11/22/13 - There was no controversy or gathering of concerned citizens last night when the Pinckney School Board voted to close the third elementary school building in recent memory. The board approved closing Lakeland Elementary School at the end of the school year last night. Superintendent Rick Todd tells WHMI that closing an elementary school was part of the the district's recently-approved deficit elimination plan, and the district needs to restructure as the community downsizes. The closure will save the district about $350,000 annually, but the board described it as a difficult and painful decision to make. The district still has not decided how to divide the school's students between its two remaining elementary schools, but Todd says they plan to find a use for the Lakeland building rather than sell it off. Lakeland is the third elementary school to be closed in the district since the recession began, following Hamburg and Pinckney Elementary Schools, which generated a much stronger response from teachers and parents at the time. Pinckney remains on the market, and interested buyers have been touring the facility, but last night the board approved a signed purchase agreement for the Hamburg Elementary building. That sale is not part of the deficit elimination plan, so if it goes through it will provide about $550,000 in revenue the district was not expecting. The building was sold to a company called Vertex from Utah. Todd says almost nothing is known about that organization other than it tends to buy properties, renovate them, and resell for a profit. (TD)
Lakeland Elementary to Close, Hamburg Elementary SoldLakeland Elementary to Close, Hamburg Elementary Sold
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Brighton Explores Ways to Finance Street ProjectsBrighton Explores Ways to Finance Street Projects
11/22/13 - Brighton city officials say that even though city voters turned down a millage request on November 5 to finance street paving, curb and gutter and sidewalk projects, it doesnât alter the fact that the work needs to be done. The most glaring need in the city is the need for improved streets and curb-and-gutter work on the northwest side. Although most other areas of the city have streets with curbs and storm sewers to provide better drainage, the northwest side has been left out. Thatâs because a previous multi-year street millage expired before the work could be done. City Manager Dana Foster tells WHMI the need for curb-and-gutter work on that side of town wonât go away just because the millage failed, and the city is exploring possible ways to finance such a project. Foster says a bond issue is not an option at this time because it would increase the bonded indebtedness of the city, and therefore the solution will have to come from somewhere else. He says the City Council will be discussing possible funding avenues when it meets in its annual goal-setting session the weekend of Dec.7-8. Foster says the goal is for the street paving and curb-and-gutter projects on the northwest side to take place within the next 2-3 years. (TT)
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Talent Tour Seeks to Connect Local Employers & StudentsTalent Tour Seeks to Connect Local Employers & Students
11/22/13 - An event next month will try and close the gap between local employers and schools when it comes to understanding what each has to offer the other. Dr. Tim Jackson is the Director of Career and Technical Education for the Livingston Educational Service Agency and says the inaugural Livingston County Talent Tour by LESA is seeking to address that gap. Set for Wednesday, December 11th, the idea is based on a strategy originally outlined by Governor Snyder according to Kate Roberts, the Work-Based Coordinator for Intern Livingston. Roberts says the tour will include stops at Howell High School to visit the Machine trades/ Manufacturing, and CAD/Design courses there as well as the Robotics, Mechatronics and Manufacturing programs at Pinckney Community High School. She says there is no cost for employers wishing to take part in the tour, but pre-registration by December 2nd is required. Both Jackson and Roberts will be guests this Sunday morning at 8:30 on WHMIâs Viewpoint. (JK)
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Kool-Aid Faker Sentenced on Meth Lab ChargesKool-Aid Faker Sentenced on Meth Lab Charges
11/22/13 - A Livingston County woman who tried to fake her way out of jail has received a lengthy prison term for running a meth lab. Ray Lynn Dennis was sentenced Thursday to a 13-30 year prison term. Dennis, who was already jailed following a guilty plea to delivering methamphetamine and operating a meth lab in Iosco Township, used red Kool-Aid to pretend she was bleeding and having pregnancy complications. Deputies took the Fowlerville resident to the hospital, but a doctor concluded she wasn't bleeding and had been faking distress. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says Dennis planned to use the hospital visit as a way to escape. (JK)
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State Superintendent to Visit Huron Valley Schools State Superintendent to Visit Huron Valley Schools
11/23/13 - Huron Valley Schools has been selected for a special visit by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mike Flanagan visits at least one Michigan school district each month. His stop will begin at 11am Tuesday with a sign language presentation of the National Anthem and John Lennonâs Imagine at Milford High School, followed by a tour of the Apollo Early Childhood Center, and then lunch with the HVS Board of Education and others at White Lake Middle School. Flanaganâs visit will conclude a tour of Lakeland High School and the International Academy, West. (JM)
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Man Enters Plea in Brighton Bank Heists Man Enters Plea in Brighton Bank Heists
11/23/13 - In addition to federal bank robbery charges, a Lansing-area man has now entered a plea to charges for two bank heists in Livingston County. 43-year-old Todd White pleaded guilty as charged to five counts of armed robbery that were filed in connection with the March 18th holdup of the PNC Bank on West Grand River in Brighton, as well as the April 26th robbery of the 1st National Bank on Challis Road. Prosecutors agreed to nothing as part of the deal and White will be sentenced as a 4th time habitual offender on December 12th in Livingston County Circuit Court. Meanwhile, White faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced February 28th on federal charges in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. He pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm in exchange for three other counts being dropped for his part in robbing the Independent Bank in Williamston on May 24th. (JM)
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Autopsy Report Confirms Identity of Murder-Suicide VictimAutopsy Report Confirms Identity of Murder-Suicide Victim
11/23/13 - The autopsy report for a woman killed in a murder suicide has been received but revealed no surprises according to local authorities. The formal cause of death for 51-year-old Gail Dimitroff of Oceola Township has been ruled blunt force trauma. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI toxicology reports are still pending and will likely take three to four more weeks but they have received the autopsy results. Bezottte says it was a tragic homicide case and dental records were used to positively identify the badly beaten victim. He says there is still more work to be done before they release any more information and the investigation continues. Dimitroffâs body was found this past Monday afternoon inside of her Hill Top Lane residence, where she lived with her boyfriend who police suspect killed her. Authorities believe 44-year-old Mark William Herrick later intentionally killed himself by crashing his vehicle head-on into a semi-truck in Monroe County. (JM)
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Average Income Grows In Livingston, But Slower Than StateAverage Income Grows In Livingston, But Slower Than State
11/24/13 - The average personal income in Livingston County did not grow as fast as it did in the state as a whole in 2012, but it still remains higher than in most of Michigan. According to statistics released on Thursday by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average per capita personal income in the state increased by 3.4% last year to about $38,300. Livingston County lagged behind that level of growth, with average personal income increasing 2.8%, but with an average income of $43,300 it is still 13% higher than the state average. That slower growth mirrors the fact that Livingston saw less of an impact from the recession compared to other Michigan communities, especially in the southeast. The local average income is just short of the national average of $43,735. The highest growth rate in the state last year was in Monroe County, where personal income grew by 6% to $38,400. (TD)
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Hamburg Township Saving Employees On Insurance Before ACAHamburg Township Saving Employees On Insurance Before ACA
11/24/13 - The Affordable Care Act will change the healthcare landscape, and the Hamburg Township board is keeping costs down for its employees while it can. The board voted to approve an opt out of a state-wide act that requires all public employees to pay 20% of their health insurance costs. Supervisor Pat Hohl says this has been done since the act was passed in 2011. Hamburg employees pay 9% of their insurance costs, and Hohl says the board considers this to be appropriate given their compensation. However, with the large and complex Affordable Care Act preparing to take effect, officials from many municipalities, including Hamburg, are having difficulty understanding the implications of the law. Hohl says he and other township leaders have spent a lot of time looking at the act, but there is still a lot of discussion about how the act will play out and what amendments will be added. He says it is very difficult to predict exactly how the healthcare landscape will look when major changes take effect on January 1st of 2016. (TD)
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Vehicle Driving In Center Lane Strikes Two Teens On Grand RiverVehicle Driving In Center Lane Strikes Two Teens On Grand River
11/24/13 - Two teenagers were struck by a vehicle as they attempted to cross Grand River in Genoa Township last week. The Livingston County Sheriff's Department says a 60-year-old female was driving in the center turn lane attempting to merge into westbound traffic at about 6:05pm. Before she could merge she struck two teenagers who were apparently attempting to cross the street and had stopped in the middle lane. One of them, a 15-year-old female, was transported to the University of Michigan hospital for minor injuries, while the other, a 17-year-old male from Howell, was released at the scene. The woman was given a ticket for careless driving. The Sheriff's Department reminds residents not to drive in center turn lanes or use them as merging lanes to keep up with traffic. (TD)
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Oceola Development Seeks Snowbirds & Empty-NestersOceola Development Seeks Snowbirds & Empty-Nesters
11/25/13 - A new development under construction in Oceola Township is being designed to attract an emerging trend of temporary residents. Redwood Management Company is an Ohio-based developer thatâs branching into the Michigan market and constructing the Maple Square project. It will consist of 122 apartments in three buildings on the corner lot at M-59 and Latson Road behind the CVS and situated near the Oceola Township Hall. The project received approval about a month ago and developers are said be on an aggressive schedule for completion, with site preparation underway beginning with extensive earth-moving activity. The project is designed to fit the housing requirements transition and needs of those age 55 and older, who may be considering smaller homes now that their children have grown up but still desire a single-family or cluster-home community. The rental units are also designed to attract the snowbird population or others who wish to remain close to family but might not live in Michigan year round. Oceola Township Supervisor Bill Bamber tells WHMI overall development has been steadily increasing and theyâve been seeing increased activity, even with residential and private lots. Most notably though he says are a number existing projects previously left unfinished during the recession that are now finally coming to completion. (JK)
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City Managers Say PPT Reform Necessary, but FlawedCity Managers Say PPT Reform Necessary, but Flawed
1/25/13 - Michigan has lagged behind many other states in growth for a variety of reasons. Probably the most hated tax has been the single business tax and its successor, the Michigan Business Tax, both of which the state has now eliminated. Arguably, the number two detriment to business and industry growth in the state is the personal property tax. Personal property taxes â which are on the decline nationally â are a property tax on equipment, furniture and other possessions. When the first phase of the Personal Property Tax Reform Law goes into effect on Jan. 1st, individuals, businesses and industries with personal property worth less than $80,000 will be exempt from paying taxes on that property. Local governments which will stand to lose revenue from the law include cities, villages, townships, counties, libraries, public school districts and community colleges. Howell City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI that his city will take a big hit if the personal property tax legislation goes into effect as it stands now, without being amended, with the city standing to lose from $100,000 to $250,000 in revenue annually by the year 2016, which will further erode the city's ability to provide the services its residents and businesses rightfully demand. While Brighton City Manager Dana Foster emphasizes that the city of Brighton is in agreement with the necessity of amending the personal property tax to make the state more attractive to business and industry, he tells WHMI that for the reform law to work for local governments, there must be a method of recouping the lost revenues. Foster says that while the personal property tax reform will affect Brighton's revenue picture, it will hit the city's Downtown Development Authority much harder. That's because the DDA depends almost solely on the Tax Increment Financing Authority Law, or TIFA, for its revenue, which has resulted in major improvements to the city's downtown. He says TIFA will be negatively impacted by the law, as will the Local Development Finance Authority Law, which municipalities such as Brighton and Howell have used in the past to facilitate industrial growth. In the meantime, Foster says he's hopeful that a number of proposals to provide some relief to local governments will find their way into the new law in the form of amendments. The tax reform law is scheduled to take full effect on Jan. 1, 2016. However, it is tied to passage of a statewide vote next August in which voters will decide whether revenue losses to local governments may be partially offset by assessments that could be levied against commercial and industrial property. If that measure were to fail, the tax reform law would be rendered invalid and would not take effect. (JK)
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Howell DDA Director Resigning for Job in West MichiganHowell DDA Director Resigning for Job in West Michigan
11/25/13 - Howell Downtown Development Director Diane Larkin has accepted a position on the western side of the state and will be leaving the city before the end of the year. Larkin tells WHMI she has accepted an offer to become the new Main Street DDA Director for the City of Grand Haven. Larkin says the job is an excellent opportunity for her, providing a pay increase as well as bringing her closer to her family, but it will still be very difficult to leave Howell. Since coming to the DDA in March of 2012, Larkin has worked with local business owners, stakeholders, politicians, and volunteers to improve the Howell downtown area, preserve its history, and promote its annual events. Her last day in the Howell office is expected to be December 29th. Until then she will assist the Howell DDA Main Street Board in finding a new director. The replacement process will include posting the position and interviewing applicants, and Larkin says they do not currently have anyone in particular in mind. The DDA also recently lost Stephanie Schlittler, who was board president until changes in her personal life prompted her to spend large amounts of time away from the city. (TD)
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South Lyon Water Main Repair Project Cannot Be Finished This Year
11/25/13 - The work from a South Lyon water main replacement project will have to continue next spring since it will not be finished this year as hoped. Crews have been working on rebuilding the water infrastructure in the area of Pontiac Trail with the goal of finishing before the end of fall. However, the last portions of the project will have to be completed after winter. The South Lyon Herald reports the contract for the work continues through May, and Water Department Director Bob Martin says there are two or three weeks of work left to do. That work is mostly repairs to damage on the surface of Pontiac Trail, which was periodically closed to traffic during the water main repairs. The new water infrastructure cost about $5.5 million to install and should last for more than 50 years. (TD)
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Michigan Coordinating Investigation of Tainted SteroidsMichigan Coordinating Investigation of Tainted Steroids
11/25/13 - Authorities in Michigan and Massachusetts say they will coordinate their investigations of a company that sold steroid injection materials linked to a fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 19 Michigan residents, at least eight of them from Livingston County. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Boston U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced they would coordinate their state and federal probes at a news conference this morning in Detroit. A federal grand jury in Boston has been investigating the New England Compounding Center for more than a year. The Michigan Court of Appeals also approved a request for a grand jury, which is being overseen by Livingston County Chief Circuit Court Judge David Reader. The 6-month term of the grand jury is nearly expired, but Schuette's office said he may petition the presiding judge to reconvene the grand jury in the future, if necessary. Evidence already uncovered by the grand jury may be used in ongoing investigations. Schuette says the coordination will "maximize the resources dedicated to this investigation." Fungal meningitis has been linked to contaminated steroids produced by the Massachusetts pharmacy and shipped to four Michigan clinics, including Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton. Patients who became ill received injections for neck or back pain. The Massachusetts company's steroid materials have been linked to a total of 751 meningitis and other infections, including 264 in Michigan. Tennessee and Indiana were also hit hard. (JK)
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Sheriff Says Religious Statements Prompt School Lockdown Sheriff Says Religious Statements Prompt School Lockdown
11/25/13 - All school buildings in the Hartland Consolidated School district were in a secure mode for several hours today after an incident earlier this morning. Superintendent Janet Sifferman tells WHMI that an individual walked into one of their buildings and spoke with staff. Because some of his comments were unusual, they decided as a precaution to institute a lockdown. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that based on the information they received from Hartland school staff, they were able to make a traffic stop on the individual near the school. Bezotte says the 35-year-old Howell man said that the school was feeding the students "garbage" and that the "building was going to come down." He says the man clarified that he wasn't intending to do anything, but that he felt God was. However, he says this is at least the third incident this individual has been involved with. Bezotte says that the man walked into a Walmart back in May and then St. Patrick Catholic Church in Brighton just last week with similar comments. They have since taken him into protective custody so that he can undergo a psychological evaluation. A search of the home didnât turn up weapons or anything else indicating he intended to carry out any acts of violence. However, the incident prompted both the Hartland and Howell districts to institute lockdowns as a precaution, which were lifted by 1pm. (JK)
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Charges Filed in Unadilla Township MurderCharges Filed in Unadilla Township Murder
11/26/13 - Following a six-week investigation, murder charges have been filed in the death of a Unadilla Township resident. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt announced Monday that Mark David Jackson (pictured) was arraigned today on a single count of Open Murder as a Fourth Habitual Offender in the death of 52-year-old Jonathan Risinger. Risingerâs body was found October 6th by authorities who were called to his Berkshire Road residence. In making todayâs announcement, Valliencourt indicated that the actual death took place on October 4th. However, no information has been released as to the manner of death or relationship between Jackson and Risinger. If convicted, Jackson could face a sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Unadilla Township Police Department and detectives from the Michigan State Police. Jackson was arraigned before 53rd District Court Judge Theresa Brennan who ordered that he be held without bond pending a pre-exam conference on Wednesday. Jackson was serving parole for a 1996 conviction in Livingston County on six counts of 2nd degree home invasion, for which he served 14 years in prison. (JK)
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Fundraiser Set to Assist Family of Tyrone QuintsFundraiser Set to Assist Family of Tyrone Quints
11/26/13 - A spaghetti dinner fundraiser and auction has been organized for the local and proud parents of quintuplets born in September. Robert and Jessica Hicks quickly outgrew their small two-bedroom, one-bath home in Tyrone Township. Itâs said to be "bursting at the seams" and has just become much too cramped for the family after the addition of the five babies and their older brother. Jessicaâs mother, Kathy Howell, organized the event on Saturday, December 14th to raise funds toward their purchase of a new home, saying she wanted to help lessen their burden and allow them to enjoy their new family and not be so stressed out. The spaghetti dinner will be held from 4 to 8pm at the Lawrence A. Sims VFW Post 2269 on Loon Lake Road in Wixom. The price of dinner is a donation and a 50/50 raffle is also planned. (JK)
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Howell Woman Rejects Plea Deal in Motorcycle DeathHowell Woman Rejects Plea Deal in Motorcycle Death
11/26/13 - A Howell woman charged in connection with a motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a Brazilian man has rejected a plea deal from prosecutors. 52-year-old Susiter Doses of Howell will be back in court January 2nd on a misdemeanor charge of a moving violation causing death, which was filed in connection with the death of 20-year-old William Naatz. Naatz was pronounced dead at a hospital following the August 3rd crash while Doses was treated and released at the scene. Police say Naatz was traveling west on Grand River on his motorcycle when he was hit by a 2007 Ford Edge driven by Doses, which had pulled out from the VGâs parking lot. Naatz was attending college in Michigan and was the son of a city councilman in Blumenau, Brazil. (JK)
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Brighton School Board OKs Purchase Offer for Lindbom SiteBrighton School Board OKs Purchase Offer for Lindbom Site
11/26/13 - On a 5-1 vote, the Brighton Board of Education Monday night approved an agreement with Robertson Brothers home builders for the purchase of the Lindbom School and property. The deal, if consummated, would bring in about a million dollars for the Brighton School District. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Board Trustee Nick Fiani. The other bidder was ACA Brighton Holding LLC, which wants to put a charter school on the site. Originally, the offer by ACA was for $1.45 million on a land contract, which would be $100,000 more than the Robertson offer, but with a longer payback and far less money up front. But the offer Monday night on the board table, after a meeting between district officials and ACA representatives, was an actual purchase offer. It was the same offer as the one by Robertson Brothers, and one in which ACA would have to obtain private financing. During the public comments portion of the meeting, several district teachers and other residents chastised the board for considering an offer by a company that would open a charter school, which they said would compete directly with the Brighton Schools and drain away tax dollars, since charter schools are public schools and receive the same state per-pupil aid that non-charter schools get. Superintendent Greg Gray recommended the board approve the Robertson Brothers offer, with the ACA offer as the âbackup offerâ should anything go wrong with the one approved, such as Robertson backing out. Robertson is proposing to clear the 10.48-acre Lindbom site on Brightonâs northwest side and put up 45 single-family homes. However in order to do that, the company would have to get approval from the city for a higher density than called for in the zoning ordinance for single-family homes. Gray tells WHMI heâll meet today with Robertson officials and realtors to get the purchase process rolling. (TT)
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