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August 24, 2023 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

PLYMOUTH
PLYMOUTH

Tax debt imperils fate of beloved Penn Theatre

The final curtain could fall at stressed that 16 other nonprofit
the iconic Penn Theatre in down- theaters in Michigan currently
town Plymouth without some enjoy the exact exemption being
relief from current property sought for the Penn.
taxes. Elliott said the group has been
Ellen Elliott, executive direc- given no reason for the denial of
tor of the Friends of the Penn, the tax exemption which, accord-
told an assembled crowd last ing to Plymouth City Manager
week that the theater is in jeop- Paul Sincock was based on a
ardy without tax relief from the deficiency in one of the require-
city. The application for a tax ments in the application. Sincock
exemption for the iconic theater said he would not comment on
was denied by the Plymouth the issue since litigation is pend-
assessor and there has been no ing and referred to the property
response to an appeal filed with tax law regulations of the
the city board of review. The Michigan General Property Tax
application for tax exemption Law. He said tax exempt status is
has now been filed with the not automatic and any question
Michigan Tax Tribunal, Elliott is referred to the tax tribunal.
said, but she has been informed Elliott responded that the sor, city officials, the attorneys for ming or building maintenance, $1 million in improvements at
that decision could take up to Penn “checks every box” of crite- the city or anyone else involved she said. the theater, she said.
three years. The Penn simply ria for tax-exemption as detailed in the situation. She said a “It's an old building, built in “We need some help. We want
does not have that long, she said. in a 2006 Michigan Supreme Freedom of Information Act 1941, and needs a lot of attention. the community to come forward
During the meeting last week, Court decision ruling that a tax- request for the information was Anything that detracts from what and let them (city officials) know
Elliott explained that the theater payer must be a nonprofit institu- filed with the city July 6 but has we need to do with the building how important this is,” Elliott
has been paying the $25,000 tax tion to qualify as a charitable gone unfulfilled. puts it in jeopardy,” she said. She said.
bill annually since the non-profit institution for the property tax Elliott explained that with the reminded the assembled group She urged residents to attend
Friends of the Penn leased the exemption. The ruling lays out serious drop in attendance at the that the Penn is an “irreplace- the 7 p.m. Aug. 21 meeting of the
building and assumed operations six criteria to be considered theater following COVID, the able asset in our town” that was city commission, to voice their
about 20 years ago. The Friends when evaluating exemption sta- Friends of the Penn will need to saved from destruction by the concerns and reinforce the
of the Penn took full ownership tus. use any money generated from intervention of a group of local importance of the Penn as an
in December of 2021, Elliott said, Elliott said the situation has fundraisers to pay the tax levy. At investors responding to the pub- asset of the entire community
and as a nonprofit charitable reached a “level of ridiculous- the current level of ticket sales lic outcry to save the building. and an important part of the city.
organization is eligible for a full ness” as no reason for the denial and donations, there would be no Since then, donations from the The outcome of that meeting
property tax exemption. She has been provided by the asses- funding available for program- community have funded nearly was not known at press time.
Rotary barbeque inspires young author

Even adults are impressed action, Scarlett knew she had Fall Festival this year set for
with the effort it takes to cook found the topic for a homework Sept. 8, 9 and 10, although her
10,000 chicken dinners in one assignment at her second-grade mother isn't sure she will be able
afternoon, but the Plymouth Fall class at Farrand Elementary to volunteer due to a scheduling
Festival Rotary Chicken School. issue.
Barbeque left one 7-year-old Scarlett wrote and illustrated “I've been a Rotary Club
awestruck last year. a three-page booklet about the member for about 5 years, but
Scarlett Powers, now 8, went barbecue which was then bound we moved to Plymouth about a
to the barbeque for the first time into a family keepsake. In the year ago,” Candace Powers said.
last year with her mother, pages, the young author detailed The mother of three daughters,
Candace, a Plymouth Noon the excitement and fun at the now 10, 8 and 6, is employed
Rotary Club member who was barbecue and how much she with Lake Credit Union in
Young author Scarlett Powers, 8, and her mother, Candace, are look- volunteering at the event. After enjoyed the “delicious” chicken. Plymouth. “They are all looking
ing forward to the Rotary Chicken Barbeque in Plymouth set for seeing her mother and the hun- She said she will absolutely forward to the chicken dinners,”
Sunday, Sept. 10. dreds of other volunteers in be back for chicken during the she said. “Especially Scarlett.”