The Applegate Village Council will be holding a special meeting Monday evening after a letter was circulated to residents advocating for the disincorporation of the village of Applegate.
The letter, signed by the husband of former Village President Michelle Warren, claims that a “small group of village residents” conspired against Warren, resulting in her stepping down from her position, along with a “majority of village council members.” The letter also claims that FOIA requests for public records were ignored or withheld. Warren ends his letter by stating that a petition will be circulated for residents to sign that would disincorporate the village of Applegate, and place operation and control of it under Washington Township if voters were to formally approve it as a ballot measure.
Warren notes that the Applegate Fire Department would be unaffected by the proposed change, as it operates as a separate entity independent from the village.
In order for the proposal to gain traction, the petition must be signed by at least 15 percent of Applegate’s registered voters. The measure would then be placed on a ballot, where two-thirds of electors voting on the question would need to approve it in order for it to be enacted.
An agenda for the Applegate Village Council’s special meeting scheduled for tonight lists “correcting of erroneous propositions in the letter” and “village’s official response letter” as items for discussion. The special meeting will be held tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Applegate Village Hall.
