The eviction of the Alger County Humane Society, the non-profit organization operating the animal shelter, continued in 93rd District Court on Monday, July 17, in a hearing that surprised some supporters of the non-profit.
There was no signed stipulation from the county’s attorney Roger Zappa dismissing the 3 p.m. hearing, which was supposed to update the court on whether or not the non-profit was able to get started on a new building in Munising Township. That possibility failed when the Munising Township Planning Commission denied the proposal for being incomplete.
That disruption is enough for Alger County, the owners of the building and land that houses the shelter, to demand more information.
“We were under the impression that we would have an update today. Now (the willful departure of the non-profit) could not be considered in a timely manner,” he said. “We are getting very close to now having a conflict.”
Celeste Dunn, the primary attorney for the non-profit, teleconferenced into the hearing saying that the permit was “very close” to being completed and believed that there was another meeting of the Munising Township Planning Commission that night. Township Zoning Administrator Kathleen Lindquist was in attendance and confirmed to the court that there was no such meeting.
Dunn also cited additional work through local attorney Kirt Harmon for help with the conditional use process. He was called by telephone by 93rd District Court Judge Charlie Nebel. Harmon confirmed he was helping with a review of the conditional use application, but also confirmed that there was no meeting scheduled to grant an approval.
Nebel continued to ask for firm move out dates by the non-profit in the hopes that a willful exodus would avoid further issues deliberated in the courtroom. No such date was given.
According to 93rd District Court, the next hearing is scheduled for August 16 at 11:30 a.m. for a status conference and again on September 13 at 9:30 a.m. for hearing of termination of tenant. No new motions have been filed as of Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m..
According to Lindquist, the non-profit has not resubmitted a conditional use permit as of Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m.. The non-profit has organized a fundraiser to help offset the costs of the proposed new building is set for Saturday, September 30 at Foggy’s Steakhouse in Christmas.
