Improvements and additions to two of one townshipâs parks are being put out to bid.
The Hartland Township Board of Trustees made the decision to move forward with adding new facilities and amenities at Heritage Park and Settlerâs Park last week. An early estimate discussed during an informational session of their March 7th regular meeting put the cost of the project around $1.4 million. Most of the Board when hearing this believed that number was high, with Trustee Matt Germane suggesting it could be inflated by as much as 15-20%.
Supervisor Bill Fountain told WHMI that the the bid process will specify exact costs for the project, which will be paid for out of the general fund. Each year, he said, they put away a percentage of the budget for capital improvements like this, and because of that, they wonât need to pass a millage or bond. At Heritage Park, Fountain said they are looking at adding a pavilion, a small area for food service, two bathrooms, and a storage area for township and recreational sporting equipment. At Settlerâs Park they are hoping to add a pavilion and restroom as well.
Ideally both parks will have a new playscape installed in the near future. Fountain said he expects the bids to be back in 6 weeks, at which point they will pick and choose which elements they want to go forward with. He said they hope to start construction later this year and be finished by fall. (MK)
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Hartland Township Putting Parks Improvement Project Out To BidHartland Township Putting Parks Improvement Project Out To Bid
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Howell Student Fire Cadets Utilize Training In Building DestructionHowell Student Fire Cadets Utilize Training In Building Destruction
A group of students had the opportunity to destroy a couple of buildings in Howell as part of an educational training exercise.
The destructive training was utilized for students that are a part of the Howell High School Firefighter Academy. The program is comprised of students from all over Livingston County and a couple from Oakland County. Cadets attend the programâs classes for two periods a day, which included the destructive training on Friday morning.
The buildings that were used were donated by the Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) as there were plans to tear them down soon anyway. The cadets were able to put the skills theyâve learned in class into action by busting through walls, breaking down doors and pulling a fire hose into the buildings before spraying different rooms down.
Lt. Tom Kiurski from the Brighton Area Fire Authority runs the academy and began the exercise with search and rescue and forcible entry training. The students then used piercing nozzles, battering rams and axes to penetrate walls and doors. The cadets practiced before dragging fire hoses into the buildings and maneuvering them through the rooms before spraying the inside down.
Zach Dobrick is one of the academyâs cadets and a senior at South Lyon High School. He says advancing and maneuvering hoses through the buildings was tiring, but busting down walls wasnât too hard. As to his favorite part of the exercise, Doberick says âI like doing destruction, itâs more funâ.
Lt. Tom Kiurski from the Brighton Area Fire Authority runs Howellâs Fire Academy and says two veterans of the program assisted in the training practical. Both now work for local fire departments. Kiurski has previously said the academy is the stateâs first successful program and advises that enrollment has begun for next yearâs class. (DK)
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Spring Book Sale Set Next Month At Brighton District Library Spring Book Sale Set Next Month At Brighton District Library
A bargain book sale in April will offer deals and entertainment for all ages.
The Friends of the Brighton District Library will host their bi-annual book sale Tuesday, April 4th through Sunday, April 9th. Attendees can peruse hundreds of books and media items for all ages and tastes that are priced from 50 cents to a dollar. New releases, classics, how-to books, self-help, outdoor, cooking are some of the genres included. DVDâs CDâs and audio books will also be available. The book and media sale runs two times per year.
Friendsâ membership night is Tuesday, April 4 from 5 â 9 pm. Memberships will be available at the door. The sale opens to the public Wednesday, April 5, through Sunday, April 9. Sale hours are 10am â 9pm, April 5; 10am to 9pm, April 6 through April 8 (April 8 BAG DAY-$5/bag); 1pm â 3pm, April 9 (Free Day on remaining items). Scanners will be allowed every day except Members Night, Tuesday, April 4.
The Friends of the Brighton District Library donate more than $28,000 annually to help fund library programs which provide enrichment, education, and enjoyment for all ages. Included are a Books for Babies program, online databases like Mango Languages, the Summer Reading Program, Springfest, Holiday Open House, Livingston Reads, Writerâs Workshops, and movie licenses which allow the library to show films to the public at no charge.
Friends President Marsha Luetjen says âThe numerous and diverse programs sponsored by the Friends enriches the Brighton community. Not only are the sponsored programs fun and educational, they bring people to the library. Once there, they have access to knowledge. Knowledge is power. Every fifty cents and every dollar buys that knowledge.â (JM)
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Cyber Security Event In Pinckey To Simulate HackingCyber Security Event In Pinckey To Simulate Hacking
An opportunity to practice and learn cyber defense security skills in a game-type setting is coming up next month in Pinckney. The Pinckney Cyber Training Institute is has been helping train students, business owners, and IT professionals be more cyber-safe since they opened doors last December. Their next big event is scheduled for Thursday, April 27th, and will be a Capture theFlag-type event. Participants will use hacking tools to engage with the type of network architecture found in libraries, schools, businesses, city hall, and power plants to look for vulnerabilities within them. Institute Director Jim Darga said this is a great opportunity for IT professionals, networking students, and even military personnel to be shoulder-to-shoulder with each other learning cyber defense skills that can protect our way of life, including our critical infrastructure and personal information. Participants will use a software suite designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is a guided activity and there will be assistance and different skill levels available. Darga said that normally this type of training cost $750 and can go on for an extended period of time, but because of a grant from the Advance Michigan Defense Collaborative, it will be free to all. The United States Army is also providing lunch and snacks. For more information, or to register, visit the Cyber Training Instituteâs website, www.pinckneycti.org or by calling (810) 255-5540. (MK)
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Former Unadilla Twp. Woman Charged In Sex Trafficking Case Former Unadilla Twp. Woman Charged In Sex Trafficking Case
A former Livingston County woman is facing multiple felony charges following a human trafficking investigation.
40-year-old Amber Speed, a former Unadilla Township resident who now resides in Munith, will appear in 54-A District Court in Lansing on Thursday for a conference. She faces three counts each of minor sex trafficking and prostitution/pandering, one count of accepting the earnings of a prostitute and one count of debt bondage. All are felony charges that carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the case stems from an investigation by a Michigan State Police Trooper, who after attending human trafficking training, came across a case of alleged human trafficking. Speed was allegedly conducting an âescortâ operation, posting advertisements for commercial sex for herself and at least three other girls and young women online.
Schuette says the alleged victims were minors when they were brought into the human trafficking ring. Multiple instances of Speed allegedly trafficking minors are alleged to have occurred from 2009 through approximately 2014.
Schuette says âHuman trafficking is a crime that can be stopped by increasing awareness of the signs.â A link to more information is provided. (JM)
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Closures & Traffic Shifts Scheduled On US-23 In Livingston, Washtenaw Counties Closures & Traffic Shifts Scheduled On US-23 In Livingston, Washtenaw Counties
More road work is in store for motorists utilizing US-23 in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties.
There will be a rolling lane closure on US-23 in both directions between M-14 and M-36 from 7pm Tuesday through 5am Wednesday. The rolling closure is needed so crews can replace delineators along the work zone. Single lane closures are needed on Southbound US-23 Wednesday and Thursday so crews can implement a traffic shift. The lane closures will be between Barker Road and 6 Mile Road and then North Territorial Road and M-14.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is further advising motorists of a closure next week. The 5 Mile Road service drive at US-23 will be closed next Monday through Wednesday for the relocation of 5 Mile Road. M-DOT says there will be no access to North Territorial Road or the ramp to northbound US-23. The detour will include Nollar Road, North Territorial Road and US-23. (JM)
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Town Hall Organizers Decry Congressman's Fundraising MeetingTown Hall Organizers Decry Congressman's Fundraising Meeting
Organizers of a town hall meeting in Brighton next month say it is "outrageous" Congressman Mike Bishop recently met with business leaders in exchange for campaign contributions, but refuses to attend their gathering.
Gretchen Hertz of Hamburg Township invited Bishop to attend and speak at an April 11th meeting, set for the Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Genoa Township. She and other organizers wanted an opportunity to speak face-to-face with Bishop about his support for the GOP effort to repeal Obamacare, also known as the ACA. Even though that effort was pulled last week from consideration in the House, Hertz says the town hall meeting is still set to take place. âThe Republicans have been trying to dismantle the ACA for 7 years. There's no indication they are going to stop now.â But she says Bishopâs refusal to meet with them has taken on an added dimension after learning he met with about two dozen businessmen and women earlier this month. The March 13th meeting at Guardian Angels Medical Equipment in Rochester Hills (pictured) was part of a series of Business Roundtable meetings with those who paid $1,000 each to attend. Hertz says Bishop is basically âsellingâ access to him.
When questioned about the Business Rountables, Bishop spokesperson Stu Sandler said, "Mike Bishop has events all over the district. Just like almost every other elected official, Mike Bishop also occasionally holds fundraisers.â As for the April 11th town hall meeting, Bishop said events like that, âare based on fear tactics, to scare people into assuming they will lose their health careâ insisting that, âRepublicans are not going to pull the rug out from under people.â He also said his office is planning several listening sessions for the public in the weeks ahead.
Hertz insists their meeting is not a political stunt, but instead an attempt to convey a message she and others feel is not being heard by Bishop and others in Congress. And even though the effort to repeal the ACA failed, Hertz thinks the GOPâs next plan will be to âadministratively sabotage the ACAâ and theyâd like to hear Bishopâs opinion on that.
She says if Bishop did agree to attend, they would cancel their other speakers, including Melissa Gilbert and Suzanna Shkreli. Gilbert, who will speak about the influence of money in politics, dropped out of last yearâs race against Bishop and was replaced by Shkreli, a Macomb County prosecutor. (JK) Facebook photo.
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Books & Teddy Bears Presented To Local Law Enforcement Agencies Books & Teddy Bears Presented To Local Law Enforcement Agencies
Educational books and teddy bears were presented Monday to three local police agencies to help distract and comfort children who are caught in the middle of the crisis.
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office, and the Howell and Brighton Police Departments received approximately $1,000 worth of bears and books each from Usborne Books during a Monday afternoon event at Howell City Hall. The books will be kept in patrol vehicles for kids who are caught in the midst of a traumatic event.
Usborne Books Team Leader Lauren Moore and two other consultants organized the drive. Moore told WHMI itâs really making an impact in the community. She says the book drive yielded $2,000 in donations and combined with a match from Usborne Books allowed for a total of $3,000 in books and bears to be distributed. The books presented featured wide ranging themes for different age groups as well as activity-type books to serve as an educational and interactive distraction for kids.
A separate drive was held for the Sheriffâs Office about six months ago. Sheriff Mike Murphy says the drives have worked out well. He tells WHMI a lot of times when they do have interaction with people, itâs not always under the best circumstances so the books and bears serve as a great educational and public awareness tool. Murphy commented that all local law enforcement agencies work well together and since this was a county-wide drive, theyâll make it a county-wide reward and share the books with other agencies.
Howell Police Chief George Basar told WHMI the books will be great for the department. He says they were happy to get the donation because a lot of times those who get forgotten in a crisis or traumatic situation such as a traffic accident or other family interaction are the young ones. He says the books and stuffed animals provide an opportunity to lessen that trauma and do something positive for kids.
Brighton Police Chief Rob Bradford told WHMI the books help a lot, adding a stuffed animal really goes a long way in critical incidents such as a domestic or traffic crash and helps calm them down. He noted that anytime officers are dealing with a child involved in any incident or just a parent coming in to the station, they assign an officer to talk with them or go through a book. (JM)
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Howell Main Street Working To Reduce Reliance On DDA and City FundsHowell Main Street Working To Reduce Reliance On DDA and City Funds
A gradual change in financial reliance is the crux of an agreement for the Howell Main Street Downtown Development Authority.
Howell Main Street Incorporated and the DDA are separate organizations, though the two work closely together. Two years ago, the DDA began discussions of how to sustain Main Street and its programs, specifically community-driven activities.
DDA Director Cathleen Edgerly says there are continuous funding cuts to DDAâs across the state, which led the organization to investigate achieving a nonprofit status. Main Street become a 501c3 last June, which Edgerly says opens up grant opportunities and different revenue streams. Now, a transition agreement will phase Main Streetâs financial reliance on the DDA and the City of Howell funds out over the course of five years. As a result, Edgerly says more funds will be available for the city and DDA to use for maintenance and infrastructure needs.
Edgerly says businesses, partners and stakeholders wonât see a change in services as the majority of changes will be âbehind the scenesâ. Edgerly says the end goal is to ensure Main Street is successful and has a strong foundation, while making sure the DDAâs budget is stable and can continue to provide its normal services.
The agreement is expected to go into effect this July. The DDA approved slight changes in the agreement at their meeting Wednesday and sent it forward to City Council for review on Monday. (DK)
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Fowlerville Man Charged In October Crash That Killed Young BoyFowlerville Man Charged In October Crash That Killed Young Boy
Charges have been authorized against a local man for his role in a head-on crash that killed a young boy last year.
49-year-old Robert Earl Wilson was arraigned in 66th District Court in Corunna last week on one count of operating a vehicle under the influence causing death. The charge stems from the October 9th incident on Fowlerville Road, north of Lovejoy Road in Antrim Township. According to the Shiawassee County Sheriffâs Department, Wilson was driving northbound when he crossed the center line and hit a vehicle carrying a family of four from Byron.
10-year-old Brody Rocco was killed in the crash. His parents, Marc and Casya, were hospitalized with injuries ranging from severe to critical. Roccoâs sister, a 3rd grader at Smith Elementary School, was not seriously injured. Brody attended 5th grade at Kreeger Elementary in Fowlerville. Wilson is due back in court for a probable cause conference April 5th and an exam has been scheduled for April 11th. (DK)
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Former Tyrone Twp. Man Pleads To State Embezzlement ChargesFormer Tyrone Twp. Man Pleads To State Embezzlement Charges
A Livingston County man already sentenced to federal prison time has entered a plea to state charges involving his multi-million dollar theft from a credit union.
38-year-old Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township pleaded no contest Monday in Oakland County Circuit Court to 14 counts of embezzlement from the Clarkston Brandon Credit Union. He will serve a minimum seven years when he is sentenced May 1st, which he will serve concurrently with a federal bank fraud sentence of 11 years in prison handed down last week in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
LaJoice has admitted to stealing more than $18.6 million from the credit union during a 12-year span while he served as its chief financial officer. He turned himself in after being confronted last year about questionable bookkeeping. His attorney, Michael Manley, says the maximum term LaJoice would face is 20 years and his client can still withdraw his plea is he feels the sentence imposed on May 1st is unreasonable.
LaJoice owned a dance studio in Fenton and put millions of dollars into his home in the northeast corner of Tyrone Township. Authorities say the $1.3 million, 5,800 square foot home was in no way supported by his $65,000-a-year salary. The married father of three has been ordered to make restitution of the entire $18.6 million, but so far only about $3.5 million has been recovered and officials arenât sure how LaJoice will ever make full restitution. (JK)
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Second Defendant Sentenced In Genoa Car Theft & Police ChaseSecond Defendant Sentenced In Genoa Car Theft & Police Chase
Sentencing has been handed down to a Lansing man who attempted to break into a car in Genoa Township, and then engaged in a police chase.
Warrants were issued for 18-year-old Laron Wilcox and his co-defendant, 20-year-old Malachi Irving, after the two Lansing men failed to appear for hearings earlier this year. Both men had previously pleaded guilty to one count of breaking and entering a vehicle for their role in the August 2016 incident. Irving had already been sentenced but did not appear for a show cause hearing. Court records indicate his warrant remains active. Wilcoxâs warrant, however, was cancelled last week and he was arraigned and lodged in the county jail.
Wilcox was sentenced Monday to 18 days in the Livingston County Jail with a credit of eight served, one year probation, three days of community service, and theft awareness classes. Irving, Wilcox and 21-year-old Moses Lingua, were arrested for the August 3rd incident in which police said they tried to break into a car near Ontario Court in Genoa Township. State Police from the Brighton Post were dispatched to the call and attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the scene.
The three men refused to pull over and fled, with a chase ensuing through downtown Howell and then down D-19. When the vehicle attempted to enter westbound I-96, the trooper used a maneuver that caused the suspect vehicle to spin out of control into a ditch and rollover. (Patrol car video pictured here) The vehicle was driven by Lingua, who was sentenced in January to one year in jail and three yearsâ probation. (DK)
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Howell Council Finalizing Plans For State Street ReconstructionHowell Council Finalizing Plans For State Street Reconstruction
The Howell City Council met Monday night and gave preliminary approvals to various items related to a grant application that would reconstruct State Street by the historic courthouse.
The City is pursuing an Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement Grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to enhance what is one of the Cityâs center points for activity. The project would bury overhead utility lines and replace lead jointed water lines underground. The area would be completely handicap accessible with curbs and steps removed. The possibility of two-way traffic on the street has been eliminated and design plans call for it to remain one-way, front-in angle parking.
Community Development Director Tim Schmitt tells WHMI there is a minimal match involved for the grant and the city will be able to reap large benefits, saying âthe iron is hot and theyâre trying to strikeâ. Itâs a 90-10 match, so the city is only responsible for 10%. Schmitt added DTE Energy is also very interested in seeing the project happen because the power poles in that area need to be replaced and this is a good time to bury the utility lines so they would contribute funds as well.
Some residents spoke during a public hearing that was held during the meeting on the grant application. One individual felt the city should eliminate parking on State Street altogether in keeping with a truly âfestival streetâ concept. Another suggested the city explore adding electric vehicle charging stations as well as electrical outlets in general that would offer widespread benefits during events, especially the farmers market and eliminates having cords everywhere. City staff agreed and noted during the meeting that easy access to electricity has been a discussion topic and was being incorporated into design plans.
The timeline for grant applications is aggressive and staff noted that they should know by May 5th if the project will be accepted for funding. Picture courtesy of Google Street View. (JM)
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Pinckney Man Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting FriendPinckney Man Sentenced For Sexually Assaulting Friend
Sentencing has been handed down to a local man who authorities say forced his female friend to have sex with him.
Michael Austin Kotch of Pinckney was sentenced to four months in jail and five yearsâ probation in Livingston County Circuit Court last week. The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to an added count of assault with intent to commit 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct last month. Kotch was originally charged with one count of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct by force or coercion, which was dismissed by prosecutors in exchange for his plea.
Kotch was charged as a result of the July 12th incident in which police say he raped his female friend in the backseat of her car. Authorities say Kotch and the 18-year-old Fowlerville woman were sitting in her car talking and drinking alcohol. Kotch reportedly brought up wanting to have a one-night stand with someone, at which point the victim began to feel very uncomfortable.
Police say the woman tried several different methods to signal for help or leave, but her car battery died and Kotch told her he couldnât find jumper cables. He allegedly began to pressure the woman to have a one-night stand with him until police say he then grabbed her arm and pulled her into the back seat of the vehicle, where he assaulted her. (DK)
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"Plant a Pinwheel" Campaign Set to Launch in Livingston County Next Week"Plant a Pinwheel" Campaign Set to Launch in Livingston County Next Week
An annual event will launch National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Livingston County in Howell next week.
The LACASA Centerâs CAP, or Child Abuse Prevention Council, has held its âPlant a Pinwheel Celebrationâ each year since 2009. Community members gather to place pinwheels in areas where they can be seen to spark conversation about preventing child abuse.
On Wednesday, April 5th, community members are invited to help plant a pinwheel garden on the front lawn of the Howell Carnegie Library. A ceremony will precede the planting beginning at noon and will feature guest speakers and a musical performance from the Voice of Voyager Choir from Voyager Elementary School.
Nine years ago, Prevent Child Abuse America chose pinwheels as the campaignâs symbol because it represents the carefree and positive nature every child deserves to have. Naylor says it is necessary to prevent neglect and abuse before it can occur to ensure a child can grow up safe, healthy and whole.
The pinwheel gardens will remain on display at the library and other locations throughout the month of April to serve as a reminder of the campaign. The CAP Council planted 66 community gardens in Livingston County last year and is hoping to reach 100 this year. More information about Pinwheels for Prevention and LACASAâs Cap Council can be found at the link below. (DK)
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Volunteers Needed To Help Pack Meals For Starving ChildrenVolunteers Needed To Help Pack Meals For Starving Children
Donations are volunteers are needed for an event that will help feed children-in-need around the globe.
Every day 6,200 kids die from lack of food or malnutrition related illnesses. The Livingston County branch of the Christian non-profit group Feed My Starving Children is bringing its MobilePack event back to Cornerstone Church in Brighton on April 29th and 30th. MobilePack volunteers will be part of a high-energy, assembly line that, when Cornerstone last participated in October 2015, were able to pack 360,000 meals over 2 days. This time around they are aiming for 500,000. To do so they will need 2,000 volunteers for 2-hour long shifts and raise approximately $80,000 for raw ingredients.
Kids as young as 4-years old can help, and this event also promises to be a great team building opportunity for businesses, schools, and clubs. More information and a link to volunteer or donate can be found online at www.livingstoncares.com.(MK)
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Congressional High School Arts Competition Underway Congressional High School Arts Competition Underway
A nationwide high school arts competition is underway and local students are encouraged to enter.
The Artistic Discovery Contest is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives each spring, providing an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent across America, including Michiganâs 8th District. The contest is open to all high school students residing in Livingston, Ingham and northern Oakland Counties. The winner will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and receive two round-trip airline tickets to attend a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. this June.
Students should drop off one art piece and a release form at Congressman Mike Bishopâs 8th District office on Grand River in Brighton by 5pm on Friday, April 28th. The winner and honorable mentions will be named at a reception in early May. All entries must be original in concept, design and execution, and not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Further details are available through the link.
Pictured is Counting Petoskey Stones by last year's winner, Jenna Kathleen Wilusz. (JM)
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Professional Inspections Now Required For Rebuilt Salvage VehiclesProfessional Inspections Now Required For Rebuilt Salvage Vehicles
Vehicles that have been rebuilt following major body damage are now required to have a mechanicâs inspection before being allowed back on the road.
A new state law now dictates that owners who have repaired a salvage vehicle must now have their work checked out by a professional mechanic before it is allowed back on the road or sold to a buyer. The Secretary of State dictates that if a relatively newer vehicle loses 75-91% of its estimated value then it will be issued an orange salvage title. Vehicles that suffer over 91% of their value are considered scrap and can never be driven, but a salvage vehicle can be rebuilt, and upon approval, allowed back on the road. The old law only required inspection by a trained law-enforcement officer to verify that the vehicle was not repaired using stolen parts.
People who repair a salvage vehicle will now find a new section on the inspection form for a certified mechanic to fill out. Once completed and submitted with the salvage title and salvage certification form, an orange rebuilt salvage title will be issued. Sellers are required to disclose if a vehicle has a salvage title. The Secretary of State cautions car buyers when buying a vehicle with a salvage title, as it may not be worth as much as the same vehicle with a normal title. (MK)
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Chestnut Creek Road Approval Granted In Marion TownshipChestnut Creek Road Approval Granted In Marion Township
The Marion Township Board of Trustees gave approval for a road that will lead to new housing developments upon conditions.
The Board had some concerns but felt satisfied enough to give the developer of a 2,100 foot long private, gravel road at Chestnut Creek approval at their regular meeting last Thursday night. Township Supervisor Bob Hanvey said this wasnât a project without its fair share of complications. He admitted that that length was longer than the like to have in the township, but they have been granted a variance for it. Wetlands along the road were a large concern for a couple board members. The road is planned to traverse close to the edge of it in stretches and a condition was put into Board approval that a spillway be put in to help prevent flooding and erosion. Because of the grade moving up and down, one half-mile stretch was slated at having a posted 15 mile-per-hour speed limit.
Trustee Dan Lowe said that nobody is going to drive that slow for that long and that it was one of the stupidest things heâs ever heard. The developer will rework the road to allow for a higher speed. The third condition was to change the type of gravel to a standard that was more conforming to other standards in the community. The developer is now free to pull their permits and begin building the road that will eventually lead to a development with 12 planned houses. (MK)
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Brighton Employee Named Wastewater Operations Specialist Of The YearBrighton Employee Named Wastewater Operations Specialist Of The Year
A City of Brighton employee has received the 2017 Wastewater Operations Specialist of the Year award.
Utilities Crew Leader Corey Brooks was recently honored with the award during the Michigan Rural Water Association Annual Conference. Brooks came to the City in 1985 as a part-time seasonal employee and worked his way up through the years. He currently oversees the Cityâs Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Cityâs Collection System, while providing additional support to the Water Department when needed.
The City says through more than 30 years of dedicated service, Brooks has gained the knowledge and experience to be one the best operators in the wastewater industry. They say âHe not only leads by example, but has the passion to teach and pass-on his knowledge and skills with the staff he works with daily, justifying his promotion to Crew Leader in 2011â.
Brooks is pictures with Andrea Schroeder, the President of the Michigan Rural Water Association. (JM)
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