Royal Oak golf course could drive endowment

From the Detroit News:
Finance Director Don Johnson has pitched the idea of creating an endowment fund with the proceeds from Normandy Oaks Golf Course, if the nine-hole course on Delemere Boulevard is sold to housing developers.

Residents who live near Normandy Oaks, such as retiree Thelma Wills, are staunchly opposed to selling the course.
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Panel to study golf course offers

From the Daily Tribune:
The mayor and two city commissioners will narrow the list of developers for Normandy Oaks Golf Course, but that doesn't mean they will part with the property to solve budget problems.
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State law limits cities' ability to sell parks

MCL 117.5 Prohibited powers: A city does not have power:

(e) ...to sell a park, cemetery, or any part of a park or cemetery, except where the park is not required under an official master plan of the city;

It certainly appears the Normandy Oaks park sale is prohibited under Michigan Compiled Law 117.5(e). This reading was informally acknowledged when discussed with a former city attorney. Normandy Oaks is not deemed surplus by either the City's Master Plan nor the Recreation Master Plan.

This law was successfully upheld against the City of Novi in the late-90s. Royal Oak Commissioners have been made aware of this state law on at least two separate occasions during the discussed sale of Normandy Oaks.

Royal Oak budget outlook improves

From Hometown Life/Mirror News:
"The future isn't all that bleak for Royal Oak's finances.

"Instead of making up a $6.4 million deficit next year, the City Commission needs to identify $1.6 million in ongoing revenue or savings, Finance Director Don Johnson said at Monday's commission meeting."
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Finance chief: Royal Oak could be broke by '07

From the Detroit News:
"Sale of Normandy Oaks Golf Course would help, but cutting personnel may be the only way out."
Complete article

Welcome to our web site

This blog is dedicated to preserving city parks and green space in Royal Oak, Michigan. With the city experiencing financial issues, elected officials are looking at selling parks to developers in order to balance the budget. We're opposed to selling green space to solve short-term budget crunches.

The current park on the chopping block is Normandy Oaks. And while not every Royal Oak resident may golf there, the trees and greenspace are a more welcomed site than the proposed housing projects, concrete, and added vehicular traffic.


How can you get more involved? To begin with, please consider joining our Yahoo! email list where our group can discuss this issue and plans to preserve our cities' parks and green space.