Milford residents may vote on skate park millage in '12

The Milford Township Board of Trustees has approved a recommendation from the township’s Parks and Recreation Commission to have that panel work with the township attorney and the Friends of Milford Skate Park group to draft language for a millage proposal to fund construction of a skate park in the township.

The charge to build a skate boarding facility is being headed by Friends of Milford Skate Park, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that raises money through fund-raisers and donations.

The group is headed by Chairman Ric Mueller, who also serves on the township’s Planning Commission.

Mueller said he doesn’t yet know what millage rate would be sought or how many years it would be collected if approved by voters, but estimated that it could range from 0.15 mills to 0.25 mills.

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which is generally equal to half the property’s market value. The owner of a property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 market value) would pay $15 to $25 in the first year of the proposed millage’s collection.

He added that the group hopes the public can vote on the millage during the 2012 primary election.

The location of the proposed park would be near the Milford Recreational Trail, west of Milford Road and south of General Motors Road, near the Pet Supplies Plus and CVS Pharmacy stores.

Mueller estimated that the project’s cost would be around $650,000 and that Friends of Milford Skate Park has raised in excess of $100,000 so far.

He added that he doesn’t really want to ask for a millage, but he feels it’s time to put the skate park issue before the people.

“We were ready to apply for a DNR (state Department of Natural Resources) grant, but the township and village felt uncomfortable with putting the dollars up front because of the economy,” Mueller said.

He’s hoping for construction to begin in 2013 and completion in 2014, depending on the millage.

The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Mueller at 248-318-9010.