Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2006.07.20 - 28159MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #06136 JULY 20, 2006 BY: Finance Committee, Chuck Moss, Chairperson IN RE: DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET / EQUALIZATION DIVISION — APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS, CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS, CITY OF NOVI AND CITY OF WALLED LAKE. TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS the Equalization Division provides a number of services to local units of government including original assessments, reappraisals, and file maintenance; and WHEREAS these services are provided under contract with the local units as approved by the Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS revenues and expenditures associated with the services for these contracts are included in the FY 2C07 budget, and therefore, no budget amendment is recommended. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby approves entering into the attached Contract for Oakland County Equalization Division Assistance Services with the following units of government: 1. City of Birmingham, personal property and file maintenance; 2. City of Bloomfield Hills, real and personal property; 3. City of Huntington Woods, real and personal property; 4. City of Novi, personal property; 5. City of Walled Lake, real and personal property; BE IT FURTHER RESOI,VED that the Board of Commissioners' Chairperson is authorized to sign these contracts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk shall receive and file the executed contracts with the aforementioned municipalities as required by law. Chairperson, on behalf of the Finance Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. FINANCE COMMITTEE FINANCE COMMITTEE Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Palmer absent. • CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (personal property and file maintenance services) This CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATiONILVIUQUASSATANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, (hereafter, this "Contract") is made and entered into between the COUNTY OF OAKLAND, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation, whose address is 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan 48341 (hereafter, the "County"), and the CITY OF BIRMINGHAM , a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation whose address is 151 Martin Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48012-3001 (hereafter, the "Municipality"). In this Contract, either the County and/or the Municipality may also be referred to individually as a "Party" or jointly as "Parties." INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS A. The Municipality, pursuant to the laws of the State of Michigan (hereafter, the "State"), including, but not limited to, the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.1, et seq.) is required to perform real and personal property tax appraisals and assessments for all nonexempt real and personal property located within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality for the purpose of levying State and local property taxes. B. The Parties recognize and agree that absent an agreement such as this, or pursuant to an order of the State Tax Commission mandating the County to perform all or some of the property tax appraisal and tax assessment responsibilities for real and/or personal property located within the Municipality's geographic boundaries (MCL 211.10(f), the County, has no obligation to provide these Services to or for the Municipality. C. The Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.34(3) provides that the County Board of Commissioners, through the Equalization Division may furnish assistance to local assessing officers in the performance of certain of these legally mandated, Municipality, property appraisal and assessment responsibilities. D. The Municipality has requested the County's Equalization Division assistance in performing the "Equalization Division Assistance Services" (as described and defined in this Contract) and has agreed in return to reimburse the County as provided for in this Contract. E. The County has determined that it has sufficient "Equalization Division Personnel," as defined herein, possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise and is agreeable to assisting the Municipality by providing the requested "Equalization Division Assistance Services" under the terms and conditions of this Contract. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual promises, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and the Municipality mutually agree as follows: CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 1 4 §1. DEFINED TERMS In addition to the above defined terms (i.e., "Contract", "County", "Municipality", "Party' and "Parties", and "State"), the Parties agree that the following words and expressions when printed with the first letter capitalized as shown herein, whether used in the singular or plural, possessive or nonpossessive, and/or either within or without quotation marks, shall, be defined and interpreted as follows: 1.1. "County Agent" or "County Agents" shall be defined as any and all Oakland County elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, commissioners, authorities, other boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal representative or official capacities), and/or any persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, excluding the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agents, as defined herein. "County Agent" and/or "County Agents" shall also include any person who was a County Agent anytime during the term of this Contract but, for any reason, is no longer employed, appointed, or elected and serving as a County Agent. 1.2. "Equalization Division Personnel" as used in this Contract shall be defined as a specific subset of, and included as part of the larger group of County Agents as defined above, and shall be further defined as any and all County Agents specifically employed and assigned by the County to work in the Equalization Division of the County's Department of Management and Budget as shown in the current County budget and/or personnel records of the County. For any and all purposes in this Contract, any reference to County Agents shall also include within that term any and all Equalization Division Personnel, but any reference in this contract to Equalization Division Personnel shall not include any County Agent employed by the County in any other function, capacity or organizational unit of the County other than the Equalization Division of the Department of Management and Budget. 1.3. "Municipality Agent" or "Municipality Agents", shall be defined to include any and all Municipality officers, elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal, representative, or official capacities), and/or any and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, except that no County Agent shall be deemed a Municipality Agent and conversely, no Municipality Agent shall be deemed a County Agent. "Municipality Agent" shall also include any person who was a Municipality Agent at any time during this Contract but for any reason is no longer employed, appointed, or elected in that capacity. 1.4. "Claim(s)" shall be defined to include any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities or Claim(s) of any kind CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 2 whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against either the County and/or any County Agent, as defined herein, or any Claim(s) for which the County and/or any County Agent may become legally and/or contractually obligated to pay or defend against, or any other liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based upon any alleged violation of the constitution (federal or State), any statute, rule, regulation or the common law, whether in law or equity, tort, contract, or otherwise, and/or whether commenced or threatened and arising out of any alleged breach of any duty by the County and/or any County Agent to any third-person, the Municipality, including any Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer under or in connection with this Contract or are based on or result in any way from the County's and/or any County Agent's participation in this Contract. 1.5. "Municipality Taxpayer" shall be defined as any and all residents, property owners, persons, or taxable entities within the Municipality, or their representatives or agents, who may be liable or responsible for any property taxes assessed by the Municipality pursuant to any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 1.6. "State" shall be defined as the "State of Michigan," a sovereign governmental entity of the United States, and shall also include within its definition any and all departments or agencies of State government including specifically, but not limited to, the State Tax Commission, the State Tax Tribunal, and/or the State Department of Treasury. §2. COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES The Parties agree that the full and complete scope of any and all County Equalization Division Assistance Services shall be as described and limited in the following subsections (hereinafter defined and referred to as either "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services"). 2.1. "EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES" OR "SERVICES" TO BE PROVIDED "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services", to be performed by County for the Municipality as those terms are defined in this Contract, shall only include and shall be limited to the following activities: 2.1.1. This Contract is to provide for annual assessment of personal property through the 2007 and 2008 tax years as required by laws of the State of Michigan. The County agrees to make assessments of personal property within the Municipality pursuant to MCL 211.10d. 2.1.2. The Equalization Division personnel will appraise all new personal property, process all personal property description changes, and will audit where necessary to insure and establish accurate appraisals on all taxable personal property. The Equalization Division personnel will review all statements and extensions, make valuation recommendations to the assessor in the absence of a prepared personal property statement and load all values on the computer for the assessment roll. All Board of Review changes will be processed on the personal property section of the assessment roll and balanced to insure there are no omissions. The Equalization Division personnel will be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal appeals for personal property CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 3 and will assist the Assessor in the preparation of both oral and written defense of appeals as long as there is a current Contract in effect. However, the County shall not assist or appear on behalf of the Municipality regarding appeals of special assessments to the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other Court or Tribunal. 2.1.3. The County will also assist the Municipality's Assessor through the 2007 and 2008 tax years in maintaining files by reviewing current open building permits for the residential, commercial and industrial classification and submitting them to the Assessor for final review. 2.2. PURPOSE OF COUNTY "SERVICES" The Parties agree that the purpose of any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be performed under this Contract shall be to assist (e.g., to help, aid, lend support, and/or participate in as an auxiliary, to contribute effort toward completion of a goal, etc.) the Municipality in the performance of that Municipality's official functions, obligations, and Municipality's legal responsibilities for property tax appraisal and assessment pursuant to the applicable State Property Tax Laws. 2.3. MANNER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES The Parties agree that any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be provided by the County for the Municipality under this Contract shall be performed solely and exclusively by the County's "Equalization Division Personnel" as defined herein. 2.3.1. Equalization Division Personnel shall be employed and assigned by the County in such numbers and based on such appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided solely by the County. 2.3.2. The Parties agree that the County shall be solely and exclusively responsible for furnishing all Equalization Division Personnel with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall in all circumstances control, supervise, train or direct all Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of any and all Services under this Contract. 2.3.3. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Parties agree and warrant that, at all times and for all purposes relevant to this Contract, the County shall remain the sole and exclusive employer of all County Agents and Equalization Division Personnel and that the County shall remain solely and completely liable for any and all County Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any County Agent's employment status. 2.3.4. This Contract is neither intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to create, change, grant, modify, supplement, supersede, alter, or otherwise affect CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 4 or control, in any manner, form, or at any time, any right, privilege, benefit, or any other term or condition of employment, of any kind or nature whatsoever, in, upon, or for any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel with the County, any applicable County employment and/or union contract, and/or any County rule(s), regulation(s), hours of work, shift assignment, order(s), policy(ies), procedure(s), directive(s), ethical guideline(s), etc., which shall, solely and exclusively, govern and control the employment relationship between the County and any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel and/or the conduct and actions of any County Agent or any Equalization Division Personnel. To illustrate, but not otherwise limit, this Contract does not and shall not be interpreted to limit, modify, control, or otherwise affect, in any manner: 2.3.4.1. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, responsibility, and discretion to employ, compensate, assign, reassign, transfer, promote, reclassify, discipline, demote, layoff, furlough, discharge any Equalization Division Personnel and/or pay any and all Equalization Division Personnel's wages, salaries, allowances, reimbursements, compensation, fringe benefits, or otherwise decide any and all such terms and conditions of employment and make any and all employment decisions that affect, in any way, the employment of any Equalization Division Personnel with the County, subject only to its applicable collective bargaining Contracts. 2.3.4.2. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, and responsibility to determine, establish, modify, or implement any and all operational policies, procedures, orders, rules, regulations, ethical guidelines, and/or any other judgment, policy or directive which, in any way, governs or controls any activity of any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, any necessary County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel's training standards or proficiency(ies), any level or amount of required supervision, any and all standards of performance, any sequence or manner of performance, and any level(s) of experience, training, or education required for any Equalization Division Personnel performing any County duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.3.5. The Municipality agrees that except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Contract and/or laws of this State, no County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, while such person is currently and/or actively employed or otherwise remains on the payroll of the County as a County Agent shall be employed, utilized, or perform any other services, of any kind, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, or otherwise be available to perform any other work or assignments by or for the Municipality during the term of this Contract. This section shall not prohibit the Municipality from employing any person who was a former County Agent but is no longer employed in that capacity by the County. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 5 • 2.3.6. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Contract and/or applicable State law, the Parties agree and warrant that neither the County, nor any County Agent, nor any Equalization Division Personnel, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, shall be deemed, considered or claimed to be an employee of the Municipality and/or a Municipality Agent. 2.3.7. The Municipality shall not otherwise provide, furnish or assign any Equalization Division Personnel with any job instructions, job descriptions, job specifications, or job duties, or in any manner attempt to control, supervise, train, or direct any Personnel in the performance of any County's Equalization Division Assistance Services duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.4. LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS ON COUNTY "SERVICES" Except as otherwise expressly provided for within this Contract, neither the County nor any County Agents shall be responsible for assisting or providing any other "Services "or assistance to the Municipality or assume any additional responsibility for assisting the Municipality in any other way or manner with any Municipality obligations under any and all State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to, providing any attorney or legal representation to the Municipality or any Municipality Agent at any proceeding before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other adjudicative body or court, except as expressly provided for in this Contract. 2.4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The Municipality shall employ and retain its own Municipality legal representation, as necessary, to defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or review body. 2.4.2. Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County Agents, including any County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this Contract or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal representation to or for the Municipality and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest, appeal, or argue on behalf of the Municipality before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other review body or court. §3. TERM OF CONTRACT The Parties agree that the term of this Contract shall begin on the effective date of this Contract, as otherwise provided herein, and shall end on June 30, 2008, without any further act or notice from either Party being required. Any and all County Services otherwise provided to the Municipality prior to the effective date of this Contract, shall be subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 6 • • NO TRANSFER OF MUNICIPALITY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO COUNTY Except as expressly provided for in this Contract, the Municipality agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, transfer, delegate, or assign to the County, and/or any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel any civil or legal responsibility, duty, obligation, duty of care, cost, legal obligation, or liability associated with any governmental function delegated and/or entrusted to the Municipality under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation. The Municipality agrees that under no circumstances shall the County be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with its Municipality function or any responsibility under any State Property Tax Law. 4.2. The Municipality shall not incur or create any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations for the County and shall take all necessary steps to ensure that any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations that the Municipality may incur shall not become a debt, liability, obligation or Claim(s) against the County. 4.3. The Parties agree that the Municipality shall at all times remain responsible for the ultimate completion of any and all Municipality duties or obligations under any and all applicable State Property Tax Laws. Nothing in this Contract shall relieve the Municipality of any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. 4.4. The Municipality and Municipality Agents shall be and remain responsible for compliance with all federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and agency requirements in any manner affecting any work or performance of this Contract or with any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. §5. NO DELEGATION OR DIMINUTION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY The Parties reserve to themselves any rights and obligations related to the provision of any and all of each Party's respective governmental services, authority, responsibilities, and obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, diminish, delegate, transfer, assign, divest, impair, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, and/or other legal right, privilege, power, civil or legal responsibility, obligation, duty of care, liability, capacity, immunity, authority or character of office of either Party to any other person or Party. 5.1. The Parties further agree, notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, that no provision in this Contract is intended, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver of any governmental immunity, as provided by statute or applicable court decisions, by either Party, either for that Party and/or any of that Party's County or Municipal Agents. 5.2. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, nothing in this Contract shall be deemed to, in any way, limit or prohibit the Oakland County Board of Commissioners statutory rights and obligations to review and/or further equalize Municipality property values or tax assessments and/or further act upon any Municipality assessment(s) of property taxes under any applicable State Property CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITh THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 7 §4. Tax Laws, including, but not limited to challenging any Municipality assessment before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. §6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE In consideration of the promises set forth in this Contract, the Municipality agrees to pay to the County: For the contract years 2006-2007 and 2007- 2008, the sum of $7.35 each year for each real property description (file maintenance) and $12.88 each year for each personal property description rendered during the life of this Contract. Payment for the contract year 2006-2007 is payable on or before July 1, 2007 and payment for the contract year 2007-2008 is payable on or before July 1, 2008. If during the term of this Contract, there are additional services requested of the County, the Parties shall negotiate additional fees to be paid by the Municipality. 6.1. All time incurred for Board of Review dates beyond the regular County working hours to be billed at the applicable Equalization Division personnel's overtime rate and charged to the Municipality over and above any other fees described in this Contract, with the following exceptions: 6.1.1. One evening meeting as required by law under MCL § 211.29(1). 6.1.2. Dates requiring overtime set by the Municipality Charter. 6.2. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for postage on all personal property statements and personal property notices mailed relating to work performed under this Contract. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for all photographic supplies. 6.3. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail, for any reason, to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that upon notice from the Oakland County Treasurer to the Treasurer of the State of Michigan (or any other State of Michigan official authorized to disburse funds to the MUNICIPALITY), the State of Michigan is authorized to withhold any funds due the MUNICIPALITY from the State, and assign those funds to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY to the County. Such funds shall be paid directly to the County. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the State or County, or their respective officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.4. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County Treasurer shall be entitled to set-off and retain any amounts due the MUNICIPALITY from Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund ("DTRFR) or any other source of funds due the MUNICIPALITY in the possession of the County, to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY, unless expressly prohibited by law. Such a transfer shall be considered an assignment by the MUNICIPALITY to the COUNTY. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the County, or its officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.5. Notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, should the Municipality fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County may discontinue, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Municipality, without any penalty or CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 8 liability whatsoever, any County services or performance obligations under this Contract. 6.6. None of these provisions shall operate to limit in any way the County's right to pursue any other legal remedies against the MUNICIPALITY for the reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies in this paragraph are available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis, as the MUNICIPALITY becomes delinquent in its payments. §7. LIABILITY The Municipality further agrees that the County shall not be liable to the Municipality for any and all Claim(s), except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Contract. 7.1. The Parties agree that this Contract does not and is not intended to create or include any County warranty, promise, covenant or guaranty, either express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever in favor of the other Municipality, and/or any Municipality Agents, or any Municipality Taxpayer or any other person or entity, or that the County's efforts in the performance of any obligation under this Contract will result in any specific monetary benefit or efficiency, or increase in any tax revenue for the Municipality, or will result in any specific reduction or increase in any property assessment, or guarantee that any County services provided under this Contract will withstand any challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any court or review body, or any other such performance-based outcome. 7.2. In the event of any alleged breach, wrongful termination, and/or any default of any term or condition of this Contract by either the County or any County Agent, the County and/or any County Agent shall not be liable to the Municipality for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to any replacement costs for County Services, any loss of income or revenue, and/or any failure by the Municipality to meet any Municipality obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, or any other economic benefit or harm that the Municipality may have realized, but for any alleged breach, wrongful termination, default and/or cancellation of this Contract, or damages beyond or in excess of the amount(s) of any amount paid to, received or retained by the County at the time of the alleged breach or default in connection with or under the terms of this Contract, whether such alleged breach or default is alleged in an action in contract or tort and/or whether or not the Municipality has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This provision and this Contract is intended by the Parties to allocate the risks between the Parties, and the Parties agree that the allocation of each Party's efforts, costs, and obligations under this Contract reflect this allocation of each Party's risk and the limitations of liability as specified herein. 7.3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, with regard to any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality or any Municipality Agent by any third person, including but not CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 9 • limited to any Municipality Agent or Municipality Taxpayer, arising out of any activities or Services to be carried out by any County Agent in the performance of this Contract, the Municipality hereby agrees that it shall have no rights pursuant to or under this Contract against the County and/or any County Agents to or for any indemnification (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) contribution, subrogation, or other right to be reimbursed by the County and/or any of County Agents based upon any and all legal theories or alleged rights of any kind, whether known or unknown, for any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality and which are alleged to have arisen under or are in any way based or predicated upon this Contract. 7.4. If the Municipality requests and the County agrees, the County may prepare the actual tax statement for mailing by the Municipality to Municipality residents. In preparing any such tax statement the County shall rely upon certain data provided by the Municipality beyond the data gathered by the County under this contract, including, but not limited to, the applicable millage rate. The parties agree that under no circumstances shall the County be held liable to the Municipality or any third party based upon any error in any tax statement due to information supplied by the Municipality to the County for such purposes. §8. MUNICIPALITY AGENTS AND COOPERATION WITH THE COUNTY The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and exclusively responsible, during the term of this Contract, for guaranteeing that all Municipality Agents fully cooperate with Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of all County Services under this Contract. 8.1. Municipality Agents shall be employed and assigned based on appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely responsible for furnishing all Municipality Agents with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall solely control, direct, and supervise all Municipality Agents and shall be solely responsible for the means and manner in which Municipality's duties or obligations under any applicable State Property Tax Laws are satisfied. 8.2. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and completely liable for any and all Municipality Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any Municipality Agent's employment status or any alleged violation of any Municipality Agent's statutory, contractual (e.g., union, employment, or labor contract), constitutional, common law employment right, and/or civil rights by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent and/or which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 10 to any Municipality Agent's wages, compensation, benefits, or other employment- related or based rights, including, but not limited to, those described in this section. 8.3. The Municipality agrees that no Municipality Agent shall, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, be considered or claimed to be an employee of the County and/or a County Agent. This Contract does not grant or confer, and shall not be interpreted to grant or confer, upon any Municipality Agents or any other individual any status, privilege, right, or benefit of County employment or that of a County Agent. 8.4. The Municipality agrees to provide the County with information regarding any activity affecting the tax status of any parcel including but not limited to the following: Downtown Development Authorities, Redevelopment Plans, Tax Increment Financing Authorities. In addition, the municipality agrees to notify the County immediately of approval of any application for abatement or tax exemption. 8.5. The Municipality agrees to inform the County agents regarding any increase in taxation which is governed by the Truth in Taxation Act as well as any property which is being considered for an exemption under the Industrial Facility Tax Act. The County shall be informed of these proposed changes prior to approval by the governing body of the municipality. 8.6. The Municipality will be responsible for Special Assessment billings, maintaining a paper trail of roll changes, maintaining the rolls in balance, and providing the Oakland County Equalization Division with the information necessary to prepare the warrant. 8.7. The Municipality agrees that its agents will perform the following functions: 8.7.1. Mechanically make name changes to Sidwell numbers on a monthly basis using the County's Computer terminals. 8.7.2. Provide a copy of all building permits with Sidwell numbers to the County's Equalization Division on a monthly basis. 8.7.3. Be responsible for the establishment, accuracy and compilation of all Special Assessment rolls in the Municipality. 8.7.4. Forward all exemption applications, transfer affidavits, personal property statements and any and all other documents affecting the status or value of property located within the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division in a timely manner. 8.7.5. Forward all information on splits and combinations after approval by the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division. 8.8. In the event that Municipality Agents, for whatever reason, fail or neglect to undertake the tasks in Section 8.7 above, the County's Equalization Division may perform these tasks and they shall be paid on a time and material basis. Such rate shall be based upon the wages plus benefits of the person or persons performing said tasks. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 11 §9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR The Parties agree that at all times and for all purposes under the terms of this Contract, the County's and/or any and all County Agents' legal status and relationship to the Municipality shall be that of an Independent Contractor. Except as expressly provided herein, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its own employees, Agents, and servants during the term of this Contract. No liability, right or benefits arising out of an employer/employee relationship, either express or implied, shall arise or accrue to either Party as a result of this Contract. §10. COUNTY PRIORITIZATION OF COUNTY RESOURCU The Municipality acknowledges and agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create either any absolute right in favor of the Municipality, or any correspondent absolute duty or obligation upon the County, to guarantee that any specific number(s) or classification of County Agents will be present on any given day to provide County services to the Municipality. §11. INDEMNIFICATION The Municipality shall not be obligated to pay any portion of any court ordered judgment or award to a third party for which a court has determined that the County and/or any County Agent was solely negligent or at fault. However, the Municipality agrees to, indemnify and hold the County and/or any County Agent harmless from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County and/or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent under any circumstances or by any person which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any alleged error, mistake, negligence or intentional act(s) or omission(s) by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent, including, but not limited to: (a) any alleged breach of legal duty to any person by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent; (b) any alleged failure by the Municipality or any Municipality Agent to comply with any Municipality duty or obligation in this Contract; and/or (c) any other Claim(s) based in any way upon any Municipality or Municipality Agent's services, buildings, equipment, or any other event, occurrence, duty, or obligation related or attendant thereto. §12. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRA QI Except as follows, and notwithstanding any other term or provision in any other section of this Contract, either Party, upon a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days written notice to the other Party, may cancel and/or completely terminate this Contract for any reason, including convenience, without incurring any penalty, expense, or liability to the other Party. The effective date for any such termination is to be clearly stated in the notice. 12.1. At 5:00 p.m. on the effective date of the cancellation of this Contract all Municipality and/or County obligations under this Contract, except those rights and obligations expressly surviving cancellation as provided for in this Contract, shall end. 12.2. The Municipality agrees that any and all Municipality obligations, including, but not limited to, any and all indemnification and hold harmless promises, waivers of liability, record-keeping requirements, any Municipality payment obligations to the County, and/or any other related obligations provided for in this Contract with regard to any acts, occurrences, events, transactions, or Claim(s) either occurring or having their basis in any events or transactions that occurred before the cancellation or completion of this Contract, shall survive the cancellation or completion of this Contract. 13 CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 12 §13. EFFECTIVE DATE, CONTRACT _=_PROVAL. ANDAMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any subsequent amendments thereto, shall not become effective prior to the approval by concurrent resolutions of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Birmingham. The approval and terms of this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments thereto, shall be entered in the official minutes and proceedings of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Birmingham and shall also be filed with the office of the Clerk of the County and the Clerk for the City of Birmingham. §14. The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall not become effective prior to this required filing with the Secretary of State. 14.1. The Parties agree that except as expressly provided herein, this Contract shall not be changed, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except as provided for herein, and no other act, verbal representation, document, usage or custom shall be deemed to amend or modify this Contract in any manner. §15. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES Except as expressly provided herein for the benefit of the Parties (i.e., County or Municipality), this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, by implication or otherwise, any direct or indirect obligation, duty, promise, benefit, right to be indemnified (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) and/or any right to be subrogated to any Party's rights in this Contract, and/or any other right of any kind, in favor of any person, including, but not limited to, any County Agent or Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer, any Taxpayer's legal representative, any organization, any alleged unnamed beneficiary or assignee, and/or any other person. §16. CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE The language of all parts of this Contract is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any party. As used in this Contract, the singular or plural number, possessive or nonpossessive shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so suggests or requires. §17. CAPTIONS The section headings or titles and/or all section numbers contained in this Contract are intended for the convenience of the reader and not intended to have any substantive meaning and are not to be interpreted as part of this Contract. §18. NOTICES Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, any and all correspondence, invoices, and/or any other written notices required, permitted or provided for under this Contract to be delivered to either Party shall be sent to that Party by first class mail. All such written notices, including any notice canceling or terminating this Contract as provided for herein, shall be sent to the other Party's signatory to this Contract, or that signatory's successor in office, at the addresses shown in this Contract. All correspondence or written notices shall be considered delivered to a Party as of the date that such notice is deposited with sufficient postage with the U.S. Postal Service. §19. WAIVER OF BREACH The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Contract shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Each and every right, remedy and power granted to either party or allowed it by law shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 13 §20. ENTIRE CONTRACT This Contract, consisting of a total of fourteen (14) pages, sets forth the entire agreement between the County and the Municipality and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between them in any way related to the subject matter hereof. It is further understood and agreed that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the County and the Municipality in any way related to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly stated herein. This Contract shall not be changed or supplemented orally and may be amended only as otherwise provided herein. For and in consideration of the mutual assurances, promises, acknowledgments, warrants, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby execute this Contract on behalf of the Parties, and by doing so legally obligate and bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Contract. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Scott Moore, Mayor of the City of Birmingham, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the City Council of Birmingham, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Municipality and hereby accepts and binds the Municipality to the terms and conditions of this Contract. • EXECUTED: DATE: Scott Moore, Mayor City of Birmingham WITNESSED: DATE: Nancy M. Weiss, Clerk City of Birmingham IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Oakland County, and hereby accepts and binds the Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson Oakland County Board of Commissioners WITNESSED: DATE: Ruth Johnson, Clerk/ Register of Deeds County of Oakland CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM Page 14 CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS (real and personal property services) This CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCL SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS, (hereafter, this "Contract") is made and entered into between the COUNTY OF OAKLAND, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation, whose address is 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan 48341 (hereafter, the "County"), and the CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS , a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation whose address is 45 East Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304-2322 (hereafter, the "Municipality"). In this Contract, either the County and/or the Municipality may also be referred to individually as a "Party" or jointly as "Parties." INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS A. The Municipality, pursuant to the laws of the State of Michigan (hereafter, the "State"), including, but not limited to, the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.1, et seq.) is required to perform real and personal property tax appraisals and assessments for all nonexempt real and personal property located within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality for the purpose of levying State and local property taxes. B. The Parties recognize and agree that absent an agreement such as this, or pursuant to an order of the State Tax Commission mandating the County to perform all or some of the property tax appraisal and tax assessment responsibilities for real and/or personal property located within the Municipality's geographic boundaries (MCL 211.10(f), the County, has no obligation to provide these Services to or for the Municipality. C. The Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.34(3) provides that the County Board of Commissioners, through the Equalization Division may furnish assistance to local assessing officers in the performance of certain of these legally mandated, Municipality, property appraisal and assessment responsibilities. D. The Municipality has requested the County's Equalization Division assistance in performing the "Equalization Division Assistance Services" (as described and defined in this Contract) and has agreed in return to reimburse the County as provided for in this Contract. E. The County has determined that it has sufficient "Equalization Division Personnel," as defined herein, possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise and is agreeable to assisting the Municipality by providing the requested "Equalization Division Assistance Services" under the terms and conditions of this Contract. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual promises, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and the Municipality mutually agree as follows: CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 1 §1. DEFINED TERMS In addition to the above defined terms (i.e., "Contract", "County", "Municipality", "Party" and "Parties", and "State"), the Parties agree that the following words and expressions when printed with the first letter capitalized as shown herein, whether used in the singular or plural, possessive or nonpossessive, and/or either within or without quotation marks, shall, be defined and interpreted as follows: 1.1. "County Agent" or "County Agents" shall be defined as any and all Oakland County elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, commissioners, authorities, other boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal representative or official capacities), and/or any persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, excluding the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agents, as defined herein. "County Agent" and/or "County Agents" shall also include any person who was a County Agent anytime during the term of this Contract but, for any reason, is no longer employed, appointed, or elected and serving as a County Agent. 1.2. "Equalization Division Personnel" as used in this Contract shall be defined as a specific subset of, and included as part of the larger group of County Agents as defined above, and shall be further defined as any and all County Agents specifically employed and assigned by the County to work in the Equalization Division of the County's Department of Management and Budget as shown in the current County budget and/or personnel records of the County. For any and all purposes in this Contract, any reference to County Agents shall also include within that term any and all Equalization Division Personnel, but any reference in this contract to Equalization Division Personnel shall not include any County Agent employed by the County in any other function, capacity or organizational unit of the County other than the Equalization Division of the Department of Management and Budget. 1.3. "Municipality Agent" or "Municipality Agents", shall be defined to include any and all Municipality officers, elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal, representative, or official capacities), and/or any and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, except that no County Agent shall be deemed a Municipality Agent and conversely, no Municipality Agent shall be deemed a County Agent. "Municipality Agent" shall also include any person who was a Municipality Agent at any time during this Contract but for any reason is no longer employed, appointed, or elected in that capacity. 1.4. "Claim(s)" shall be defined to include any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities or Claim(s) of any kind CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 2 whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against either the County and/or any County Agent, as defined herein, or any Claim(s) for which the County and/or any County Agent may become legally and/or contractually obligated to pay or defend against, or any other liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based upon any alleged violation of the constitution (federal or State), any statute, rule, regulation or the common law, whether in law or equity, tort, contract, or otherwise, and/or whether commenced or threatened and arising out of any alleged breach of any duty by the County and/or any County Agent to any third-person, the Municipality, including any Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer under or in connection with this Contract or are based on or result in any way from the County's and/or any County Agent's participation in this Contract. 1.5. "Municipality Taxpayer" shall be defined as any and all residents, property owners, persons, or taxable entities within the Municipality, or their representatives or agents, who may be liable or responsible for any property taxes assessed by the Municipality pursuant to any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 1.6. "State" shall be defined as the "State of Michigan," a sovereign governmental entity of the United States, and shall also include within its definition any and all departments or agencies of State government including specifically, but not limited to, the State Tax Commission, the State Tax Tribunal, and/or the State Department of Treasury. §2. COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES The Parties agree that the full and complete scope of any and all County Equalization Division Assistance Services shall be as described and limited in the following subsections (hereinafter defined and referred to as either "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services"). 2.1. "EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICFS" OR "SFRViCFS" TO RF PROVIDED "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services", to be performed by County for the Municipality as those terms are defined in this Contract, shall only include and shall be limited to the following activities: 2.1.1. This Contract is to provide for annual assessment of real and personal property through the 2007 and 2008 tax years as required by laws of the State of Michigan. The County agrees to make assessments of real and personal property within the Municipality pursuant to MCL 211.10d. 2.1.2. The Equalization Division personnel will appraise all new property, process all real and personal property description changes, prepare the assessment roll for real and personal property in the Municipality; attend March, July and December Boards of Review and other such duties as required by the State General Property Tax Laws. The Equalization Division personnel will also be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal real and personal property appeals and will assist the assessor in the preparation of both the oral and written defense of appeals, as long as there is a current Contract in effect. However, the County shall not assist or appear on behalf of the Municipality regarding CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 3 appeals of special assessments to the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other Court or Tribunal. 2.2. PURPOSE OF COUNTY "SERVICES" The Parties agree that the purpose of any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be performed under this Contract shall be to assist (e.g., to help, aid, lend support, and/or participate in as an auxiliary, to contribute effort toward completion of a goal, etc.) the Municipality in the performance of that Municipality's official functions, obligations, and Municipality's legal responsibilities for property tax appraisal and assessment pursuant to the applicable State Property Tax Laws. 2.3. MANNER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES The Parties agree that any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be provided by the County for the Municipality under this Contract shall be performed solely and exclusively by the County's "Equalization Division Personnel" as defined herein. 2.3.1. Equalization Division Personnel shall be employed and assigned by the County in such numbers and based on such appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided solely by the County. 2.3.2. The Parties agree that the County shall be solely and exclusively responsible for furnishing all Equalization Division Personnel with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall in all circumstances control, supervise, train or direct all Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of any and all Services under this Contract. 2.3.3. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Parties agree and warrant that, at all times and for all purposes relevant to this Contract, the County shall remain the sole and exclusive employer of all County Agents and Equalization Division Personnel and that the County shall remain solely and completely liable for any and all County Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any County Agent's employment status. 2.3.4. This Contract is neither intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to create, change, grant, modify, supplement, supersede, alter, or otherwise affect or control, in any manner, form, or at any time, any right, privilege, benefit, or any other term or condition of employment, of any kind or nature whatsoever, in, upon, or for any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel with the County, any applicable County employment and/or union contract, and/or any County rule(s), regulation(s), hours of work, shift assignment, order(s), policy(ies), procedure(s), directive(s), ethical guideline(s), etc., which shall, solely and exclusively, govern and control the employment relationship between the County and any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel and/or the conduct and actions CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 4 of any County Agent or any Equalization Division Personnel. To illustrate, but not otherwise limit, this Contract does not and shall not be interpreted to limit, modify, control, or otherwise affect, in any manner: 2.3.4.1. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, responsibility, and discretion to employ, compensate, assign, reassign, transfer, promote, reclassify, discipline, demote, layoff, furlough, discharge any Equalization Division Personnel and/or pay any and all Equalization Division Personnel's wages, salaries, allowances, reimbursements, compensation, fringe benefits, or otherwise decide any and all such terms and conditions of employment and make any and all employment decisions that affect, in any way, the employment of any Equalization Division Personnel with the County, subject only to its applicable collective bargaining Contracts. 2.3.4.2. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, and responsibility to determine, establish, modify, or implement any and all operational policies, procedures, orders, rules, regulations, ethical guidelines, and/or any other judgment, policy or directive which, in any way, governs or controls any activity of any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, any necessary County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel's training standards or proficiency(ies), any level or amount of required supervision, any and all standards of performance, any sequence or manner of performance, and any level(s) of experience, training, or education required for any Equalization Division Personnel performing any County duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.3.5. The Municipality agrees that except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Contract and/or laws of this State, no County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, while such person is currently and/or actively employed or otherwise remains on the payroll of the County as a County Agent shall be employed, utilized, or perform any other services, of any kind, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, or otherwise be available to perform any other work or assignments by or for the Municipality during the term of this Contract. This section shall not prohibit the Municipality from employing any person who was a former County Agent but is no longer employed in that capacity by the County. 2.3.6. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Contract and/or applicable State law, the Parties agree and warrant that neither the County, nor any County Agent, nor any Equalization Division Personnel, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, shall be deemed, considered or claimed to be an employee of the Municipality and/or a Municipality Agent. 2.3.7. The Municipality shall not otherwise provide, furnish or assign any Equalization Division Personnel with any job instructions, job descriptions, job specifications, or job duties, or in any manner attempt to control, supervise, train, or direct any Personnel in the performance of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 5 any County's Equalization Division Assistance Services duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.4. LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS ON COUNTY "SERVICES" Except as otherwise expressly provided for within this Contract, neither the County nor any County Agents shall be responsible for assisting or providing any other "Services "or assistance to the Municipality or assume any additional responsibility for assisting the Municipality in any other way or manner with any Municipality obligations under any and all State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to, providing any attorney or legal representation to the Municipality or any Municipality Agent at any proceeding before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other adjudicative body or court, except as expressly provided for in this Contract. 2.4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The Municipality shall employ and retain its own Municipality legal representation, as necessary, to defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or review body. 2.42. Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County Agents, including any County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this Contract or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal representation to or for the Municipality and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest, appeal, or argue on behalf of the Municipality before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other review body or court. §3. TERM OF CONTRACT The Parties agree that the term of this Contract shall begin on the effective date of this Contract, as otherwise provided herein, and shall end on June 30, 2008, without any further act or notice from either Party being required. Any and all County Services otherwise provided to the Municipality prior to the effective date of this Contract, shall be subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein. §4. NO TRANSFER OF MUNICIPALITY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO COUNTY Except as expressly provided for in this Contract, the Municipality agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, transfer, delegate, or assign to the County, and/or any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel any civil or legal responsibility, duty, obligation, duty of care, cost, legal obligation, or liability associated with any governmental function delegated and/or entrusted to the Municipality under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOM FIELD HILLS Page 6 or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation. The Municipality agrees that under no circumstances shall the County be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with its Municipality function or any responsibility under any State Property Tax Law. 4.2. The Municipality shall not incur or create any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations for the County and shall take all necessary steps to ensure that any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations that the Municipality may incur shall not become a debt, liability, obligation or Claim(s) against the County. 4.3. The Parties agree that the Municipality shall at all times remain responsible for the ultimate completion of any and all Municipality duties or obligations under any and all applicable State Property Tax Laws. Nothing in this Contract shall relieve the Municipality of any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. 4.4. The Municipality and Municipality Agents shall be and remain responsible for compliance with all federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and agency requirements in any manner affecting any work or performance of this Contract or with any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. §5. NO DELEGATION OR DIMINUTION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY The Parties reserve to themselves any rights and obligations related to the provision of any and all of each Party's respective governmental services, authority, responsibilities, and obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, diminish, delegate, transfer, assign, divest, impair, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, and/or other legal right, privilege, power, civil or legal responsibility, obligation, duty of care, liability, capacity, immunity, authority or character of office of either Party to any other person or Party. 5.1. The Parties further agree, notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, that no provision in this Contract is intended, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver of any governmental immunity, as provided by statute or applicable court decisions, by either Party, either for that Party and/or any of that Party's County or Municipal Agents. 5.2. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, nothing in this Contract shall be deemed to, in any way, limit or prohibit the Oakland County Board of Commissioners statutory rights and obligations to review and/or further equalize Municipality property values or tax assessments and/or further act upon any Municipality assessment(s) of property taxes under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to challenging any Municipality assessment before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. §6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE In consideration of the promises set forth in this Contract, the Municipality agrees to pay to the County: For the contract years 2006-2007 and 2007- 2008, the sum of $17.64 each year for each real property description and $12.88 each year for each personal property description rendered during the life of this Contract. Payment for the contract year 2006-2007 is payable on or before July 1, 2007 and payment for the contract year 2007-2008 is payable on or before July 1, 2008. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 7 If during the term of this Contract, there are additional services requested of the County, the Parties shall negotiate additional fees to be paid by the Municipality. 6.1. All time incurred for Board of Review dates beyond the regular County working hours to be billed at the applicable Equalization Division personnel's overtime rate and charged to the Municipality over and above any other fees described in this Contract, with the following exceptions: 6.1.1. One evening meeting as required by law under MCL § 211.29(1). 6.1.2. Dates requiring overtime set by the Municipality Charter. 6.2. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for postage on all personal property statements and personal property notices mailed relating to work performed under this Contract. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for all photographic supplies. 6.3. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail, for any reason, to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that upon notice from the Oakland County Treasurer to the Treasurer of the State of Michigan (or any other State of Michigan official authorized to disburse funds to the MUNICIPALITY), the State of Michigan is authorized to withhold any funds due the MUNICIPALITY from the State, and assign those funds to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY to the County. Such funds shall be paid directly to the County. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the State or County, or their respective officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.4. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County Treasurer shall be entitled to set-off and retain any amounts due the MUNICIPALITY from Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund ("DTRF") or any other source of funds due the MUNICIPALITY in the possession of the County, to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY, unless expressly prohibited by law. Such a transfer shall be considered an assignment by the MUNICIPALITY to the COUNTY. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the County, or its officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.5. Notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, should the Municipality fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County may discontinue, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Municipality, without any penalty or liability whatsoever, any County services or performance obligations under this Contract. 6.6. None of these provisions shall operate to limit in any way the County's right to pursue any other legal remedies against the MUNICIPALITY for the reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies in this paragraph are available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis, as the MUNICIPALITY becomes delinquent in its payments. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 8 §7. LIABILITY The Municipality further agrees that the County shall not be liable to the Municipality for any and all Claim(s), except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Contract. 7.1. The Parties agree that this Contract does not and is not intended to create or include any County warranty, promise, covenant or guaranty, either express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever in favor of the other Municipality, and/or any Municipality Agents, or any Municipality Taxpayer or any other person or entity, or that the County's efforts in the performance of any obligation under this Contract will result in any specific monetary benefit or efficiency, or increase in any tax revenue for the Municipality, or will result in any specific reduction or increase in any property assessment, or guarantee that any County services provided under this Contract will withstand any challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any court or review body, or any other such performance-based outcome. 7.2. In the event of any alleged breach, wrongful termination, and/or any default of any term or condition of this Contract by either the County or any County Agent, the County and/or any County Agent shall not be liable to the Municipality for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to any replacement costs for County Services, any loss of income or revenue, and/or any failure by the Municipality to meet any Municipality obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, or any other economic benefit or harm that the Municipality may have realized, but for any alleged breach, wrongful termination, default and/or cancellation of this Contract, or damages beyond or in excess of the amount(s) of any amount paid to, received or retained by the County at the time of the alleged breach or default in connection with or under the terms of this Contract, whether such alleged breach or default is alleged in an action in contract or tort and/or whether or not the Municipality has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This provision and this Contract is intended by the Parties to allocate the risks between the Parties, and the Parties agree that the allocation of each Party's efforts, costs, and obligations under this Contract reflect this allocation of each Party's risk and the limitations of liability as specified herein. 7.3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, with regard to any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality or any Municipality Agent by any third person, including but not limited to any Municipality Agent or Municipality Taxpayer, arising out of any activities or Services to be carried out by any County Agent in the performance of this Contract, the Municipality hereby agrees that it shall have no rights pursuant to or under this Contract against the County and/or any County Agents to or for any indemnification (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) contribution, subrogation, or other right to be reimbursed by the County and/or any of County Agents based upon any and all legal theories or alleged rights of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 9 any kind, whether known or unknown, for any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality and which are alleged to have arisen under or are in any way based or predicated upon this Contract. 7.4. If the Municipality requests and the County agrees, the County may prepare the actual tax statement for mailing by the Municipality to Municipality residents. In preparing any such tax statement the County shall rely upon certain data provided by the Municipality beyond the data gathered by the County under this contract, including, but not limited to, the applicable millage rate. The parties agree that under no circumstances shall the County be held liable to the Municipality or any third party based upon any error in any tax statement due to information supplied by the Municipality to the County for such purposes. §8. MUNICIPALITY AGENTS AND COOPERATION WITH THE COUNTY The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and exclusively responsible, during the term of this Contract, for guaranteeing that all Municipality Agents fully cooperate with Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of all County Services under this Contract. 8.1. Municipality Agents shall be employed and assigned based on appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely responsible for furnishing all Municipality Agents with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall solely control, direct, and supervise all Municipality Agents and shall be solely responsible for the means and manner in which Municipality's duties or obligations under any applicable State Property Tax Laws are satisfied, 8.2. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and completely liable for any and all Municipality Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any Municipality Agent's employment status or any alleged violation of any Municipality Agent's statutory, contractual (e.g., union, employment, or labor contract), constitutional, common law employment right, and/or civil rights by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent and/or which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any Municipality Agent's wages, compensation, benefits, or other employment- related or based rights, including, but not limited to, those described in this section. 8.3. The Municipality agrees that no Municipality Agent shall, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, be considered or claimed to be an employee of the County and/or a County Agent. This Contract does not grant or confer, and shall not be interpreted to grant or confer, upon any Municipality Agents or any other CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 10 individual any status, privilege, right, or benefit of County employment or that of a County Agent. 8.4. The Municipality agrees to provide the County with information regarding any activity affecting the tax status of any parcel including but not limited to the following: Downtown Development Authorities, Redevelopment Plans, Tax Increment Financing Authorities. In addition, the municipality agrees to notify the County immediately of approval of any application for abatement or tax exemption. 8.5. The Municipality agrees to inform the County agents regarding any increase in taxation which is governed by the Truth in Taxation Act as well as any property which is being considered for an exemption under the Industrial Facitlity Tax Act. The County shall be informed of these proposed changes prior to approval by the governing body of the municipality. 8.6. The Municipality will be responsible for Special Assessment billings, maintaining a paper trail of roll changes, maintaining the rolls in balance, and providing the Oakland County Equalization Division with the information necessary to prepare the warrant. 8.7. The Municipality agrees that its agents will perform the following functions: 8.7.1. Mechanically make name changes to Sidwell numbers on a monthly basis using the County's Computer terminals. 8.7.2. Provide a copy of all building permits with Sidwell numbers to the County's Equalization Division on a monthly basis. 8.7.3. Be responsible for the establishment, accuracy and compilation of all Special Assessment rolls in the Municipality. 8.7.4. Forward all exemption applications, transfer affidavits, personal property statements and any and all other documents affecting the status or value of property located within the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division in a timely manner. 8.7.5. Forward all information on splits and combinations after approval by the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division. 8.8. In the event that Municipality Agents, for whatever reason, fail or neglect to undertake the tasks in Section 8.7 above, the County's Equalization Division may perform these tasks and they shall be paid on a time and material basis. Such rate shall be based upon the wages plus benefits of the person or persons performing said tasks. §9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR The Parties agree that at all times and for all purposes under the terms of this Contract, the County's and/or any and all County Agents' legal status and relationship to the Municipality shall be that of an Independent Contractor. Except as expressly provided herein, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its own employees, Agents, and servants during the term of this Contract. No liability, right or benefits arising out of an employer/employee relationship, either express or implied, shall arise or accrue to either Party as a result of this Contract. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 11 §10. COUNTY PRIORITIZATION OF COUNTY RESOURCES The Municipality acknowledges and agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create either any absolute right in favor of the Municipality, or any correspondent absolute duty or obligation upon the County, to guarantee that any specific number(s) or classification of County Agents will be present on any given day to provide County services to the Municipality. §11. INDEMNIFICATION The Municipality shall not be obligated to pay any portion of any court ordered judgment or award to a third party for which a court has determined that the County and/or any County Agent was solely negligent or at fault. However, the Municipality agrees to, indemnify and hold the County and/or any County Agent harmless from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County and/or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent under any circumstances or by any person which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any alleged error, mistake, negligence or intentional act(s) or omission(s) by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent, including, but not limited to: (a) any alleged breach of legal duty to any person by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent; (b) any alleged failure by the Municipality or any Municipality Agent to comply with any Municipality duty or obligation in this Contract; and/or (c) any other Claim(s) based in any way upon any Municipality or Municipality Agent's services, buildings, equipment, or any other event, occurrence, duty, or obligation related or attendant thereto. §12. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACI Except as follows, and notwithstanding any other term or provision in any other section of this Contract, either Party, upon a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days written notice to the other Party, may cancel and/or completely terminate this Contract for any reason, including convenience, without incurring any penalty, expense, or liability to the other Party. The effective date for any such termination is to be clearly stated in the notice. 12.1. At 5:00 p.m. on the effective date of the cancellation of this Contract all Municipality and/or County obligations under this Contract, except those rights and obligations expressly surviving cancellation as provided for in this Contract, shall end. 12.2. The Municipality agrees that any and all Municipality obligations, including, but not limited to, any and all indemnification and hold harmless promises, waivers of liability, record-keeping requirements, any Municipality payment obligations to the County, and/or any other related obligations provided for in this Contract with regard to any acts, occurrences, events, transactions, or Claim(s) either occurring or having their basis in any events or transactions that occurred before the cancellation or completion of this Contract, shall survive the cancellation or completion of this Contract. §13. EFFECTIVE DATE, CONTRACT APPROVAL. AND AMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any subsequent amendments thereto, shall not become effective prior to the approval by concurrent resolutions of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Commission of Bloomfield Hills. The approval and terms of this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments thereto, shall be entered in the official minutes and proceedings of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Commission of Bloomfield Hills and shall also be filed with the office of the Clerk of the County and the Clerk for the City of Bloomfield Hills. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 12 §14. The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall not become effective prior to this required filing with the Secretary of State. 14.1. The Parties agree that except as expressly provided herein, this Contract shall not be changed, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except as provided for herein, and no other act, verbal representation, document, usage or custom shall be deemed to amend or modify this Contract in any manner. §15. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES Except as expressly provided herein for the benefit of the Parties (i.e., County or Municipality), this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, by implication or otherwise, any direct or indirect obligation, duty, promise, benefit, right to be indemnified (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) and/or any right to be subrogated to any Party's rights in this Contract, and/or any other right of any kind, in favor of any person, including, but not limited to, any County Agent or Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer, any Taxpayer's legal representative, any organization, any alleged unnamed beneficiary or assignee, and/or any other person. §16. CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE The language of all parts of this Contract is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any party. As used in this Contract, the singular or plural number, possessive or nonpossessive shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so suggests or requires. §17. CAPTIONS The section headings or titles and/or all section numbers contained in this Contract are intended for the convenience of the reader and not intended to have any substantive meaning and are not to be interpreted as part of this Contract. §18. NOTICES Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, any and all correspondence, invoices, and/or any other written notices required, permitted or provided for under this Contract to be delivered to either Party shall be sent to that Party by first class mail. All such written notices, including any notice canceling or terminating this Contract as provided for herein, shall be sent to the other Party's signatory to this Contract, or that signatory's successor in office, at the addresses shown in this Contract. All correspondence or written notices shall be considered delivered to a Party as of the date that such notice is deposited with sufficient postage with the U.S. Postal Service. §19. WAIVER OF BREACH The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Contract shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Each and every right, remedy and power granted to either party or allowed it by law shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other. §20. ENTIRE CONTRACT This Contract, consisting of a total of fourteen (14) pages, sets forth the entire agreement between the County and the Municipality and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between them in any way related to the subject matter hereof. It is further understood and agreed that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the County and the Municipality in any way related to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly stated herein. This Contract shall not be changed or supplemented orally and may be amended only as otherwise provided herein. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 13 For and in consideration of the mutual assurances, promises, acknowledgments, warrants, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby execute this Contract on behalf of the Parties, and by doing so legally obligate and bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Contract. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, John Davey, Mayor of the City of Bloomfield Hills, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the City Commission of Bloomfield Hills, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Municipality and hereby accepts and binds the Municipality to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: John Davey, Mayor City of Bloomfield Hills WITNESSED: DATE: Amy Burton, Clerk City of Bloomfield Hills IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Oakland County, and hereby accepts and binds the Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Contract, EXECUTED: DATE: Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson Oakland County Board of Commissioners WITNESSED: DATE. Ruth Johnson, Clerk/ Register of Deeds County of Oakland CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS Page 14 CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS (real and personal property services) This CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS (hereafter, this "Contract") is made and entered into between the COUNTY OF OAKLAND, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation, whose address is 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan 48341 (hereafter, the "County"), and the CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS , a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation whose address is 26815 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods, Michigan 48070-1199 (hereafter, the "Municipality"). In this Contract, either the County and/or the Municipality may also be referred to individually as a "Party" or jointly as "Parties." INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS A. The Municipality, pursuant to the laws of the State of Michigan (hereafter, the "State"), including, but not limited to, the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.1, et seq.) is required to perform real and personal property tax appraisals and assessments for all nonexempt real and personal property located within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality for the purpose of levying State and local property taxes. B. The Parties recognize and agree that absent an agreement such as this, or pursuant to an order of the State Tax Commission mandating the County to perform all or some of the property tax appraisal and tax assessment responsibilities for real and/or personal property located within the Municipality's geographic boundaries (MCL 211.10(f), the County, has no obligation to provide these Services to or for the Municipality. C. The Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.34(3) provides that the County Board of Commissioners, through the Equalization Division may furnish assistance to local assessing officers in the performance of certain of these legally mandated, Municipality, property appraisal and assessment responsibilities. D. The Municipality has requested the County's Equalization Division assistance in performing the "Equalization Division Assistance Services" (as described and defined in this Contract) and has agreed in return to reimburse the County as provided for in this Contract. E. The County has determined that it has sufficient "Equalization Division Personnel," as defined herein, possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise and is agreeable to assisting the Municipality by providing the requested "Equalization Division Assistance Services" under the terms and conditions of this Contract. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual promises, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and the Municipality mutually agree as follows: CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 1 §1. DEFINED TERMS In addition to the above defined terms (i.e., "Contract", "County", "Municipality", "Party" and "Parties", and "State"), the Parties agree that the following words and expressions when printed with the first letter capitalized as shown herein, whether used in the singular or plural, possessive or nonpossessive, and/or either within or without quotation marks, shall, be defined and interpreted as follows: 1.1. "County Agent" or "County Agents" shall be defined as any and all Oakland County elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, commissioners, authorities, other boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal representative or official capacities), and/or any persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, excluding the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agents, as defined herein. "County Agent" and/or "County Agents" shall also include any person who was a County Agent anytime during the term of this Contract but, for any reason, is no longer employed, appointed, or elected and serving as a County Agent. 1.2. "Equalization Division Personnel" as used in this Contract shall be defined as a specific subset of, and included as part of the larger group of County Agents as defined above, and shall be further defined as any and all County Agents specifically employed and assigned by the County to work in the Equalization Division of the County's Department of Management and Budget as shown in the current County budget and/or personnel records of the County. For any and all purposes in this Contract, any reference to County Agents shall also include within that term any and all Equalization Division Personnel, but any reference in this contract to Equalization Division Personnel shall not include any County Agent employed by the County in any other function, capacity or organizational unit of the County other than the Equalization Division of the Department of Management and Budget. 1.3. "Municipality Agent" or "Municipality Agents", shall be defined to include any and all Municipality officers, elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal, representative, or official capacities), and/or any and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, except that no County Agent shall be deemed a Municipality Agent and conversely, no Municipality Agent shall be deemed a County Agent. "Municipality Agent" shall also include any person who was a Municipality Agent at any time during this Contract but for any reason is no longer employed, appointed, or elected in that capacity. 1.4. "Claim(s)" shall be defined to include any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities or Claim(s) of any kind CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 2 whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against either the County and/or any County Agent, as defined herein, or any Claim(s) for which the County and/or any County Agent may become legally and/or contractually obligated to pay or defend against, or any other liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based upon any alleged violation of the constitution (federal or State), any statute, rule, regulation or the common law, whether in law or equity, tort, contract, or otherwise, and/or whether commenced or threatened and arising out of any alleged breach of any duty by the County and/or any County Agent to any third-person, the Municipality, including any Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer under or in connection with this Contract or are based on or result in any way from the County's and/or any County Agent's participation in this Contract. 1.5. "Municipality Taxpayer" shall be defined as any and all residents, property owners, persons, or taxable entities within the Municipality, or their representatives or agents, who may be liable or responsible for any property taxes assessed by the Municipality pursuant to any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 1.6. "State" shall be defined as the "State of Michigan," a sovereign governmental entity of the United States, and shall also include within its definition any and all departments or agencies of State government including specifically, but not limited to, the State Tax Commission, the State Tax Tribunal, and/or the State Department of Treasury. §2. COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES The Parties agree that the full and complete scope of any and all County Equalization Division Assistance Services shall be as described and limited in the following subsections (hereinafter defined and referred to as either "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services"). 2.1. "EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES" OR "SERVICFS" TO RF PROVIDED "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services", to be performed by County for the Municipality as those terms are defined in this Contract, shall only include and shall be limited to the following activities: 2.1.1. This Contract is to provide for annual assessment of real and personal property through the 2007 and 2008 tax years as required by laws of the State of Michigan. The County agrees to make assessments of real and personal property within the Municipality pursuant to MCL 211.10d. 2.1.2. The Equalization Division personnel will appraise all new property, process all real and personal property description changes, prepare the assessment roll for real and personal property in the Municipality; attend March, July and December Boards of Review and other such duties as required by the State General Property Tax Laws. The Equalization Division personnel will also be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal real and personal property appeals and will assist the assessor in the preparation of both the oral and written defense of appeals, as long as there is a current Contract in effect. However, the County shall not assist or appear on behalf of the Municipality regarding CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 3 appeals of special assessments to the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other Court or Tribunal. 2.2. PURPOSE OF COUNTY "SERVICES" The Parties agree that the purpose of any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be performed under this Contract shall be to assist (e.g., to help, aid, lend support, and/or participate in as an auxiliary, to contribute effort toward completion of a goal, etc.) the Municipality in the performance of that Municipality's official functions, obligations, and Municipality's legal responsibilities for property tax appraisal and assessment pursuant to the applicable State Property Tax Laws. 2.3. MANNER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES The Parties agree that any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be provided by the County for the Municipality under this Contract shall be performed solely and exclusively by the County's "Equalization Division Personnel" as defined herein. 2.3.1. Equalization Division Personnel shall be employed and assigned by the County in such numbers and based on such appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided solely by the County. 2.3.2. The Parties agree that the County shall be solely and exclusively responsible for furnishing all Equalization Division Personnel with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall in all circumstances control, supervise, train or direct all Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of any and all Services under this Contract. 2.3.3. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Parties agree and warrant that, at all times and for all purposes relevant to this Contract, the County shall remain the sole and exclusive employer of all County Agents and Equalization Division Personnel and that the County shall remain solely and completely liable for any and all County Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any County Agent's employment status. 2.3.4. This Contract is neither intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to create, change, grant, modify, supplement, supersede, alter, or otherwise affect or control, in any manner, form, or at any time, any right, privilege, benefit, or any other term or condition of employment, of any kind or nature whatsoever, in, upon, or for any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel with the County, any applicable County employment and/or union contract, and/or any County rule(s), regulation(s), hours of work, shift assignment, order(s), policy(ies), procedure(s), directive(s), ethical guideline(s), etc., which shall, solely and exclusively, govern and control the employment relationship between the County and any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel and/or the conduct and actions CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 4 of any County Agent or any Equalization Division Personnel. To illustrate, but not otherwise limit, this Contract does not and shall not be interpreted to limit, modify, control, or otherwise affect, in any manner: 2.3.4.1. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, responsibility, and discretion to employ, compensate, assign, reassign, transfer, promote, reclassify, discipline, demote, layoff, furlough, discharge any Equalization Division Personnel and/or pay any and all Equalization Division Personnel's wages, salaries, allowances, reimbursements, compensation, fringe benefits, or otherwise decide any and all such terms and conditions of employment and make any and all employment decisions that affect, in any way, the employment of any Equalization Division Personnel with the County, subject only to its applicable collective bargaining Contracts. 2.3.4.2. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, and responsibility to determine, establish, modify, or implement any and all operational policies, procedures, orders, rules, regulations, ethical guidelines, and/or any other judgment, policy or directive which, in any way, governs or controls any activity of any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, any necessary County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel's training standards or proficiency(ies), any level or amount of required supervision, any and all standards of performance, any sequence or manner of performance, and any level(s) of experience, training, or education required for any Equalization Division Personnel performing any County duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.3.5. The Municipality agrees that except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Contract and/or laws of this State, no County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, while such person is currently and/or actively employed or otherwise remains on the payroll of the County as a County Agent shall be employed, utilized, or perform any other services, of any kind, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, or otherwise be available to perform any other work or assignments by or for the Municipality during the term of this Contract. This section shall not prohibit the Municipality from employing any person who was a former County Agent but is no longer employed in that capacity by the County. 2.3.6. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Contract and/or applicable State law, the Parties agree and warrant that neither the County, nor any County Agent, nor any Equalization Division Personnel, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, shall be deemed, considered or claimed to be an employee of the Municipality and/or a Municipality Agent. 23.7. The Municipality shall not otherwise provide, furnish or assign any Equalization Division Personnel with any job instructions, job descriptions, job specifications, or job duties, or in any manner attempt to control, supervise, train, or direct any Personnel in the performance of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 5 any County's Equalization Division Assistance Services duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.4. LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS ON COUNTY "SERVICES" Except as otherwise expressly provided for within this Contract, neither the County nor any County Agents shall be responsible for assisting or providing any other "Services" or assistance to the Municipality or assume any additional responsibility for assisting the Municipality in any other way or manner with any Municipality obligations under any and all State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to, providing any attorney or legal representation to the Municipality or any Municipality Agent at any proceeding before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other adjudicative body or court, except as expressly provided for in this Contract. 2.4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The Municipality shall employ and retain its own Municipality legal representation, as necessary, to defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or review body. 2.4.2. Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County Agents, including any County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this Contract or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal representation to or for the Municipality and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest, appeal, or argue on behalf of the Municipality before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other review body or court. §3. TERM OF CONTRACT The Parties agree that the term of this Contract shall begin on the effective date of this Contract, as otherwise provided herein, and shall end on June 30, 2008, without any further act or notice from either Party being required. Any and all County Services otherwise provided to the Municipality prior to the effective date of this Contract, shall be subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein. §4. NO TRANSFER OF MUNICIPALITY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO COUNT' Except as expressly provided for in this Contract, the Municipality agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, transfer, delegate, or assign to the County, and/or any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel any civil or legal responsibility, duty, obligation, duty of care, cost, legal obligation, or liability associated with any governmental function delegated and/or entrusted to the Municipality under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 6 or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation. The Municipality agrees that under no circumstances shall the County be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with its Municipality function or any responsibility under any State Property Tax Law. 4.2. The Municipality shall not incur or create any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations for the County and shall take all necessary steps to ensure that any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations that the Municipality may incur shall not become a debt, liability, obligation or Claim(s) against the County. 4.3. The Parties agree that the Municipality shall at all times remain responsible for the ultimate completion of any and all Municipality duties or obligations under any and all applicable State Property Tax Laws. Nothing in this Contract shall relieve the Municipality of any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. 4.4. The Municipality and Municipality Agents shall be and remain responsible for compliance with all federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and agency requirements in any manner affecting any work or performance of this Contract or with any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. §5. NO DELEGATION OR DIMINUTION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY The Parties reserve to themselves any rights and obligations related to the provision of any and all of each Party's respective governmental services, authority, responsibilities, and obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, diminish, delegate, transfer, assign, divest, impair, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, and/or other legal right, privilege, power, civil or legal responsibility, obligation, duty of care, liability, capacity, immunity, authority or character of office of either Party to any other person or Party. 5.1. The Parties further agree, notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, that no provision in this Contract is intended, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver of any governmental immunity, as provided by statute or applicable court decisions, by either Party, either for that Party and/or any of that Party's County or Municipal Agents. 5.2. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, nothing in this Contract shall be deemed to, in any way, limit or prohibit the Oakland County Board of Commissioners statutory rights and obligations to review and/or further equalize Municipality property values or tax assessments and/or further act upon any Municipality assessment(s) of property taxes under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to challenging any Municipality assessment before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. §6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE In consideration of the promises set forth in this Contract, the Municipality agrees to pay to the County: For the contract years 2006-2007 and 2007- 2008, the sum of $13.23 each year for each real property description and $12.55 each year for each personal property description rendered during the life of this Contract. Payment for the contract year 2006-2007 is payable on or before July 1, 2007 and payment for the contract year 2007-2008 is payable on or before July 1, 2008. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 7 If during the term of this Contract, there are additional services requested of the County, the Parties shall negotiate additional fees to be paid by the Municipality. 6.1. All time incurred for Board of Review dates beyonc the regular County working hours to be billed at the applicable Equalization Division personnel's overtime rate and charged to the Municipality over and above any other fees described in this Contract, with the following exceptions: 6.1.1. One evening meeting as required by law under MCL § 211.29(1). 6.1.2. Dates requiring overtime set by the Municipality Charter. 6.2. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for postage on all personal property statements and personal property notices mailed relating to work performed under this Contract. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for all photographic supplies. 6.3. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail, for any reason, to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that upon notice from the Oakland County Treasurer to the Treasurer of the State of Michigan (or any other State of Michigan official authorized to disburse funds to the MUNICIPALITY), the State of Michigan is authorized to withhold any funds due the MUNICIPALITY from the State, and assign those funds to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY to the County. Such funds shall be paid directly to the County. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the State or County, or their respective officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.4. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County Treasurer shall be entitled to set-off and retain any amounts due the MUNICIPALITY from Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund ("DTRF") or any other source of funds due the MUNICIPALITY in the possession of the County, to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY, unless expressly prohibited by law. Such a transfer shall be considered an assignment by the MUNICIPALITY to the COUNTY. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the County, or its officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.5. Notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, should the Municipality fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County may discontinue, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Municipality, without any penalty or liability whatsoever, any County services or performance obligations under this Contract. 6.6. None of these provisions shall operate to limit in any way the County's right to pursue any other legal remedies against the MUNICIPALITY for the reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies in this paragraph are available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis, as the MUNICIPALITY becomes delinquent in its payments. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 8 §7. LIABILITY The Municipality further agrees that the County shall not be liable to the Municipality for any and all Claim(s), except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Contract. 7.1. The Parties agree that this Contract does not and is not intended to create or include any County warranty, promise, covenant or guaranty, either express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever in favor of the other Municipality, and/or any Municipality Agents, or any Municipality Taxpayer or any other person or entity, or that the County's efforts in the performance of any obligation under this Contract will result in any specific monetary benefit or efficiency, or increase in any tax revenue for the Municipality, or will result in any specific reduction or increase in any property assessment, or guarantee that any County services provided under this Contract will withstand any challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any court or review body, or any other such performance-based outcome. 7.2. In the event of any alleged breach, wrongful termination, and/or any default of any term or condition of this Contract by either the County or any County Agent, the County and/or any County Agent shall not be liable to the Municipality for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to any replacement costs for County Services, any loss of income or revenue, and/or any failure by the Municipality to meet any Municipality obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, or any other economic benefit or harm that the Municipality may have realized, but for any alleged breach, wrongful termination, default and/or cancellation of this Contract, or damages beyond or in excess of the amount(s) of any amount paid to, received or retained by the County at the time of the alleged breach or default in connection with or under the terms of this Contract, whether such alleged breach or default is alleged in an action in contract or tort and/or whether or not the Municipality has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This provision and this Contract is intended by the Parties to allocate the risks between the Parties, and the Parties agree that the allocation of each Party's efforts, costs, and obligations under this Contract reflect this allocation of each Party's risk and the limitations of liability as specified herein. 7.3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, with regard to any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality or any Municipality Agent by any third person, including but not limited to any Municipality Agent or Municipality Taxpayer, arising out of any activities or Services to be carried out by any County Agent in the performance of this Contract, the Municipality hereby agrees that it shall have no rights pursuant to or under this Contract against the County and/or any County Agents to or for any indemnification (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) contribution, subrogation, or other right to be reimbursed by the County and/or any of County Agents based upon any and all legal theories or alleged rights of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 9 any kind, whether known or unknown, for any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality and which are alleged to have arisen under or are in any way based or predicated upon this Contract. 7.4. If the Municipality requests and the County agrees, the County may prepare the actual tax statement for mailing by the Municipality to Municipality residents. In preparing any such tax statement the County shall rely upon certain data provided by the Municipality beyond the data gathered by the County under this contract, including, but not limited to, the applicable millage rate. The parties agree that under no circumstances shall the County be held liable to the Municipality or any third party based upon any error in any tax statement due to information supplied by the Municipality to the County for such purposes. §8. MUNICIPALITY AGENTS AND COOPERATION WITH THE COUNTY The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and exclusively responsible, curing the term of this Contract, for guaranteeing that all Municipality Agents fully cooperate with Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of all County Services under this Contract. 8.1. Municipality Agents shall be employed and assigned based on appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely responsible for furnishing all Municipality Agents with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall solely control, direct, and supervise all Municipality Agents and shall be solely responsible for the means and manner in which Municipality's duties or obligations under any applicable State Property Tax Laws are satisfied. 8.2. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and completely liable for any and all Municipality Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any Municipality Agent's employment status or any alleged violation of any Municipality Agent's statutory, contractual (e.g., union, employment, or labor contract), constitutional, common law employment right, and/or civil rights by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent and/or which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any Municipality Agent's wages, compensation, benefits, or other employment- related or based rights, including, but not limited to, those described in this section. 8.3. The Municipality agrees that no Municipality Agent shall, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, be considered or claimed to be an employee of the County and/or a County Agent. This Contract does not grant or confer, and shall not be interpreted to grant or confer, upon any Municipality Agents or any other CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 10 individual any status, privilege, right, or benefit of County employment or that of a County Agent. 8.4. The Municipality agrees to provide the County with information regarding any activity affecting the tax status of any parcel including but not limited to the following: Downtown Development Authorities, Redevelopment Plans, Tax Increment Financing Authorities. In addition, the municipality agrees to notify the County immediately of approval of any application for abatement or tax exemption. 8.5. The Municipality agrees to inform the County agents regarding any increase in taxation which is governed by the Truth in Taxation Act as well as any property which is being considered for an exemption under the Industrial Facitlity Tax Act. The County shall be informed of these proposed changes prior to approval by the governing body of the municipality. 8.6. The Municipality will be responsible for Special Assessment billings, maintaining a paper trail of roll changes, maintaining the rolls in balance, and providing the Oakland County Equalization Division with the information necessary to prepare the warrant. 8.7. The Municipality agrees that its agents will perform the following functions: 8.7.1. Mechanically make name changes to Sidwell numbers on a monthly basis using the County's Computer terminals. 8.7.2. Provide a copy of all building permits with Sidwell numbers to the County's Equalization Division on a monthly basis. 8.7.3. Be responsible for the establishment, accuracy and compilation of all Special Assessment rolls in the Municipality. 8.7.4. Forward all exemption applications, transfer affidavits, personal property statements and any and all other documents affecting the status or value of property located within the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division in a timely manner. 8.7.5. Forward all information on splits and combinations after approval by the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division. 8.8. In the event that Municipality Agents, for whatever reason, fail or neglect to undertake the tasks in Section 8.7 above, the County's Equalization Division may perform these tasks and they shall be paid on a time and material basis. Such rate shall be based upon the wages plus benefits of the person or persons performing said tasks. §9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR The Parties agree that at all times and for all purposes under the terms of this Contract, the County's and/or any and all County Agents' legal status and relationship to the Municipality shall be that of an Independent Contractor. Except as expressly provided herein, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its own employees, Agents, and servants during the term of this Contract. No liability, right or benefits arising out of an employer/employee relationship, either express or implied, shall arise or accrue to either Party as a result of this Contract. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 11 §10. COUNTY PRIORITIZATION OF COUNTY RESOURCES The Municipality acknowledges and agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create either any absolute right in favor of the Municipality, or any correspondent absolute duty or obligation upon the County, to guarantee that any specific number(s) or classification of County Agents will be present on any given day to provide County services to the Municipality. §11. INDEMNIFICATION The Municipality shall not be obligated to pay any portion of any court ordered judgment or award to a third party for which a court has determined that the County and/or any County Agent was solely negligent or at fault. However, the Municipality agrees to, indemnify and hold the County andior any County Agent harmless from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County and/or any County Agent by any Munic:pality Agent under any circumstances or by any person which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any alleged error, mistake, negligence or intentional act(s) or omission(s) by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent, including, but not limited to: (a) any alleged breach of legal duty to any person by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent; (b) any alleged failure by the Municipality or any Municipality Agent to comply with any Municipality duty or obligation in this Contract; and/or (c) any other Claim(s) based in any way upon any Municipality or Municipality Agent's services, buildings, equipment, or any other event, occurrence, duty, or obligation related or attendant thereto. §12. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT Except as follows, and notwithstanding any other term or provision in any other section of this Contract, either Party, upon a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days written notice to the other Party, may cancel and/or completely terminate this Contract for any reason, including convenience, without incurring any penalty, expense, or liability to the other Party. The effective date for any such termination is to be clearly stated in the notice. 12.1. At 5:00 p.m. on the effective date of the cancellation of this Contract all Municipality and/or County obligations under this Contract, except those rights and obligations expressly surviving cancellation as provided for in this Contract, shall end. 12.2. The Municipality agrees that any and all Municipality obligations, including, but not limited to, any and all indemnification and hold narmless promises, waivers of liability, record-keeping requirements, any Municipality payment obligations to the County, and/or any other related obligations provided for in this Contract with regard to any acts, occurrences, events, transactions, or Claim(s) either occurring or having their basis in any events or transactions that occurred before the cancellation or completion of this Contract, shall survive the cancellation or completion of this Contract. §13. EFFECTIVE DATE, CONTRACT APPROVAL. AND AMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any subsequent amendments thereto, shall not become effective prior to the approval by concurrent resolutions of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Commission of Huntington Woods. The approval and terms of this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments thereto, shall be entered in the official minutes and proceedings of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Commission of Huntington Woods and shall also be filed with the office of the Clerk of the County and the Clerk for the City of Huntington Woods. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 12 §14. The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall not become effective prior to this required filing with the Secretary of State. 14.1. The Parties agree that except as expressly provided herein, this Contract shall not be changed, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except as provided for herein, and no other act, verbal representation, document, usage or custom shall be deemed to amend or modify this Contract in any manner. §15. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES Except as expressly provided herein for the benefit of the Parties (i.e., County or Municipality), this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, by implication or otherwise, any direct or indirect obligation, duty, promise, benefit, right to be indemnified (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) and/or any right to be subrogated to any Party's rights in this Contract, and/or any other right of any kind, in favor of any person, including, but not limited to, any County Agent or Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer, any Taxpayer's legal representative, any organization, any alleged unnamed beneficiary or assignee, and/or any other person. §16. CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE The language of all parts of this Contract is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any party. As used in this Contract, the singular or plural number, possessive or nonpossessive shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so suggests or requires. §17. CAPTIONS The section headings or titles and/or all section numbers contained in this Contract are intended for the convenience of the reader and not intended to have any substantive meaning and are not to be interpreted as part of this Contract. §18. NOTICES Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, any and all correspondence, invoices, and/or any other written notices required, permitted or provided for under this Contract to be delivered to either Party shall be sent to that Party by first class mail. All such written notices, including any notice canceling or terminating this Contract as provided for herein, shall be sent to the other Party's signatory to this Contract, or that signatory's successor in office, at the addresses shown in this Contract. All correspondence or written notices shall be considered celivered to a Party as of the date that such notice is deposited with sufficient postage with the U.S. Postal Service. §19. WAIVER OF BREACH The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Contract shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Each and every right, remedy and power granted to either party or allowed it by law shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other. §20. ENTIRE CONTRACT This Contract, consisting of a total o fourteen (14) pages, sets forth the entire agreement between the County and the Municipality and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between them in any way related to the subject matter hereof. It is further understood and agreed that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the County and the Municipality in any way related to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly stated herein. This Contract shall not be changed or supplemented orally and may be amended only as otherwise provided herein. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 13 For and in consideration of the mutual assurances, promises, acknowledgments, warrants, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby execute this Contract on behalf of the Parties, and by doing so legally obligate and bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Contract. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ronald F. Gillham, Mayor of the City of Huntington Woods, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the City Commission of Huntington Woods, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Municipality and hereby accepts and binds the Municipality to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: Ronald F. Gillham, Mayor City of Huntington Woods WITNESSED: DATE: Ruth A. Franzioni, City Clerk City of Huntington Woods IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Oakland County, and hereby accepts and binds the Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson Oakland County Board of Commissioners WITNESSED: DATE: Ruth A. Johnson, Clerk/ Register of Deeds County of Oakland CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS Page 14 CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI (personal property services) This CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI, (hereafter, this "Contract') is made and entered into between the COUNTY OF OAKLAND, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation, whose address is 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan 48341 (hereafter, the "County"), and the CITY OF NOVI , a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation whose address is 45175 West Ten Mile Road, Novi, Michigan 48375-3024 (hereafter, the "Municipality"). In this Contract, either the County and/or the Municipality may also be referred to individually as a "Party" or jointly as "Parties." INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS A. The Municipality, pursuant to the laws of the State of Michigan (hereafter, the "State"), including, but not limited to, the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.1, et seq.) is required to perform real and personal property tax appraisals and assessments for all nonexempt real and personal property located within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality for the purpose of levying State and local property taxes. B. The Parties recognize and agree that absent an agreement such as this, or pursuant to an order of the State Tax Commission mandating the County to perform all or some of the property tax appraisal and tax assessment responsibilities for real and/or personal property located within the Municipality's geographic boundaries (MCL 211.10(f), the County, has no obligation to provide these Services to or for the Municipality. C. The Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.34(3) provides that the County Board of Commissioners, through the Equalization Division may .rurnish assistance to local assessing officers in the performance of certain of these legally mandated, Municipality, property appraisal and assessment responsibilities. D. The Municipality has requested the County's Equalization Division assistance in performing the "Equalization Division Assistance Services" (as described and defined in this Contract) and has agreed in return to reimburse the County as provided for in this Contract. E. The County has determined that it has sufficient "Equalization Division Personnel," as defined herein, possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise and is agreeable to assisting the Municipality by providing the requested "Equalization Division Assistance Services" under the terms and conditions of this Contract. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual promises, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and the Municipality mutually agree as follows: CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 1 §1. DEFINED TERMS In addition to the above defined terms (Le., "Contract", "County", "Municipality", "Party" and "Parties", and "State"), the Parties agree that the following words and expressions when printed with the first letter capitalized as shown herein, whether used in the singular or plural, possessive or nonpossessive, and/or either within or without quotation marks, shall, be defined and interpreted as follows: 1.1. "County Agent" or "County Agents" shall be defined as any and all Oakland County elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, commissioners, authorities, other boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, vol Jriteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal representative or official capacities), and/or any persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, exc.uding the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agents, as defined herein. "County Agent" and/or "County Agents" shall also include any person who was a County Agent anytime during the term of this Contract but, for any reason, is no longer employed, appointed, or elected and serving as a County Agent. 1.2. "Equalization Division Personnel" as used in this Contract shall be defined as a specific subset of, and included as part of the larger group of County Agents as defined above, and shall be further defined as any and all County Agents specifically employed and assigned by the County to work in the Equalization Division of the County's Department of Management and Budget as shown in the current County budget and/or personnel records of the County. For any and all purposes in this Contract, any reference to County Agents shall also include within that term any and all Equalization Division Personnel, but any reference in this contract to Equalization Division Personnel shall not include any County Agent employed by the County in any other function, capacity or organizational unit of the County other than the Equalization Division of the Department of Management and Budget. 1.3. "Municipality Agent" or "Municipality Agents", shall be defined to include any and all Municipality officers, elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal, representative, or official capacities), and/or any and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, except that no County Agent shall be deemed a Municipality Agent and conversely, no Municipality Agent shall be deemed a County Agent. "Municipality Agent" shall also include any person who was a Municipality Agent at any time during this Contract but for any reason is no longer employed, appointed, or elected in that capacity. 1.4. "Claim(s)" shall be defined to include any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities or Claim(s) of any kind CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 2 whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against either the County and/or any County Agent, as defined herein, or any Claim(s) for which the County and/or any County Agent may become legally and/or contractually obligated to pay or defend against, or any other liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based upon any alleged violation of the constitution (federal or State), any statute, rule, regulation or the common law, whether in law or equity, tort, contract, or otherwise, and/or whether commenced or threatened and arising out of any alleged breach of any duty by the County and/or any County Agent to any third-person, the Municipality, including any Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer under or in connection with this Contract or are based on or result in any way from the County's and/or any County Agent's participation in this Contract. 1.5. "Municipality Taxpayer" shall be defined as any and all residents, property owners, persons, or taxable entities within the Municipality, or their representatives or agents, who may be liable or responsible for any property taxes assessed by the Municipality pursuant to any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 1.6. "State" shall be defined as the "State of Michigan," a sovereign governmental entity of the United States, and shall also include within its definition any and all departments or agencies of State government including specifically, but not limited to, the State Tax Commission, the State Tax Tribuna(, and/or the State Department of Treasury. §2. COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES The Parties agree that the full and complete scope of any and all County Equalization Division Assistance Services shall be as described and limited in the following subsections (hereinafter defined and referred to as either "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services"). 2.1. "EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES" OR "SERVICES" TO BF PROVIDED "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services", to be performed by County for the Municipality as those 'terms are defined in this Contract, shall only include and shall be limited to lhe following activities: 2.1.1. This Contract is to provide for annual assessment of personal property through the 2007 and 2008 tax years as required by laws of the State of Michigan. The County agrees to make assessments of personal property within the Municipality pursuant to MCL 211.10d. 2.1.2. The Equalization Division personnel will appraise all new personal property, process all personal property description changes, and will audit where necessary to insure and establish accurate appraisals on all taxable personal property. The Equalization Division personnel will review all statements and extensions, make valuation recommendations to the assessor in the absence of a prepared personal property statement and load all values on the computer for the assessment roll. All Board of Review changes will be processed on the personal property section of the assessment roll and balanced to insure there are no omissions. The Equalization Division personnel will be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal appeals for personal property CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 3 and will assist the Assessor in the preparation of both oral and written defense of appeals as long as there is a current Contract in effect. However, the County shall not assist or appear on behalf of the Municipality regarding appeals of special assessments to the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other Court or Tribunal. 2.2. PURPOSE OF COUNTY "SERVICES" The Parties agree that the purpose of any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be performed under this Contract shall be to assist (e.g., to help, aid, lend support, and/or participate in as an auxiliary, to contribute effort toward completion of a goal, etc.) the Municipality in the performance of that Municipality's official functions, obligations, and Municipality's legal responsibilities for property tax appraisal and assessment pursuant to the applicable State Property Tax Laws. 2.3. MANNER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES The Parties agree that any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be provided by the County for the Municipality under this Contract shall be performed solely and exclusively by the County's "Equalization Division Personnel" as defined herein. 2.3.1. Equalization Division Personnel shall be employed and assigned by the County in such numbers and based on such appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided solely by the 'County. 2.3.2. The Parties agree that the County shall be solely and exclusively responsible for furnishing all Equalization Division Personnel with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specrications and shall in all circumstances control, supervise, train or direct all Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of any and all Services under this Contract. 2.3.3. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Parties agree and warrant that, at all times and for all purposes relevant to this Contract, the County shall remain the sole and exclusive employer of all County Agents and Equalization Division Personnel and that the County shall remain solely and completely liable for any and all County Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any County Agent's employment status. 2.3.4. This Contract is neither intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to create, change, grant, modify, supplement, supersede, alter, or otherwise affect or control, in any manner, form, or at any time, any right, privilege, benefit, or any other term or condition of employment, of any kind or nature whatsoever, in, upon, or for any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel with the County, any applicable County employment and/or union contract, and/or any County rule(s), regulation(s), hours of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 4 work, shift assignment, order(s), policy(ies), procedure(s), directive(s), ethical guideline(s), etc., which shall, solely and exclusively, govern and control the employment relationship between the County and any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel and/or the conduct and actions of any County Agent or any Equalization Division Personnel. To illustrate, but not otherwise limit, this Contract does not and shall not be interpreted to limit, modify, control, or otherwise affect, in any manner: 2.3.4.1. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, responsibility, and discretion to employ, compensate, assign, reassign, transfer, promote, reclassify, discipline, demote, layoff, furlough, discharge any Equalization Division Personnel and/or pay any and all Equalization Division Personnel's wages, salaries, allowances, reimbursements, compensation, fringe benefits, or otherwise decide any and all such terms and conditions of employment and make any and all employment decisions that affect, in any way, the employment of any Equalization Division Personnel with the County, subject only to its applicable collective bargaining Contracts. 2.3.4.2. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, and responsibility to determine, establish, modify, or implement any and all operational policies, procedures, orders, rules, regulations, ethical guidelines, and/or any other judgment, policy or directive which, in any way, governs or controls any activity of any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, any necessary County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel's training standards or proficiency(ies), any level or amount of required supervision, any and all standards of performance, any sequence or manner of performance, and any level(s) of experience, training, or education required for any Equalization Division Personnel performing any County duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.3.5. The Municipality agrees that except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Contract and/or laws of this State, no County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, while such person is currently and/or actively employed or otherwise remains on the payroll of the County as a County Agent shall be employed, utilized, or perform any other services, of any kind, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, or otherwise be available to perform any other work or assignments by or for the Municipality during the term of this Contract. This section shall not prohibit the Municipality from employing any person who was a former County Agent but is no longer employed in that capacity by the County. 2.3.6. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Contract and/or applicable State law, the Parties agree and warrant that neither the County, nor any County Agent, nor any Equalization Division Personnel, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, shal be deemed, considered or claimed to be an employee of the Municipality and/or a Municipality Agent. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 5 2.3.7. The Municipality shall not otherwise provice, furnish or assign any Equalization Division Personnel with any job instructions, job descriptions, job specifications, or job duties, or in any manner attempt to control, supervise, train, or direct any Personnel in the performance of any County's Equalization Division Assistance Services duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.4. LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS ON COUNTY "SERVICES" Except as otherwise expressly provided for within this Contract, neither the County nor any County Agents shall be responsible for assisting or providing any other "Services" or assistance to the Municipality or assume any additional responsibility for assisting the Municipality in any other way or manner with any Municipality obligations under any and all State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to, providing any attorney or legal representation to the Municipality or any Municipality Agent at any proceeding before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other adjudicative body or court, except as expressly provided for in this Contract. 2.4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The Municipality shall employ and retain its own Municipality legal representation, as necessary, to defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or review body. 2.4.2. Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County Agents, including any County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this Contract or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal representation to or for the Municipality and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest, appeal, or argue on behalf of the Municipality before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other review body or court. §3. TERM OF CONTRACT The Parties agree that the term of this Contract shall begin on the effective date of this Contract, as otherwise provided herein, and shall end on June 30, 2008, without any further act or notice from either Party being required. Any and all County Services otherwise provided to the Municipality prior to the effective date of this Contract, shall be subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein. §4. NO TRANSFER OF MUNICIPALITY LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO COUNTY Except as expressly provided for in this Contract, the Municipality agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, transfer, delegate, or assign to the County, and/or any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel any civil or legal responsibility, duty, obligation, duty of care, cost, legal obligation, or liability associated with any governmental function CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 6 delegated and/or entrusted to the Municipality under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appra sal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation. The Municipality agrees that under no circumstances shall the County be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with its Municipality function or any responsibility under any State Property Tax Law. 4.2. The Municipality shall not incur or create any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations for the County and shall take all necessary steps to ensure that any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations that the Municipality may incur shall not become a debt, liability, obligation or Claim(s) against the County. 4.3. The Parties agree that the Municipality shall at all times remain responsible for the ultimate completion of any and all Municipality duties or obligations under any and all applicable State Property Tax Laws. Nothing in this Contract shall relieve the Municipality of any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. 4.4. The Municipality and Municipality Agents shall be and remain responsible for compliance with all federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and agency requirements in any manner affecting any work or performance of this Contract or with any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. §5. NO DELEGATION OR DIMINUTION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHWIT_Y The Parties reserve to themselves any rights and obligations related to the provision of any and all of each Party's respective governmental services, authority, responsibilities, and obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, diminish, delegate, transfer, assign, divest, impair, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, and/or other legal right, privilege, power, civil or legal responsibility, obligation, duty of care, liability, capacity, immunity, authority or character of office of either Party to any other person or Party. 5.1. The Parties further agree, notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, that no provision in this Contract is intenced, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver of any governmental immunity, as provided by statute or applicable court decisions, by either Party, either for that Party and/or any of that Party's County or Municipal Agents. 5.2. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, nothing in this Contract shall be deemed to, in any way, limit or prohibit the Oakland County Board of Commissioners statutory rights and obligations to review and/or further equalize Municipality property values or tax assessments and/or further act upon any Municipality assessment(s) of property taxes under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to challenging any Municipality assessment before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. §6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE In consideration of the promises set forth in this Contract, the Municipality agrees to pay to the County: For the contract years 2006-2007 and 2007- CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 7 2008, the sum of $13.38 each year for each personal property description rendered during the life of this Contract. Payment for the contract year 2006-2007 is payable on or before July 1, 2007 and payment for the contract year 2007-2008 is payable on or before July 1,2008. If during the term of this Contract, there are additional services requested of the County, the Parties shall negotiate additional fees to be paid by the Municipality. 6.1. All time incurred for Board of Review dates beyond the regular County working hours to be billed at the applicable Equalization Division personnel's overtime rate and charged to the Municipality over and above any other fees described in this Contract, with the following exceptions: 6.1.1. One evening meeting as required by law under MCL § 211.29(1). 6.1.2. Dates requiring overtime set by the Municipality Charter. 6.2. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for postage on all personal property statements and personal property notices mailed relating to work performed under this Contract. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for all photographic supplies. 6.3. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail, for any reason, to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that upon notice from the Oakland County Treasurer to the Treasurer of the State of Michigan (or any other State of Michigan official authorized to disburse funds to the MUNICIPALITY), the State of Michigan is authorized to withhold any funds due the MUNICIPALITY from the State, and assign those funds to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY to the County. Such funds shall be paid directly to the County. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the State or County, or their respective officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.4. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County Treasurer shall be entitled to set-off and retain any amounts due the MUNICIPALITY from Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund ("DTRF") or any other source of funds due the MUNICIPALITY in the possession of the County, to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY, unless expressly prohibited by law. Such a transfer shall be considered an assignment by the MUNICIPALITY to the COUNTY. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the County, or its officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.5. Notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, should the Municipality fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County may discontinue, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Municipality, without any penalty or liability whatsoever, any County services or performance obligations under this Contract. 6.6. None of these provisions shall operate to limit in any way the County's right to pursue any other legal remedies against the MUNICIPALITY for the reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 8 in this paragraph are available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis, as the MUNICIPALITY becomes delinquent in its payments. §7. LIABILITY The Municipality further agrees that the County shall not be liable to the Municipality for any and all Claim(s), except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Contract. 7.1. The Parties agree that this Contract does not and is not intended to create or include any County warranty, promise, covenant or guaranty, either express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever in favor of the other Municipality, and/or any Municipality Agents, or any Municipality Taxpayer or any other person or entity, or that the County's efforts in the performance of any obligation under this Contract will result in any specific monetary benefit or efficiency, or increase in any tax revenue for the Municipality, or will result in any specific reduction or increase in any property assessment, or guarantee that any County services provided under this Contract will withstand any challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any court or review body, or any other such performance-based outcome. 7.2. In the event of any alleged breach, wrongful termination, and/or any default of any term or condition of this Contract by either the County or any County Agent, the County and/or any County Agent shall not be liable to the Municipality for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to any replacement costs for County Services, any loss of income or revenue, and/or any failure by the Municipality to meet any Municipality obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, or any other economic benefit or harm that the Municipality may have realized, but for any alleged breach, wrongful termination, default and/or cancellation of this Contract, or damages beyond or in excess of the amount(s) of any amount paid to, received or retained by the County at the time of the alleged breach or default in connection with or under the terms of this Contract, whether such alleged breach or default is alleged in an action in contract or tort and/or whether or not the Municipality has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This provision and this Contract is intended by the Parties to allocate the risks between the Parties, and the Parties agree that the allocation of each Party's efforts, costs, and obligations under this Contract reflect this allocation of each Party's risk and the limitations of liability as specified herein. 7.3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, with regard to any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality or any Municipality Agent by any third person, including but not limited to any Municipality Agent or Municipality Taxpayer, arising out of any activities or Services to be carried out by any County Agent in the performance of this Contract, the Municipality hereby agrees that it shall have no rights pursuant to or under this Contract against the County and/or any County Agents to or for any indemnification (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 9 contribution, subrogation, or other right to be reimbursed by the County and/or any of County Agents based upon any and all legal theories or alleged rights of any kind, whether known or unknown, for any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality and which are alleged to have arisen under or are in any way based or predicated upon this Contract. 7.4. If the Municipality requests and the County agrees, the County may prepare the actual tax statement for mailing by the Municipality to Municipality residents. In preparing any such tax statement the County shall rely upon certain data provided by the Municipality beyond the data gathered by the County under this contract, including, but not limited to, the applicable millage rate. The parties agree that under no circumstances shall the County be held liable to the Municipality or any third party based upon any error in any tax statement due to information supplied by the Municipality to the County for such purposes. §8. MUNICIPALITY AGENTS AND COQPERATION WITH THF (MINTY The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and exclusively responsible, during the term of this Contract, for guaranteeing that all Municipality Agents fully cooperate with Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of all County Services under this Contract. 8.1. Municipality Agents shall be employed and assigned based on appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely responsible for furnishing all Municipality Agents with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall solely control, direct, and supervise all Municipality Agents and shall be solely responsible for the means and manner in which Municipality's duties or obligations under any applicable State Property Tax Laws are satisfied. 8.2. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and completely liable for any and all Municipality Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any Municipality Agent's employment status or any alleged violation of any Municipality Agent's statutory, contractual (e.g., union, employment, or labor contract), constitutional, common law employment right, and/or civil rights by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent and/or which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any Municipality Agent's wages, compensation, benefits, or other employment- related or based rights, including, but not limited to, those described in this section. 8.3. The Municipality agrees that no Municipality Agent shall, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, be considered or claimed to be an employee of the County and/or a CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 10 County Agent. This Contract does not grant or confer, and shall not be interpreted to grant or confer, upon any Municipality Agents or any other individual any status, privilege, right, or benefit of County employment or that of a County Agent. 8.4. The Municipality agrees to provide the County with information regarding any activity affecting the tax status of any personal property parcel including but not limited to the following: Downtown Development Authorities, Redevelopment Plans, Tax Increment Financing Authorities. In addition, the municipality agrees to notify the County immediately of approval of any application for abatement or tax exemption affecting personal property. 8.5. The Municipality agrees to inform the County agents regarding any increase in taxation that is governed by the Truth in Taxation Act as well as any property which is being considered for an exemption under the Industrial Facility Tax Act. The County shall be informed of these proposed changes prior to approval by the governing body of the municipality. 8.6. The Municipality agrees to forward all personal property statements and any other documents affecting the status or value of personal property located within the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division in a timely manner. §9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR The Parties agree that al: all times and for all purposes under the terms of this Contract, the County's and/or any and all County Agents' legal status and relationship to the Municipality shall be that of an Independent Contractor. Except as expressly provided herein, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its own employees, Agents, and servants during the term of this Contract. No liability, right or benefits arising out of an employer/employee relationship, either express or implied, shall arise or accrue to either Party as a result of this Contract. §10. COUNTY PRIORITIZATION OF COUNTY RESOURCF The Municipality acknowledges and agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create either any absolute right in favor of the Municipality, or any correspondent absolute duty or obligation upon the County, to guarantee that any specific number(s) or classification of County Agents will be present on any given day to provide County services to the Municipality. §11. INDEMNIFICATION The Municipality shall not be obligated to pay any portion of any court ordered judgment or award to a third party for which a court has determined that the County and/or any County Agent was solely negligent or at fault. However, the Municipality agrees to, indemnify and hold the County and/or any County Agent harmless from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County and/or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent under any circumstances or by any person which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any alleged error, mistake, negligence or intentional act(s) or omission(s) by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent, including, but not limited to: (a) any alleged breach of legal duty to any person by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent; (b) any alleged failure by the Municipality or any Municipality Agent CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 11 to comply with any Municipality duty or obligation in this Contract; and/or (c) any other Claim(s) based in any way upon any Municipality or Municpality Agent's services, buildings, equipment, or any other event, occurrence, duty, or obligation related or attendant thereto. §12. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT Except as follows, and notwithstanding any other term or provision in any other section of this Contract, either Party, upon a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days written notice to the other Party, may cancel and/or completely terminate this Contract for any reason, including convenience, without incurring any penalty, expense, or liability to the other Party. The effective date for any such termination is to be clearly stated in the notice. 12.1. At 5:00 p.m. on the effective date of the cancellation of this Contract all Municipality and/or County obligations under this Contract, except those rights and obligations expressly surviving cancellation as provided for in this Contract, shall end. 12.2. The Municipality agrees that any and all Municipality obligations, including, but not limited to, any and all indemnification and hold harmless promises, waivers of liability, record-keeping requirements, any Municipality payment obligations to the County, and/or any other related obligations provided for in this Contract with regard to any acts, occurrences, events, transactions, or Claim(s) either occurring or having their basis in any events or transactions that occurred before the cancellation or completion of this Contract, shall survive the cancellation or completion of this Contract. §13. EFFECTIVE DATE, CONTRACT APPROVAL. AND AMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any subsequent amendments thereto, shall not become effective prior to the approval by concurrent resolutions of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Novi. The approval and terms of this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments thereto, shall be entered in the official minutes and proceedings of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Novi and shall also be filed with the office of the Clerk of the County and the Clerk for the City of Novi. §14. The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall not become effective prior to this required filing with the Secretary of State. 14.1. The Parties agree that except as expressly provided herein, this Contract shall not be changed, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except as provided for herein, and no other act, verbal representation, document, usage or custom shall be deemed to amend or modify this Contract in any manner. §15. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES Except as expressly provided herein for the benefit of the Parties (i.e., County or Municipality), this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, by implication or otherwise, any direct or indirect obligation, duty, promise, benefit, right to be indemnified (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) and/or any right to be subrogated to any Party's rights in this Contract, and/or any other right of any kind, in favor of any person, including, but not limited to, any County Agent or Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer, any Taxpayer's legal representative, any organization, any alleged unnamed beneficiary or assignee, and/or any other person. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 12 §16. CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE The language of all parts of this Contract is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any party. As used in this Contract, the singular or plural number, possessive or nonpossessive shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so suggests or requires. §17. CAPTIONS The section headings or titles and/or all secticn numbers contained in this Contract are intended for the convenience of the reader and not intended to have any substantive meaning and are not to be interpreted as part of this Contract. §18. NOTICES Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, any and all correspondence, invoices, and/or any other written notices required, permitted or provided for under this Contract to be delivered to either Party shall be sent to that Party by first class mail. All such written notices, including any notice canceling or terminating this Contract as provided for herein, shall be sent to the other Party's signatory to this Contract, or that signatory's successor in office, at the addresses shown in this Contract. All correspondence or written notices shall be considered delivered to a Party as of the date that such notice is deposited with sufficient postage with the U.S. Postal Service. §19. WAIVER OF BREACH The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Contract shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Each and every right, remedy and power granted to either party or allowed it by law shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other. §20. ENTIRE CONTRACT This Contract, consisting of a total of fourteen (14) pages, sets forth the entire agreement between the County and the Municipality and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between them in any way related to the subject matter hereof. It is further understood and agreed that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the County and the Municipality in any way related to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly stated herein. This Contract shall not be changed or supplemented orally and may be amended only as otherwise provided herein. For and in consideration of the mutual assurances, promises, acknowledgments, warrants, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby execute this Contract on behalf of the Parties, and by doing so legally obligate and bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Contract. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, David Lundry, Mayor of the City of Novi, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the City Council of Novi, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Municipality and hereby accepts and binds the Municipality to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: David Landry, Mayor City of Novi CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION AS:3ISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 13 WITNESSED: DATE: Maryanne Cornelius, Clerk City of Novi IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Oakland County, and hereby accepts arid binds the Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson Oakland County Board of Commissioners WITNESSED: DATE: Ruth Johnson, Clerk/ Register of Deeds County of Oakland CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF NOVI Page 14 CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE (real and personal property services) This CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY • 1, E SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE (hereafter, this "Contract") is made and entered into between the COUNTY OF OAKLAND, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation, whose address is 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Michigan 48341 (hereafter, the "County"), and the CITY OF WALLED LAKE, a Michigan Constitutional and Municipal Corporation whose address is 1499 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, Michigan 48390-0099 (hereafter, the "Municipality"). In this Contract, either the County and/or the Municipality may also be referred to individually as a "Party" or Jo ntly as "Parties." INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS A. The Municipality, pursuant to the laws of the State of Michigan (hereafter, the "State"), including, but not limited to, the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.1, et seq.) is required to perform real and personal property tax appraisals and assessments for all nonexempt real and personal property located within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality for the purpose of levying State and local property taxes. B. The Parties recognize and agree that absent an agreement such as this, or pursuant to an order of the State Tax Commission mandating the County to perform all or some of the property tax appraisal and tax assessment responsibilities for real and/or personal property located within the Municipality's geographic boundaries (MCL 211.10(f), the County, has no obligation to provide these Services to or for the Municipality. C. The Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.34(3) provides that the County Board of Commissioners, through the Equalization Division may 'urnish assistance to local assessing officers in the performance of certain of these legally mandated, Municipality, property appraisal and assessment responsibilities. D. The Municipality has requested the County's Equalization Division assistance in performing the "Equalization Division Assistance Services' (as described and defined in this Contract) and has agreed in return to reimburse the County as provided for in this Contract. E. The County has determined that it has sufficient "Equalization Division Personnel," as defined herein, possessing the requisite knowledge and expertise and is agreeable to assisting the Municipality by providing the requested "Equalization Division Assistance Services" under the terms and conditions of this Contract. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual promises, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the County and the Municipality mutually agree as follows: CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 1 §1. DEFINED TERMS In addition to the above defined terms (i.e., "Contract", "County", "Municipality", "Party" and "Parties", and "State"), the Parties agree that the following words and expressions when printed with the first letter capitalized as shown herein, whether used in the singular or plural, possessive or nonpossessive, and/or either within or without quotation marks, shall, be defined and interpreted as follows: 1.1. "County Agent" or "County Agents" shall be defined as any and all Oakland County elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, commissioners, authorities, other boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such parsons act or acted in their personal representative or official capacities), and/or any persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, excluding the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agents, as defined herein. "County Agent" and/or "County Agents" shall also include any person who was a County Agent anytime during the term of this Contract but, for any reason, is no longer employed, appointed, or elected and serving as a County Agent. 1.2. "Equalization Division Personnel" as used in this Contract shall be defined as a specific subset of, and included as part of the larger group of County Agents as defined above, and shall be further defined as any and all County Agents specifically employed and assigned by the County to work in the Equalization Division of the County's Department of Management and Budget as shown in the current County budget and/or personnel records of the County. For any and all purposes in this Contract, any reference to County Agents shall also include within that term any and all Equalization Division Personnel, but any reference in this contract to Equalization Division Personnel shall not include any County Agent employed by the County in any other function, capacity or organizational unit of the County other than the Equalization Division of the Department of Management and Budget. 1.3. "Municipality Agent" or "Municipality Agents", shall be defined to include any and all Municipality officers, elected officials, appointed officials, directors, board members, council members, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, employees, managers, departments, divisions, volunteers, agents, representatives, and/or any such persons' successors or predecessors, agents, employees, attorneys, or auditors (whether such persons act or acted in their personal, representative, or official capacities), and/or any and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of them, except that no County Agent shall be deemed a Municipality Agent and conversely, no Municipality Agent shall be deemed a County Agent. "Municipality Agent" shall also include any person who was a Municipality Agent at any time during th s Contract but for any reason is no longer employed, appointed, or elected in that capacity. 1.4. "Claim(s)" shall be defined to include any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities or Claim(s) of any kind CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 2 whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against either the County and/or any County Agent, as defined herein, or any Claim(s) for which the County and/or any County Agent may become legally and/or contractually obligated to pay or defend against, or any other liabilities of any kind whatsoever, whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based upon any alleged violation of the constitution (federal or State), any statute, rule, regulation or the common law, whether in law or equity, tort, contract, or otherwise, and/or whether commenced or threatened and arising out of any alleged breach of any duty by the County and/or any County Agent to any third-person, the Municipality, including any Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer under or in connection with this Contract or are based on or result in any way from the County's and/or any County Agent's participation in this Contract. 1.5. "Municipality Taxpayer" shall be defined as any and all residents, property owners, persons, or taxable entities within the Municipality, or their representatives or agents, who may be liable or responsible for any property taxes assessed by the Municipality pursuant to any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 1.6. "State" shall be defined as the "State of Michigan," a sovereign governmental entity of the United States, and shall also include within its definition any and all departments or agencies of State government including specifically, but not limited to, the State Tax Commission, the State Tax Tribunal, and/or the State Department of Treasury. §2. COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION alalalataLLFZXga The Parties agree that the full and complete scope of any and all County Equalization Division Assistance Services shall be as described and limited in the following subsections (hereinafter defined and referred to as either "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services"). 2.1. "EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES" OR "SERVICES" TO BE PROVIDED "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services", to be performed by County for the Municipality as those •:erms are defined in this Contract, shall only include and shall be limited to the following activities: 2.1.1. This Contract is to provide for annual assessment of real and personal property through the 2007 and 2008 tax years as required by laws of the State of Michigan. The County agrees to make assessments of real and personal property within the Municipality pursuant to MCL 211.10d. 2.1.2. The Equalization Division personnel will appraise all new property, process all real and personal property description changes, prepare the assessment roll for real and personal property in the Municipality; attend March, July and December Boards of Review and other such duties as required by the State General Property Tax Laws. The Equalization Division personnel will also be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal real and personal property appeals and will assist the assessor in the preparation of both the oral and written defense of appeals, as long as there is a current Contract in effect. However, the County shall not assist or appear on behalf of the Municipality regarding CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 3 appeals of special assessments to the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other Court or Tribunal. 2.2. PURPOSE OF COUNTY "SERVICES" The Parties agree that the purpose of any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be performed under this Contract shall be to assist (e.g., to help, aid, lend support, and/or participate in as an auxiliary, to contribute effort toward completion of a goal, etc.) the Municipality in the performance of that Municipality's official functions, obligations, and Municipality's legal responsibilities for property tax appraisal and assessment pursuant to the applicable State Property Tax Laws. 2.3. MANNER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICE The Parties agree that any and all "Equalization Division Assistance Services" or "Services" to be provided by the County for the Municipality under this Contract shall be performed solely and exclusively by the County's "Equalization Division Personnel" as defined herein. 2.3.1. Equalization Division Personnel shall be employed and assigned by the County in such numbers and based on such appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided solely by the County. 2.3.2. The Parties agree that the County shall be solely and exclusively responsible for furnishing all Equalization [Division Personnel with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall in all circumstances control, supervise, train or direct all Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of any and all Services under this Contract. 2.3.3. Except as otherwise expressly provided fo herein, the Parties agree and warrant that, at all times and for all purposes relevant to this Contract, the County shall remain the sole and exclusive employer of all County Agents and Equalization Division Personnel and that the County shall remain solely and completely liable for any and all County Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemployment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any County Agent's employment status. 2.3.4. This Contract is neither intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to create, change, grant, modify, supplement, supersede, alter, or otherwise affect or control, in any manner, form, or at any time, any right, privilege, benefit, or any other term or condition of employment, of any kind or nature whatsoever, in, upon, or for any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel with the County, any applicable County employment and/or union contract, and/or any County rule(s), regulation(s), hours of work, shift assignment, order(s), policy(ies), procedure(s), directive(s), ethical guideline(s), etc., which shall, solely and exclusively, govern and control the employment relationship between the County and any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel and/or the conduct and actions CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 4 of any County Agent or any Equalization Division Personnel. To illustrate, but not otherwise limit, this Contract does not and shall not be interpreted to limit, modify, control, or otherwise affect, in any manner: 2.3.4.1. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, responsibility, and discretion to employ, compensate, assign, reassign, transfer, promote, reclassify, discipline, demote, layoff, furlough, discharge any Equalization Division Personnel and/or pay any and all Equalization Division Personnel's wages, salaries, allowances, reimbursements, compensation, fringe benefits, or otherwise decide any and all such terms and conditions of employment and make any and all employment decisions that affect, in any way, the employment of any Equalization Division Personnel with the County, subject only to its applicable collective bargaining Contracts. 2.3.4.2. The County's sole and exclusive right, obligation, and responsibility to determine, establish, modify, or implement any and all operational policies, procedures, orders, rules, regulations, ethical guidelines, and/or any other judgment, policy or directive which, in any way, governs or controls any activity of any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, any necessary County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel's training standards or proficiency(ies), any level or amount of required supervision, any and all standards of performance, any sequence or manner of performance, and any level(s) of experience, training, or education required for any Equalization Division Personnel performing any County duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.3.5. The Municipality agrees that except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Contract and/or laws of this State, no County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel, while such person is currently and/or actively employed or otherwise remains on the payroll of the County as a County Agent shall be employed, utilized, or perform any other services, of any kind, directly or indirectly, in any manner or capacity, or otherwise be available to perform any other work or assignments by or for the Municipality during the term of this Contract This section shall not prohibit the Municipality from employing any person who was a former County Agent but is no longer employed in that capacity by the County. 2.3.6. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Contract and/or applicable State law, the Parties agree anc warrant that neither the County, nor any County Agent, nor any Equalization Division Personnel, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, shall be deemed, considered or claimed to be an employee of the Municipality and/or a Municipality Agent. 2.3.7. The Municipality shall not otherwise provide, furnish or assign any Equalization Division Personnel with any job instructions, job descriptions, job specifications, or job duties, or in any manner attempt to control, supervise, train, or direct any Personnel in the performance of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 5 any County's Equalization Division Assistance Services duty or obligation under the terms of this Contract. 2.4. LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS ON COUNTY "SFRVCFS" Except as otherwise expressly provided for within this Contract, neither the County nor any County Agents shall be responsible for assisting or providng any other "Services" or assistance to the Municipality or assume any additional responsibility for assisting the Municipality in any other way or manger with any Municipality obligations under any and all State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to, providing any attorney or legal representation to the Municipality or any Municipality Agent at any proceeding before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other adjudicative body or court, except as expressly provided for in this Contract. 2.4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The Municipality shall employ and retain its own Municipality legal representation, as necessary, to defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or review body. 2.4.2. Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County Agents, including any County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this Contract or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal representation to or for the Municipality and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest, appeal, or argue on behalf of the Municipality before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or any other review body or court. §3. TERM OF CONTRACT The Parties agree that the term of this Contract shall begin on the effective date of this Contract, as otherwise provided herein, and shall end on June 30, 2008, without any further act or notice from either Party being required. Any and all County Services otherwise provided to the Municipality prior to the effective date of this Contract, shall be subject to the terms and conditions provided for herein. §4. NO TRANSFER OF MUNIQIPALITY LFGAI ORE InATICAIR -rn nru IAITV Except as expressly provided for in this Contract, the Municipality agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, transfer, delegate, or assign to the County, and/or any County Agent or Equalization Division Personnel any civil or legal responsibility, duty, obligation, duty of care, cost, legal obligation, or liability associated with any governmental function delegated and/or entrusted to the Municipality under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. 4.1. The Municipality shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 6 or in any way related to any Municipality tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other Municipality legal obligation. The Municipality agrees that under no circumstances shall the County be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with its Municipality function or any responsibility under any State Property Tax Law. 4.2. The Municipality shall not incur or create any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations for the County and shall take all necessary steps b ensure that any debts, liens, liabilities or obligations that the Municipality may incur shall not become a debt, liability, obligation or Claim(s) against the County. 4.3. The Parties agree that the Municipality shall at all •:imes remain responsible for the ultimate completion of any and all Municipality duties or obligations under any and all applicable State Property Tax Laws. Nothing in this Contract shall relieve the Municipality of any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. 4.4. The Municipality and Municipality Agents shall be and remain responsible for compliance with all federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, and agency requirements in any manner affecting any work or performance of this Contract or with any Municipality duty or obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Law. §5. NO DELEGATION OR DIMINUTION OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY The Parties reserve to themselves any rights and obligations related to the provision of any and all of each Party's respective governmental services, authority, responsibilities, and obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, diminish, delegate, transfer, assign, divest, impair, or contravene any constitutional, statutory, and/or other lega right, privilege, power, civil or legal responsibility, obligation, duty of care, liability, capacity, immunity, authority or character of office of either Party to any other person or Party. 5,1. The Parties further agree, notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, that no provision in this Contract is intended, nor shall it be construed, as a waiver of any governmental immunity, as provided by statute or applicable court decisions, by either Party, either for that Party and/or any of that Party's County or Municipal Agents. 5.2. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, nothing in this Contract shall be deemed to, in any way, limit or prohibit the Oakland County Board of Commissioners statutory rights and obligations to review and/or further equalize Municipality property values or tax assessments and/or further act upon any Municipality assessment(s) of property taxes under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, including, but not limited to challenging any Municipality assessment before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. §6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE In consideration of the promises set forth in this Contract, the Municipality agrees to pay to the County: For the contract years 2006-2007 and 2007- 2008, the sum of $13.57 each year for each real property description and $12.04 each year for each personal property description rendered during the life of this Contract. Payment for the contract year 2006-2007 is payable on or before July 1, 2007 and payment for the contract year 2007-2008 is payable on or before July 1, 2008. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 7 If during the term of this Contract, there are additional services requested of the County, the Parties shall negotiate additional fees to be paid by the Municipality. 6.1. All time incurred for Board of Review dates beyond the regular County working hours to be billed at the applicable Equalization Division personnel's overtime rate and charged to the Municipality over and above any other fees described in this Contract, with the following exceptions: 6.1.1. One evening meeting as required by law under MCL § 211.29(1). 6.1.2. Dates requiring overtime set by the Munic pality Charter. 6.2. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for postage on all personal property statements and personal property notices mailed relating to work performed under this Contract. The Municipality agrees to be responsible for all photographic supplies. 6.3. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail, for any reason, to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that upon notice from the Oakland County Treasurer to the Treasurer of the State of Michigan (or any other State of Michigan official authorized to disburse funds to the MUNICIPALITY), the State of Michigan is authorized to withhold any funds due the MUNICIPALITY from the State, and assign those funds to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY to the County. Such funds shall be paid directly to the County. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the State or County, or their respective officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.4. Should the MUNICIPALITY fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County Treasurer shall be entitled to set-off and retain any amounts due the MUNICIPALITY from Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund ("DTRF") or any other source of funds due the MUNICIPALITY in the possession of the County, to partially or completely offset any deficiency by the MUNICIPALITY, unless expressly prohibited by law. Such a transfer shall be considered an assignment by the MUNICIPALITY to the COUNTY. Further, the MUNICIPALITY waives any claims against the County, or its officials, for any such amounts paid to the County. 6.5. Notwithstanding any other term or condition in this Contract, should the Municipality fail for any reason to timely pay the County the amounts required under this Contract, the MUNICIPALITY agrees that the County may discontinue, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Municipality, without any penalty or liability whatsoever, any County services or performance obligations under this Contract. 6.6. None of these provisions shall operate to limit in any way the County's right to pursue any other legal remedies against the MUNICIPALITY for the reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies in this paragraph are available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis, as the MUNICIPALITY becomes delinquent in its payments. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 8 §7. LIABILITY The Municipality further agrees that the County shall not be liable to the Municipality for any and all Claim(s), except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Contract. 7.1. The Parties agree that this Contract does not and is not intended to create or include any County warranty, promise, covenant or guaranty, either express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever in favor of the other Municipality, and/or any Municipality Agents, or any Municipality Taxpayer or any other person or entity, or that the County's efforts in the performance of any obligation under this Contract will result in any specific monetary benefit or efficiency, or increase in any tax revenue for the Municipality, or will result in any specific reduction or increase in any property assessment, or guarantee that any County services provided under this Contract will withstand any challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any court or review body, or any other such performance-based outcome. 7.2. In the event of any alleged breach, wrongful termination, and/or any default of any term or condition of this Contract by either the County or any County Agent, the County and/or any County Agent shall not be liable to the Municipality for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, including, but not limited to any replacement costs for County Services, any loss of income or revenue, and/or any failure by the Municipality to meet any Municipality obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws, or any other economic benefit or harm that the Municipality may have realized, but for any alleged breach, wrongful termination, default and/or cancellation of this Contract, or damages beyond or in excess of the amount(s) of any amount paid to, received or retained by the County at the time of the alleged breach or default in connection with or under the terms of this Contract, whether such alleged breach or default is alleged in an action in contract or tort and/or whether or not the Municipality has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This provision and this Contract is intended by the Parties to allocate the risks between the Parties, and the Parties agree that the allocation of each Party's efforts, costs, and obligations under this Contract reflect this allocation of each Party's risk and the limitations of liability as specified herein. 7.3. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contract, with regard to any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, suits, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, deficiencies, lialoility, penalties, litigation costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, any reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, investigation and/or litigation expenses, any amounts paid in settlement, and/or any other amounts, liabilities of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality or any Municipality Agent by any third person, including but not limited to any Municipality Agent or Municipality Taxpayer, arising out of any activities or Services to be carried out by any County Agent in the performance of this Contract, the Municipality hereby agrees that it shall have no rights pursuant to or under this Contract against the County and/or any County Agents to or for any indemnification (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) contribution, subrogation, or other right to be reimbursed by the County and/or any of County Agents based upon any and all legal theories or alleged rights of CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 9 e any kind, whether known or unknown, for any and all alleged losses, claims, complaints, demands for relief or damages, judgments, deficiencies, liability, penalties, litigation costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever which are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Municipality and which are alleged to have arisen under or are in any way based or predicated upon this Contract. 7.4. If the Municipality requests and the County agrees, the County may prepare the actual tax statement for mailing by the Municipality to Municipality residents. In preparing any such tax statement the County shall rely upon certain data provided by the Municipality beyond the data gathered by the County under this contract, including, but not limited to, the applicable millage rate. The parties agree that under no circumstances shall the County be held liable to the Municipality or any third party based upon any error in any tax statement due to information supplied by the Municipality to the County for such purposes. §8. MUNICIPALITY AGENTS AND COOPERATION WITH THF COUNTY The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and exclusively responsible, during the term of this Contract, for guaranteeing that all Municipality Agents fully cooperate with Equalization Division Personnel in the performance of all County Services under this Contract. 8.1. Municipality Agents shall be employed and assigned based on appropriate qualifications and other factors as decided by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely responsible for furnishing all Municipality Agents with all job instructions, job descriptions and job specifications and shall solely control, direct, and supervise all Municipality Agerrs and shall be solely responsible for the means and manner in which Municipality's duties or obligations under any applicable State Property Tax Laws are satisfied. 8.2. The Municipality agrees that it shall be solely and completely liable for any and all Municipality Agents' past, present, or future wages, compensation, overtime wages, expenses, fringe benefits, pension or retirement benefits, travel expenses, mileage allowances, training expenses, transportation costs, and/or other allowances or reimbursements of any kind, including, but not limited to, workers' disability compensation benefits, unemplcyment compensation, Social Security Act protection(s) and benefits, any employment taxes, and/or any other statutory or contractual right or benefit based on or in any way related to any Municipality Agent's employment status or any alleged violation of any Municipality Agent's statutory, contractual (e.g., union, employment, or labor contract), constitutional, common law employment right, and/or civil rights by the Municipality. The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent and/or which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any Municipality Agent's wages, compensation, benefits, or other employment- related or based rights, including, but not limited to those described in this section. 8.3. The Municipality agrees that no Municipality Agent shall, by virtue of this Contract or otherwise, be considered or claimed to be an employee of the County and/or a County Agent. This Contract does not grant or confer, and shall not be interpreted to grant or confer, upon any Municipality Agents or any other CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 10 • individual any status, privilege, right, or benefit of County employment or that of a County Agent. 8.4. The Municipality agrees to provide the County with information regarding any activity affecting the tax status of any parcel including but not limited to the following: Downtown Development Authorities, Redevelopment Plans, Tax Increment Financing Authorities. In addition, the municipality agrees to notify the County immediately of approval of any application for abatement or tax exemption. 8.5. The Municipality agrees to inform the County agents regarding any increase in taxation which is governed by the Truth in Taxation Act as well as any property which is being considered for an exemption under the Industrial Facitlity Tax Act. The County shall be informed of these proposed changes prior to approval by the governing body of the municipality. 8.6. The Municipality will be responsible for Special Assessment billings, maintaining a paper trail of roll changes, maintaining the rolls in balance, and providing the Oakland County Equalization Division with the infcrmation necessary to prepare the warrant. 8.7. The Municipality agrees that its agents will perform the following functions: 8.7.1. Mechanically make name changes to Sidwell numbers on a monthly basis using the County's Computer terminals. 8.7.2. Provide a copy of all building permits with Sidwell numbers to the County's Equalization Division on a monthly basis. 8.7.3. Be responsible for the establishment, accuracy and compilation of all Special Assessment rolls in the Municipality. 8.7.4. Forward all exemption applications, transfer affidavits, personal property statements and any and all other documents affecting the status or value of property located within the Municipality 10 the County's Equalization Division in a timely manner. 8.7.5. Forward all information on splits and combinations after approval by the Municipality to the County's Equalization Division. 8.8. In the event that Municipality Agents, for whatever reason, fail or neglect to undertake the tasks in Section 8.7 above, the County's Equalization Division may perform these tasks and they shall be paid on a time and material basis. Such rate shall be based upon the wages plus benefits cif the person or persons performing said tasks. §9. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR The Parties agree that at all times and for all purposes under the terms of this Contract, the County's and/or any arid all County Agents' legal status and relationship to the Municipality shall be that of an Independent Contractor. Except as expressly provided herein, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its own employees, Agents, and servants during the term of this Contract. No liability, right or benefits arising out of an employer/employee relationship, either express or implied, shall arise or accrue to either Party as a result of this Contract. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 11 . • §10. COUNTY PRIORITIZATION OF COUNTY RESOURCES The Municipality acknowledges and agrees that this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create either any absolute right in favor of the Municipality, or any correspondent absolute duty or obligation upon the County, to guarantee that any specific number(s) or classification of County Agents will be present on any given day to provide County services to the Municipality. §11. INDEMNIFICATION The Municipality shall not be obligated to pay any portion of any court ordered judgment or award to a third party for which a court has determined that the County and/or any County Agent was solely negligent or at fault. However, the Municipality agrees to, indemnify and hold the County and/or any County Agent harmless from and against any and all Claim(s) which are imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against the County and/or any County Agent by any Municipality Agent under any circumstances or by any person which are based upon, result from, or arise from, or are in any way related to any alleged error, mistake, negligence or intentional act(s) or omission(s) by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent, including, but not limited to: (a) any alleged breach of legal duty to any person by the Municipality and/or any Municipality Agent; (b) any alleged failure by the Municipality or any Municipality Agent to comply with any Municipality duty or obligation in this Contract; and/or (c) any other Claim(s) based in any way upon any Municipality or Municipality Agent's services, buildings, equipment, or any other event, occurrence, duty or obligation related or attendant thereto. §12. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT Except as follows, and notwithstanding any other term or provision in any other section of this Contract, either Party, upon a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days written notice to the other Party, may cancel and/or completely terminate this Contract for any reason, including convenience, without incurring any penalty, expense, or liability to the other Party. The effective date for any such termination is to be clearly stated in the notice. 12.1. At 5:00 p.m. on the effective date of the cancellation of this Contract all Municipality and/or County obligations under this Contract, except those rights and obligations expressly surviving cancellation as provided for in this Contract, shall end. 12.2. The Municipality agrees that any and all Municipality obligations, including, but not limited to, any and all indemnification and hold harmless promises, waivers of liability, record-keeping requirements, any Municipality payment obligations to the County, and/or any other related obligations provided for in this Contract with regard to any acts, occurrences, events, transactions, or Claim(s) either occurring or having their basis in any events or transactions that occurred before the cancellation or completion of this Contract, shall survive the cancellation or completion of this Contract. §13. EFFECTIVE DATE, CONTRACT API:1 13 aVALALILLAMENDMENT The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any subsequent amendments thereto, shall not become effective prior to the approval by concurrent resolutions of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Walled Lake. The approval and terms of this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments thereto, shall be entered in the official minutes and proceedings of both the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the City Council of Walled Lake and shall also be filed with the office of the Clerk of the County and the Clerk for the City of Walled Lake. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 12 * J .e V • §14. The Parties agree that this Contract, and/or any possible 5ubsequent amendments, shall be filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and this Contract, and/or any possible subsequent amendments, shall not become effective prior to this required filing with the Secretary of State. 14.1. The Parties agree that except as expressly provided herein, this Contract shall not be changed, supplemented, or amended, in any manner, except as provided for herein, and no other act, verbal representation, document, usage or custom shall be deemed to amend or modify this Contract in any manner. §15. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES Except as expressly provided herein for the benefit of the Parties (i.e., County or Municipality), this Contract does not, and is not intended to, create, by implication or otherwise, any direct or indirect obligation, duty, promise, benefit, right to be indemnified (i.e., contractually, legally, equitably, or by implication) and/or any right to be subrogated to any Party's rights in this Contract, and/or any other right of any kind, in favor of any person, including, but not limited to, any County Agent or Municipality Agent or any Municipality Taxpayer, any Taxpayer's legal representative, any organization, any alleged unnamed beneficiary or assignee, and/or any other person. §16. CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE The language of all parts of this Contract is intended to and, in all cases, shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not construed strictly for or against any party. As used in this Contract, the singular or plural number, possessive or nonpossessive shall be deemed to include the other whenever the context so suggests or requires. §17. CAPTIONS The section headings or titles and/or all section numbers contained in this Contract are intended for the convenience of the reader and not intended to have any substantive meaning and are not to be interpreted as part of this Contract. §18. NOTICES Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, any and all correspondence, invoices, and/or any other written notices required, permitted or provided for under this Contract to be delivered to either Party shall be sent to that Party by first class mail. All such written notices, including any notice canceling or terminating this Contract as provided for herein, shall be sent to the other Party's signatory to this Contract, or that signatory's successor in office, at the addresses shown in this Contract. All correspondence or written notices shall be considered delivered to a Party as of the date that such notice is deposited with sufficient postage with the U.S. Postal Service. §19. WAIVER OF BREACH The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Contract shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Each and every right, remedy and power granted to either party or allowed it by law shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other. §20. ENTIRE CONTRACT This Contract, consisting of a total o fourteen (14) pages, sets forth the entire agreement between the County and the Municipality and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between them in any way related to the subject matter hereof. It is further understood and agreed that the terms and conditions herein are contractual and are not a mere recital and that there are no other agreements, understandings, contracts, or representations between the County and the Municipality in any way related to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly stated herein. This Contract shall not be changed or supplemented orally and may be amended only as otherwise provided herein. CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 13 s„ 10, For and in consideration of the mutual assurances, promises, acknowledgments, warrants, representations, and agreements set forth in this Contract, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby execute this Contract on behalf of the Parties, and by doing so legally obligate and bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Contract. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, William T. Roberts, Mayor of the City of Walled Lake, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the City Council of Walled Lake, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Municipality and hereby accepts and binds the Municipality to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: William T. Roberts, Mayor City of Walled Lake WITNESSED: DATE: Catherine Buck, City Clerk City of Walled Lake IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson, Oakland County Board of Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, a certified copy of which is attached, to execute this Contract on behalf of the Oakland County, and hereby accepts arid binds the Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Contract. EXECUTED: DATE: Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairperson Oakland County Board of Commissioners WITNESSED: DATE. Ruth Johnson, Clerk/ Register of Deeds County of Oakland CONTRACT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIVISION ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Page 14 pia nn• I MY APPROVE THE 7/24 0 6, Ruth Johnson, County Clerk b Resolution #06136 July 20, 2006 Moved by Moss supported by Jamian the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent Agenda, be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted). AYES: Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Gregory, Hatchett, Jamian, KowaII, Long, Melton, Middleton, Molnar, Moss, Nash, Palmer, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Suarez, Wilson, Woodward, Zack, Bullard. (24) NAYS: None. (0) A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent Agenda, were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted). STATE OF MICHIGAN) COUNTY OF OAKLAND) I, Ruth Johnson, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on July 20, 2006, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 20th day of July, 2006.