Horse Race Track Says Wayne County “Perfectly Comfortable” With Controversial Land Deal
Wayne County was aware of a horse racing track's plans to sell some of the 240 acres of land it bought from the county for $1, according to Carl Herstein, an attorney representing Post It Stables, the corporation that owns Pinnacle Race Course.
The Huron Township race course became the subject of an internal investigation by the county after it was learned that Post It Stables sold seven acres of the land to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for $179,000. The seven acres was part of 240 acres bought from Wayne County for $1.
Carl Herstein, a partner in the Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn law firm, said county officials were "perfectly comfortable" with the track selling the $1 land because it was part of a bigger plan to attract development to the region.
When asked if the county approved of the land being sold to an Indian tribe, which would remove it from the county tax rolls, Herstein said, "You'd have to ask them."
Wayne County Deputy Chief Executive Azzam Elder said in an e-mail that he was out of town last week and would look into the matter when he returned. Wayne County Administrator Robert Ficano didn't respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Herstein said the track ownership is considering the sale of five more parcels, although he didn't know how large the parcels would be.
Documents from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation talk about the horse racing as part of a redevelopment of the racing area.
Herstein said Post It Stables, owner of the race track, has spent a lot of money on infrastructure improvements on the property, such as more than $1 million spent on drain improvements.
Wayne County Commissioner Ed Boike has called for an internal investigation of Wayne County's dealings with Post It Stables.
~~~~~
See also:
Bad Week for Michigan Corporate Welfare Machine
Owner of "One Dollar" Race Track Property Was Not Sent Tax Bills for Two Years
MEDC-Endorsed Bet on Horse Track Now Under Investigation by Wayne Co.
Racetrack Buys Property From Wayne Co. Taxpayers for $1 and Sells It for $179K
GlobalWatt Claims on Applications for MEGA Deals Disputed, Raise Questions About MEDC Scrutiny
Mackinac Center Investigation Leads to Criminal Charge
Google Jobs Lacking, Yet Some Locals Still Consider It a 'Badge of Honor' for Ann Arbor
State Taxpayers Eat $350K Loan for East Lansing Property Purchase
Lawmaker Lobbies Against Lobbyist
MEDC: 'Stop Pointing Out Our Failures'
Lawmaker Says Special Tax Favors Are 'Cronyism'
Embattled Agency in Charge of Special Tax Favors Snaps at Critics
Critics Shoot at Special Tax Deal for Super Speedway
No Audits for Ten Years on Companies Getting Special Tax Breaks from State
Lawmaker Says $150 Million in Unearned Tax Credits Given Out by State
Thirty-One MEDC Salaries Top $100K
State Websites Give History a Rewrite
SMALL BUSINESSES VOTE DOWN "GIVE AWAY" PROGRAMS
Michigan #1 for Economic Development?
MEDC needs accountability, transparency - Livingston Daily Editorial
MEDC outdoes fiasco - Traverse City Record-Eagle
Ann Arbor.com video: Gov. Granholm defends MEDC tax credits
MichCapCon Profile: The 3rd Congressional District Primary
Bouchard 'Would Not Hesitate' to End State's Economic Central Planning Agency
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.