KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The members of the Tolanda and Johnson families, who have been fighting to save their cottage on Gourdneck Lake from Kalamazoo County’s condemnation, got what they asked for last night, but it’s not what they wanted.
Apparently family members who addressed the county Board of Commissioners last night thought they had the votes to end the legal battle, now that new commissioners have been sworn in, so they asked the new board to vote to reverse their decision to seize the property.
The board did vote, not only to continue the condemnation, but to end negotiations on a compromise.
Commissioner John Gisler made the motion to end settlement talks that would have allowed the construction of separate private access to the cottage property.
The small parcel in question sits inside the county’s Prairie View Park, creating liability and access issues for the County Parks Department.
The county has been trying to obtain the property for over 60 years .
The next court hearing on the matter is this Thursday.
reporting from John McNeill
