Statement from state Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) on the Michigan Supreme Court Decision denying Menard Inc., appeal in the dark-store case:
LANSING – The Michigan Supreme Court has denied Menard’s appeal of a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that favored the city of Escanaba in its dark-store fight with Menards. In response, state Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) issued the following statement:
“I am very pleased that the Michigan Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declined to hear Menard’s appeal of the Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that favored the city of Escanaba. When big-box stores game the property tax system and put deed restrictions on the sale of their buildings, it hurts our cities and their residents. Small communities like mine in the Western U.P. welcome these stores because they create jobs and sell products we all need. But when they can get tax breaks and then prevent other similar stores from buying their property, local units of government suffer and have a hard time providing the services residents, and these stores, expect. The Court of Appeals ruling and now the Supreme Court’s denial of Menard’s appeal favor local units of government in their fight for tax fairness.”