State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township

By Jim Anderson

The Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County officials hope a legislative fix is in the works for the “dark store theory” that depresses the taxable values of some properties and reduces the revenues available for local governments to provide services.

The county board Monday adopted a resolution supporting state Sen. Ed McBroom’s plan to introduce Senate bills to address the issue.

McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, has championed such legislation in the past but without success. In 2016, a bill easily passed in the state House but stalled in the Senate’s finance committee.

“The dark store issue has to get settled,” Commissioner Joe Stevens said. “Not that (McBroom) hasn’t tried in the past but I hope this works.”

Stevens pointed to a case in Houghton, where Wal-Mart has sought a lowered valuation on its store that would spur a six-year retroactive $1.2 million refund as well as a reduction in future property taxes.

According to McBroom, the Michigan Tax Tribunal on numerous occasions has agreed to value properties through comparisons to sales of stores that have “gone dark.” In some cases, properties were sold with private deed restrictions in place that precluded future retail uses.

Dickinson County’s resolution notes the dark store method has “led to a reduction of millage funds for the library, senior citizens, E911, veterans, health department and negatively impacted the county’s general fund balance, leading to reduced funding for county programs.”

McBroom’s legislation, Senate Bills 19 and 20, would require the Michigan Tax Tribunal to assure that box stores are valued according to their “highest and best use.”

The Marquette County Board passed a resolution in support of McBroom’s legislation last week.

In other action, the Dickinson board:

— Scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, March 13, on a brownfield plan that would assist a proposed $25.5 million expansion and redevelopment of Pine Mountain Resort. The brownfield activity involves the demolition of old maintenance buildings and addressing contamination underneath. The developers, meanwhile, would expect reimbursement of a large portion of the increased taxes that would be paid on the overall development. Among other improvements, 35 new cabins would be built in Iron Mountain and Breitung Township.

— Made plans to schedule a public hearing in April on a proposed change in the county’s Solid Waste Management Plan. The proposal would allow Niagara Development to receive certain wastes from Menominee County at its private landfill in Breitung Township, Controller Brian Bousley said. Further details and clarifications will be provided in the weeks ahead, as board members raised several questions.

— Agreed to make the animal control officer a full-time position, increasing the hours from 29 per week to 40, along with benefits. The added annual cost will be about $25,000, Bousley said.

— Appointed Norway City Manager Dan Stoltman to fill a partial term on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority through July 31, 2024.