During a Nov. 19 meeting, White Lake Township board of trustees celebrated progress on construction of the $35 million new civic center complex on Elizabeth Lake Road.
Treasurer Mike Roman said he thought the contractor would be able to pour the civic center foundation before the winter weather hit. He told trustees in two days, on Nov. 21, the township would take possession of $29 million in bonds approved for the project.
Instead, they learned on Nov. 21 the township was “a victim of a sophisticated cybersecurity attack that resulted in a compromised financial transaction related to a new issue of infrastructure bonds,” said Police Chief Daniel Keller.
Township officials did not answer several questions posed by The Oakland Press about what happened to the money and how specifically it would affect construction. Instead, they relied on a statement issued by Keller Wednesday.
The cyberattack is being actively investigated by federal authorities and financial institutions working with White Lake police, Keller’s statement said.
In the meantime “certain aspects of the Township’s new Civic Center project will be placed on hold,” Keller said. “White Lake Township is conducting a comprehensive review of its internal systems and procedures.”
Keller added that township officials are committed to being transparent and will release more details as they learn more.
In 2020, township officials approved a civic center complex plan that would include a township hall and public safety headquarters west of the library at 11005 Elizabeth Lake Road and adjacent to Stanley Park at 10785 Elizabeth Lake Road. The park would include beaches, an overlook and fishing pier on Brendel Lake, as well as trails and exercise stations, a pavilion for community events, picnic areas, and other amenities for year-round use.
The construction plan budget includes $20 million for the public safety headquarters, which would include Fire Station No. 1, and $15 million for a civic center to replace the current township hall. The money would come from the bond as well as the township’s revolving fund for improvements, which had a balance of just over $12.5 million according to the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
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