Annexation of Lansing Township's Groesbeck neighborhood will be on November ballot

Over 2,000 Lansing Township residents will have a chance to be annexed into the city after Lansing City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to put the issue on the November ballot.

“At the end of the day, the township, at least the 120 of them, requested the opportunity to vote on this and looking at it, I believe if they were to pass it, it would be good for the city,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said.

Because ballot proposals need to be submitted to the Secretary of State by Aug. 16, Lansing City Council had only until Monday to decide on whether to allow the petition.

They meet next on Aug. 22.

What's in it?: Lansing Township could be transformed in potential November annexation vote

Lansing Township has not responded to the State Journal's multiple requests for comments since some of the residents requested annexation.

Lansing Township voters will see the following ballot question for the General Election:

"Shall ...the area within the Charter Township of Lansing, comprised of Voter Precincts 1 and 2, and that is situated within a larger parcel located east of Wood Street, west of Coolidge Road, south of Tulane Drive and north of Michigan Avenue, including adjacent rights of way, except properties in the 1600-1800 blocks of Wood Street, be annexed from Lansing Charter Township to the City of Lansing, such that this land will thereafter be included within the territory and jurisdiction of the City of Lansing?"

Another ballot question asks if residents support annexing the 1600 to 1800 blocks of Wood Street to the city. Those two segments are broken up, as drawn by Lansing Township.

Should voters pass both questions, Schor said the aforementioned residents would become city residents on Dec. 31.

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Petitioners sent Schor a packet of 120 neighbors who live in Lansing Township's Groesbeck neighborhood in support of the proposal on July 23. They cited the township's debt and insecurity about its future in in petition.

Schor said Monday during city council that the city would be responsible for 20% of Lansing Township's $33 million debt. That total number is subject to change barring any lawsuits and assessments.

Lansing would pay the $6.6 million over 18 years, as required when the township assumed the debt.

Lansing residents Loretta Stanaway and Linda Apling spoke in opposition of the annexation, citing the city’s liability of the debt plus additional taxes, if needed, to pay the debt.

Council member Carol Wood urged Schor and his administration to not wait until November to plan how to address debts, services and revenue that would come from the disjointed neighborhoods.

“We’ve got a neighborhood half in the city and half in the township,” Schor said.

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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at (517) 267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing Township residents will vote on annexation in November