complaint forms.

Members debated whether to create a subcommittee focused on remediation design — for example, whether certain cleared areas should become pocket parks, be planted with trees or shrubs, or be delineated with small fences or posts — while leaving enforcement to ordinance officers. One member urged a study session to set an overall strategy and to identify priority areas and costs.

Budget and funding came up repeatedly. Bill (committee member) described how township millage math works on Grosse Ile: “One mill generates … approximately $770,000,” he said during the discussion; a quarter-mill would therefore be roughly $190,000 per year. Committee members noted the open-space funds used previously for acquisition and for maintenance have not been renewed since 2011, and that the committee’s current maintenance budget typically runs in the $50,000–$60,000 range. Members agreed they need more precise cost estimates (for surveying, staking boundaries, remediation and potential legal work) before drafting ballot language.

The committee asked staff to pursue these next steps: complete inspections of the outstanding sites, consult with township administration about liens and enforcement authority, assemble cost estimates for remediation (including fencing, planting and surveying), and convene a January study session to finalize priorities and a potential millage proposal. No formal policy or new ordinance was adopted at the meeting.

Clarifying details noted during discussion included that: a) inspection letters and enforcement have been interrupted by staffing changes; b) the township uses a three-step inspection/notice schedule before fines or third‑party abatement; c) initial ordinance fines discussed were $100, escalating on repeat violations; d) a lien, if applied, attaches to the property owner found responsible at the time of violation, not to subsequent buyers.

Members also discussed outreach to new homeowners adjacent to open space so owners understand allowed uses and boundaries, and emphasized careful messaging to avoid appearing intrusive.

The committee scheduled further work on these items at a January strategy/study session.