A Special Meeting of the Dundee Township Board was held Wednesday September 17, 2025. Supervisor Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All present recited The Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Present were Trustees: Alana Horkey, Ken Jaworski Tim Miles, Gary Lazette, Supervisor Lewis, Clerk Ziesmer, Treasurer Hunt. Clerk Ziesmer did roll call.

 

Trustee Jaworski moved to revise the agenda to place the Fred Lucas Attorney Discussion before the Cloverleaf Pre Development 425 Agreement. Trustee Horkey seconded. Motion carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

• Micaela Bogi expressed concerns on the possible Data Center.
• Laurie Grey voiced her concerns on the possible Data Center.

 

Trustee Miles moved to hire Fred Lucas as a second attorney specific to handling issues related to the data center and negotiations up to and including when the township decides they no longer need his services. Trustee Gary Lazette seconded. Motion carried.

 

Cloverleaf Pre Development 425 Agreement

Supervisor Lewis explained that the pre-development agreement is not a binding contract but an instrument indicating interest in discussions regarding a 425 agreement. He emphasized that if the township cannot come to an agreement with other municipalities, there are "off ramps" they can take.

Township Assessor Brian provided an explanation of Public Act 425 of 1984, describing it as a conditional land use transfer statute allowing two or more municipalities to conditionally transfer land between them. He explained that it emerged as an alternative to difficult annexation processes, allowing neighbors to collaborate rather than compete while facilitating economic development projects. The agreements provide flexibility in negotiation and are particularly useful for properties lacking necessary infrastructure to support development.

The Cloverleaf representative was invited to address the board and public concerns. He explained that the pre-development agreement was recommended by the Monroe Business Alliance to cover costs associated with exploring and discussing a potential 425 agreement. The agreement would bind Cloverleaf to cover expenses such as legal fees, engineering reviews, and other costs through an escrow account managed by Stewart Title, but would not bind the township to any specific outcome.

The representative addressed public concerns about benefits to the community, stating that the data center would:

• Increase taxable revenue significantly, potentially generating millions in tax revenue for the township, village, schools, libraries, and police/fire departments
• Create approximately 200-500 permanent jobs plus additional contractor positions
• Employ 80-100 people per building with multiple buildings planned
• Generate additional economic development through supporting businesses

Regarding water usage concerns, he explained that while older data centers used water cooling, their intended facility would use closed-loop refrigeration systems rather than water cooling. He estimated water usage at approximately 20,000 gallons per day per building (potentially 100,000-500,000 gallons total) for basic needs like sinks, showers, sprinklers, and toilets.

 

On noise concerns, he stated they would likely target a 65-decibel limit at the fence line, which is quieter than the nearby highway (75-80 decibels) and existing industrial facilities. He committed to performing a noise study as part of the development process.

The representative clarified that they would not build their own power generation plant but would work with DTE to ensure adequate power. He noted that backup generators would be limited to supporting critical equipment and office personnel, not the entire facility.

Regarding the timeline, he indicated construction would likely not begin until 2028. The predevelopment agreement includes a timeline for public hearings, expected in November-December.

Board members asked numerous questions:

• Trustee Jaworski asked about infrastructure costs, to which the representative confirmed that Cloverleaf would fully pay for water and sewer infrastructure upgrades.
• Trustee Lazette sought clarification about millage rates and tax benefits.
• Treasurer Ost expressed concerns about potential power generation and where electricity would come from, noting that a 2,000 square foot AI building uses enough electricity to power 30,000 homes according to her research.
• Trustee Miles noted that the data center would provide high tax revenue with relatively low impact on roads, pollution, or noise, making it preferable to other industrial developments that might bring more low-wage jobs and greater infrastructure demands.

 

Supervisor Lewis moved to vote on the 425 Pre-development agreement, subject to the township attorney reviewing the escrow account details. Trustee Lazette seconded.

 

Trustee Miles moved to approve the 425 Pre-development Agreement. Trustee Jaworski seconded. Roll Call vote: Trustee Horkey: Yes, Trustee Jaworski: Yes, Trustee Miles: Yes, Supervisor Lewis: Yes, Trustee Lazette: Yes, Treasurer Hunt: No. Motion carried 6-1.

ADDITIONAL BOARD COMMENTS: Trustee Miles addressed residents' concerns about "what's in it for me," stating that while he has traditionally been against growth, it is inevitable. He explained his support for the project based on its high tax revenue potential with low impact on infrastructure, compared to other industrial developments that might create greater burdens on the township.

 

Supervisor Lewis moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:46 p.m. Trustee Lazette seconded. Motion carried.

 

The next meeting will be September 23, 2025 at 7:00PM. 

 

 

Attested:                                                                       Respectfully Submitted,

Roger Lewis                                                                  Karla Ziesmer

Dundee Township Supervisor                                       Dundee Township Clerk

 

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