The Village of Schoolcraft has received a letter from Schoolcraft Township regarding properties which had been omitted from the Township’s assessment rolls, an omission which will have an impact on the Village. Receipt of the letter was acknowledged at the Village Council’s January 5 meeting.
The letter, dated December 15, 2025, says that the omissions were “the result of egregious errors made by a professional assessor previously retained by the Township.” The Township apologized for the oversight and also for not notifying the Village earlier.
The omitted properties could be added to the assessment rolls from two previous years by petitioning the State Tax Commission, according to an explanation in the letter.
However, the Township will not be doing that.
“We believe such a financial burden would be devastating to those residents and businesses, especially given that the error was not of their making,” said the letter.
However, the affected properties will be added to the 2026 tax rolls for proper future assessments.
The Village Council did not directly address the issue but when questioned by a resident, members did ask for some clarification from Jennifer Sportel, a Schoolcraft Township trustee who was in attendance at the Council meeting.
At this point, it’s unclear the number of properties affected, she noted.
Council members expressed concern about what the financial impact might be on the Village since two years of property taxes will not be collected.
Business conducted at the January 5 meeting was mainly routine, concerning committee assignments and governing body roles.
The Council voted to add one item to the duties of the Fourth of July Festivities Ad Hoc Committee. That item said that the committee will “collaborate with Village Manager Lutz and Police Chief Smith with respect to reviewing a Special Events Security Plan.”
The Fourth of July Ad Hoc committee was created in August, 2025, in response to residents’ concerns over the last-minute cancellation of the Village’s 2025 Fourth of July parade.
Trustee Kathy Mastenbrook reported on the 2026/27 draft budget of the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority. Impacting the budget is that two municipalities, Brady Township and Wakeshma Township, are leaving the authority as of April 1.
The Fire Authority has decided that the monetary contributions from the remaining four municipalities – Village of Schoolcraft, Schoolcraft Township, Prairie Ronde, and the Village of Vicksburg – will remain the same for the time being.
“This is a grace period for the municipalities to adjust to their contribution,” she said.
There is the possibility of a shortfall in this year’s budget since there are so many unknowns. But expenses will likely be less since there are only four units instead of six.
“We will have to decide how to move forward,” Mastenbrook said.
During report time, Village President Mike Rochholz reviewed the evaluation given to Village Manager Cheri Lutz. She received high marks, mainly 3.9 out of 4, in all areas. He noted that the Council would be working with Lutz on goals moving forward.
“We appreciate the work you do for the community and the council,” he told Lutz.
The Council had conducted Lutz’s evaluation during a closed session at the November 17, 2025, Council meeting.
Regarding snow removal, Rochholz noted that the community has been pleased with the sidewalks being cleared.
“We are one community who clears the sidewalks,” he said. “In other communities, it’s left up to the residents.”
With the large snowfalls this winter, he encouraged the residents to be patient, assuring them that their sidewalks will eventually get cleared.
In minutes of the December 1, 2025 meeting, it was noted that the Council approved engaging Bendzinski & Co., municipal finance advisors, to assist the Village with water project funding.
Also, at the December 1 meeting, Lutz announced the Village has received a $100,000 grant from the County for lead line replacement. She has also submitted a grant application for additional funds up to $50,000 for the water project.
