8/5/13 - Howell-area voters will cast ballots in a special general election tomorrow that will determine both a county commission seat and a library millage. Voters in the City of Howell as well as Cohoctah and Howell Townships will be deciding from three candidates in the running to represent District 5 on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners, which became vacant due to a resignation. Libertarian candidate Mike Brennan of Howell Township has a teaching and education background. He feels that his libertarian views set him apart with an emphasis on transparency, while still maintaining a fiscal conservative nature. Howell Township Trustee and Democrat Mike Tipton says his family values and business background would serve the county well and says the commission needs diversity to bring relevance back to the people and accountability back to the board. He believes that vital accomplishments can be made without resorting to tax increases. Howell attorney Donald Parker, a Republican, previously served on the county board and was appointed to fill the vacancy on an interim basis. Parker tells WHMI he brings priorities, perspectives and experience to the table and itâs a great privilege to serve. He feels the foundation has been laid for a successful future. Meanwhile, Howell Area voters will also be casting ballots on a millage request from the Howell Carnegie District Library. Officials say the average homeowner in the library district would pay around $30 more per year in taxes, or 58-cents a week, likening it to the purchase of a typical hardcover book. Officials says those who do use the library like the flexibility of it being open seven days a week, but also the unique services, valuable research materials and other resources it provides for free that would be rather expensive otherwise. Director Kathleen Zaenger tells WHMI thereâs been a concerted effort to try and shield the public from the problems, which are becoming more and more visible. She says the millage increase is a reasonable expense in terms of what it will provide and a real bargain to keep a community gem going. Should the millage not pass, Zaenger says the immediate change the public would see is the library closing its doors two days a week, which would allow some extra funding to make limited repairs to the building and get the emergency things done, although not in the quality manner they hope for should the millage pass. Zaenger says the finance committee has been meeting regularly for the past two years and if defeated, theyâll likely come back to voters because itâs really the only option with the amount of money needed to do the necessary work. Polls open at 7am and complete election information can be found on the Livingston County Clerkâs webpage. (JK)
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