The next step in completing a shooting range in Hamburg Township for police officers has been given the green light from the Board of Trustees.
Hamburg Township Police Chief Rick Duffany went before the board Tuesday night to secure payment and permits for a pavilion at the range. A pavilion is next step in finishing the range that will be located on the back section of a parcel owned by the township and used by the Department of Public Works on M-36, west of Merrill Road. Duffany laid out to the Board several reasons why the pavilion is necessary. It will give instructors a place to teach as well as a place for officers to load, unload, and clean their guns. The pavilion will also provide storage space for ammunition and give officers in training a place to take shelter from the elements under. The Board approved a motion for purchasing of materials not to exceed $5,500 for the 24 foot by 32 foot structure. Duffany said the shooting range is being funded by drug forfeiture money and will not cost residents anything.
Clerk Michael Dolan questioned if the Board should add $1,000 to the motion to supply electricity to the building. Duffany said he needed to gather more information on powering the pavilion, but that it would be very useful for training officers for night-time operations. The chief said half of his force works the night shift and that âwhat you think you see or perceive at night is completely different when the sun is shining.â The Board was in support of helping with it, asking that the Chief come back to a future meeting with further knowledge of what it will cost.
A second part to the motion asked for the removal of land use permit fees and for the Supervisor to request that the county building department waive their fees, too.
Labor for the pavilion will be donated by retired Sergeant Pat DeBottis and his Howell-run development and asphalt company. All parties involved are hoping to have the pavilion built in March as soon as the frost is off the ground. (MK)
Funding And More Approved For Pavilion On Shooting Range GroundsFunding And More Approved For Pavilion On Shooting Range Grounds
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Democratic Hopeful For Congress Not Accepting PAC MoneyDemocratic Hopeful For Congress Not Accepting PAC Money
A Democratic candidate for Congress is not accepting PAC money in her attempt to unseat Representative Mike Bishop.
Democratic Congressional candidate Elissa Slotkin said Wednesday she will not accept corporate donations in her bid to unseat Republican incumbent Mike Bishop for the 8th District. Slotkin used the announcement to slam Bishop's fundraising record, saying he has "deep ties to corporate special interests" having accepted nearly $1.5 million from corporate PACs, including $15,000 last year from pharmaceutical companies, Endo International PLC and McKesson Corporation, which are among nearly a dozen companies being sued by Oakland and Wayne counties for "deceptive" marketing strategies that have led to opioid addiction.
Mela Louise Norman, Slotkinâs campaign manager, said that âBishop represents the very worst of Washington: a career politician who is bankrolled by corporate money, doing the bidding for companies and his donors instead of for Michigan families." The campaign added that Slotkin ended the year with $711,000 in the bank, 98% of which came from more than 2,600 individual donors.
In response to the release, Stu Sandler, a spokesperson for the Bishop campaign, said Slotkin is not disclosing two PACs that are funneling "corporate PAC money through DC politicians and PACs to her campaign." That's a reference to The Arena Candidate PAC Victory Fund and Slotkin Victory Fund, both of which are listed on her end of year 2017 statement of organization. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee posted online that Slotkin left her D.C. home off of her Personal Financial Disclosure, adding that while she registered to vote in Michigan last May, she continued to receive the homestead tax exemption on her District of Columbia property through October. That exemption is only supposed to apply to a homeownerâs principal residence. Slotkin's campaign has said that was an oversight and, in fact, Slotkin wrote to the city last October canceling the homestead deduction and sent along a payment of $615.12 to cover the deduction she received from April 1st through Sept. 30.
The 41-year-old Slotkin currently lives in Holly on her family farm after spending 15 years in various posts in the U.S. intelligence and defense communities, including three tours in Iraq while with the Central Intelligence Agency. (JK)
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Vaupel & CARES Task Force Unveil Report To Reform Mental Health Services Vaupel & CARES Task Force Unveil Report To Reform Mental Health Services
A new report from a bi-partisan task force co-chaired by a local lawmaker aims to reduce barriers to access mental health care, enhance current services, and improve current programs.
State Representative Hank Vaupel chairs the House Health Policy Committee and is one of the co-chairs of the C.A.R.E.S. or Community, Access, Resources, Education, Safety Task Force. The task force recently unveiled a report and recommendations to make significant improvements to what many feel is Michiganâs broken mental health system. Vaupel, a Handy Township Republican, and other members of the Task Force took part in public meeting and site visits across the state to get an understanding of where vulnerable residents are lacking care and resources. The goal was also to collect feedback to craft meaningful solutions moving forward that cross issue areas and address the many concerns heard over the last five months.
Vaupel says the needs of the mental health community are long overdue and he looks forward to future changes that will result because of the stories so bravely shared. He says the report offer solutions to problems brought forward by real people, officials and organizations impacted by mental health care in the state. Vaupel says access to services is so important but there is a shortage of people who work in the mental health field for a lot of reasons, so one goal is to try and eliminate some of the barriers to that. For example, he says case managers must only have a degree in social work. He says people with a masterâs degree in other areas are not eligible to be case managers through Community Mental Health, so thatâs one barrier they want to try to eliminate.
Some items identified in the report include eliminating barriers to increase access to mental health care, improve training, provide additional treatment to convicts with mental health challenges both during and after incarceration, and create a statewide crisis hotline to connect people in need with local services. Vaupel says expanding the use of âtelehealthâ services will be beneficial, which refers to the use of electronic information and communications technologies to link patients with health care professionals in other locations. He says telehealth is very important and key in this, especially to get prisoners evaluated earlier as opposed to letting them sit for months or longer waiting to be evaluated to determine if they should be sent to a hospital or kept in jail.
The report is intended to serve as a blueprint for policy changes and legislation that will be introduced in the next several months but also establish frame work to further enhance mental health services in the future.
Vaupel is pictured with other task force members for the unveiling of the C.A.R.E.S. report during a press conference in the Capitol building. The full report is attached. A link to the Task Force web page is also provided, which includes summaries of the various meetings held. (JM)
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Brighton Township Discusses Planning, Labor Wages For New BudgetBrighton Township Discusses Planning, Labor Wages For New Budget
Brighton Township officials are continuing to hammer out the details for their 2018-19 budget.
The Board of Trustees met for a regular budget work session meeting Wednesday night. Township Manager Brian Vick said there donât seem to be a lot surprises with this yearâs budget thus far. He said itâs largely unchanged from previous years, and the biggest challenges they usually have to face are with the sanitary sewer system. Heâs optimistic about the direction its headed. Vick said with the sanitary sewer the goal is to make sure they have ample enough funds above what they need to run it for parts replacement and maintenance.
The board also took a look at the numbers for the Planning Department. With a Master Plan review still a year away, Township Manager Brian Vick planted the seeds to get board members thinking about how they want to tackle it. Clerk Ann Bollin said it had been around 15 years since the last major overhaul occurred and that it might be a good idea to consider gathering greater input from the public.
During the session, Vick presented the Board with the newest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report is used as a means of making sure the township is in an acceptable pay range for employees, taking inflation into consideration. The recommendation by the report was to grant position employees a 1.7% raise for 2018. The Board of Trustees passed the motion 4-2, with Trustees Mike Slaton and Steve Combs dissenting.
Vick said there are still 2 to 3 more work sessions required before the board is ready to present the budget for a public hearing. The new budget needs to be adopted by April 1st. (MK)
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Congressman Bishop Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act Congressman Bishop Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act
Legislation to impose additional reporting and safety standards for Great Lakes pipelines has been introduced by Congressman Mike Bishop.
The Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act would also increase liability on pipeline operators in the case of a pipeline rupture. The Rochester Hills Republican, who is seeking re-election to a third term, said that, one of the largest threats facing the Great Lakes is an oil spill, and that it was âimperativeâ safeguards be put in place to minimize the risk. He says, if passed and signed into law, the bill would provide âtimely, accurate and transparent information about pipeline safety risks and to hold pipeline operators accountable,â specifically increasing reporting requirements while establishing a clear timeline that operators must follow for pipeline maintenance.
It would also levy fines for delayed action while increasing the financial liability of pipeline operators in the case of a disaster. The legislation is supported by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Robert Lambe, the Commissionâs executive secretary, said it ârecognizes that we must protect the Great Lakes from shoddy pipelines that could rupture and cause significant damage to human health, fisheries, habitat, and drinking water.â (JK)
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Local Bank Robber "Lost His Marbles"Local Bank Robber "Lost His Marbles"
A Howell man facing federal charges in connection with three bank robberies told authorities he simply âlost his marblesâ.
35-year-old Kenneth Kniivila is in federal custody for bank robbery according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. It alleges Kniivila robbed the Bank of America on Grand River in Genoa Township on January 11th and got away with between $4,000 and $6,000 in cash. Then around 10:30am on January 16th, Kniivila is said to have robbed a Hunting Bank branch in Toledo, Ohio but the teller there placed a red dye pack in the bag of money, which exploded, so he dropped the bag and fled. A few hours later at 2:30pm, an affidavit says Kniivila entered a Fifth Third Bank branch in Monroe and left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.
After surveillance photos went public, law enforcement was able to identify Kniivila as the primary suspect. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office took him into custody without incident at around 10:30pm that same night and a vehicle search turned up various items including four grams of suspected cocaine, two black semi-automatic pellet gun, a hotel card key, money, used black rubber gloves, a black jacket and green canvas bags. The Sheriffâs Office and the FBI interviewed Kniivila, who waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the three robberies. He told authorities he âlost his marblesâ on the 16th and drove around Toledo looking for a bank to rob. Kniivila told authorities he used his girlfriendâs van during the robberies and then switched out vehicles, using cash from the bank robberies to purchase a used Chevy Impala.
Kniivila remains in federal custody and is to appear for a detention hearing January 24th. Photo: The Monroe News. (JM)
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Professional Meteorite Hunter Has Luck In Hamburg Township Professional Meteorite Hunter Has Luck In Hamburg Township
The search for meteorites in Hamburg Township proved successful for a group of professional hunters.
Larry Atkins lives in Goodrich but is a snowbird in the winter and lives in Arizona. He says friends, family, and meteorite colleagues started calling and texting to tell him about Michiganâs major event on Tuesday night. Tremors and an earthquake were recorded, which he says is a good indication of a large event and that there could be rocks on the ground. He says that and Doppler radar information looked solid enough, so he booked a flight home.
Atkins says he got up bright and early around 6am Thursday and started searching with two fellow hunters, Robert Ward and Darryl Landry. Atkins says within 15 minutes of searching, they found their first meteorite. Within 30 minutes they had two and by the end of the day, had found a total of six. Atkins found two, Darryl Landry found one and Ward found three.
Atkins told WHMI the find occurred in Hamburg Township, but he declined to share the exact spot for obvious reasons. As for the hunt, Atkins says itâs pretty basic once you get some important factors down â Doppler radar reports and confidence in where the rocks should be. From there, he says itâs mostly just grunt work - get out, start walking and looking.
Tuesday nightâs meteor had a trajectory northwest of Detroit from Brighton to Howell. Bill Cooke with NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office says it was "definitely a meteoroid" and a rare sight for Michigan. The meteor was reported at roughly 8:15pm and was an estimated 2 yards in diameter before breaking up about 20 miles over the Earth. Cooke earlier said meteorites, perhaps 1-2 ounces in size, are likely spread over a 2½-mile area of Hamburg Township.
This marks his very first Michigan find and Atkins says the recent event is Michiganâs 10th recognized meteorite, but only the 4th witnessed fallen meteorite in the state. He says if a farmer finds one in the field, itâs counted as a meteorite find but not considered a witnessed fall â which is when people see it coming out of the sky, on fire, and then it gets found. Atkins says itâs a rare event, which he did two years ago in Florida.
Atkins says heâs spent his life hunting and fishing but hunting for meteorites is different and theyâre unbelievably exciting to find. He says nothing compares to finding a meteorite - calling it âthe ultimateâ and rarest thing on the planet. He says meteorites are the building blocks of the solar system and when you hold a meteorite in your hand, youâre holding a 4.56 billion year old sample that is unchanged from its formation. Atkins says every rock you touch on Earth has been through the geologic processes over and over, making meteorites very special because theyâre the original ingredient that created all of the planets and asteroids.
As a kid, Atkins says he was always interested in discovery and the natural world â animals, rocks, fossils, and space â but it all came together in the 1990âs when he read an article about a man who looked for meteorites. Atkins says that was when he changed the direction of his life. He says it allows a regular person to be a citizen scientist and actually make a true contribution to science, saying that was around age 38 and heâs been doing it ever since. Anyone looking for confirmation or information can visit his website. The link is provided. (JM)
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Land Use Permit For Coffee House-Theater Approved In BrightonLand Use Permit For Coffee House-Theater Approved In Brighton
Marcus and Amy Goller propose to use what is now Beverly Raeâs at 306 West Main in downtown Brighton for their coffee house and theater venue. City Manager Nate Geinzer emphasizes that the special land use permit is for a limited use of the building.
Geinzer also says that the city does not get involved in landlord-tenant disputes and the cityâs approval would only be utilized in the event of a change in use of the building. The coffee shop is already a permitted use in that area according to zoning regulations, so the special land use permit is needed only for the theater operation.
Amy Goller told council she wants to use the second floor of the building as a place for acting lessons for children. She said any theatrical performances would only be in the evening and on weekends and would not interfere with the coffee house operation.
Objecting to the proposal were Tom and Deborah Karley, the owners of Beverly Raeâs, who are currently locked in a tenant-landlord dispute with the owner of the property. The Karleys say they have a valid lease which is good until 2020 and have been in business for 40 years in the community.
Council Member Jim Bohn and some members of the audience who commented at call-to-the-public were concerned about the dearth of parking on that side of downtown, saying the additional stress on available parking would negatively impact existing businesses. Council, on a 5-2 vote, approved the special land use permit with the proviso that theater performances be restricted to evenings and weekends.
Council Members Shawn Pipoly, Renee Pettengill, Susan Gardner, Kris Tobbe and Jon Emaus voted in favor of the motion while Major Jim Muzzin and Council Member Jim Bohn voted no. Mayor Pro-Tem Pipoly said the whole thing may end up being a moot point because the tenant appears to have a valid lease on the property.(TT)
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Former President Of Howell Chamber Passes AwayFormer President Of Howell Chamber Passes Away
A well known community leader in Howell has unexpectedly passed away.
Former President of the Howell Chamber of Commerce and Howell Jaycees, Douglas Hawes, passed away, Tuesday. Hawes was known as a visionary throughout the community who created computer software and novel experiences for both Balloonfest and Mellonfest. Hawes also spent time as President of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, and most recently as Business Intelligence Manager at Lake Trust Credit Union.
He is survived by his wife, Dianna, and daughter, Elle. Services will be held at noon, Saturday, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Freeland. Douglas Hawes was 51.(MK)
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Comic & Game Chain Consolidating To Genoa Township LocationComic & Game Chain Consolidating To Genoa Township Location
A locally owned comic book and gaming chain is moving all of their operations to run under one large roof in Genoa Township.
BC Comix has begun the process of consolidating their Brighton, Howell, and Fenton locations to the old sports complex at 3616 East Grand River in Genoa. With their Howell location already closed, owners Bob and Shannon Huffman have this week begun the process of packing up the Fenton location for the move. Once that transfer has completed, they will begin to move the Brighton store and complete the transition. Bob said in an email to WHMI that they are filled with hope, excitement, and great plans for the new store, though it saddens them to leave Fenton. Huffman thanked the Fenton community for their tremendous support throughout the years, helping them make their dreams become a reality. The move, he says, comes from a desire of wanting to create an environment that players, customers, and family truly deserve.
With all stores combined, BC Comix will have nearly 100,000 comic books to peruse and purchase. They have big events planned for Magic the Gathering players, and plenty of tables for miniatures, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games and events that will be taking place throughout 2018.(MK)
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Brighton Council Approves Headlee Override Request Brighton Council Approves Headlee Override Request
The Brighton City Council last night unanimously approved going to the voters with a Headlee override request in order to fund badly needed street projects.
On the ballot in August will be a proposal to override the Headlee amendment, which restricts property tax increases to 5% or the rate of inflation â whichever is less. If approved, that would allow the city to levy an additional 4.35 mills, which would bring the millage levy up to the voter-approved charter limit of 20 mills.
City officials say the problem is that when the recession hit in 2008, property values in the city took a nosedive, and thus city revenues declined sharply, necessitating a virtual ending of the cityâs street program. As a result, the condition of city streets has deteriorated to the point where 75% of all residential streets in the city vary from poor to failing. City officials say the millage is a way to bring the condition of city streets back up to acceptable levels.
If approved by the voters, the proposal would result in $1.85 million in new revenue the first year. The ballot proposal is open-ended, with no expiration date. Mayor Jim Muzzin tells WHMI that council reluctantly came to the conclusion that there was no alternative other than to ask city residents to approve the Headlee override.
City residential property owners currently pay 15.65 mills. Compared to what they paid in city taxes before the recession, the average increase would be $258 per year. Members also approved a motion to refer the wording to the city attorney and staff, with the ballot language then going to the Livingston County Clerkâs Office for approval.
The tax increase wouldnât appear on tax bills until July of 2019. Council also approved a motion for staff to develop a public education campaign letter which will be mailed to city residents. (TT)
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Brighton Area Schools, Students & Community Raise $28,000 For Breast Cancer Cause Brighton Area Schools, Students & Community Raise $28,000 For Breast Cancer Cause
A check passing ceremony capped a fall fundraiser through Brighton Area Schools that brought in $28,000 for St. Joseph Mercy Brighton Cancer Center.
Brighton Area Schools, in conjunction with the Brighton High School Leadership class taught by Arnella Park, held a Pink Week Fundraiser in October. Pink Week is celebrated annually to increase awareness for breast cancer and raise funds for the cause. Together staff, students, parents and families alongside the Brighton community raised more than $28,000. Hospital officials and those involved held a check passing ceremony and the funds raised will benefit patient care needs at the St. Joseph Mercy Brighton Cancer Center.
The week included various fundraising events and activities such as a Pink Run, Powder Puff game and Pink Dash for Cash. The various events and activities were supported by the Brighton business community and Brighton Area Schools Parent-Teacher Associations. (JM)
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South Lyon Extends Trash Contract At Increased RateSouth Lyon Extends Trash Contract At Increased Rate
The City of South Lyon has extended its trash contract at an increase to residents.
City Council recently approved a 4 year extension with GFL USA at a 3.5% rate increase to homeowners. Residents of single-family homes paying quarterly will now be charged $142.32 a year, while multi-family units will pay $124.92. Rate increases under the new extension will continue to be based on the rate of inflation but the top rate allowed will be reduced to 2% from 3%, according to the South Lyon Herald.
General Manager Mike Csapo of the Resource and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County recommended the extension. Csapo said the City already provides one of the best deals in the area for sanitation services and that he didnât think they would find a better one if they put the contract out to bid. GFL USA took over the contract last fall after acquiring Rizzo Environmental Services, which had acquired it from locally based Duncan Disposal Systems in July 2016. The new rate for residents becomes effective on July 1st. (MK)
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Local Lawmakers Support Override Of Governor's Veto On Sales Tax Relief BillLocal Lawmakers Support Override Of Governor's Veto On Sales Tax Relief Bill
Local lawmakers are supporting a bill that will accelerate sales tax relief for Michigan families buying a motor vehicle.
Reforms adopted in 2013 called for reductions on sales tax for individuals purchasing a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or boat with a trade-in. The exemptions were set to be phased in through 2039 and once fully in place, buyers would pay 6% sales tax on the difference between the price of their new vehicle and the value of their trade-in.
A pair of bills was introduced to speed up the phase-in of the exemption, implementing the âsales tax on the differenceâ a decade earlier. The legislation last year passed unanimously in the Senate and 89 to 11 in the House, but was vetoed in July by Governor Rick Snyder, who felt it would place a burden on the stateâs budget. Lawmakers still felt Michigan residents would benefit from the sales tax relief, which led to a vote Wednesday to override the gubernatorial veto. More than a two-thirds vote is needed for an override and after a unanimous vote in the Senate, the House came through, voting 85 to 23.
State Representative Hank Vaupel of Handy Township and State Representative Lana Theis of Brighton Township were among lawmakers in support of the override. Vaupel says the bill allows residents to purchase a vehicle without having to worry about another cost. Theis says the tax relief on trade-ins provides incentive to purchase new vehicles, which will further support the stateâs most vital industry.
Snyder isnât wavering from his original stance. He responded to the override to say, "Changing the tax code without a plan to pay for it challenges the conservative fiscal responsibility of the past seven years.â The override is only the fourth in 67 years performed by Michiganâs legislature. (DK)
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Bid Package Moves Construction Of New Green Oak Police Station ForwardBid Package Moves Construction Of New Green Oak Police Station Forward
Green Oak Township is moving forward in the process of constructing its new police station.
The current station (pictured) is âseverely outdatedâ, according to Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles. The new one will be located behind the townshipâs existing fire station off of Whitmore Lake Road, adjacent to the Legacy Center. On Wednesday, the Board of Trustees approved a contract award recommendation for a $1.3 million bid package. St. Charles says the package will address earthwork on the site, plumbing, fire protection, utilities, electric installation, and the septic system.
The board also approved a transfer of $1.5 million to the general fund, which will help fund the estimated $6 million station. The remaining $4.5 million will come from bonds that will be paid off over the next 20 years. St. Charles says the timing works out well because the municipality will retire its debt on the township hall building in a few years, which means the bond payments will replace the building payments.
St. Charles says the goal is to have the department moved into its new building this fall, meaning thereâs no time to waste in the construction process. The current focus is being placed on site drainage issues. St. Charles says a large retention pond is needed there because it will service the police station, but also needs to be able to service a new fire station the township plans to build on the property as well.
St. Charles says thinking ahead to prepare for both buildings will save residents a lot of money, noting the township does not want to come back to its taxpayers for additional funds later on. St. Charles says ultimately, they are focused on âdoing it right the first timeâ. (DK)
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Livingston County EMS To Purchase Four New AmbulancesLivingston County EMS To Purchase Four New Ambulances
Livingston County EMS will be purchasing four new ambulances this year.
The purchase of three ambulances was budgeted for and approved in the departmentâs 2018 budget. However a fourth one will need to be purchased as one of their ambulances was recently involved in an accident and determined a total loss.
In a memo to the countyâs Board of Commissioners, EMS Director Jeff Boyd says while responding to a call, an ambulance struck a low-hanging tree branch, causing a delamination of the aluminum roof that covers the patient compartment. The vehicle would have required major repairs so EMS is coordinating with the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) to replace it.
On Tuesday, the countyâs Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of four Type III Medix ambulances for the department. Each will cost $167,999, for a total expenditure of $671,996. EMS will be reimbursed by the MMRMA for the fourth ambulance, less any deductibles.
Each vehicle will come with a new modem for cellular data transmissions, front, rear, and cab view cameras, and black box technology. (DK)
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Green Oak Tables Request To Rezone Property For Adult Foster Care HomeGreen Oak Tables Request To Rezone Property For Adult Foster Care Home
A request to rezone property in Green Oak Township to allow for a business expansion has been tabled.
The approximately five-acre parcel on Rushton Road is owned by Dennis Dubuc and the location of an adult foster care home. Dubuc says the foster care home has been âwell-receivedâ, but can only house six residents due to the propertyâs Single-Family Residential zoning. Dubuc recently submitted a request to the township to rezone the property to Multiple Family Residential, which would permit 12 residents at the foster care home. The townshipâs Planning Commission considered the request Thursday, but ultimately tabled the issue as Dubuc indicated he might have some conditions along with his request.
Township Planner Paul Montagno says without formal documentation of those conditions, the commissioners didnât have enough information to make a decision. Montagno says the commissioners appeared to be more on board with a conditional rezoning because what Dubuc was asking for wasnât quite consistent with the townshipâs future land use plan. The plan calls for a lower-density residential than the multi-family residential zoning Dubuc requested. Conditional zoning would prevent opening up all of the property uses that are allowable in an RM district.
Dubucâs request will have to be amended to include his conditions and will return to the Planning Commission, which will then decide whether to recommend approval of the rezoning to the townshipâs Board of Trustees. (DK)
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Brighton Area Schools Receives Grant For STEM ProgramsBrighton Area Schools Receives Grant For STEM Programs
Brighton Area Schools is among those selected to receive grant funding for the implementation of STEM programs.
34 STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs are sharing $2.8 (m) million in state grants from Governor Rick Snyderâs MiSTEM Advisory Council. The recipients were selected out of 134 applications, with funding ranging from $24,000 to $100,000. Brighton Area Schools was awarded $53,007. The applications came from local and intermediate school districts, universities, and STEM providers.
The MiSTEM Advisory Council said the legislature stepped up to the challenge and appropriated funds to support this shift in culture, enabling STEM programming around the state to benefit from proven best practices. State Superintendent Brian Whiston said the grantsâ STEM focus will help Michigan become a Top 10 education state in 10 years â the central goal of the Michigan Department of Education. The grants are said to align with the Top 10 planâs goal of implementing high-quality classroom instruction through a child-centered instructional model with a strategy to enable public schoolsâ students to engage in integrated STEM programming. (JM)
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Hamburg Township Seeking New Treasurer's Assistant, Zoning CoordinatorHamburg Township Seeking New Treasurer's Assistant, Zoning Coordinator
Hamburg Township is seeking both a new Treasurerâs Assistant and Zoning Coordinator. The Treasurerâs Assistant provides clerical support for the Treasurerâs office that includes tasks like processing and balancing tax and utility payments, and monitoring bank accounts. Qualifications include 2 to 4 years of bookkeeping or accounting experience and appropriate computer skills. The position is part-time and pays between $14.90 and $18.50 per hour based on experience.
Hamburg Township is also look for a Zoning Coordinator to assist the Zoning Administrator. The position performs a wide range of administrative duties and provides customer service to both the Planning and Zoning Departments. Some of the qualifications include a minimum 1 year of experience in planning or zoning, and a bachelorâs degree in Urban and Regional Planning or related field. Zoning Coordinator is full time position paying salary between $39,000 and $50, 870, to be negotiated based on experience. Complete copies of both job postings with information on how to apply can be found below. (MK)
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Brighton DPW Using More Salt on City Streets This WinterBrighton DPW Using More Salt on City Streets This Winter
The Brighton Department of Public Works has had a busy winter, with plowing and salting up from last year, and more than in an average season, due to a snowy and cold winter. However, DPW Director Marcel Goch says the department has more than enough salt stored at the DPW salt storage site to handle whatever comes along. Goch adds there doesnât seem to be a shortage of salt supplies if the city needs to purchase more this winter, which is good news for motorists.
Michigan uses more road salt than most states â about 13 tons per lane mile, although that pales in comparison to the New England states. Massachusetts uses over 19 tons of salt per lane mile, for instance. Winter road maintenance, whether salting, plowing, or other seasonal road-related chores, takes up 20 percent of state department of transportation maintenance budgets nationally, according to the Federal Highway Administration. And state and local agencies each year spend more than $2.3 billion nationwide on snow and ice control operations. (TT)
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