Johnson/Talanda Family Cottage UPDATE - We could use YOUR help!

Greetings to all of you who have faithfully supported our family as we battle to keep our family cottage. 

WHAT'S HAPPENING:

It is not looking good for us as Kalamazoo County continues to fight us in court to take away our family's private property in the name of "public use."  We continue to spend thousands on legal fees, trying to defend what is rightfully ours.  The County claims that it needs our property in order to "complete" Prairie View Park, a park that was established AFTER our cottage was built, a park of over 200 acres that is subsidized by our tax payer dollars, a park that has no need for our 1/3 of an acre.  In November, a Kalamazoo County Commissioner reached out to one of our family members/cottage owners and said that the new Commission wanted to end this case and promised that they would vote to stop going after our cottage. Another Commissioner said, with new information from our family,  she would prepare to vote to rescind this condemnation order against our family.  Both Commissioners said that the lawsuit was wrong, and they claimed that they would make it right.  We were thrilled.  Then, when the Commission went to vote, they all voted against us and in favor of taking our cottage!  The County and this Commission has not acted in good faith.  None of this makes sense, yet we are in the fourth quarter hoping for a miracle.  Another hearing is scheduled for June 21st where we,  yet again, have to defend our private property rights and hope that the judge rules wisely.  We are weary, but we aren't done fighting.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There is a way for this madness to stop.  The Kalamazoo County Commissioners do have the power to vote to rescind this ridiculous case, allowing us to keep our beloved cottage.  Tuesday, June 6th, the Commissioners meet, and prior to their meeting, we'd like them to hear from the public, LOUD AND CLEAR.  Would you take a minute, copy and paste the letter below and send it to every Commissioner?  If you have the urge to help us further, would you call each of the Commissioners and demand that they stop this case and allow our family to keep what is rightfully ours?  If you're still not done, would you join us in person Tuesday, June 6th, at 7:00pm for the Commissioners meeting and speak during the public comment time and demand that the Commission make this right? (All contact information and details are below).

As always, we are so grateful for all of your support, encouragement, and ACTION!  We covet your continued prayers and appreciate your help to SAVE THE COTTAGE!

TO EMAIL THE COMMISSIONERS:

1. Copy and Paste the following email addresses into the "to" box on your email:

Tami.Rey@kalcounty.com, Jen.Strebs@kalcounty.com, monteze.morales@kalcounty.com, abigail.wheeler@kalcounty.com, john.taylor2@kalcounty.com, John.Gisler@kalcounty.com, jeff.heppler@kalcounty.com, wendy.mazer@kalcounty.com, dale.deleeuw@kalcounty.com

2.  Write "Save the Cottage" in the subject line.

3.  Copy and Paste the following message and put it into the body of the email with your name at the end (OR write your own message):

Dear Commissioners, as a Kalamazoo County citizen, I am writing to demand that you right the wrong that you've begun.  You have to power to vote and rescind the ridiculous case against the Johnson/Talanda families to take their beloved cottage, their private property.  The County does NOT need this property.  The County is NOT acting in good faith.  The County is NOT acting in accord with its constituents.  I expect you to bring this matter to a vote at your meeting THIS EVENING and stop this ridiculous lawsuit with this family.  

TO CALL THE COMMISSIONERS:

Dale Deleeuw (D)
269-720-6885

Wendy Mazer (R)
269-372-7198 (Cell)

Jeff Heppler (R)
269-629-5124 (Home)

John H. Gisler (R)
269-323-0259 (Home)
269-323-3448 (FAX)
269-217-2119 (Cell)

John Taylor (D)
815-245-7160 (Cell)

Abigail Wheeler (D)
616-951-5363 (Cell)

Monteze Morales (D)
269-808-3189

Jen Strebs (D)
269-903-6429

Tami Rey (D)
269-329-8512

TO JOIN US AT THE COMISSIONERS MEETING:
Tuesday, June 6th at 7:00pm at 201 West Kalamazoo Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007.  Public comment usually begins at the start of the meeting.