Why, and when, did the Township Board start their eminent domain lawsuit against the GIBC?
On June 9, 2003, five members (Kurt Kobiljak, Ute O’Connor, John Raithel, Rodger “Marty” Will and Leroy Wojewodzic) of the current Township Board — a majority of the Board — voted for a “resolution of necessity” that outlined several vague reasons for the Township Board to begin legal action to seize ownership of the Toll Bridge through the use of the government’s eminent domain powers. The Township Board unilaterally began this legal action without first talking to GIBC Owner and President Paul Smoke to determine if any of the Township Board’s concerns could be addressed through a process other than costly and contentious litigation. The Township Board also voted to start this litigation without any public debate. Ultimately, three levels of Michigan courts issued four opinions firmly rejecting the Township Board’s lawsuit: the Wayne County Circuit Court opinion on May 7, 2004; Michigan Court of Appeals opinion on April 4, 2006; and Michigan Supreme Court opinions on October 13, 200
