12/11/12 - The Howell Township Board voiced some displeasure at the prospect of having to hold two elections at its own expense if a County Commissioner is named to the vacant magistrate position in 53rd district Court. It was made public during Monday nightâs meeting that the municipality would need to hold two elections if County Commissioner Jay Drick is appointed to replace retiring Magistrate Brian Brown, which was said to be all but formally approved. Drick is a Republican and a practicing Howell attorney. He was just re-elected to his District 5 seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners last month, having first been elected to the seat in November of 2010. Howell Township always budgets for one extra election for safety purposes but some members noted that it would be a lot of money and a lot of work to fill the position for just one person. Clerk Carolyn Eaton tells WHMI that Howell Township, the City of Howell and Cohoctah Township would all need to host two elections each if Drick is appointed to the magistrate position. The one in May would operate similar to a primary and another final election would be required in August. (JK)
Drick to be Appointed as Magistrate; Special Elections NeededDrick to be Appointed as Magistrate; Special Elections Needed
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Auditors Praise Brighton Area Schools in Annual ReportAuditors Praise Brighton Area Schools in Annual Report
12/11/12 - The Brighton Area School District has received good report cards the last few years from its auditors and the latest is no exception. Representatives of the Lansing-based firm of Maner Costerisan told the Board of Education Monday night that the finances of the district for the 2011-12 fiscal year are in good order. Bruce Dunn also told the board that Brighton is one of the few deficit districts in the state making progress on its legacy deficit. Superintendent Greg Gray says such positive feedback is especially encouraging inasmuch as the state legislature imposed a whopping $470 per pupil state funding reduction to all public school districts last year, and the state funding cut was not rescinded this year. He says that effectively doubles the funding loss to nearly $6 million over two years, given Brightonâs enrollment of slightly over 6,000. Gray tells WHMI that those factors have made it all the more significant that Brighton has been able to make progress on erasing the red ink. At one time the deficit was about $15 million, but it has been reduced to about $7 million going into the current fiscal year. Gray and Dunn both praised Assistant Superintendent for Finance Maria Gistinger for preparing a budget that was only $3,000 off from the amount that was ultimately spent. The Brighton Area Schools last year operated on a general fund budget of about $50 million. (TT)
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Commissioner Likely Next Court Magistrate & Closing Law Practice Commissioner Likely Next Court Magistrate & Closing Law Practice
12/11/12 - Although itâs not finalized, it appears as though Livingston County Commissioner Jay Drick is poised to take over as the new 53rd District Court magistrate following the retirement of Brian Brown at the end of the year. About 20 people applied for the position, which involves presiding over hearings and small claims matters within the district court. Drick was chosen as one of three finalists by a committee made up of Brown, District Court Judge Suzanne Geddis, Chief Circuit Court Judge David Reader and District Court Administrator Mary Ellen Nygren. Judge Reader was said to have then selected Drick as the new magistrate from among the finalists with a tentative start date of January 22nd. Due to time requirements and possible conflicts of interest, Drick will need to close up his Howell law practice. He is now in the process of notifying clients and closing out cases as the state bar requires each client to be safeguarded. His appointment must be approved by the Michigan Supreme Court and the Livingston County Board of Commissioners, which Drick would also need to resign from. Having just been re-elected last month, it would require two special elections to fill the seat - the costs of which would be felt individually by three municipalities, schools and the county. (TD/JM)
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Governor Rick Snyder Signs Right-To-Work Legislation Into LawGovernor Rick Snyder Signs Right-To-Work Legislation Into Law
12/11/12 - Governor Rick Snyder says he has already signed right-to-work legislation into law, soon after the House passed it earlier today. The Michigan House gave final approval today to bills before 2pm, which prevent unions from collecting mandatory fees from workers they represent under collective bargaining agreements. All three of Livingston Countyâs lawmakers supported the legislation, including State Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township. He disputed claims that the bills were rushed through during a lame-duck session and maintains there was a lot of debate on the subject prior to the approval. He tells WHMI itâs all about âfreedom to workâ. Thousands of protesters who converged on Lansing disagreed, including retired electrician and longtime union member Joe Carney, the former head of the Livingston County Democratic Party. He feels the bills were rushed through in a backdoor process and the downhill slide will only get worse for the state, adding those in Lansing donât have a clue about collective bargaining. Michigan is now the 24th right-to-work state. Photo provided courtesy of Judy Daubenmier, Chairwoman of The Livingston County Democratic Party. (JM)
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Tyrone Planning Passes On Marijuana Action Without State Move
12/12/12 - The Tyrone Township Planning Commission discussed medical marijuana and dispensaries at its regular meeting last night. The discussion was scheduled months ago during a joint session with the township board in hopes that action at the state level would have clarified the issues surrounding Michiganâs medical marijuana act. However, it was decided during the meeting that there was no action to take on the issue because state-level government has not put forward any firm decisions regarding the enforcement of the act. Commission Chair Mark Meisel tells WHMI the questions of medical marijuana and commercial dispensaries are not addressed at all by township ordinance at this time. He says both the attorney general and state appeals courts have ruled that dispensaries are not authorized under the medical marijuana act and, unless that changes, the township will have no reason to regulate them. Meisel adds that the township plans to observe the issue as it develops but does not intend to over-regulate anything. (TD)
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Livingston County United Way To Host Triple Money Monday Livingston County United Way To Host Triple Money Monday
12/12/12 - The Livingston County United Way will host another Triple Money Monday in an effort to address the most critical needs of those within the community, saying the work it does has never been more important. All cash, check, charge and text contributions made to the organization will be tripled in value on Monday, December 17th only thanks to the Ted and Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation, along with two additional donors who wish to remain anonymous. All of the monies raised will be designated specifically to provide local families and individuals with basic needs and services such as food programs, shelter and homeless support, rent and utility assistance along with budgeting and financial education. Because of the United Wayâs ability to leverage every dollar in donations to $2.12 means that the true impact of a $100 donation Monday becomes $636 that goes directly back into important services for those in need. Donations are 100% tax deductible and can be made by calling the Livingston County United Way at 810-494-3000, on-line at lcunitedway.org or the more tech-savvy can also text âuwmichâ to 85944 to make a one-time donation of $10 billed to your cell phone bill. Others who prefer to drop off donations in person can do so at locations throughout Livingston County or at the United Way offices on Dorr Road from 7am until 7pm on Monday, December 17th. Complete details can be found through the link below. (JM)
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Local Democrats & Republicans Sound Off On Right-to-Work Laws Local Democrats & Republicans Sound Off On Right-to-Work Laws
12/12/12 - Two local women representing opposite sides of the political spectrum in Livingston County are making their voices heard about right-to-work legislation signed into law Tuesday. Republicans feel the laws will help Michigan on its road to recovery but Democrats say itâs a sad day for what was one of the most union-friendly states in the country. President of the Republican Womenâs Club of Livingston County Debi Drick also serves as Chief of Staff for Senator Mark Jansen, who represents the 28th District in Kent County. Drick says the changes may take some time to digest but believes unions will better serve their members through the increased competition. She says union members from other right-to-work states who testified before the legislature were very clear in expressing that they felt services were improved to members because of competition for the first time. Chairwoman of the Livingston County Democratic Party Judy Daubenmier says Snyder campaigned as a moderate but has now shown his true colors and really undermined the middle class, which has been built with the efforts of working men and women. Daubenmier says unions fight for things that benefit everyone such as protections in the workplace, minimum wage, overtime, unemployment and workers compensation, whether in a union or not. She says the legislation legalizes âgetting something for nothingâ and undermines the ability of the unions to represent working people, bargain for them and defend their rights but there is also now a lot of determination to make those responsible pay at the ballot box in 2014. (JK)
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Smash-And-Grab Robbery Takes $80,000 In JewelrySmash-And-Grab Robbery Takes $80,000 In Jewelry
12/12/12 - Tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry was stolen from the Howell Ultra Diamonds store in the Tanger Outlet Center on Saturday, and police are seeking the publicâs help in finding the culprit. At about 1:30am, the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department responded to an alarm at the retailer. They found the front window broken in, display cases smashed, and about $80,000 in merchandise stolen. Police are trying to acquire and compile as much surveillance footage as possible to get accurate descriptions of the suspect and vehicle involved in the robbery. Any information or images will be released to the public as soon as it is available. Bezotte says the cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit will range between $1,000 and $2,500. (TD)
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Merry Tuba Christmas To Return To Downtown HowellMerry Tuba Christmas To Return To Downtown Howell
12/12/12 - The annual Merry TubaChristmas concert will return to the Historic Downtown Courthouse in Howell this weekend. The concert will feature more than 40 tuba players from around the region. They gather each year to perform Christmas concerts in communities around the state. The concert will take place in the courthouse amphitheater this Saturday at 6pm, but Howell Downtown Development Authority Director tells WHMI her department has plans for the hours leading up to the main event. Beginning at 2pm, the DDA will hold an open house at its office on State Street. The open house will serve as a warming station, cookies and cocoa, and a public restroom. The DDA will also offer free wrapping for gifts purchased in Howellâs downtown district. For more information about Merry TubaChristmas, send questions to the email address below. (TD)
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Fees Not Eliminated For Howell Lacrosse Players, MS SwimmersFees Not Eliminated For Howell Lacrosse Players, MS Swimmers
12/12/12 - Howell Public School students will continue to pay fees to participate in lacrosse and middle school swimming. That was the decision of the Howell School Board Monday night after it considered removing pay-to-play fees from the two sports. The district eliminated pay-to-play earlier this year as a way to attract students and improve its athletics programs, but this involved removing only the administrative fees from varsity sports and not the team fees for club sports. Because lacrosse and middle school swim began as club sports they had both administrative and team fees, the latter of which remain. The board discussed eliminating the team fees, which would cost the district an estimated $20,000 per year. Superintendent Ron Wilson says due to budget issues in the coming years, including a projected $3 million shortfall in next yearâs budget, the board decided not to pursue that option. Wilson says it is unlikely the issue will be brought up again until discussions begin on next yearâs budget. (TD)
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Health Officials Encourage Local Residents To Get Flu VaccineHealth Officials Encourage Local Residents To Get Flu Vaccine
12/12/12 - The Livingston County Department of Public Health is working to help local residents and their loved ones to catch the holiday spirit and not the flu. Fourteen confirmed cases of influenza have already been reported in Livingston County and the health department says itâs not too late for to get a flu vaccine and be protected. Michiganâs flu activity is higher when compared to the same time during previous seasons. Officials add that for every confirmed case that gets reported, there are at least ten times as many that are not, therefore the true number of cases in Livingston County is actually much higher. The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccination each year. It takes about two weeks for someone to be fully protected after receiving it. Flu shots are available at physicianâs offices, local pharmacies or the Health Department, which hosts regular clinics at its offices located at 2300 East Grand River in Howell. The flu shot clinics are offered every Wednesday from 8:30am to 4:30pm with extended hours until 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. The charge for the flu shot is $30, which is covered under some insurance plans. More information about influenza and flu shots can be found in the attached press release below. (JM)
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Jim Baker Named Next Superintendent of Huron Valley SchoolsJim Baker Named Next Superintendent of Huron Valley Schools
12/12/12 - The Huron Valley Schools Board of Education says itâs extremely confident that the man selected to lead the district is the best possible choice for the students, parents and staff. The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to begin contract negotiations with Jim Baker for the position of Superintendent of Schools. Baker has been serving as the districtâs interim superintendent since May, when former Superintendent Jackie Johnston left for a position with another district. Baker says heâs honored to have been selected by the board and fortunate to be leading such a talented staff and looking forward to serving the HVS community together. The district was assisted by the Michigan Leadership Institute in the search and fourteen candidates submitted applications for the position, with four selected for interviews that took place during public meetings Monday and Tuesday. Board President Sean Carlson says the four interviewed were very strong candidates but in the end, members realized Baker had all the qualifications and characteristics they were looking for in their next schools chief. The Huron Valley district is comprised of 15 schools and approximately 10,000 students from Commerce, Highland, Milford and White Lake. (JM)
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Parties To Appear For Hearing In Fight To Save Brighton HomesParties To Appear For Hearing In Fight To Save Brighton Homes
12/12/12 - A hearing is scheduled this week in Livingston County Circuit Court in the ongoing legal battle between the City of Brighton and an elderly Northville couple. Attorney Dennis Dubuc represents Leon and Marilyn Bonner, who own two homes on North Street that the City ordered demolished in January of 2009 based on its ordinance. That ordinance permits demolition of an unsafe structure deemed to be a public nuisance, without providing the owner the option to repair it. It was found unconstitutional by Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty, a decision that was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals. More recently, Hatty ruled the Bonnerâs lost their non-conforming use of the property as residential because they havenât lived in the homes or rented them out. Dubuc is now seeking a stay of proceedings from the Court of Appeals until it determines if the non-conforming use was validly denied by Hatty. He filed an application for leave to appeal with the court Monday, asking that it expedite his order although the case is still ongoing. He tells WHMI the stay is necessary to stop the process of ordering the Bonnerâs to bring the homes to commercial standards. The City of Brighton has been ordered to respond to the latest appeal filed by Dubuc no later than 6pm this Thursday. The parties are then scheduled to appear before Judge Hatty on Friday afternoon. (JM)
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Brighton School Assets To Be Auctioned Off Online
12/13/12 - Brighton Area Schools will be selling off surplus assets next week using an online auction company with specialists in educational liquidation. The auction will include furniture, school desks, computers, kitchen equipment, and various other assets for which the district no longer has a use. It will take place on Tuesday from 8:00am to 8:00pm on the website of Kalamazoo-based auction company Biddigery.com. Those interested in viewing the auction items before the sale can visit Lindbom Elementary School on State Street from 10am to 4pm on Monday. Those who wish to participate in the auction but will not have access to a computer can call Biddigery.comâs offices at (866) 260-1611 for alternate arrangements. To visit the auction website, click the link posted below. (TD)
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Howell Teen Gets Creative With Retail Fraud
12/13/12 - A Howell teen was found committing retail fraud in an unusual way earlier this month. Police reports indicate that the 17-year-old was returning items for cash at the Genoa Township Wal-Mart. The problem was that he had never purchased them in the first place. Police say on December 3rd the teen found receipts thrown on the ground, then entered the store and picked up the items listed on the receipts. He would then take them to the customer service counter to exchange them for cash. The report says the store began noticing something was wrong at a later date when the teen tried to return prepaid cards that had not been activated. When police approached the teen in the store they found two dirty receipts on his person, which he claimed he had found and was planning to throw away. According to the report, the teen told police he was stealing from the store because he had recently lost his job. (TD)
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Howell School Board Approves Next Lease For Cell Tower
12/13/12 - A deal approved by the Howell School Board this week will secure the districtâs income from the cell tower on the high school campus through the year 2046. The current lease on the cell tower was approved in 1996 and will provide the township with income from cell companies renting space on the tower through 2021. Several companies recently expressed interest in leasing the tower after that point, and last month Associate Superintendent Rick Terres presented the school board with five options to renew the lease. He recommended a deal put forward by a company called Tristar and its subsidiary Big Top Ventures. The board approved the deal on Monday and should close on it by the end of the month. It will give the district $143,000 up front and allow it to retain all of its rents through the end of the current lease in 2021, at which point TriStar will take over the lease and the rent paid to the district will increase. Terres says it was necessary for the district to address the future of the cell tower now before future changes in wireless technology render it worthless. (TD)
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Salvation Army of Livingston County Seeks Volunteer Bell Ringers Salvation Army of Livingston County Seeks Volunteer Bell Ringers
12/13/12 - The Salvation Army of Livingston County is putting out the call for red kettle volunteers and donations this holiday season. The local corps places red kettles at stores all over Livingston County every Christmas season, with bell ringers collecting donations to support its year round service programs. The local Corps is running about $8,000 behind in donations compared to past years and encouraging community members to donate whatever they can when passing by a red kettle. However, needed even more right now are volunteers to man the red kettles and ring bells at locations throughout Livingston County. Captain Aaron Ortman says theyâve had a great response of locations and volunteer bell ringers so far this season but additional help manning the kettles will hopefully provide a needed boost this season. He says the shifts are pretty simple and they just ask that volunteers give a minimum two hours of their time. Ortman says he has faith in the generosity of the community, which always responds when aware of whatâs needed. He adds that the needs of those the Salvation Army serves is greater than ever and all of the funds collected at Christmas help serve those struggling throughout the year. The campaign will run through Monday, December 24th and The Salvation Army of Livingston County hopes to raise at least $200,000 via the red kettles located outside of local businesses. Anyone interested in volunteering for a shift or two can register online through the link below or contact Kettle Coordinator Liz at the local corps in Howell. Details are posted in the attachment below. (JM)
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Bill Would Eliminate Special Elections to Replace CommissionerBill Would Eliminate Special Elections to Replace Commissioner
12/13/12 - Livingston County and some local municipalities could be spared the cost of two special elections if legislation is approved by the Senate before the lame duck session ends. District 5 Commissioner Jay Drick is expected to become the new 53rd District Court Magistrate following the retirement of Brian Brown at the end of the year. However, the process to replace him could be costly and Livingston County Elections Coordinator Joan Runyan tells WHMI theyâre waiting to see what happens with Senate Bill 0204, which was sponsored by White Lake Republican Mike Kowall. It would eliminate the requirement that two special elections be held to replace a county commissioner. Currently, the Board of Commissioners has 30 days from a vacancy to make an appointment. If the bill passes, that means whoever the board appoints would serve a two-year term beginning January 1st, lasting through November of 2014. If it fails, then two special elections will be scheduled â a primary in May and a final in August, even if only one candidate were to apply for the vacancy. Runyan says all seven voting precincts â one in Cohoctah and three each in the City of Howell and Howell Township â would need to hold the special elections. (JM)
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Closing Arguments Set in Highland Man's Murder TrialClosing Arguments Set in Highland Man's Murder Trial
12/13/12 - Closing arguments are expected this afternoon in the murder trial of a Highland Township man charged with killing his mother last year. Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday afternoon in the first-degree murder trial against 22-year-old Jeffrey Pyne, followed quickly by Pyneâs defense, which called no witnesses. Pyneâs attorney, James Champion, then requested the judge acquit Pyne because of a lack of evidence, a motion that was denied. 51-year-old Ruth Pyne was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death in the garage of the familyâs Highland Township home in May 2011. The Free Press reports that Champion plans to argue before closing arguments this afternoon that jurors should only be allowed to consider a first-degree murder charge and not second-degree murder or manslaughter. He previously told the paper he didnât want to give jurors the opportunity to consider lesser charges to prevent them from arriving at a compromise verdict. Pyne, a former University of Michigan biology student with no history of violence, has been in the Oakland County Jail since his arrest in October of 2011. Prosecutors contended that Jeffrey Pyne killed his mother in a fit of rage after years of dealing with her mental illness, which included acts of violence. Court records show that nine months before her death, she physically attacked her son, attempting to strangle him. She was jailed and committed to a mental hospital but was eventually released. Champion has argued that there is no physical evidence linking his client to the murder and that a stranger may have committed the crime. If convicted, Pyne faces life in prison with no parole. (JK)
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Oceola Looks To Fund Playground with State Grant
12/13/12 - Grant money from the state of Michigan could fund a new playground behind the Oceola Township Hall next year. Supervisor Bill Bamber says the township already has soccer fields behind its municipal building and a new playground could offer a new recreational option for siblings of soccer players and local families in general. The township board discussed the possibility of getting grant money for the new playground at its meeting last week. The township has hired a planner to put together the information needed and manage the grant application. The township will submit its request before the April 1st deadline. Bamber says it is not known at this time how much money the township will request or what sort of playground it would plan to build. (TD)
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