Mitch Irwin, director of the department, accepted the unanimousrecommendation of the Northville Advisory Committee, comprised of public andprivate sector individuals, to accept the $76 million bid.
The amount is $11 million above the minimum required bid.
The bidder will now complete their 75-day due diligence to inspect theproperty, and the sale will then go before the State Administrative Boardfor approval prior to the Sepclosing.
The state had canceled the bid process last month when Grand Sakwa, alongwith two other companies, had bid on the property, claiming that a businessrelationship between a Grand Sakwa employee and a state official might havecreated a conflict of interest.
A volunteer "executive on loan" to DMB, Freman Hendrix, disclosed that he maintains an unrelated, outside business relationshipwith a consultant to Grand Sakwa. Hendrix and David Katz are co-owners ofMulligan's driving range in Auburn Hills.
Officials from the company declared that Katz is not participating in thepurchase.
The former bids included Grand Sakwa's at $68.5 million, Pulte Homes ofRoyalOak, MI, $70 million; and REI of Bloomfield Hills, MI, $67 millio
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