Jschlich

It is a pleasure to pass the word that the sales agreement for the Chicago Council to sell the Owasippe property has been terminated. Also, a Stipulation And Order Of Dismissal [with prejudice] has been agreed to between the Chicago Council and the Township concerning the zoning issues that have been in court. Several years of grass roots effort by many has been recognized by these actions of the Chicago Council. The complete message from the Council President can be found at www.chicagobsa.org.

nldscout - I ask again. Will you be the first to underwrite the expense of such action? There has already been $1-million spent by the Chicago Council with the result being that the court ruled in favor the township. I suggest that the feelings of many about the CAC is reflected in the above comment concerning popcorn. Perhaps starting with your underwriting the Council can spend it's dollars on programming and leave the legal expenses of appealing a court decision to those who want to donate for the purpose of the appeal. Much seems to be happening that can cure the il

anarchist - There has been several years of rank and file membership objection. Over the past few years the COR's have not elected the board slates that have been proposed. Currently the Board that sits is one that was selected through the BSA Central Region office. Also, the current SE has been appointed by BSA National to administer the Council. Not sure that heads are on pikes but there are many who set out down this course no longer a part of the Board. A hand few of those who voted to go down this course are still around but seem to have flip-flopped.

nldscout - Will you be the first to underwrite the expense of such action? There has already been $1-million spent by the Chicago Council with the result being that the court ruled in favor the township. Perhaps with your underwriting the Council can spend it's dollars on programming and leave the legal expenses of appealing a court decision to those who want to donate for that purpose.

Owasippe operated 6 weeks of camp in 2008. Opened 6/29. Last day was 8/9.

The core issue of the Chicago Council decision to sell Owasippe has not changed. That was decided more than 3.5 years ago. At issue has been the decision to sell to a residential developer. The Council took on an obligation to sell to the developer, in exchange for over $19-million. In addition the Council took on the obligation to have the entire property zoning changed from Recreational to Residential. The Council has already spent more than $1-million to effect a zoning change. The expense has been paid from Council operating funds. There has been no special fundraising nor appea

nldscout writes, "If I was ruling on this, I would rule against the township. I beleive they are in the wrong here." Amazing! You're offering a ruling based on not hearing [or even reading] the 9 days of court testimony. Based on not having read the 4+ file boxes of evidence and pleadings. Have you even read the 19 page Opinon? I have done all of the above. Still waiting for contact outside this group concerning your wager offer.

nldscout - I guess the only thing I can respond with is the final words from who you call "a local judge" along side the final words of the Supreme's in the 2005 Kelo vs. New London case: Local judge: "this court declines the invitation to thwart the will of the public as expressed through the Township Board." Supreme's: "The Court declines to second-guess the wisdom of the means the city has selected to effectuate its plan." I'll entertain your offer of a wager outside this group.

Thank you SSScout for your question. The 5+ year effort of the Owasippe Outdoor Education Center (OOEC)to preserve the Owasippe property and to assure that Scout camping is preserved on the property would appreciate any financial assistance. The OOEC is a 501©(3) organization with it's Vision for the preservation of the property, including America's oldest Scout Camp, at www.ooec.org. Jim Schlichting Whitehall MI

A Circuit Court Opinion has been issued that solidly sides with the township's zoning of the Owasippe property. Residential housing as proposed by the Chicago Council has never been allowed on the property and has ruled that the township has the ability to maintain that designation. With probably more than $1-million already spent on the case it has been stated by Council officials that an appeal will go forth.

LH writes: "My plan was to never let this get started but there was no support for that because "It will never happen". My plan was to stop the sale at the beginning when Stone's track record was revealed. " So you have no plan now and you prefer what you said, "...I hope Stone wins and builds as many one room shacks as he can." So sad that you choose to support residential development over the conservation of natural resources. It's amazing how many Scouting members truely have their own selfish motives and would rather trade natural resources for the maximum cash-in to run th

LH writes: "I can only figure that your are referring to the sale of Owasippe Lake which to my knowledge occurred after the change in tax assessment, and some say as a result of the reassessment. Land adjacent to CAC's as I understand it was NOT reassessed at the higher rate at that time. That is to say all the property in that area of that zoning type was not reassessed at that time." I am refering to the CAC disposal of about 8,000 acres of Owasippe property which included Owasippe Lake and all of the Owasippe property that was between that Lake and the current Western boundary of

Lisabob writes: "If I'm wrong about this, I'll be the first to celebrate, mind you." Celebration may be possible but it certainly is too early to buy any champagne concerning the Owasippe property. Some time ago the good people of the State of Michigan were wise enough to establish, through a vote of the people, the Michigan Natural Recources Trust Fund. This is a fund that collects the royalties paid for the extraction of oil, gas and such resources in Michigan. MNRTF funds can only be used for the purchase of property and for improvements to property with natural resource

LH writes: "I do apologize Jim, if your going to dis a man you should get his name right." ********* Yes, it is rather important to get names correct. I guess how important it is for you to dis someone is a judgement call that only you can make. Take the best shots you can man. I can take it. ********* LH further writes: "Late 70's early 80's Blue Lake Township rezoned the property from what ever it was to a higher rate. Chicago Area Council requested for years to have the zoning changed BLT refused." and also wrote: "I was angry when Blue Lake Township or

eolesen writes: "To keep all of Owasippe tax exempt, the land could be subdivided into 400 acre parcels, with individual councils and other not-for-profits owning them. If CAC is unable to sell it as residential property, I don't know if they'll still go forward with selling it. If they do, someone should be lobbying the state to just buy it as a wildlife refuge..." ********* There are many alternatives to the sale of the property by the CAC for residential development. However, the Chicago Scouts have decided to invest what I believe is close to $1-million of their money

Gold Winger writes: "A group of people have banded together to try to save this camp from becoming yet another place for people to park their BMWs and SUVs. CAC and the potential saviours are battling it out as we speak." This is not totally correct. The so called "potential saviours" and the CAC are NOT battling. It is correct to say that a group of people have banded together to prevent what is describe AND to make it possible for a Scout summer camp to operate under the Owasippe banner as it has for almost 100 years. The so called battle is between the township and the CAC.

LH - First of all I don't know who you address as Joe. Then, I want to repeat something from two years ago, "I believe that the Owasippe Outdoor Education Center was created as an effort to find a single solution that satisfies all interested parties. Fundimental to the OOEC effort is that the property remain zoned FR-I, not rezoned to allow residential development. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see the Council recind the sale and go forth with a long-range redevelopment plan for the Owasippe property. It is something that could have been done decades ago." Nothing I hav

LH says: "I wish this court case was about saving the camp but it is not." *************** Some Chicago Area Council members attempted to go the course of "saving the camp". They failed to do so from within the Council. The local community, as well as some from the Chicago Area Council, worked together to preserve the Owasippe property intact with the goal of having the property available for controlled use by Scouts, other youth and the public. ########################## LH further states: "The fight to preserve the "camp" found little support from the locals whe

Friday was the final day of testimony in the matter of the Chicago Area Council vs. Blue Lake Township in the 14th Circuit Court of Michigan. CAC is the Plaintiff. The trial was reduced from around nine issues down to two legal points by Judge William Marietti. The judge dismissed the other Plaintiff claims. The issues in the trial were: 1) Was the zoning of "Forest Recreational - Institutional" for the Owasippe property (one of five camps so zoned in the township)arbitrary and cappricious? and 2) Was such zoning by the township a "taking" of the value of the property? Closi

Thanks for the info on the Report. I'll pass it on. There's plenty of testimony concerning the value of Summer Camps and year-round outdoor facilities that has been submitted to the court in order to document that value of the land. It's also been submitted that the world of Summer Camps and outdoor facilities is large and growing. Scouting is an extemely small player in the universe of Summer Camps and the shrinking of camp land owned by Councils is contrary to the overall trend of camps and all. Chicago Council is selling the property and this entire trial is centered on th

I cetainly can not speak for Long Term but I will speak for myself. Above I have given the reasons I feel it is important for the Owasippe property, and a program of Scout camping and summer staff experience, be continued in that location further into the 21nd Century. While the politics in Chicago Council seems to burden the comments I made in opposition to my reasoning....so be it. I'm all for Owasippe being a place for BSA members (AND MANY MORE YOUTH) to available in the future. I have no economic or other vested interest in the Owasippe property as has been suggested b

Long Haul - Before you make further statements I suggest that you review the testimony over the past two weeks, in the 14th Circuit Court of Michigan, of the Chicago SE and President concerning leasing facilities for summer camping.

Long Haul.....What business is it of yours concerning what I own and where I own it?

OOEC's position and information is at www.ooec.org. I'll let everyone read for themselves what's there rather than give dignity to arbitrary claims. I do not live in Blue Lake Township as Long Haul states.

I'm going to leave comment about the governance issues and election to someone closer to what transpired in Chicago earlier this year. All I really know is that a new Board and all was elected and took their seats in March. **** Concerning the overall concerns and background that "eolesen" brought up: The "Save Owasippe" campaign is very wide across the region and was most evidence of the supported of the campaign begins at the residences adjacent to the Owasippe property. The Chicago Council has voted to sell the Owasippe property and the legal actions are all centered ar