FeedsVoters defeat proposed property annexation
Click image to enlarge
Livonia residents like Dianne Marietti and Richard Thomas (above) urged their fellow voters to reject the annexation proposal. The issue was rejected by 57percent of voters Tuesday.The relief in Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo’s voice was palpable on Tuesday night.
“We won,” he said.
It was after 11 p.m., and Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey had already called to concede the annexation election. Voters in Northville Township—at least six of the eight—approved the measure, but voters in Livonia overwhelmingly defeated the issue by a margin of 57-43 percent.
“What a big win it was,” said Carol Poenisch, co-founder of Taxpayers For Responsible Development. “I was really scared.”
Voters from both sides of the border had to approve the proposed annexation of 414 acres of property from Northville to Livonia. The negative vote means the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital will stay under Northville Township jurisdiction—and tax base—and means a consent judgment signed last week and approved by a judge will be in effect.
“I’m very pleased,” said Abbo, “and I’m proud of the people of the City of Livonia that voted in the morally right way.”
Poenisch agreed.
“I’m just so happy that the people of Livonia did it for us,” she said.
“I think they really saw through the issue and all the things that were going on. It was very unselfish of them.”
