The City of Brighton millage rate â showing a small increase - has been set for the 2016-17 fiscal year. At Thursday nightâs City Council meeting, council set the millage levy at 15.77 mills, a slight increase of .1169 mills from the current year. The millage includes an operating levy of 15.27 mills and a police and public safety millage of 38 hundredths of a mill. City Manager Nate Geinzer says the additional .1169 mill, which is slightly more than a one-tenth-of-one-mill increase, comes by way of Act 369, which was established by the Michigan legislature to assist local governments with âeconomic development and community promotion.â In a separate action Thursday night, council also set the fee schedule for the coming year. Geinzer says water and sewer utility fees will increase about 3%, and there will be minor changes in the sewer and water connection fees. The trash pickup fee will remain the same as it is currently. (TT)
Brighton Council OKs Small Hike in City Millage RateBrighton Council OKs Small Hike in City Millage Rate
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Rock The Block To Return To Downtown Howell This SummerRock The Block To Return To Downtown Howell This Summer
Following a successful first year, an event of food, music, and fun will return to downtown Howell this summer. The summer âRock the Blockâ series was so successful in its inaugural year in 2015, the Howell Main Street Downtown Development Authority has decided to bring it back. Several bands are scheduled to perform each evening of âRock the Blockâ and the concerts are free to attend. Another component of the series is the âBest Bites on the Blockâ, which offers samples of the best cuisine in Howell. Dates have been set for the series and will be held the first Wednesday of each month- June 1st, July 6th, and August 3rd. Each event runs from 6 to 9 pm. Executive Director Cathleen Edgerly says the DDA received a great response from the community about âRock the Blockâ last year and they knew they had âstruck a chordâ. She says this yearâs bands are an eclectic mix and the âBest Bitesâ will be delicious as a result of the explosive local restaurant scene. More information about the event can be found at the link below.
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Three Hartland Students Win Honors At State History CompetitionThree Hartland Students Win Honors At State History Competition
A total of 153 students, including three from Livingston County, received top honors at the State Finals competition of Michigan History Day last weekend in Bay City. Nearly 500 Michigan elementary, middle and high school studentsâa record-setting numberâtook part in this yearâs Michigan History Day, which is an educational program of the Historical Society of Michigan. Among the winners were Benjamin May, Noah Losert and Bryce Natter of Farms Intermediate School in the Hartland Consolidated School District. Their project was about the Apollo 8 mission to the moon, which fit into this yearâs theme of âExploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.â They earned national alternate status, which means if any of the finalists canât make the trip to the National History Day competition this June in Maryland, they will be offered the opportunity to fill in. Officials say Michigan History Day offers an opportunity to move beyond routine learning. Based on the annual theme, students choose to explore and research a local, national or international historical topic. They then present their work through the disciplines of writing, art, literature, music, drama and/or visual communications. (JK)
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Center for Michigan Hosts Local Public ConversationCenter for Michigan Hosts Local Public Conversation
A public forum Thursday night asked local residents for feedback in order to improve trust between the state government and citizens. The Livingston County United Way hosted the forum led by the Center For Michigan, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization based in Ann Arbor. Only a handful of people turned out to give their feedback to questions dealing with how to restore trust in state government. The hour-long forum offered both a digital questionnaire and time for discussion on topics ranging from improving state services, to fair representation and term limits. Engagement and training coordinator, Hailey Zureich says they will be compiling all the responses into a report. She says at the end of the 150 meetings the data they've collected from the digital questionnaire and the feedback will be put together into a report that will be given to all of the legislators throughout the state. She says it will also be made available in hard copy to local libraries, or by PDF online to the general public. Zureich says forums like the one held at the United Way offices in Oceola Township are being held throughout the state. Brighton resident Joe Carney says he hopes all of the input will make a difference. He says he would like to see a specific set of rules set up by nonpartisan groups to help reform campaign finance. He says he would like to see stronger laws governing fracking and the wilderness areas of the state. He says he would also like to see improvements to laws about the ways workers are treated and people's rights in the workplace are fulfilled. Carney says when people have a voice in the job they do they do a better job. For anyone who was unable to attend the meeting, Zureich says there will be others nearby throughout the year. She says the schedule for the public meetings is not set because more are continually being added. United Way Executive Director Nancy Rosso says she has seen the difference community feedback can make. She says the reason they invited the Center for Michigan to host the forum was because of the impact she saw on early childhood funding after past public meetings. To host a public meeting for your group or organization visit their website through the link below. (DS)
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Howell Man Gets 30 Year Prison Sentence In Federal Child Porn Case Howell Man Gets 30 Year Prison Sentence In Federal Child Porn Case
A Livingston County man already serving time for molesting a young boy has been sentenced on federal child pornography charges. 32-year-old Erik Lopez-Ferreyra of Howell earlier pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing it. He was ordered on Thursday by a U.S. District Court judge to serve a total of 30 years in prison. The charges followed an investigation that began after the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force discovered 57 child pornography files had been downloaded to an IP address linked to Lopez-Ferreyra. A subsequent search of his home turned up a thumb drive with illegal material on it. Lopez-Ferreyra will also undergo at least five years of probation following his release and not contest any effort to deport him. It will be the second lengthy prison term he will be serving after being sentenced last December to 25 to 50 years for a guilty plea to a 1st degree criminal sexual conduct charge in Livingston County Circuit Court. Police say the molestation of a 9-year-old Howell boy took place on three separate occasions in the summer of 2013. Those incidents came to light while Lopez-Ferreyra was being investigated for child pornography. Lopez remains in federal custody. His federal sentence will run concurrent to the one handed down by a local judge. (JM)
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Brighton Rotary Gives Scholarship Award To 7th GraderBrighton Rotary Gives Scholarship Award To 7th Grader
The Brighton Rotary Foundation has awarded Zachary Kramer, a seventh grade student at Scranton Middle School in Brighton, an Academic Enrichment Scholarship. Valued up to $250, the scholarship is awarded by random draw to a student in grades 6-8 that registered and completed the April 16th SAT Practice Test sponsored by the Brighton High School Interact and Brighton Rotary Clubs. The Academic Enrichment Scholarship helps to fund attendance at an approved academic enrichment program of the studentâs choice during the 2016-2017 academic year or associated summers. Kramer participates in the Gifted and Talented Program through Michigan State University and hopes to earn his pilotâs license when he is 16. Zacharyâs interest in technology securities and surveillance will be explored through planned attendance at a CSI/forensics camp this summer. The Brighton Rotary Foundation says another scholarship drawing will be held for sixth through eighth grade students completing the SAT Practice Test in October. More information is available through the link below. (JK)
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Gleaners' Fill the Gazebo Event Surpasses GoalGleaners' Fill the Gazebo Event Surpasses Goal
The Gleaners Community Food Bank of Livingston County held its 14th annual Fill the Gazebo event Saturday, with volunteers on the streets of Brighton and other communities in the county to accept donations of food items and cash. The event is sponsored each year by the Livingston County Board of Realtors, and coordinator Pam Leach and her cadre of volunteers were on hand to make sure that the contributions get to where they are neededâ¦families and individuals who are undergoing a tough time financially in the county right now. The program helps to ensure that all residents get three nutritious meals every day. All proceeds go to the Livingston County food bank and the food pantry, located at the local Gleaners headquarters on Dorr Road in Genoa Township, between Brighton and Howell. Leach tells WHMI the goal of Gleanerâs and the sponsoring Board of Realtors group this year was $15,000 in cash and 5,000 pounds of donated food, and that as of noon Saturday, the monetary goal had already been surpassed with $19,000 in cash donations. The collection points, In addition to the Mill Pond area on Main Street in downtown Brighton, include Kroger stores on M-59 in Howell and Hartland, the Kroger store on Grand River in Brighton, Krogerâs at M-36 and Chilson Road in Hamburg Township, and the VGs store on Grand River in Brighton. Leach emphasizes that all of the monetary and food donations stay in Livingston County. Leach says itâs not too late to either donate food items or monetarily. She says people can drop off the items at any realtors office in Livingston County. (TT)
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Brighton Historical Group Cleans Up Old Village Cemetery Brighton Historical Group Cleans Up Old Village Cemetery
The 8th annual Old Village Cemetery Cleanup, sponsored by the Brighton Area Historical Society, attracted over 60 volunteers to the Mill Pond area in downtown Brighton Saturday. The cemetery, a victim of neglect for many years until the historical society got permission from the city to take on its restoration as a project, is located between St. Paulâs Episcopal Church and the Mill Pond. Event Chairman Jim Vichich tells WHMI the cemetery badly needed a spring cleaning job after the rigors of winter, with branches and other debris littering the cemetery grounds. Vichich says when the historical society embarked on the cemetery project four years ago, many of the older headstones were lying in the dirt, broken and damaged. He says over 90 have been restored and are now standing proudly upright, their bases firmly in the ground. Another 90 or so that were leaning precariously and ready to topple have been stabilized and put back perpendicular to the ground. The oldest headstone dates back to 1838, three decades before Brighton even became a village in 1867. The headstone is that of Truman Worden. Itâs believed the headstone was lying on the ground for 150 years before it was discovered and restored by the historical group. The next headstone restoration work day for the society's members will be on Saturday, May 28. (TT)
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Lane Closures Start Monday On I-275 & 10 Mile Road BridgeLane Closures Start Monday On I-275 & 10 Mile Road Bridge
Two weeks of lane closures are scheduled to start in the I-275 construction area. The Revive 275 construction project got underway last week, resulting in the complete closure of southbound I-275 and lengthy detours. The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising motorists that starting Monday at 10am, the 10 Mile Bridge over I-275 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for approximately two weeks. The work involves concrete patching on the bridge and also requires lane closures on I-275 below the bridge. M-DOT says there will be single and double lane closures on the north I-275 connector ramp to west I-96 and the connector ramp to north M-5 and east I-696. The lane closures that start Monday on I-275 will occur nightly between 8pm and 5am the next morning for approximately two weeks. Project details and updates are available through the link below. (JM)
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Brighton Fire Authority To Hold First Ever Kid's Summer CampBrighton Fire Authority To Hold First Ever Kid's Summer Camp
Students interested in what itâs like to be a firefighter can find out this summer at the Brighton Area Fire Authorityâs first ever Youth Fire Camp. The Brighton Area Fire Authority is holding its first ever âYouth Fire Campâ June 20th through the 24th, which is open to students entering 6th through 9th grade this fall. The camp will be held at the fire station located on Old US-23 from 9am to 3pm and the cost is $100. BAFA Lieutenant Tom Kiurski tells WHMI the campers will take on the role of firefighters to learn about their training and daily responsibilities. The camp will be run by Lt. Kiurski and several firefighters who currently work for the BAFA. Lt. Kiurski says campers will pull hoses, spray water and learn a variety of skills including CPR, ropes and knots, and how to use a fire extinguisher. Lt. Kiurski says the fire authority is always looking for paid on-call firefighters and the goal of the camp is to expose kids to what could be a potential career someday. Registration forms are available at the links below. (DK)
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Deerfield Township Man Enters Plea In Molestation CaseDeerfield Township Man Enters Plea In Molestation Case
A local man who police say filmed himself molesting small children has entered a plea. The 28-year-old Deerfield Township man is not being named because he is reportedly related to the victims and doing so could reveal the victimsâ identity. The incidents are believed to have occurred in Hartland Township in September. The individual was originally charged with ten counts related to the alleged incidents, however on Thursday, he pleaded guilty to one count each of first degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim under 13, child abusive commercial activity and using a computer to commit those crimes. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 7 similar charges. A sentencing agreement for the man calls for 25 to 40 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and he must register as a sex offender. If these conditions are not granted at his sentencing on May 26th, he is allowed to withdraw his plea. (DK)
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Lyon Township Hall Will Temporarily Close For Building ExpansionLyon Township Hall Will Temporarily Close For Building Expansion
Lyon Townshipâs town hall will close later this week to allow for building expansions. The Municipal Center will close at 5pm on Thursday, May 12th and remain closed through Wednesday, the 18th. It is expected to reopen at 10am on Thursday, May 19th. The building will be expanded with a 1,000-square-foot addition and will include new furniture, flooring, and remodeling. The project will cost an estimated $500,000, which will be covered by funds that were allocated specifically for this expansion by the Townshipâs Board of Trustees previously. Supervisor Lannie Young says the expansion will create room for the townshipâs staff and personnel. He encourages Lyon Township residents and businesses that may need town hallâs services to take the closing into consideration and handle their matters accordingly. Other development in Lyon Township includes a groundbreaking that took place on Saturday. The William A. Pearson Elementary School will be built on a currently empty parcel of land on 11 Mile Road. (DK)
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Tyrone Township Declines Membership Invitation From SEMCOGTyrone Township Declines Membership Invitation From SEMCOG
Tyrone Township is rejecting an invitation to become a governmental member of a regional planning group. At one time, the township was a member of the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments, or SEMCOG. When the township installed their sewer system and incurred a debt of $22 (m) million dollars, some tough decisions had to be made. Township Supervisor Mike Cunningham says at that time, the economy had drastically slowed and some costs had to be cut in order to make sewer bond payments. One of the items cut was their membership with SEMCOG, which aids in local government planning by offering technical, data, and intergovernmental resources. Cunningham says the township recently received a letter from SEMCOG asking them to once again join the organization at an undisclosed price. However Cunningham says at this time, the township is already covered in the areas SEMCOG had hoped to fill. Cunningham says while itâs a no right now, it doesnât mean never. SEMCOG generally invites municipalities to join their group each year and Cunningham expects the Board of Trustees will once again review the offer based on next yearâs circumstances. (DK)
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Genoa Intersection Closure Starts TodayGenoa Intersection Closure Starts Today
Construction of a roundabout will close down a busy intersection in Genoa Township starting today. Work to construct a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Chilson and Coon Lake Roads gets into full swing today, with the closure of the intersection to traffic for 45 days. The roundabout was decided to be the best option for the intersection to help reduce traffic backups. The equal volume of traffic on Chilson Road makes it hard to find a gap for motorists turning off of Coon Lake Road. Livingston County Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine tells WHMI the roundabout will also hopefully eliminate serious crashes at that spot. About $500,000 of the $780,000 project cost will come from federal funding. The intersection is expected to re-open to traffic by June 23rd, with the remainder of the project completed by mid-July. (JK)
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Annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive This Saturday Annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive This Saturday
Livingston County residents are encouraged to take part in an annual effort to help feed the hungry that simply involves putting canned food out by the mailbox. This Saturday marks the 24th year of the "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, when letter carriers across Livingston County and the country collect non-perishable foods from homes as they deliver mail. Donations are taken to local food banks to be distributed during the vital summer months when demand to feed children who are out of school is great. Anne Schenk, vice president of communication and marketing for Gleaners Community Food Bank, says local letter carriers know their communities and are very willing to help those in need. "When people are going through tough times, it's very apparent," says Schnek. "They deliver the bill collection notices, they deliver the shut-off notices. So, they know that people struggle and they see it every day, and I think that's what's motivated the letter carriers to do this." Jim Falvey is president of Branch 82 for the National Association of Letter Carriers. He says in the 28 years he was a letter carrier, the food drive brought him great joy. Although tired at the end of the day because sometimes he picked up a lot of food on his route, Falvey says âit was a good kind of tired.â Gleaners typically collects one million pounds of food during the drive to be distributed in southeast Michigan. Schenk says the food drive comes at a critical time since during the summer, more kids are in need of food without the meals provided at school. While any non-perishable food is accepted and appreciated, high protein items are especially needed. Schenk says those tend to be the most expensive types of items for families to buy - peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, beef stews, and things like that. Over the course of the "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, more than one billion pounds of food have been collected nationwide. (JM)
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Genoa Township Looking To Purchase Gravesites At Nearby Church CemeteryGenoa Township Looking To Purchase Gravesites At Nearby Church Cemetery
Genoa Township is working with a local church to purchase grave sites as an alternative to building a new cemetery. The Chilson Hills Cemetery near Oak Pointe has been in existence for about 175 years and is owned and operated by Genoa Township but there are very few available gravesites left. The board has been discussing various cemetery options and capacity for a number of years and was aware it was something the township would eventually need to address. The potential agreement came about after St. Georgeâs reached out to the township to gauge interest in a cooperative venture on a site the church owns, which is already platted. The board recently approved the purchase of 122 gravesites in the St. George Lutheran Cemetery off Herbst Road at a cost of $40,000. Supervisor Gary McCririe tells WHMI itâs something that has been on the boardâs radar for a while and called it a win-win, saying the township should be set for gravesites for many years to come. The agreement must still go before the congregation for approval but McCririe said officials seemed optimistic it would be possible. The proposal was put before the Genoa Township board to gauge approval before officials proceed with entering into any contract. There would be a separate entrance area for the portion the township is looking to purchase and signage would be allowed. Meanwhile, the Chilson Hills cemetery suffered a lot of damage this past winter including a fallen tree. A spring clean-up was organized for years by the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club but a township memo stated the club recently withdrew support. A longtime township volunteer with extensive knowledge of landscape design and horticulture has since agreed to clean up the cemetery and remove the tree. (JM)
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Third Trial Underway For Woman Charged In Murder Of Fenton ManThird Trial Underway For Woman Charged In Murder Of Fenton Man
Testimony has begun in the third trial of a woman charged in the shooting death of a Fenton man. Mary Lou Bigford is charged with first-degree murder and open murder in the shooting death of 39-year-old Lawrence Howard Jr. in April of 2015. There have already been two mistrials declared in the case against Bigford. Her first trial in January ended with a mistrial in the opening days after ballistic evidence was mentioned in court that the defense had not been given adequate time to research. A second trial in early March was also declared a mistrial after Isabella County Chief Circuit Court Judge Paul Chamberlain determined that jurors may have had discussions about the case contrary to the courtâs instructions. Police say Bigford shot Howard as he sat inside his car in the parking lot of the Mt. Pleasant apartment complex where she lived with her daughter and granddaughter. Bigfordâs daughter had accused Howard of sexually abusing their daughter, which the Fenton resident adamantly denied. Multiple investigations also failed to substantiate the abuse allegations. Testimony last week included that of a pathologist who said that any of the six bullet wounds suffered by Howard could have been fatal. An autopsy determined he was shot three times in the head, once in the upper right chest and twice to the back. The trial, which is expected to take up to two weeks, continues today. (JK)
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Ribbon Cutting Set Wednesday For Livingston County Abolitionist Project Ribbon Cutting Set Wednesday For Livingston County Abolitionist Project
An event tomorrow will welcome a new non-profit that works to raise awareness of and eradicate modern day slavery in the form of human trafficking. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting to welcome the Livingston County Abolitionist Project, which is committed to ending human trafficking. The group works to educate youth, local churches and the community about the issues, while assisting victims and advocating for stricter legal support of victims. Wednesdayâs ribbon cutting event offers a chance for the community to meet the people dedicated to the cause. It will take place from 10 to 11am at Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Hilton Road in Brighton, where the Livingston County Abolitionist Project hosts monthly meetings. A link to the group's Facebook page is below. (JM)
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Brighton School Board Head Will Not Run for Another TermBrighton School Board Head Will Not Run for Another Term
Brighton Board of Education President Jay Krause said after Monday nightâs Brighton school board meeting that he will not be running for another term on the board. Krause was elected when the district was shouldered with a huge budget deficit and has, along with other members of successive boards, spent the last several years working to erase that deficit. Krause tells WHMI that â with the district now in the black with a $1.5 million fund balance and a good board and administration in place - he feels his job is finished and he can go on to other endeavors. Krauseâs term expires at the end of this year. Kraus is employed as a business unit director of a global automotive supplier and travels all around the world as part of his job responsibilities. He is married and both of his children are graduates of Brighton High School. (TT)
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Start Of Boating Season Brings Complaints On Thompson LakeStart Of Boating Season Brings Complaints On Thompson Lake
As the weather improves and boating activity returns to Thompson Lake, the City of Howell is already starting to field complaints from residents. The boating season is just beginning but staff has been in discussions with the police department and an update on the situation was provided during Monday nightâs Howell City Council meeting. Since the lake encompasses two jurisdictions, the City and Oceola Township, itâs been determined the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department is best equipped to deal with complaints and enforcement actions. It was stated during the meeting that the city will still respond to complaints but is also handing out cards with contact information to residents as they complain to refocus their efforts to an agency more accountable for enforcement of boats on the lake. Some of the bigger challenges for the city include not having the necessary staffing or equipment but the split jurisdiction issues. The majority of problems last year were believed to have stemmed from people coming in and launching boats. Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Manor suggested staff give thought to an ordinance to potentially revoke launching privileges or refuse someoneâs right to launch based on complaints about behavior on the lake - not necessarily illegal behavior but inappropriate and impolite. Other members commented that signage could be helpful to inform residents of the proper agency to contact with complaints. The city is said to be in constant communication with the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority, which provides staffing at the boat launch, to see what works and what doesnât as the attendant is basically responsible for gathering information and providing feedback. It was noted the city is aware of who the primary offenders are, itâs just a matter of finding the appropriate agency to take enforcement action and theyâll see how the season goes. (JM)
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