KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — Kalamazoo County has spent six figures on an ongoing effort to make lakefront vacation homes accessible to families.
Kalamazoo County has spent $182,867 in legal fees to acquire the land, according to estimates provided to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette by Kalamazoo County officials on Thursday, May 2. The figure includes legal fees from November 2019 through February 2024.
The case is currently before the Michigan Court of Appeals, and a resolution is expected within the next few months in the county's eminent domain action against the cottage owners. Attorneys are currently preparing arguments.
The county wants to make the land part of the existing adjacent Prairie View County Park, which has been there since 1963.
The family has owned the property since the 1940s and built the cottage in 1962 after demolishing two other cabins on the property.
The battle over the private vacation home has been going on for years, with a Kalamazoo County judge previously ruling that the county has the right to force a sale through eminent domain.
The original owners of the land had a contract with the county, but the parties are disputing its validity with respect to any future sales of the land. Edmund Taranda was the last surviving original owner, who died in 2019.
The current owner is the heir of the original owner.
Larry McLeish, one of the property owners and a defendant in the lawsuit against the county, said it's unfortunate that the cottage's fate is in someone else's hands.
They want to do the right thing for their families and future generations.
“The support we've received from the residents of Gourdneck Lake and the local community has been overwhelming and we're thrilled,” McLeish said.
Related: County's fight to seize lakefront homes by eminent domain goes to Superior Court
McLeish said his family intends to outlast the county in the fight over the lakefront property.
He would not answer questions about how much the family has spent on legal fees.
An appraisal of the property in August 2022 determined its value to be $320,000. If the eminent domain case is successful, the county must pay the family the fair value of the property.
A county spokesperson told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette the county's decision to take this action was not made lightly.
“We understand the deep bond the family has had with this land over the years and have great respect for the emotional connection and personal investment involved,” spokesperson Taylor Koopman said in a statement to MLive.
The county is committed to serving the community's interests and ensuring people visiting the park have a safe and comfortable experience, she said.
“We sincerely regret that this situation has continued for so long, as it has caused anxiety and concern for all involved,” Koopman said when asked about the legal costs. “Going forward, we are committed to resolving this matter promptly and amicably, and look forward to being able to put this matter to rest and move forward.”
MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette also filed a Freedom of Information Act request to clarify legal costs details and the date when the estimated costs began to be tallied.
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