Local hunters are encouraged to gather in Marion Township this week for an annual event of fellowship, food and, for those who bag a buck on the opening day of firearms season, a chance to exercise bragging rights.
The 11th annual Buck Pole will be held at Marion Township Hall on West Coon Lake Road from 5 to 9pm this Thursday, which is the opening day for regular firearm deer hunting season. The event, hosted by Livingston County, the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority, Marion Township and Anything That Moves, is a yearly tradition to kick off the season.
Guests can exchange hunting stories and enjoy hearty food around the bonfire, and win prizes from the BUCKet raffle. There is a $10 registration fee for those wanting to hang their deer and receive a commemorative 11th Annual Buck Pole prize. Organizers remind hunters donât need to have the largest buck to enter the contest as there will also be prizes for the heaviest buck, highest scoring buck for men and women, widest rack, most unique rack and, for those 18 and under, the youngest hunter to bag a buck.
No registration is required for this event, however all deer must be scored by 8pm to be eligible for prizes. Youâll find details in the WHMI Community Events section.
11th Annual Buck Pole to Kick Off Firearm Deer Season11th Annual Buck Pole to Kick Off Firearm Deer Season
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Comedian Steve Sabo To Headline Shop With A Cop FundraiserComedian Steve Sabo To Headline Shop With A Cop Fundraiser
An annual fundraiser is returning to help take less fortunate children in the area on a unique shopping trip with police officers from around Livingston County.
Every year for the past decade-and-a-half, the Shop with a Cop program has teamed up officers with around 120 kids to help give them a Christmas they otherwise may not have.
Last year for, example, the children met up with the police officers at Three Fires Elementary in Howell, before traveling in an emergency vehicle parade, lights flashing. The kids were given $150 to spend on holiday presents at Wal-Mart, as they both shopped and bonded with officers from police departments from around the county.
This yearâs Comedy Benefit fundraiser to support the program is again taking place at Captain Joeâs Grill in Whitmore Lake. Three comedians have been booked to take the stage. Hosting will be Sal Demilio, who will hand off to feature comic Chad Jogotka. Headlining is Steve Sabo. Sabo has shared the stage in the past with legends like Joan Rivers and Chris Rock, and has appeared on HBO, NBC, and Comedy Central. He says he works an versatile style of observational humor that anyone can relate to, regardless of gender or race.
The event will take place this Friday, November 16th. Doors to the event at Captain Joeâs will open at 5:30, with the show starting at 8. The full dinner menu will be available. Tickets to the benefit are $20 each. They can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com, or in person at the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office and Captain Joeâs. (MK)
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New Owners Take Over Downtown Brighton Framing BusinessNew Owners Take Over Downtown Brighton Framing Business
ArtVentures - a mainstay of downtown Brighton for 25 years â is no longer around in its old location, but has both a new home and new owners. Claudia Roblee and her husband, Mark Gougherty, have sold their business to another Brighton couple - Mara Ikens and Devin Kirby. ArtVentures is a framing business but frames a wide variety of items, including portraits, landscapes, sports memorabilia, antiques, rare coins and mirrors.
Ikens had worked at several jobs in Brighton, including the Great Harvest Bread Company - which is kitty-corner across the street from ArtVenturesâ new location in the Parsons Building. And she and her new husband - a computer programmer for Ford Motor Co. - wanted to have their own business. Roblee tells WHMI she was ecstatic when the arrangements were made and the business was purchased by the new couple, who had just gotten married in July, in an outdoor ceremony at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake. In fact, it was a casual stroll into ArtVentures to get a custom frame for a wedding picture that brought her into the store, whereupon Roblee told her about their intention to sell the business.
All of the custom art framing that Ikens will be doing â like Roblee before her â will be done by hand, with no assembly line pre-mixes, and the use of non-traditional methods, such as hand-staining through a time-worn but superior technique called French matting. Mara Ikens says that what has happened with their purchase of ArtVentures isnât merely buying a business with the purpose of making a profit. Rather, she says, it's about the continuation of an art form from one artisan to another and from one generation to the next.
Roblee will be leaving Brighton with a fairly lengthy list of accomplishments: She has served on the Brighton City Council, Downtown Development Authority, Principal Shopping District Board and the boards of several other organizations. She has been so heavily involved in the community that she was recently honored by the City Council with a proclamation read by Mayor Jim Muzzin. Roblee and Gaugherty plan on moving âup northâ soon to the Traverse City area, where they will open an Airbnb. Roblee says they will miss the friends they have made in the Brighton area. But they will be back to visit often â especially since their daughters live here and they have six grandchildren in the area. (TT)
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Howell High School Assembly Will Conclude Veterans Day ActivitiesHowell High School Assembly Will Conclude Veterans Day Activities
A final event today in Howell will mark Veterans Day.
Following parades and ceremonies Saturday and Sunday across Livingston County, commemorations will conclude this morning with a Veterans Day Salute at Howell High School presented by the Leadership Class. The guest speaker will be U.S. Army disabled veteran James Rutherford, who was injured on a mission in 1986. Rutherford tells WHMI he plans to talk about the creed every man and woman enters into when they join the service.
After his recovery, Rutherford was stationed as Ft. Bragg as a Special Forces medical personnel training instructor. There will be a Meet & Greet in the lobby of the Bushey Performing Arts Center prior to the assembly.
Weekend ceremonies began in Brighton Saturday with a Veteransâ Day Parade and program at the Millpondâs Veteransâ Memorial, followed by a memorial service for Civil War soldier, Private Ernest Crippen, at the Old Village Cemetery, next to St. Paulâs Episcopal Church. Then on Sunday, the American Legion Devereaux Post 141 in Howell and the Marine Corps League Murnighan Detachment held their annual Veterans Day Salute at the veteransâ memorial on the lawn of the historic Livingston County Courthouse. That ceremony included a 21-gun salute, flag-raising and taps. A Veterans Day luncheon followed at the American Legion Post. Picture courtesy of Richard Lim. (JK)
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Second Phase Of Brennan Hearing Set For Next Week In DetroitSecond Phase Of Brennan Hearing Set For Next Week In Detroit
A final hearing is set next week in the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission complaint against Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan.
The second phase of the evidentiary hearing will take place next Monday, November 19th in Detroit. JTC Director Lynn Helland says next weekâs hearing will examine allegations of persistent failure to treat persons fairly or courteously, making false statements and conduct clearly prejudicial to the administration of justice. That count surrounds the issue of Brennan's cell phone and its contents. The commission claims Brennan knew of a motion to preserve evidence in her pending divorce case yet still requested employees help her erase its contents.
The new accusations were made following an 8-day hearing last month examining misconduct charges against Brennan of abusing her judicial power and failing to disclose personal relationships that constituted clear conflicts of interest. Chief among those was a relationship with former Michigan State Police Detective Sean Furlong, who was the chief prosecution witness in the 2013 murder trial of Jerome Kowalski, over which Brennan presided and resulted in Kowalskiâs conviction and life sentence. They claim the affair began after the trial, but testimony and records from Brennanâs 2017 divorce indicated otherwise.
Brennan, who has denied all of the allegations, was removed from her duties in June, one day after the first formal JTC complaint was issued on June 12th. The complaint could lead ultimately lead to her removal from the bench by the Michigan Supreme Court. Brennan is still being paid her annual $135,000 salary, while Livingston County is paying up to $100,000 for her defense. In addition, a visiting judge has been brought in at taxpayer expense to handle her docket.
Meanwhile, Michigan State Police continue to investigate criminal allegations against Brennan including perjury, destroying evidence and obstruction of justice. An impeachment resolution has also been introduced in the state legislature. (JK)
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City Of Howell Receives "Unqualified" Opinion For 2018 AuditCity Of Howell Receives "Unqualified" Opinion For 2018 Audit
The City of Howell has received another glowing audit report.
The City received an âunqualifiedâ opinion, indicating the statements fairly present the financial position of the Cityâs activities. The City has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 11th consecutive year and Rehmann Robson issued a clean audit opinion. The City has had clean audits for the last several years, and received numerous excellence in financial reporting awards.
City Manager Shea Charles says the clean audit was resented by Rehman Robson and they are in line for the Government Finance Officers Association Award for excellence in financial reporting for the 12th year in a row. Charles says heâs excited about that and itâs a testament to the quality of the financial staff and the rest of the team in regard to how they handle and manage the resources of the city.
The 2018 audit report was accepted following a presentation during a recent City Council meeting. During the audit presentation, Mark Kettner from the Rehmann Robson firm again commended the City, management team, and Finance Director Catherine Stanislawski, saying they operate very efficiently. Despite the positive news regarding the audit, the City is still dealing with major budget and revenue challenges. That is coupled with what officials say is a very broken state fiscal model and reduced revenue sharing, and significant cuts have been made over the years. (JM)
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DART Teams Seeks New Volunteer MembersDART Teams Seeks New Volunteer Members
An upcoming recruitment open house aims to attract future volunteers to assist local first responders when called out to house fires and other disasters.
The Livingston County Disaster Assistance Response Team or DART is an all-volunteer, independent organization committed to the health and well-being of local first responders on scene. DART has been in operation since 2012 and volunteers assist local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS and other first responders. The team provides "canteen" services such as coffee, cold drinks, and snacks as well as "rehab" services that help keep them warm and dry in the cold winter months and cool and hydrated in the hot summer months.
On Saturday, December 1st the Hamburg Township Fire Department will be hosting a recruitment open house for DART. Anyone with a desire to volunteer and give back can stop by the event to meet team members and learn what they do to assist first responders. The open house will run from 10am to noon at Station 12, located at 10100 Veterans Memorial Drive. More information about DART can be found through the link. An event flyer is attached. (JM)
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Pinckney Woman Heads To Trial On Embezzlement ChargesPinckney Woman Heads To Trial On Embezzlement Charges
A Pinckney woman is now heading to trial on multiple charges for allegedly embezzling from her employer, a small electrical company.
Tracey Lynn Sindlinger is charged with ten counts involving her alleged embezzlement from Stein Electric in Manchester. At a preliminary exam last month in 14A District Court in Ann Arbor, she was bound over for trial to Washtenaw County Trial Court where a pretrial hearing will be held December 17th.
Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post conducted the investigation, which reportedly uncovered an embezzlement scheme that occurred over a three year period, beginning in 2015. Sindlinger was the company accountant at the small family owned business. After she was terminated, authorities say the owners went through records and noticed discrepancies. An investigation commenced, which resulted in the criminal charges and an arrest warrant being issued for Sindlinger, who remains free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. (JK)
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Hamburg Township Home Destroyed In FireHamburg Township Home Destroyed In Fire
Firefighters from multiple departments battled a blaze overnight in Hamburg Township that completely destroyed a home, displacing the family.
Crews were dispatched to the single-story ranch-style home with an attached garage on Mayfred Road around 11:30pm Sunday and quickly arrived on scene according to Hamburg Fire Chief Nick Miller. He says the garage was very well involved and almost gone at that point and there was a large volume of fire inside the structure. Miller tells WHMI crews had to work in a defensive mode for most of the process to get it under control and didnât clear the scene until around 7:30am. He says it took some time to get all of the hot spots and different other things taken care of throughout the night.
Miller says fortunately there were no injuries but the fire progressed very rapidly through the house on the two residents who were home at the time, a female homeowner and her adult son. Her husband was not home. The two were able to escape safely but Miller says they have been displaced and are currently being assisted by the American Red Cross. Crews from the Hamburg, Putnam, Unadilla, Brighton, Howell, and Green Oak fire departments assisted on scene, along with Livingston County EMS and the DART Team.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but Miller says preliminary reports from the homeowner are that it was a potential cooking fire. He says the homeowner had been cooking on a stove and believed she shut off the burner but there is a chance that she did not. Miller says the homeowner indicated she turned around and her kitchen was on fire. He advises that people always be very cautious in kitchens with heat objects and never leave things unattended. (JM)
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#OptOutside Event On Black Friday At Island Lake Rec Area#OptOutside Event On Black Friday At Island Lake Rec Area
Livingston County residents are being encouraged put away the leftovers and spend the day after Thanksgiving at Michigan state parks.
All Recreation Passport fees are waived on Black Friday so that individuals and families can #OptOutside at their favorite state park. Locally at the Island Lake Recreation Area, there will be a group hike on the Hickory Ridge Hiking Trail. The hike starts at the Kent Lake parking lot at 1pm with the Friends of Island Lake State Recreation Area, REI, and Crossroads Group Sierra Club. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather and a hunting season hike, as Opening Day of firearm deer season is this Thursday.
The hike will be five miles or 2.5 miles, and organizers say there are plenty of points for people to drop off if they prefer a shorter distance. Details are available through the link. Facebook photos. (JM)
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Early Childhood Educators Gather In Howell For ConferenceEarly Childhood Educators Gather In Howell For Conference
A regional early childhood conference this past weekend celebrated nearly three decades of success.
More than 800 professionals attended the 28th Annual Child Connect Regional Early Childhood Conference Saturday at the Howell High School campus. The conference was organized by Child Connect for Family Success, a non-profit that provides support, early childhood resources, education, training and other services to families and professionals.
Each year, hundreds of teachers, program administrators, students and social workers choose from multiple presentations and exhibits to explore the latest trends and best practices in the early childhood field. The featured speaker at this yearâs conference was Lisa Murphy, founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc. which works to provide quality workshops and trainings to the industry of early childhood education. Jo Cook, Early Childhood Workforce Development Administrator, described her as, âinformative, energetic and hilariously funny - which inspired and motivated the early childhood professionals.â
After the keynote, participants attended their choice of over 75 workshops during three interactive sessions and networked with other early childhood professionals. This year's conference was sponsored by the Kellogg Family Foundation. (JK)
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Sheriff's Office Implements Opioid Treatment For InmatesSheriff's Office Implements Opioid Treatment For Inmates
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office has implemented a new program at the county jail that is expected to help recovering addicts stay sober by removing the effects of powerful opioids.
Through the program, willing participants that are inmates at the jail are provided with a shot of Vivitrol; an opioid antagonist that blocks receptors in the brain so the euphoric or high feeling that follows the ingestion of opioids is nonexistent. The treatment lasts about 30 days, so participants are given a shot around 30 days prior to their release from jail, and then again as they are about to be released in order to help maintain that blocking effect while they work to remain sober.
Sheriff Mike Murphy says research has found that Vivitrol also has a similar effect on alcohol, adding that while addicts often have a drug of choice, they will supplement what they can in its absence. That can include alcohol in addition to alternative drugs, so the treatment's effect on alcohol is an added bonus. Murphy has found there is a reoccurring problem with people getting out of jail and overdosing within days, or at the most, within a week. He feels the longer a person can remain sober, the better decisions theyâll make, and âthat runaway train that theyâve been on slowly starts to stop.â
Vivitrol is not always the first option for addicts trying to maintain sobriety as the treatment is very expensive. Thatâs why Murphy is grateful the Sheriffâs Office was able to partner with Community Mental Health and Key Alliance to make the program feasible. He says Key Alliance has worked with the supplier to ensure the shots of Vivitrol are free of charge to the Sheriffâs Office, and Community Mental Health has worked out a deal with the Sheriffâs Office to continue providing the shots to individuals after theyâre released.
As of November 5th, there were 18 inmates that participating in the program. Upon their release from jail, there are seven more viable candidates. (DK)
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Fashion Runway Set To Land Funding For Arc Of LivingstonFashion Runway Set To Land Funding For Arc Of Livingston
Local and state celebrities will take to the cat walk this week in an annual fundraiser to help those with developmental disabilities.
The Arc of Livingston is holding their 25th annual Celebrity Holiday Fashion Show this Thursday, November 15th at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Genoa Township. All of the proceeds will remain in Livingston County helping The Arc with their mission to empower and support people with developmental disabilities so that they can participate with and contribute to the community.
The evening begins at 5:30pm with hor d'oeuvres and a silent. Dinner and the fashion show begin at 7pm. The event features host celebrities including Detroit sports and media personalities as well as Livingston County business and civic leaders.
In celebration of the eventâs 25th year, the jewelry raffle will feature a one-of-a-kind, 18-karat white- and yellow-gold diamond necklace, valued at $7,500. It was commissioned by Cooper & Binkley Jewelers from world class designer Simon G. To reserve a spot or learn more about the evening, visit the link below. (JK)
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Village Of Pinckney "Opts Out" Of Marijuana EstablishmentsVillage Of Pinckney "Opts Out" Of Marijuana Establishments
The Village of Pinckney appears to be the first local community to âopt outâ of allowing recreational and medical marijuana facilities following the passage of Michiganâs Proposal 1.
Council met Monday night and unanimously adopted an ordinance prohibiting marijuana establishments due to various unknowns and the potential strain on Village resources such as police and zoning. Under the ordinance, the Village will be an âopt out communityâ and is not allowing commercial marijuana growth or sales. The ordinance was simple boiler plate language according to Council President Linda Lavey. She told WHMI theyâre not making any judgment but rather just saying itâs maybe not right for Pinckney, right now. She says instead of waiting for the state to regulate it, Council is pre-regulating it but if the state comes up with things that are amenable to their business, they can always change it as their attorney explained.
It was noted during the meeting that itâs all speculation and everything is wide open following the statewide and local passage of Proposal 1 to legalize recreational marijuana. Some members expressed concerns but most had general questions for the village attorney and Police Chief Jeff Newton, who referred to the situation as a âclusterâ and said thereâs been nothing from the state and things likely wonât get sorted out until 2020.
Village Attorney David Stoker clarified that under Proposal 1 that passed, municipalities can choose to âopt outâ but always have the option to âopt inâ later, including if there is a specific use or plan presented. What is not clear yet is if a municipality chooses to âopt inâ but then wants to âopt outâ later. He says there are three essentially levels â medical marijuana, medical dispensaries and recreational marijuana. Municipalities that âopt outâ like the Village did, still have the option to âopt inâ whenever they choose. It was also noted they can âopt inâ to different aspects such as allowing grow operations, testing labs, dispensaries or transporters. While a specified amount of marijuana can be grown for individual purposes, that person must still adhere to different laws, as do caregivers and growers of medical marijuana. (JM)
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Pinckney Village Trustee Candidates SoughtPinckney Village Trustee Candidates Sought
Applications are still being sought for a vacant trustee position on the Pinckney Village Council.
Trustees Kayla Dombrowski and Tom Pais did not run for re-election and Monday night served as their final meeting on Council. They were presented with plaques recognizing their service, although Pais will remain on the planning commission. There were more open seats than candidates who filed in the November 6th general election, and Ted Kinczkowski Jr. was elected to one of the open seats. Applications are still being sought to fill the second, which carries a two year term. Candidates must be a registered voter in the Village of Pinckney and current on taxes. Applications should be returned to the clerk at Village Hall or by email to clerk@villageofpinckney.org. The goal is to make an appointment at the December 10th meeting, if qualified candidates are available. Council President Linda Lavey tells WHMI soon would be good because theyâre running short one member. She feels the most important thing is that whoever applies cares for the community, and that they live in the village. If someone fits those criteria, then Lavey says they can work with them.
A link to the application and information is on the Village website. That link is provided. Meanwhile the newly elected Kinczkowski, who was present at Monday nightâs meeting, will be sworn in before the December 10th meeting. Prior to that meeting at 5:30pm, a retirement party will be held for longtime Clerk Amy Salowitz, who is moving out of state.(JM)
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Howell Looks At Deficit In Post-Election Budget TalksHowell Looks At Deficit In Post-Election Budget Talks
Officials with the City of Howell are in budget discussions, after a Headlee Override request failed to gain voter approval in last Tuesdayâs general election.
City Council met for a work session Monday night with a goal to reach a consensus on budget targets for the next few fiscal years. The target levels were categorized by small, medium and large, with respect to the size of the cityâs structural deficit that grew with each option as the inclusion of money for infrastructure grew. The smallest option of a $200,000-$300,000 deficit would address the structural deficit alone, the medium option of a $500,000-$600,000 deficit would address the deficit while providing a small amount of money for infrastructure, and the large option would result in a $1-$1.5 million deficit to provide a significant amount of money for infrastructure.
Council discussed those target levels after a financial forecast presentation that included a budget update, future year analysis, and information on future projects, challenges and opportunities. City Manager Shea Charles says the consensus among council members is to develop possible cuts in the 2019/2020 budget totaling $150,000 to $250,000, with the potential for the total to reach $300,000. Council members committed to maintaining services and to not reduce the budget in order to fund infrastructure projects.
Council also agreed that future infrastructure projects should only be considered if theyâre 80% grant funded or more. There are two upcoming infrastructure projects; one being the reconstruction of State Street, which council plans to move forward with in 2019 as the City will be receiving a $2 million grant that will fund 90% of the project. Council members then directed staff to look at options for the second project, the reconstruction of East Clinton Street, to determine if there is any grant dollars available in addition to the $1.8 million grant theyâre expected to receive in 2021.
Despite the decision to maintain city services for the current fiscal year as well as 2019/2020, Charles says council members did direct staff to develop options for potentially cutting city services in fiscal years beyond that. Those options will be discussed at a future budget meeting, which has not yet been scheduled. City Council member Michael Mulvahill doesnât want to take away services, but says âthe reality is somethingâs got to give.â
Mondayâs work session followed votersâ decision to turn down a Headlee Override request that would have generated roughly $1.4 million per year for the next five years to be used primarily on roads and infrastructure, while around 20% would've been used to correct the deficit and maintain city services at their present level. Mayor Nick Proctor stated âelections do have consequencesâ, after voicing his thought that the cityâs fiscal forecast is âgloomyâ. (DK)
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Officials Try To Calm Fears Over Story About Disturbing Internet SearchesOfficials Try To Calm Fears Over Story About Disturbing Internet Searches
Local school officials are trying to reassure parents following a television news report about an individual who made some disturbing statements and internet searches.
WDIV in Detroit aired a story Monday about a 25-year-old man who they identified only as Mathew from Southeast Michigan. WHMI has since learned he is from the Brighton area. WDIV said they werenât identifying him or showing his face as he isn't charged with making threats. However, their story highlighted concerns made by federal officials at a detention hearing. Hank Moon, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, says Mathew was charged in a one-count complaint with making false statements, specifically as they pertained to credit card applications made to purchase an assault rifle, several handguns, several 40-round, high-capacity magazines and a device known as a binary trigger, which he said was, âused only to ensure than an assault rifle will fire quicker than (designed by the) manufacturerâ Moon also said Mathew, âasked the gun store how he can convert his AR-15 to a fully automatic rifle." That dealer, along with a neighbor, called authorities. The FBI then raided his home, confiscating his guns, phone and computer. Moon says that on the computer were pictures of at least two mass shooters, one from the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 and the Columbine school shooting in 1999.
But it was his Google searches that convinced authorities to arrest Mathew. Among the terms he searched out was, âColumbine High School and then immediately searched, 'Howell Michigan High School.' He also searched out police response times to an active shooter. Moon told the judge, ââ¦when we talk about red flags, your honor, these are literally staring us in the face." But after five months in jail and an evaluation by a medical professional that he was mentally ill, Mathew was released on probation after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
In response to WDIVâs story, Howell Superintendent Erin MacGregor sent out a message to district parents that while this individual had searched âHowell Michigan High School,â they were briefed on the matter by local law enforcement, who assured them, âthat no threat had been made against Howell High School or Howell Public Schools.â MacGregor says had it been otherwise, they would have taken immediate action. MacGregor added that he was, âreassured by the steps that law enforcement had taken relating to this individual and keeping our community safe. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will never jeopardize that.â You can see the full communication below.
As for Mathew, because he is a convicted felon, he cannot legally own weapons, and while he is allowed to go online, those actions will be monitored by law enforcement agencies for the next five years. Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy told WHMI that âWe will be working with the FBI to ensure that he meets the terms of his probation.â (JK)
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County Subcommittee Recommends Approval of Revised EDC ContractCounty Subcommittee Recommends Approval of Revised EDC Contract
A proposed agreement between Livingston County and the Economic Development Council of Livingston County has been revised since last week, when it first failed to gain final approval from the countyâs Board of Commissioners.
A resolution for the original contract, which sought to continue the partnership between the county and the EDCLC at an annual rate of $175,000 for a period of three years, failed in a tie vote by the countyâs Board of Commissioners on November 5th. Several votes were then held to reconsider an amended version of the contract that would instead be in place for one year; however motions to approve the amended version and reconsideration of the resolution also failed.
A resolution then came before the countyâs General Government and Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday night, seeking approval of a three-year contract at the same annual rate, but with a major modification made to the original contract. The revised contract includes a provision allowing early termination at December 31, 2019 or December 31st, 2020, upon written notification by either party no later than 30 days prior to the early termination date. The county subcommittee voted three to one to recommend approval of the amended agreement. The resolution will need to pass the Finance Committee before it heads to the Board of Commissioners for consideration and potentially final approval.
Dennis Dolan and William Green, members of the General Government and Health and Human Services Committee, voted in favor of the revised contract, but are hoping to receive more detailed reports and input from the business community in the future. Committee member Bob Bezotte was the lone dissenting vote. Bezotte cited other issues in the county, including road funding, the opioid crisis and public safety, as priorities that he feels should take precedence over the yearly investment with the EDCLC.
The EDCLC works to provide economic development services for the area and contracts Ann Arbor SPARK to provide business recruitment and retention services in the region. EDCLC Board Chair Ron Long says the EDCLC is grateful for the support from the county and local municipalities. Long says since the beginning of the partnership with SPARK, the entities have been able to leverage the participating communities' economic contributions to $292 million in private investment, which Long says has generated $2.7 million in tax revenue. (DK)
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Woman Hospitalized, Facing Charges After Run-In With PoliceWoman Hospitalized, Facing Charges After Run-In With Police
A woman found lying across a road in Lyon Township is facing criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Lyon Township substation were in the area of I-96 and Kent Lake Road around 8:16pm Saturday when they observed a Metro Park police officer out of his patrol vehicle and a female lying across the roadway. When the deputies approached, they could hear the female screaming âkill me nowâ. A report states that with assistance from responding deputies, the officer was able to get the female handcuffed. Once in custody, she allegedly began to kick the officer and deputies while being seated in the Metro Parks Officerâs patrol vehicle. She was transported to a hospital for psychiatric committal.
Officials say the 45-year-old Farmington Hills woman continued to fight with the officer and deputies and hospital staff eventually placed her in soft restraints. While the handcuffs were being removed and the woman was being placed into a hospital bed, she allegedly kicked a deputy twice before hospital staff could restrain her. The deputy was not injured. Criminal charges are currently being sought for assault on a police officer. (JM)
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Pinckney Board Of Education Looking To Fill VacancyPinckney Board Of Education Looking To Fill Vacancy
Thereâs a vacancy on the Pinckney Community Schools Board of Education.
During last Tuesday's general election, there were three open seats with only two candidates running. Superintendent Rick Todd tells WHMI there is still one open seat that will need to be filled through the appointment process, which will occur during the November 29th board meeting. The meeting was re-scheduled due to lack of quorum on the originally scheduled November 15th date. The candidate appointed by the board for the position will serve a term through November 2020. Candidates must be a qualified resident of the Pinckney Community Schools district, at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and a registered voter of the Pinckney Community Schools district.
An application for anyone interested in applying for the open board seat can be found through the provided link. (JM)
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