Everyone's Blog Posts - Lapeer County Tea Party2024-03-28T20:42:51Zhttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?xn_auth=noCommissioner: Government has infringed on citizen rights -- "From the 10-20 2021 Lapeer County Press"tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2021-10-20:4510650:BlogPost:994102021-10-20T13:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<h1><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Original article <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/commissioner-government-has-infringed-on-citizen-rights/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></h1>
<h1>Commissioner: Government has infringed on citizen rights </h1>
<h1><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OCTOBER 20, 2021 BY KRYSTAL MORALEE CONTRIBUTING WRITER</span></h1>
<h1 class="article__heading"><span style="font-size: 13px;">LAPEER…</span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Original article <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/commissioner-government-has-infringed-on-citizen-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></span></h1>
<h1>Commissioner: Government has infringed on citizen rights </h1>
<h1><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OCTOBER 20, 2021 BY KRYSTAL MORALEE CONTRIBUTING WRITER</span></h1>
<h1 class="article__heading"><span style="font-size: 13px;">LAPEER</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">— Frustrated by what he sees happening at a federal and state level, particularly during the COVID- 19 pandemic, Commissioner Rick Warren has been known to speak passionately during commissioner time at county Board of Commissioner meetings. Last Thursday, he brought his frustration forward in the form of a draft resolution he is asking the rest of the commissioners to consider.</span></h1>
<div class="entry-content"><p>The original draft of the resolution includes the following language:</p>
<p>“Whereas medical procedures including testing, temperature, questioning details of personal condition past or present, contact tracing, injections, prescriptions, doctor/medical/ hospital appointments or admittance is and remains wholly and solely the choice and decision of each individual citizen for themselves and for any minors in their charge or persons under their legal power-of-attorney; be it resolved the Lapeer County Commissioners… shall neither pass or enact any measures which infringe upon the rights of its citizens to personal medical privacy, autonomy, choice and decision, nor condone, support or assist any other agency in the county, state or federal, or their agents, in the violation of its citizens’ rights to medical personal privacy and autonomy, or rights of travel, commerce, employment, assembly, speech, engagement in civic and public meetings and events.”</p>
<p>At Thursday’s meeting, Warren encouraged the rest of the board to not allow the government to dictate what people do in terms of medical care, disclosure, vaccination, and proving vaccination status, among other issues.</p>
<p>“We all should be standing up against that, so what I’m doing here is putting up a resolution that as county commissioners… we’ll take a stand,” he said. “Who the hell does this government think they are? I get passionate about it because this is our freedom. This is what you and I thought we had and we’re slowly, slowly losing it… We’re not telling anyone what to do, we’re just saying we’re standing up against any tyranny that’s coming toward us. Tyranny is telling us me (I’m) going to take that jab and put it in my body or (they’ll) arrest me. Tyranny is when you’re going to tell me that if I speak up at a school board I become a domestic terrorist, but yet if you go burn down a county building, you’re okay. This is wrong. This is all about not allowing them to really mandate anything on the American people but allow the American people to make the decisions for their body, for their choice.”</p>
<p>Warren expressed disgust that when he personally got COVID-19 last fall, his doctor was instructed not to use hydroxychloroquine to treat it — something that Warren was given anyway, and which he attributes to helping him overcome the virus rather than being hospitalized and possibly dying from it.</p>
<p>“The main thing I’m looking for from this is to ease some fear in our community and the county employees by showing them their leaders will stand for them,” said Warren.</p>
<p>The board discussed the draft resolution briefly and decided Warren should submit a revised resolution for the Oct. 28 Committee of the Whole meeting for further discussion and possible action. The merits of drafting a letter instead of a resolution were also discussed and may also be considered on Oct. 28.</p>
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</div>A few restaurants considered resumption of dine-in service, change minds after state action (From 11/29/2020 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2020-11-29:4510650:BlogPost:536902020-11-29T14:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p class="byline oht-article-meta"><span class="byline__time">NOVEMBER 28, 2020</span></p>
<p><span class="article__byline">BY JEFF HOGAN</span><br></br> <span class="article__byline">810-452-2640 •</span><br></br> <span class="article__byline">JHOGAN@MIHOMEPAPER.COM</span></p>
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<p>Original posting…</p>
<p class="byline oht-article-meta"><span class="byline__time">NOVEMBER 28, 2020</span></p>
<p><span class="article__byline">BY JEFF HOGAN</span><br/> <span class="article__byline">810-452-2640 •</span><br/> <span class="article__byline">JHOGAN@MIHOMEPAPER.COM</span></p>
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<p>Original posting <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/a-few-restaurants-considered-resumption-of-dine-in-service-change-minds-after-state-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></p>
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<p><span>LAPEER COUNTY</span><span> </span>— The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Nov. 15 issued a three-week partial shutdown of businesses and limited the size of outdoor public gatherings until Dec. 8 in an effort to mitigate a surge in local and statewide COVID-19 cases and deaths.</p>
<p>The order, which among other things, prohibits dine-in services at restaurants, was and is controversial as many businesses and municipalities anticipate the order will be extended into 2021. Some owners argue the MDHHS order appears arbitrary in that some businesses can stay open while others are ordered closed.</p>
<p>Restaurants in particular have been hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were closed for several months, others relied on takeout and drive-up food service.</p>
<p>The latest MDHHS order was effective Nov. 18. It again shut down bowling allies, bars, roller rinks, casinos and dine-in restaurant service. Allowed to stay open were retail stores, nail and tattoo salons, as well as exercise gyms provided they adhered to COVID-19 social distancing, mask-wearing and sanitizing requirements.</p>
<p>Pat Hingst, founder and co-owner of Woodchips Barbecue in downtown Lapeer, defied the MDHHS order and maintained dine-in service. On Wednesday, the state agency reported that it had fined the business $1,000 for the violation and $1,000 for every day that it continues dine-in service in violation of the state health department order.</p>
<p>Other restaurant owners in Lapeer County stood on the sideline to observe if there were consequences from state or local authorities on the decision by Woodchips to continue dine-in service. Initially, it appeared there weren’t any. Many, if not most, were empathetic and soon a few others joined in.</p>
<p>But then the MDHHS and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission brought the hammer down on businesses that violated the dine-in restriction. On Wednesday, the MDHHS fined Woodchips while three others in the state were notified their liquor license may be suspended.</p>
<p>As a result of a countywide directive issued by the Liquor Control Commission and MDHHS, Hingst announced that Woodchips has initiated a “Cease and Assist” campaign in response to the state’s cease and desist order. He said the restaurant will operate as a nonprofit organization, with all revenue during the current dine-in service restriction going toward employees and to support community organizations such as food-assistance programs.</p>
<p>In Lapeer, Daner’s Diner at the northwest corner of Genesee and Court streets, owned and operated by Dane and Barb Lubick reopened — if only for a couple of days. On Tuesday,<span> The County Press</span><span> </span>visited the restaurant that has been open since 2011.</p>
<p>“It’s more of a community mental thing right now. After the most recent announcement (to cease dinein service until Dec. 8) I cried for two days,” said Barb while she greeted several “regulars” to the restaurant. “In the first round we got a PPP (Payroll Protection Program loan) and we got a grant from the Lapeer DDA (Downtown Development Authority). That’s all gone. We don’t have that this time, and we don’t know how long this is going to go on.”</p>
<p>Dane added, “We had no choice. We had to open. We need the income to stay in business.” However, after local and state health department guidance, Daner’s Diner has again suspended dine-in service and resumed take-out only business.</p>
<p>Jenni Hart-Friske, general manager of the North Branch Bar & Grill, said 2020 has been a difficult year and an emotional roller-coaster for she and her boss who had to lay off 40 employees between the North Branch location and Sawdust Corners Tavern on North Lapeer Road in Mayfield Township they also operate.</p>
<p>“We have loyal and regular customers. We make their day. We’re their family. They come here for a good meal and the friendship of talking with us,” said Friske. It has also been difficult due to less revenue at North Branch Bar & Grill, said Friske, to sponsor youth baseball teams and other functions — though they do what they can, including recent support of the Nov. 15 buck pole in North Branch.</p>
<p>They had planned to reopen to dine-in service. That changed with the MDHHS and Liquor Control citations and license suspension action against restaurants that were in violation of the epidemic order.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, posted on the North Branch Bar & Grill Facebook page, was the following message. “It is with deep regret we must announce we will no longer be open for dine-in services tomorrow. We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Due to circumstances out of our control, we are no longer in a position to open our doors once more,” said Friske. “As optimistic as we were yesterday, we are just as defeated today. We are humbled by the support of our community, other local restaurants, and Michiganders alike. We hope our valued customers did not see our attempt of opening our dining room as an act against their safety, rather an act for our sustainability. We will continue our take-out services and appreciate all of our customers.”</p>
<p>Likewise, the mid-week action by the MDHHS and Liquor Control Commission, ended any thoughts of reopening dine-in service at E.G. Nick’s restaurant in Lapeer.</p>
<p>Owner Jeff Ryeson and his family own and operate five restaurants in southeast Michigan. “It’s killing me. These shutdowns and restrictions are killing me. We have a lot of employees who will be laid off again when the holidays are here. It’s very hard to tell people you have to lay them off,” said Ryeson.</p>
<p>While he wanted to reopen to dine-in service, he knew the consequences. “To jeopardize our restaurants with Liquor Control would be insane. We can’t do that,” he told<span> The County Press</span><span> </span>on Tuesday, just minutes after he was contacted by Liquor Control and informed he could have his liquor license suspended if he goes ahead with announced plans to reopen.</p>
<p>Later that afternoon he posted online, “With a heavy heart and a lump in my throat I’ve decided not to reopen for indoor dining tomorrow. Unfortunately, there are factors that are out of my control and would result in us being shut down, defeating the reason to stay open and help out my staff. All I can think about is how horrible it’s going to be for some of them. I see how they struggle now and it breaks my heart.”</p>
<p>Ryeson continued, “I am so thankful for the outpouring of well-wishers and supporters. The overall comments were very positive and I thank you. We will continue with our take-out business and employ as many as we can. Please keep us and the other independent restaurants here in town in your hearts. Lapeer is a great community and it’s an honor to be here to serve you. On a happy note… next month is our 37th anniversary. Time flies.</p>
<p>Take care, be safe and we will be here for you.”</p>
<p>In Columbiaville, Rob Pittman, the executive chef and partner of Falcon’s Nest Family Dining on Water Street is equally grateful for regular customers and welcomes new ones to support the family business during these tough times.</p>
<p>“We recently closed down for two weeks because there were a lot of cases (COVID- 19) in the Columbiaville area. We wanted to protect our employees and customers. We just reopened last week to take-out only service,” said Pittman.</p>
<p>“We all (employees) tested negative and decided to reopen, but it’s been tough. This one (recent closure) was bad enough,” he added.</p>
<p>Just inside the front door of the Falcon’s Nest, they’ve constructed an 8×8-foot plexiglass enclosure in which customers enter to pick up their take-out order so there is no contact between patrons and employees.</p>
<p>“We have hand sanitizer inside and out of the entrance. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure safe service for our customers who we need more than ever.”</p>County road millage proposed (From the March 1st 2020 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2020-03-01:4510650:BlogPost:282032020-03-01T15:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p>Original Article click <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
<p><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BY JEFF HOGAN</span><br></br> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">810-452-2640 •…</span></p>
<p>Original Article click <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></p>
<p><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-road-millage-proposed/</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BY JEFF HOGAN</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">810-452-2640 • jhogan@mihomepaper.com</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em><strong>November ballot may include 1.85-mill, four-year proposal</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MAYFIELD TWP. — The writing is on the wall. State lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have been unable to agree on a permanent funding mechanism to fix the darn roads — including those here in Lapeer County, so local road officials are prepared to go it alone with the help of taxpayers to get the job done.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">They hope to put shovels in the ground on local road projects if a 1.85-mill, four-year proposal drafted by leadership at the Lapeer County Road Commission is approved next fall. Efforts are underway to place the funding initiative on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Road Commission Director Rick Pearson and Superintendent Zeb Schons are frustrated they’re at a place where they’re again considering another countywide road millage. A November 2014 proposal, that also sought 1.85 mills, but for six years, was defeated 15,562-13,150.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">“We hate the fact that we have to look at a millage,” said Schons, “but we just feel we owe it to the people. We have to try something, because we can’t wait on the State to do anything. It hasn’t happened yet.”</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Whitmer in January announced she was done waiting for the Republican-controlled Legislature to develop a long-term funding solution to fix the state’s aging highways and bridges and instead opted to sell $3.5 billion in bonds to finance roadwork. Whitmer initially announced a 45-cent gas tax proposal that would go directly to road funding, but GOP leaders said her plan was a non-starter with their members and much of the public alike and it went nowhere. The problem with Whitmer’s bond plan, according to local officials, is that it will do nothing to help the Lapeer County Road Commission maintain and upgrade the 1,310- plus miles of county roads it’s responsible for. Whitmer’s bond proposal only allocates money to state trunklines. Over the course of the next three years, the only bond money to be spent in Lapeer County will go toward two projects on I-69.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Coupled with that reality, and that Lapeer County roads aren’t going to fix themselves without a funding source Pearson, Schons and the Road Commission’s chief financial officer Linette Weston sat down with The County Press last week at the road authority’s main yard and administrative offices on Davis Lake Road in Mayfield Township to explain their proposal. The plan received favorable reviews from township officials at a recent meeting where the proposal was shared.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">A big change from the November 2014 proposal, said Road Commission officials, is that the current proposal is two years less than the proposal that was defeated by 2,412 votes six years ago. Also significant and appreciated by township officials, is that the current millage proposal would be a 70/30 split with 70% of funds going to township and village roads and 30% to primary county roads.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Seventy-percent of funds generated in a township would stay in that township,” said Schons. Additional funds generated, should the November millage pass, would be held by the Road Commission to be available to be used by the townships for road maintenance and improvements only.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">“It would totally be up to the townships to spend money on what roads and projects they thought most important,” said Schons. As proposed, the Road Commission would work with the townships every year to evaluate their asset management plans and available funds — part of a five-year plan to be developed by the Road Commission with every township to best allocate money to the most pressing projects.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Passage of the 1.85-mill proposal would generate an additional $5.9 million in annual revenue to be distributed, with the guidance and direction of local officials, to the county’s 18 townships. The Road Commission’s fiscal year budget for 2020 is $17 million, or $13,072 per mile.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">“We’ll continue to function as a road commission if this doesn’t pass,” said Schons. “We’ll do the best we can to maintain the roads with the money we have.”</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pearson echoed the resolve to upgrade local roads to be the smooth, safe roads the public has been demanding for years — though the funding has never been enough to keep up with the deteriorating condition of many roads. “Every penny you pay in this (proposed) tax stays in this county,” he commented.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pearson added, “We have to prove ourselves in four years. It (millage money) gives us a chance to show people the investment in their roads.” He’s hopeful county residents will be impressed with roadwork they see happening within the townships, improving odds the millage would be renewed in four years.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">A committee will be organized, comprised of local residents, township officials and business-people, to review the 1.85- mill proposal. The committee, its members to be named by April, will use that month and May to review the Road Commission’s millage proposal to determine if they agree with their figures. The committee will then formalize the ballot language to be submitted by Aug. 11 to the Lapeer County Clerk’s Office. The same group will also be responsible to promote and advocate for the proposal, raising money for yard signs and advertising as one of their chief functions.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">If passed, revenue from the proposed November ballot initiative would be used exclusively for maintenance and reconstruction of county roads and bridges. It could not be used for staff salary, for new trucks, road graders or excavators or other day-to-day operating expenses.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">With a 1.85-mill in place, a Lapeer County property owner with a taxable value of $150,000 would pay an additional $277.50 per year.</span></p>RESOLUTION TO DECLARE LAPEER COUNTY TO BE A “SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COUNTY”tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2020-01-21:4510650:BlogPost:282012020-01-21T04:52:42.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This Thursday (1/23/2020) at 9AM!!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Lapeer County Commission is taking up a resolution at its next meeting which is this Thursday morning at 9AM. We encourage folks to attend to support a RESOLUTION TO DECLARE LAPEER COUNTY TO BE A “SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COUNTY” . Please attend if you can and show your support! This will take place on Thursday, January 23, 2020 during the Commissioner’s meeting that starts…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This Thursday (1/23/2020) at 9AM!!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Lapeer County Commission is taking up a resolution at its next meeting which is this Thursday morning at 9AM. We encourage folks to attend to support a RESOLUTION TO DECLARE LAPEER COUNTY TO BE A “SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY COUNTY” . Please attend if you can and show your support! This will take place on Thursday, January 23, 2020 during the Commissioner’s meeting that starts at 9:00 am. AS this is at the Courthouse complex, this is a weapon / pistol free zone. NO GUNS ALLOWED. This is the meeting to attend if you want your views heard. if you would like to speak during public comment, you will be allowed 3 minutes. Please be respectful. Meetings are held at the County Complex 255 Clay Street, Lapeer, MI.48446</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When you enter in through the front door, go straight across the hallway to the elevator. Go down to the basement and exit the elevator to the right. Go down the hallway and look to the left until you come to the Commissioners room.</span></p>County may take stand on 2nd Amendment "From Jan 19th Lapeer County Press"tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2020-01-19:4510650:BlogPost:281012020-01-19T18:14:15.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Original Story Link <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-may-take-stand-on-2nd-amendment/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Here</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Resolution to affirm rights to be discussed this week</span><br></br><span style="font-size: 14pt;">| JANUARY 18, 2020</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">LAPEER — Lapeer County is among those in the first wave of Michigan counties whose…</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Original Story Link <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/county-may-take-stand-on-2nd-amendment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Resolution to affirm rights to be discussed this week</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">| JANUARY 18, 2020</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">LAPEER — Lapeer County is among those in the first wave of Michigan counties whose leaders are looking at declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuary counties — 2A Sanctuary for short. County Commissioner Rick Warren (District 5) moved Thursday to put a resolution on the agenda for the Committee of the Whole meeting that will take place Thursday, Jan. 23.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As of press time, several other counties in the state have begun the process of looking at 2A Sanctuary resolutions, and the interest is picking up steam quickly. Some have failed to pass motions while others have tentatively approved resolutions that will go forward for final approval.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The issue was brought up briefly at a recent Lapeer County Board of Commissioners meeting by District 1 Commissioner Brenden Miller, spurred by questions from a constituent, though no action was taken to move forward at the time. Local and statewide groups, including Michigan for 2A Sanctuary Counties and its localized offshoots, have been formed on social media to gather support from people who wish to see their counties become 2A sanctuaries. A member of the local group, Harry Akers, approached Sheriff Scott McKenna about the issue.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“I have been watching closely what is happening in Virginia and here in Michigan,” said McKenna. “I also have spoken with many people about their concerns and was called by Harry last week. We scheduled a meeting and sat down to discuss on Tuesday at the Sheriff’s Office.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Akers gave McKenna a sample 2A Sanctuary resolution, which he passed on to the Board of Commissioners. An ad-hoc committee is being formed to meet prior to Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting with the task of drafting an official resolution, which is to be presented on Thursday. Should the resolution then be approved by a majority of the board, it would be up for final approval at the Jan. 30 full board meeting. The resolution could also be voted down, or moved to a future meeting for further discussion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Akers was present and spoke briefly during public time at the meeting, addressing District 7 Commissioner Ian Kempf’s comment that there was not current pending legislation in this state that indicated a need to get this done quickly.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“If we wait until everything is pending and they have their ducks in a row to push it through, it’s too late,” said Akers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Kempf, who will be absent at Thursday’s meeting, had at first asked that the issue be moved farther into the future, but agreed to an amended motion to form the ad-hoc committee to draft the resolution. He was quick to clarify that his request does not mean he is against the issue.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“It’s an important decision,” he said. “In my opinion, you should give that decision the thought and consideration I would hope our citizens would expect of us and not just push something through.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The push to create 2A Sanctuary counties is happening across the country. At the end of 2019, counties in the state of Virginia began declaring themselves 2A sanctuaries, sending the message that they do not intend to comply with any unconstitutional gun control laws coming down from the Virginia Legislature, which has a Democrat majority. From there, the movement has spread to other states.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here in Michigan — as in other states — the creation of 2A sanctuary counties would be a statement to state government leaders that the counties intend to uphold the Second Amendment, which protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“This discussion we are having right now is all over the country, it’s not just in Michigan,” said Warren, who said he wants to get the message out to the community immediately that Lapeer County will uphold the constitutionally protected rights of its citizens.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Board Chair and District 2 Commissioner Gary Roy agreed, and said the faster they get this done, the quicker they can let the county residents know, officially, where the board stands on the matter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Questions have arisen in other counties about what the passage of such a resolution would mean for law enforcement personnel when it comes to the enforcement of laws that go against the Second Amendment, but Sheriff McKenna has clear feelings about that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“When I was elected I placed my hand on the bible and swore to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of the residents of Lapeer County,” said McKenna. “For me it is simple, I will do exactly that and will not be a part of infringing on the Second Amendment rights of our citizens.”</span></p>Thoughts on the Impeachment Charade from LCTP Chair Maurice Freed...tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2020-01-02:4510650:BlogPost:278042020-01-02T21:06:45.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p>MAURICE DAVID FREED, JD<br></br>FREED AGENCY/LAWYER’S HELP INVESTIGATIONS<br></br>Lapeer, Michigan 48446<br></br>mfreed5161@aol.com<br></br>December 20, 2019<br></br>Republican National Committee<br></br>PO Box 96994<br></br>Washington DC 20090-6994<br></br> Attn: Ms. Ronna McDaniel<br></br> Chairwoman, Republican National Committee<br></br> <br></br> Re: Impeachment - “ME THINKS WE PROFESS TOO MUCH!!”<br></br>Dear Ms. Ronna McDaniel:<br></br> <br></br>The purpose of this communication is to address the importance of the Constitution as the…</p>
<p>MAURICE DAVID FREED, JD<br/>FREED AGENCY/LAWYER’S HELP INVESTIGATIONS<br/>Lapeer, Michigan 48446<br/>mfreed5161@aol.com<br/>December 20, 2019<br/>Republican National Committee<br/>PO Box 96994<br/>Washington DC 20090-6994<br/> Attn: Ms. Ronna McDaniel<br/> Chairwoman, Republican National Committee<br/> <br/> Re: Impeachment - “ME THINKS WE PROFESS TOO MUCH!!”<br/>Dear Ms. Ronna McDaniel:<br/> <br/>The purpose of this communication is to address the importance of the Constitution as the foundation of our Democratic Republic. Whatever your political affiliations are, the present impeachment process is doing irreparable harm and injury to both the US Constitution and the Country which operates under its edicts, principles, rules and laws.<br/> <br/>In reviewing what is happening, it is clear that the fundamentals of Article II, Sec. 4 of the Federal Constitution, and the Bill of Rights affording protection to every citizen (including the President) is being violated. I refer you to such terms as presumption of innocence, due process, the right of the people to be secure in their persons, property, papers, personal effects and homes from unreasonable searches and seizures (i.e., invasion of privacy), the right to confront accusers, the right of representation in a criminal prosecution (persecution), the right to be informed of the charges being brought, and the right to a speedy trial by jury of your peers.<br/> <br/>Additionally, we have a process to secure the proper application of laws by a form of “checks and balances” by co-equal branches of government defined as the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. The process is furthered by an election which secures a non-forceful means or peaceful voluntary transfer of power. This is accomplished in the name of “We the People” who exercise thise right by a mandate referred to as a “vote”. As to the Executive branch of government, the Founding Fathers agreed and implemented a system of an “electoral college “ to assure that all citizens are properly represented in the process, particularly those who reside in remote rural communities.<br/> <br/>In 2016, the Country went through an election process. The main focus of that election cycle was the election of a President. This occurs as the past Administration was term limited. As we recall, the Democratic Party nominated their successor to Barrack Obama to be Hilary Clinton; and the Republican Party chose a non-political novice to the process to be Donald J. Trump. We know the results.<br/>What has happened during the past three years during the Trump Administration? Mr. Trump ran on a platform to do something completely different then past administrations so as to restore “America to Greatness” as a leader in the free-world. Therefore, terms and slogans were used such as draining the swamp, reduction of government in the daily affairs of its citizens, restore the military to prominence, reinforcement of the free enterprise market system, and engage foreign governments to appropriate their own funds to support in their defense, and to renegotiate unfair trade activities between foreign entities to protect the interest of the US citizens. Elections do matter!<br/> <br/>Donald J. Trump was elected under our system of government. I believe, as do many citizens in this Country, that he has fulfilled or is the process of fulfilling his promises on the Agenda put forth. His accomplishments are numerous including economic prosperity, jobs creation, tax relief, a strong economy and a low unemployment situation internally in the US. I believe that he can continue to do good things for the US and possibly successfully complete his Agenda. The question becomes: “Why is there a major vocal faction in the US which protests” the current climate?<br/> <br/>This internal faction has been carried too far by implementation of a system referred to as: “impeachment”. This can also be referred to as a recall or voter nullification in an attempt to remove a duly elected official from office. This sets a very dangerous precedent to this Country and completely undermines fundamental principles of fairness and justice upon which this Country was founded. The record does not establish any wrongdoing whatsoever or any impropriety. Furthermore, there is no misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance or breach of any fiduciary duty to the citizens of the US while in office. Impeachment is an extraordinary remedy not warranted under the present circumstances.<br/> <br/>The major allegation implies that somehow the President, using his office, exerted undue influence upon a foreign government to initiate an investigation into corruption by the foreign entity. It appears further that a utility company (Barisma) is implicated in this corruption. The facts disclose that Hunter Biden had an employment relationship with a company being investigated for corruption. Since Hunter Biden is a relative to a former high ranking official in the US Government, Vice President Joe Biden, which occurred prior to the 2016 election, the idea that this was personally benefiting President Trump for the 2020 Presidential campaign, rather than the citizens of the US, seems tenuous at best. On the contrary, there appears to be an appearance of impropriety by this nexus between the Bidens and the corruption alleged in the Country of Ukraine.<br/> <br/>Legislative appropriations for foreign aid to a country engaged in war requires that these funds be used for the purposes intended; i.e., not misappropriated and/or laundered to a corrupt entity. The Executive branch of government is in control of the release of these funds subject to the Legislative mandate compelling investigation of corruption. The President, under the present circumstance, did exactly what the law required. All US citizens should be aware that our President is very cognizant to be responsible to exercise due diligence in the release and allocation of funds for foreign aid. Administratively, our Executive branch was assured that the funds being appropriated and forwarded to the Ukraine Government, shortly after the election of their new President Zelinsky, was performed in a proper manner and would be used as proscribed by the US Legislature.<br/> <br/>Now, however, the opposition party to our President alleges through investigation, that the Executive branch has committed 1) Abuse of Power; and 2) Obstruction of Congress through the investigation process by the House of Representatives. The underlying claim is interference with the election process by a foreign entity at the invitation of our Executive which jeopardizes our National Security. This is allegedly accomplished by leveraging foreign aid to a Country while at war. Art. II, Sec. 4, of the US Constitution states that the “President . . . shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”<br/> <br/>The House of Representatives of the US Legislature prefaced their investigation upon tainted and unlawful procedures as acknowledged by the third branch of government, the Judiciary. The Executive branch of government was subject to an illegal surveillance, eavesdropping and intrusion into privacy in violation of the 4th Amendment right to be protected against unreasonable searches and seizures. In a Court of Law, such actions would strike down the process and dismiss any type of prosecution. It is clear by an independent investigation of the FBI by the Department of Justice that the procedures implemented under FISA for issuing warrants were significantly and unconstitutionally violated. This process continued uninterrupted over a period of two years. Therefore, the taint of the process invalidates the impeachment process.<br/> <br/>The next issue addresses the right of subpoena or to compel the production of documents and appearance of witnesses during an investigative procedure. The claim asserts that the Executive branch did not cooperate in the investigation and did not comply with numerous requests for certain witnesses to appear and testify (without the assistance of legal counsel) and for the production of numerous documents. The remedy for enforcement of subpoenas duces tecum (bring with you) is by access to the Judiciary to resolve differences between the two branches of government. The Legislature refused and chose not to avail themselves of the appropriate legal remedy. In this instance, the Legislature is deemed to have waived their rights under the subpoena. Therefore, the claim of Obstruction of Congress falls.<br/> <br/>It appears to me that not only has the Executive branch of government properly complied with his oath of office, but performed his duties diligently by protecting the interest of taxpayer’s dollars in disbursement of funds appropriated for aid to a foreign Country engaged in war. Our National Security was preserved by the President’s Administrative actions. There has been no crime committed; no high crime or misdemeanor, bribery or treason.<br/> <br/>To use the impeachment process against an Officer of the US Government, let alone the President of the US, under the facts and circumstances presented, is a travesty which does irreparable harm and injury to the Country. The action of impeachment not only tries to nullify the votes of the electorate, but will foster competition among the branches of government. If impeachment is successful here it will have accomplished this by usurping the power of the Executive. This will destroy the checks and balances provision of the Constitution by shifting the balance of the co-equal three branches of government to the Legislature! The Speaker of the US House of Representatives stated “WE CANNOT TRUST THE VOTERS, THEREFORE WE MUST IMPEACH”. This is the attitude which has been fostered for over two years since the 2016 election cycle. We must reinforce our constitutional Democratic Republic and not allow the impeachment to continue!!.<br/> <br/>Sincerely: Maurice D Freed, Chairman of the Lapeer County MI Tea Party<br/> <br/>P.S. I am also transmitting the idea that if the Articles of Impeachment voted on the by House are not immediately presented to the US Senate so that a trial procedure is initiated, then, in that event, the Senate and the President's counsel should immediately bring an emergency Motion to Dismiss before the US Supreme Court based upon the theory that the Impeachment lacks any evidentiary foundation to support probable cause to believe that any crime or wrongdoing had been committed by the President and for failure of the US House to afford the President a speedy trial and/or expeditious resolution of the dispute; and thereafter pursue a Motion to Expunge any reference to an Impeachment procedure from the record of this President. This would be the legal precedent necessary to protect the Constitutional aspect of the US Democratic Republic to assure that this procedure can never be done again in this manner!</p>LCS unveils final ‘2020 Vision’ Three buildings to close, new high school proposed (From 2/24/2019 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2019-02-24:4510650:BlogPost:269022019-02-24T17:09:54.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/lcs-unveils-final-2020-vision/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Article Link HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="article__byline">BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE</span><br></br><span class="article__byline">810-452-2601 • NPUGLIESE@MIHOMEPAPER.COM…</span><br></br></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/lcs-unveils-final-2020-vision/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Article Link HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="article__byline">BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE</span><br/><span class="article__byline">810-452-2601 • NPUGLIESE@MIHOMEPAPER.COM</span><br/></strong></span></p>
<div class="entry-content"><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_top"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list"></div>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cost of bond expected to range from $89M to $102M</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LAPEER — It’s taken a number of public forums, meetings, tweaks and overhauls, but Lapeer Community Schools administrators have finalized their district restructure plan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dubbed “2020 Vision,” the district’s restructure plan comes as a result of a desire to maximize the district’s efficiency in the face of falling student population. During a special convening of the Lapeer Board of Education on Wednesday, Superintendent Matt Wandrie presented the final plan that will see the closing of three buildings while comprehensively overhauling the district’s remaining facilities by August 2022.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The LCS Board of Education is expected to make a final decision, including setting the amount the district will seek in a bond that will be voted on by district residents later this year, during the Board’s regular meeting March 6.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposed district structure will see Mayfield, Murphy and Lynch Elementary Schools closed and listed for sale. Turrill Elementary will become home to Early-5 and Kindergarten students, while the East Campus, current home to the district’s high school, will become Lapeer Elementary, housing grades 1-4. Rolland-Warner will house grades 5-6, Zemmer will house grades 7-8, and a completely rebuilt West Campus, currently the location of the district’s Center for Innovation, will become the home of the new Lapeer High School, housing grades 9-12. The auxiliary gymnasium will remain, but the rest of the proposed new high school will be new construction.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The district’s alternative education facility, Lapeer Community High School, as well as the district’s Virtual Learning program, will be relocated to Schickler. The administration building, homeschool partnership currently housed at Cramton and Maple Grove, which is home to services from Community Mental Health, will remain unchanged.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wandrie presented the Board a range of estimated bond proposal costs, broken down by priority. If the Board opts to fund all renovations and improvements put forth in the current plan, the cost of a bond is expected to be $102.5 million, and a “bare-bones” proposal, which funds only what the plan calls for as essential, would cost $97.7 million.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another option, which aimed to reduce the amount below a previously requested bar, would cut a further $7.9 million from that plan, lowering the cost to $89.8 million. The original estimate put forth by consulting firm Barton Malow set the cost of a restructure at approximately $126 million. As an example of the cost incurred by district residents if the bond is approved by voters, Wandrie said at a $100-million bond over a term of 24 years and 3.5 months, the cost to the average homeowner would equate to $14.83 per month.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The vast majority of the project’s cost, if the bond passes in November, would be devoted to the “full-scale renovation” of the West Campus, which is earmarked for $77.2 million. Other major expenditures include major renovations at the East Campus expected to cost $8.1 million and a $6.8 million improvement of the district’s bus garage that would see a parking lot reconstruction, new bus purchases and facility upgrades.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Currently, Lapeer Community Schools holds a 2.8 total levy in mills, the result of a bond in 2007 that among other projects facilitated the combination of the district’s two high schools into what is now Lapeer High School, and Wandrie said that even with a new bond adding to that number, Lapeer’s total levy in mills would still be smaller than surrounding districts such as Oxford’s 7.9 or Brandon’s 12.2.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After the Board approves or rejects the resolution March 6 that would see a solidified bond number chosen to present to voters in November, Wandrie said the real “campaign” begins, leading up to the vote scheduled for Nov. 5. If the bond proposal passes, a three-year transition planning period begins, with transition to be completed, and the new configuration in place, August of 2022.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Leading up to Wednesday’s presentation to the Board, Wandrie held several informational meetings with a number of stakeholder groups in the district, including staff, students, community organizations and parents, each providing their input that informed the presented configuration. “I think it’s really important to do that, get as much input as we can,” he said. Wandrie estimated that since the restructure planning was announced early this autumn, he’s met with 600 people. “We were just trying to throw out ideas, see what gains traction, what gets pushback,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">During the presentation, Wandrie noted that the proposed configuration of the district went through a number of changes due directly to public input, including abandoning plans for a “community center” within the new high school project that would see area businesses and organizations housed in a common area on campus. “The final proposal doesn’t have that language in it, we didn’t get the support on that that we anticipated,” said Wandrie. “We did however hear a lot of support from local business to use the facility afterhours and on the weekends for training or project-based learning with our kids.” Wandrie said “a number of people” also expressed safety concerns related to a “community center,” and ultimately, those plans were omitted. “I think we’re a few steps away from having a facility like that,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Between Wednesday’s meeting and when next the Board will convene March 6, they’ll be parsing through the over 250-line item proposal provided to them by Wandrie and his administrative team, breaking down every dollar of expected cost. “We’re very proud that we’ve got this thing down to a manageable number,” said Wandrie. In comparison to the bond proposal passed by voters in 2007, the number is actually smaller, he said. “It’s not out of line, and still significantly less, than our neighbors,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to Wandrie, the proposal exemplifies his team’s ethos of “doing more with less,” something they’ve tackled for the past eight years. “All the data indicates this district is on the rise, and we’re financially stable and providing more and better programming for the kids, which is the ultimate goal,” he said. “It’s a very ambitious plan, but it demonstrates fiscal responsibility, and we have to spend money to do that.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wandrie said that if the bond were to fail, it wouldn’t change the fact the district is losing students, and it won’t stop the district’s current facilities from continuing to age. “We are going to close buildings regardless of what the Board or voters decide, we will not require 13 buildings to manage 4,000 students,” he said. “It would be a very slow bleed over the next 8-10 years and we’d be proposing to cut programs, that’s just the cost of doing business.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to LCS Board President Michael Keller, the proposal will position the district to be financially healthy and streamlined for the foreseeable future. “I’ve been around here a long time and there hasn’t been one year where we could say ‘hey look, we have some money,’” he said. “Every year we have to figure out how to get through, and (it’s important to remember) that closing isn’t going to ‘free up money,’ it doesn’t work that way.” The proposal, he said, is “a strategy to get us a bright future,” and Keller said that the district’s already trending upward. “It’s hard to turn that ship around but you see what’s going on around here with our scores, they’re climbing at a rate higher than other communities — all of these things are coming together and this is what we need, this is what’s next.”</span></p>
</div>LCS unveils final ‘2020 Vision’ Three buildings to close, new high school proposed (From 2/24/2019 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2019-02-24:4510650:BlogPost:267032019-02-24T17:09:46.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/lcs-unveils-final-2020-vision/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Article Link HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="article__byline">BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE</span><br></br><span class="article__byline">810-452-2601 • NPUGLIESE@MIHOMEPAPER.COM…</span><br></br></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/lcs-unveils-final-2020-vision/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Article Link HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="article__byline">BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE</span><br/><span class="article__byline">810-452-2601 • NPUGLIESE@MIHOMEPAPER.COM</span><br/></strong></span></p>
<div class="entry-content"><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_top"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list"></div>
</div>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cost of bond expected to range from $89M to $102M</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LAPEER — It’s taken a number of public forums, meetings, tweaks and overhauls, but Lapeer Community Schools administrators have finalized their district restructure plan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dubbed “2020 Vision,” the district’s restructure plan comes as a result of a desire to maximize the district’s efficiency in the face of falling student population. During a special convening of the Lapeer Board of Education on Wednesday, Superintendent Matt Wandrie presented the final plan that will see the closing of three buildings while comprehensively overhauling the district’s remaining facilities by August 2022.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The LCS Board of Education is expected to make a final decision, including setting the amount the district will seek in a bond that will be voted on by district residents later this year, during the Board’s regular meeting March 6.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposed district structure will see Mayfield, Murphy and Lynch Elementary Schools closed and listed for sale. Turrill Elementary will become home to Early-5 and Kindergarten students, while the East Campus, current home to the district’s high school, will become Lapeer Elementary, housing grades 1-4. Rolland-Warner will house grades 5-6, Zemmer will house grades 7-8, and a completely rebuilt West Campus, currently the location of the district’s Center for Innovation, will become the home of the new Lapeer High School, housing grades 9-12. The auxiliary gymnasium will remain, but the rest of the proposed new high school will be new construction.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The district’s alternative education facility, Lapeer Community High School, as well as the district’s Virtual Learning program, will be relocated to Schickler. The administration building, homeschool partnership currently housed at Cramton and Maple Grove, which is home to services from Community Mental Health, will remain unchanged.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wandrie presented the Board a range of estimated bond proposal costs, broken down by priority. If the Board opts to fund all renovations and improvements put forth in the current plan, the cost of a bond is expected to be $102.5 million, and a “bare-bones” proposal, which funds only what the plan calls for as essential, would cost $97.7 million.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another option, which aimed to reduce the amount below a previously requested bar, would cut a further $7.9 million from that plan, lowering the cost to $89.8 million. The original estimate put forth by consulting firm Barton Malow set the cost of a restructure at approximately $126 million. As an example of the cost incurred by district residents if the bond is approved by voters, Wandrie said at a $100-million bond over a term of 24 years and 3.5 months, the cost to the average homeowner would equate to $14.83 per month.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The vast majority of the project’s cost, if the bond passes in November, would be devoted to the “full-scale renovation” of the West Campus, which is earmarked for $77.2 million. Other major expenditures include major renovations at the East Campus expected to cost $8.1 million and a $6.8 million improvement of the district’s bus garage that would see a parking lot reconstruction, new bus purchases and facility upgrades.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Currently, Lapeer Community Schools holds a 2.8 total levy in mills, the result of a bond in 2007 that among other projects facilitated the combination of the district’s two high schools into what is now Lapeer High School, and Wandrie said that even with a new bond adding to that number, Lapeer’s total levy in mills would still be smaller than surrounding districts such as Oxford’s 7.9 or Brandon’s 12.2.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After the Board approves or rejects the resolution March 6 that would see a solidified bond number chosen to present to voters in November, Wandrie said the real “campaign” begins, leading up to the vote scheduled for Nov. 5. If the bond proposal passes, a three-year transition planning period begins, with transition to be completed, and the new configuration in place, August of 2022.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Leading up to Wednesday’s presentation to the Board, Wandrie held several informational meetings with a number of stakeholder groups in the district, including staff, students, community organizations and parents, each providing their input that informed the presented configuration. “I think it’s really important to do that, get as much input as we can,” he said. Wandrie estimated that since the restructure planning was announced early this autumn, he’s met with 600 people. “We were just trying to throw out ideas, see what gains traction, what gets pushback,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">During the presentation, Wandrie noted that the proposed configuration of the district went through a number of changes due directly to public input, including abandoning plans for a “community center” within the new high school project that would see area businesses and organizations housed in a common area on campus. “The final proposal doesn’t have that language in it, we didn’t get the support on that that we anticipated,” said Wandrie. “We did however hear a lot of support from local business to use the facility afterhours and on the weekends for training or project-based learning with our kids.” Wandrie said “a number of people” also expressed safety concerns related to a “community center,” and ultimately, those plans were omitted. “I think we’re a few steps away from having a facility like that,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Between Wednesday’s meeting and when next the Board will convene March 6, they’ll be parsing through the over 250-line item proposal provided to them by Wandrie and his administrative team, breaking down every dollar of expected cost. “We’re very proud that we’ve got this thing down to a manageable number,” said Wandrie. In comparison to the bond proposal passed by voters in 2007, the number is actually smaller, he said. “It’s not out of line, and still significantly less, than our neighbors,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to Wandrie, the proposal exemplifies his team’s ethos of “doing more with less,” something they’ve tackled for the past eight years. “All the data indicates this district is on the rise, and we’re financially stable and providing more and better programming for the kids, which is the ultimate goal,” he said. “It’s a very ambitious plan, but it demonstrates fiscal responsibility, and we have to spend money to do that.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wandrie said that if the bond were to fail, it wouldn’t change the fact the district is losing students, and it won’t stop the district’s current facilities from continuing to age. “We are going to close buildings regardless of what the Board or voters decide, we will not require 13 buildings to manage 4,000 students,” he said. “It would be a very slow bleed over the next 8-10 years and we’d be proposing to cut programs, that’s just the cost of doing business.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to LCS Board President Michael Keller, the proposal will position the district to be financially healthy and streamlined for the foreseeable future. “I’ve been around here a long time and there hasn’t been one year where we could say ‘hey look, we have some money,’” he said. “Every year we have to figure out how to get through, and (it’s important to remember) that closing isn’t going to ‘free up money,’ it doesn’t work that way.” The proposal, he said, is “a strategy to get us a bright future,” and Keller said that the district’s already trending upward. “It’s hard to turn that ship around but you see what’s going on around here with our scores, they’re climbing at a rate higher than other communities — all of these things are coming together and this is what we need, this is what’s next.”</span></p>
</div>Wind turbine opponent organizes meeting (From Feb 6th Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2019-02-06:4510650:BlogPost:267012019-02-06T12:01:43.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/wind-turbine-opponent-organizes-meeting/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>View Original Article HERE…</strong></a></p>
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<p><a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/wind-turbine-opponent-organizes-meeting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>View Original Article HERE</strong></a></p>
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<h1 class="article__heading" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 38px; margin: 5px 0px 15px; line-height: 41.8px; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Wind turbine opponent organizes meeting</h1>
<p class="byline oht-article-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.8em; font-style: normal; margin-top: 4px !important; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 51.2px; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><span class="byline__separator" style="box-sizing: border-box;">|<span> </span></span><span class="byline__time" style="box-sizing: border-box;">FEBRUARY 06, 2019</span></p>
<p><strong><span class="article__byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; font-family: sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">BY PHIL FOLEY</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"/><span class="article__byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; font-family: sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">810-452-2616 • PFOLEY@MIHOMEPAPER.COM</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f4f4f4; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"/></strong></p>
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<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">NORTH BRANCH TWP.</span><span> </span>— Michelle Peel’s son has cerebral palsy and suffers from a seizure disorder. She’s worried that plans to possibly install wind turbines in her area could have a negative effect on her son’s fragile health.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Unsatisfied with answers she got at a wind energy meeting sponsored by North Branch Township on Jan. 9 that featured speakers paid by DTE Energy, Peel and other area residents wary of wind energy projects, have organized a second wind energy meeting.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">“We think they came to deliver the message DTE wanted delivered,” said Peel.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">The wind turbine meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the North Branch Wesleyan Church, 3164 N. Branch Rd.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Peel has invited officials from Sanilac, Tuscola and Huron counties which have had a great deal more experience with wind energy projects and energy companies. She noted the three counties have more than 1,000 wind turbines between them.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Her main speaker is Kevon Martis, who heads up the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition (IICC). The IICC bills itself as a non-profit corporation dedicated to raising public awareness of the potential impacts of the construction of industrial wind turbines in the region.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Peel said he’s spoken in front of legislative bodies in both Michigan and Ohio as well as numerous local governments in both states.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Martis successfully fought off a wind farm project in Riga Township in Lenawee County where he’s a builder.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">His opponents claim he’s a highly polished, fossil fuel operative with aggressive tactics.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">“I’m not against my neighbors,” said Peel. “I don’t believe they would purposely hurt anyone, but corporations do not put people over profits. I want them to do what’s right and safe for anyone.”</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Peel believes there’s more to the wind energy debate than what DTE Energy has offered and people should have a chance to hear it.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Insisting that “aesthetics do not play a part in this for me,” Peel said, “wind turbines could co-exist with a lessened risk and we have to mitigate the risk as much as we can.”</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">Noting that the meeting room at North Branch Wesleyan Church can hold up to 200 people, Peel invites residents from surrounding townships that are considering wind energy.</p>
</div>‘We can’t stop what’s happening’ (From 1/13/2019 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2019-01-14:4510650:BlogPost:263012019-01-14T13:07:43.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;">North Branch Twp. officials hold meeting on wind turbines</span></p>
<p><br></br>| January 13, 2019 <br></br>BY PHIL FOLEY<br></br>810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com…</p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;">North Branch Twp. officials hold meeting on wind turbines</span></p>
<p><br/>| January 13, 2019 <br/>BY PHIL FOLEY<br/>810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com</p>
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<p><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p1.jpg"><img width="300" class="wp-image-190529 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="realized I needed to educate Environmental Protection, myself.” Health Canada and the That didn’t set well with Ontario Ministry of the Lori McLane, who’s been Environment and Climate a vocal opponent of wind Change found no connection energy in northern Lapeer between wind turbines County. and health problems. She, along with Deb “Noise,” said Ellenbogen, Horen of Burlington “is a very personal thing.” Township and Michelle He noted that while one Peel are concerned about person may find the sound the possible health effects of a barking dog comforting, of wind turbines on special someone who was bitten by needs people. Peel told a dog as a child might not. board members that North He said Health Canada’s Branch Area Schools alone 2011 study looked at 1,200 has 300 special needs students. people selected randomly Michelle Peel of North Branch Township and Debbie Horen of Burlington Township question experts sent by DTE Energy on the possible health effects of wind turbines in a community. Photo by Phil Foley North Branch Township board members Alicia Provin, Robert Kilborn, Robert DeTavernier and Amy Snoblin listen to Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen discuss the issue of health effects associated with wind turbines." src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p1-300x200.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I realized I needed to educate Environmental Protection, myself.” Health Canada and the That didn’t set well with Ontario Ministry of the Lori McLane, who’s been Environment and Climate a vocal opponent of wind Change found no connection energy in northern Lapeer between wind turbines County. and health problems. She, along with Deb “Noise,” said Ellenbogen, Horen of Burlington “is a very personal thing.” Township and Michelle He noted that while one Peel are concerned about person may find the sound the possible health effects of a barking dog comforting, of wind turbines on special someone who was bitten by needs people. Peel told a dog as a child might not. board members that North He said Health Canada’s Branch Area Schools alone 2011 study looked at 1,200 has 300 special needs students. people selected randomly Michelle Peel of North Branch Township and Debbie Horen of Burlington Township question experts sent by DTE Energy on the possible health effects of wind turbines in a community. Photo by Phil Foley North Branch Township board members Alicia Provin, Robert Kilborn, Robert DeTavernier and Amy Snoblin listen to Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen discuss the issue of health effects associated with wind turbines.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">NORTH BRANCH TWP. — The North Branch Township Board and Planning Commission hosted a standing-room only meeting Wednesday evening for a discussion of wind turbines.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But after three hours those in favor and opposed to placing them in the township seemed to be where they started.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Newly-elected Township Supervisor Gary Swoish started the meeting reading a statement saying he had canceled his contract with DTE Energy to potentially place wind turbines on his farm.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He called for the informational meeting because, “I</span> <br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said her son has several seizure disorders and she’s concerned the flicker from turbine towers will trigger seizures in people like him.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen, an assistant professor of neurology and a sleep medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said studies by the Massachusetts Dept. of and found no connection between health problems and wind turbines.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Peel wanted to know if there had been any specific studies focused on special needs people. Ellenbogen said that while there were doubtless some special needs people in Health Canada’s study, no one has looked at that population specifically.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p2.jpg"><img width="226" class="wp-image-190530 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="John Simmons, a fifth-generation North Branch farmer, spoke in favor of wind energy." src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p2-226x300.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">John Simmons, a fifth-generation North Branch farmer, spoke in favor of wind energy.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Noting that the highest sound levels recorded from a wind turbine has been 46 decibels, Ellenbogen said “I don’t think of noise as a health issue, but it is an important issue.”</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer with Resource Systems Group that conducts noise studies, said there is a lot operators can do to mitigate turbine noise — including shutting them off at times. He said most of the sound created is from the interaction of the wind and the turbine’s blades.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said most turbines produce less noise than the sound of the human voice.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">While Norm Stephens, a former planning commission member from Almer Township in Tuscola County, urged North Branch-area residents to insist on tough rules for wind energy, Terry O’Conner, township supervisor in Huron County’s Minden Township said, “We’ve had no problems.”</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p3.jpg"><img width="252" class="wp-image-190531 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer, points to a chart detailing different sound sources during a meeting at the North Branch Township Hall Wednesday evening. Photos by Phil Foley" src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p3-252x300.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer, points to a chart detailing different sound sources during a meeting at the North Branch Township Hall Wednesday evening. Photos by Phil Foley<br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said the 70 towers in his township have created a revenue stream that’s allowed to township to lower its millage rate.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Green energy is our future,” O’Connor said.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">John Simmons, who said his family began farming in North Branch in 1854, noted that when electricity first came to the area, some people opposed it. “If you come into my community,” he said, “you’d better be doing something good.”</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">McLane said she was not happy that only experts provided by DTE Energy were at the meeting. Swoish said if she could provide a list of experts opposed to wind energy he’d be happy to hold another informational meeting.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We want to hear from the other side,” he said.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">While the township’s planning commission is working on a wind turbine ordinance, there’s still no clear idea when it will present one to the township board.</span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We can’t stop what’s happening,” said Planning Commissioner Mark Chapin. “I just hope we come up with something fair.”</span></p>‘We can’t stop what’s happening’ (From 1/13/2019 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2019-01-14:4510650:BlogPost:264012019-01-14T13:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;">North Branch Twp. officials hold meeting on wind turbines</span></p>
<p><br></br> | January 13, 2019 <br></br> BY PHIL FOLEY<br></br> 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p>Original Article <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/we-cant-stop-whats-happening/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HERE…</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;">North Branch Twp. officials hold meeting on wind turbines</span></p>
<p><br/> | January 13, 2019 <br/> BY PHIL FOLEY<br/> 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p>Original Article <a href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/articles/we-cant-stop-whats-happening/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></p>
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<p><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p1.jpg"><img width="300" class="wp-image-190529 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="realized I needed to educate Environmental Protection, myself.” Health Canada and the That didn’t set well with Ontario Ministry of the Lori McLane, who’s been Environment and Climate a vocal opponent of wind Change found no connection energy in northern Lapeer between wind turbines County. and health problems. She, along with Deb “Noise,” said Ellenbogen, Horen of Burlington “is a very personal thing.” Township and Michelle He noted that while one Peel are concerned about person may find the sound the possible health effects of a barking dog comforting, of wind turbines on special someone who was bitten by needs people. Peel told a dog as a child might not. board members that North He said Health Canada’s Branch Area Schools alone 2011 study looked at 1,200 has 300 special needs students. people selected randomly Michelle Peel of North Branch Township and Debbie Horen of Burlington Township question experts sent by DTE Energy on the possible health effects of wind turbines in a community. Photo by Phil Foley North Branch Township board members Alicia Provin, Robert Kilborn, Robert DeTavernier and Amy Snoblin listen to Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen discuss the issue of health effects associated with wind turbines." src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p1-300x200.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I realized I needed to educate Environmental Protection, myself.” Health Canada and the That didn’t set well with Ontario Ministry of the Lori McLane, who’s been Environment and Climate a vocal opponent of wind Change found no connection energy in northern Lapeer between wind turbines County. and health problems. She, along with Deb “Noise,” said Ellenbogen, Horen of Burlington “is a very personal thing.” Township and Michelle He noted that while one Peel are concerned about person may find the sound the possible health effects of a barking dog comforting, of wind turbines on special someone who was bitten by needs people. Peel told a dog as a child might not. board members that North He said Health Canada’s Branch Area Schools alone 2011 study looked at 1,200 has 300 special needs students. people selected randomly Michelle Peel of North Branch Township and Debbie Horen of Burlington Township question experts sent by DTE Energy on the possible health effects of wind turbines in a community. Photo by Phil Foley North Branch Township board members Alicia Provin, Robert Kilborn, Robert DeTavernier and Amy Snoblin listen to Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen discuss the issue of health effects associated with wind turbines.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">NORTH BRANCH TWP. — The North Branch Township Board and Planning Commission hosted a standing-room only meeting Wednesday evening for a discussion of wind turbines.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">But after three hours those in favor and opposed to placing them in the township seemed to be where they started.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Newly-elected Township Supervisor Gary Swoish started the meeting reading a statement saying he had canceled his contract with DTE Energy to potentially place wind turbines on his farm.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">He called for the informational meeting because, “I</span> <br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">She said her son has several seizure disorders and she’s concerned the flicker from turbine towers will trigger seizures in people like him.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dr. Jeffery Ellenbogen, an assistant professor of neurology and a sleep medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins University, said studies by the Massachusetts Dept. of and found no connection between health problems and wind turbines.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Peel wanted to know if there had been any specific studies focused on special needs people. Ellenbogen said that while there were doubtless some special needs people in Health Canada’s study, no one has looked at that population specifically.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p2.jpg"><img width="226" class="wp-image-190530 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="John Simmons, a fifth-generation North Branch farmer, spoke in favor of wind energy." src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p2-226x300.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">John Simmons, a fifth-generation North Branch farmer, spoke in favor of wind energy.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Noting that the highest sound levels recorded from a wind turbine has been 46 decibels, Ellenbogen said “I don’t think of noise as a health issue, but it is an important issue.”</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer with Resource Systems Group that conducts noise studies, said there is a lot operators can do to mitigate turbine noise — including shutting them off at times. He said most of the sound created is from the interaction of the wind and the turbine’s blades.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said most turbines produce less noise than the sound of the human voice.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">While Norm Stephens, a former planning commission member from Almer Township in Tuscola County, urged North Branch-area residents to insist on tough rules for wind energy, Terry O’Conner, township supervisor in Huron County’s Minden Township said, “We’ve had no problems.”</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><a style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: &quot; georgia&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" href="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p3.jpg"><img width="252" class="wp-image-190531 size-medium align-center" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 98.5%; width: auto; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px none currentColor;" alt="Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer, points to a chart detailing different sound sources during a meeting at the North Branch Township Hall Wednesday evening. Photos by Phil Foley" src="https://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/images/2019-01-13/12p3-252x300.jpg"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Kenneth Kaliski, an engineer, points to a chart detailing different sound sources during a meeting at the North Branch Township Hall Wednesday evening. Photos by Phil Foley<br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">He said the 70 towers in his township have created a revenue stream that’s allowed to township to lower its millage rate.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">“Green energy is our future,” O’Connor said.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">John Simmons, who said his family began farming in North Branch in 1854, noted that when electricity first came to the area, some people opposed it. “If you come into my community,” he said, “you’d better be doing something good.”</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">McLane said she was not happy that only experts provided by DTE Energy were at the meeting. Swoish said if she could provide a list of experts opposed to wind energy he’d be happy to hold another informational meeting.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We want to hear from the other side,” he said.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">While the township’s planning commission is working on a wind turbine ordinance, there’s still no clear idea when it will present one to the township board.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">“We can’t stop what’s happening,” said Planning Commissioner Mark Chapin. “I just hope we come up with something fair.”</span></p>Board to retain outside counsel for civil matters (From 10/14 2018 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-10-14:4510650:BlogPost:257072018-10-14T23:33:43.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-10-14/Front_Page/Board_to_retain_outside_counsel_for_civil_matters.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE</a></p>
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<p>LAPEER — An “erosion of trust” between the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners and the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office, caused the Board on Thursday to appoint an outside attorney to represent the county as Corporation Counsel on civil matters — effectively removing that responsibility from…</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-10-14/Front_Page/Board_to_retain_outside_counsel_for_civil_matters.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE</a></p>
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<p>LAPEER — An “erosion of trust” between the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners and the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office, caused the Board on Thursday to appoint an outside attorney to represent the county as Corporation Counsel on civil matters — effectively removing that responsibility from the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office.</p>
<p>According to the resolution adopted Thursday, the decision was made because the Board “needs independent, impartial and unbiased legal counsel” to represent the Board on all civil matters related to Lapeer County.</p>
<p>The resolution continues, stating that the decision to bring on Corporation Counsel is in response to Lapeer County Prosecutor Michael Sharkey stating “repeatedly that his office is currently unable to handle its current caseload which includes both criminal and civil cases.”</p>
<p>As per the resolution, the Board will begin accepting formal competitive sealed bids from attorneys wishing to become the county’s Corporation Counsel, and in the interim, the responsibilities will be handled for 120 days by the Livonia-based Mike Cox Law Firm, after which the Board will select a bid estimated at an excess of $50,000.</p>
<p>The resolution further states that “most citizens today” view the Prosecutor’s Office as primarily organized to prosecute criminal, not civil cases. The move, according to the resolution, to hire Corporation Counsel, is also partly in response to Sharkey’s statements and to “lessen the caseload” of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and allow it to “focus solely on criminal law prosecutions.”</p>
<p>According to Commissioner Ian Kempf, the circumstances leading to hiring a Corporation Counsel is unusual. “It’s incredibly unfortunate,” he said. “In the 18 years I’ve sat in this seat I never thought we’d be hiring corporation counsel.”</p>
<p>Commissioner Lenny Schneider echoed Kempf’s opinion, stating that the circumstances are “regrettable. It’s the common practice of the prosecutor to be corporation counsel,” he said. “Trust and loyalty are key components of any relationship with an attorney, and it’s totally eroded with Mr. Sharkey.” Schneider said the cost “ends up being borne by the taxpayers” of Lapeer County. “It’s unfortunate but it’s a necessary step,” he said.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>LCS proposes ‘rightsizing’ plan )(From 10/7/2018 County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-10-07:4510650:BlogPost:258102018-10-07T18:42:56.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-10-07/Front_Page/LCS_proposes_rightsizing_plan.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Article HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-subhead"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Four elementary schools may close, grades…</span></div>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-10-07/Front_Page/LCS_proposes_rightsizing_plan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Article HERE</a></strong></span></p>
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-subhead"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Four elementary schools may close, grades relocated</span></div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE</span></div>
<div class="field-item even"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">810-452-2601 • <a href="mailto:npugliese@mihomepaper.com">npugliese@mihomepaper.com</a></span></div>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LAPEER — With many Lapeer-area residents contemplating the choices on next month’s ballot ahead of November’s election, administrators at Lapeer Community Schools (LCS) are planning for a pivotal proposal that will appear in November 2019.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If approved by voters, a proposed plan presented to focus groups late last month will feature a major shake-up of the district’s structure. The proposed plan will call for the reduction of the number of school facilities from 13 to eight by closing and selling Schickler, Murphy, Mayfield and Lynch Elementary Schools as well as the Administrative Service Center, which would save the district approximately $1 million to $1.5 million annually in operational and personnel costs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposal is currently planned for a November 2019 bond proposal and slated to begin implementation for all buildings between 2020- 2022. Under the plan, Early 5 through second-grade students as well as Kids and Company would be located at the Rolland-Warner campus, while third through fifth-graders would attend class at the Zemmer campus. Traditional and year-round sixth-eighth graders would be relocated to the current Lapeer High School campus, while ninth-12th grade students would be housed at the current Center for Innovation campus, formerly Lapeer West High School. The plan reportedly calls for a second floor to be added to the building. In addition, it would also include dedicated community spaces and a performing arts center alongside the existing athletic complex.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to LCS Director of Communications Jared Field, the “rightsizing” plan is based in part on the current level of usage at LCS facilities, future enrollment projections and “our best thinking about what structure makes the most sense for what we are doing academically (staff collaboration, learning coach model, etc.),” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Field said there are many advantages of having fewer buildings. “From a student and staff security standpoint, we can focus more of our limited resources into securing fewer buildings. We also consider it an advantage from a staff collaboration, professional development standpoint to having grade levels together under one roof,” he said. “Beyond that, there is significant, long-term cost savings that can be achieved with a more efficient structure.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nearly 100 people participated in the focus group panel process on Sept. 26 and 28, facilitated by Ray, Mich.-based firm Banach, Banach and Cassidy, including elementary and secondary parents, senior citizens and district alumni, district support staff, area business owners and elected officials and district teachers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The goal of each panel was to obtain community input related to the proposal for restructuring meant to address a continued decline in student enrollment (fewer births) and ongoing budget challenges.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Each panel started with a presentation by LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie, which was followed by a discussion and a period where panelists were able to “grade” the district and provide ideas or comments for Wandrie and the LCS Board of Education to consider. The information gathered will be used as a decision-making tool as plans move forward toward a restructure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wandrie emphasized that the proposed plan was a “work-in-progress,” and that it was a vision for the future that needed community consideration and input. The proposed plan is meant to “jump-start” that thinking about the future.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposed plan is another in a series of restructures that have occurred within the LCS district. In 2013, the district was home to just under 6,000 students, a number that has fallen to approximately 4,000 this year, due largely to falling birth rates in Lapeer County. At its peak in 1982, the district was servicing nearly 9,000 students. “There is no cure-all structure for schools. You can find just about any structure imaginable and without even leaving our state. Some structures are, obviously, better than others,” said Field. “In 2004, we operated 16 school buildings in our district with 12 different grade configurations. That structure was not good for anyone. This (2019) plan, in its current form, would require five buildings.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In 1975, due to growing enrollment, Lapeer High School was split into two separate facilities, Lapeer East (currently the home to Lapeer High School) and Lapeer West (currently housing the Center for Innovation). In March of 2013, the LCS Board of Education voted to consolidate the two schools, and the facilities have been in their current state since the beginning of the 2014 school year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Field said the proposed plan “represents our best thinking at this time” and is subject to change depending on community input. “The seven focus panels we’ve done so far have already begun that process. We have a track record of flexibility with respect to planning,” he said. “Our current middle level structure is based entirely on the recommendation of our focus groups from our last strategic planning process.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">With a reduction in buildings in operation, Field said it is anticipated that there will be a need to reduce staff, but as of yet the district’s been fortunate to be able to make reductions by natural attrition, mainly retirements. “It goes without saying that a 4,000-student school district would look different structurally and operationally than a 5,000-student district,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As for transportation, Field said that according to the proposed plan, not much would change. Already the district transports students to both Rolland- Warner and Zemmer campuses from everywhere within the 225-square-mile district, and the number of busses currently in operation coincides with the number of students and duration of routes, not with the number of facilities. “That said, at the direction of our superintendent and board of education, we are exploring innovative ways to make our transportation system more efficient. Our district is…among the largest in the entire state,” said Field. “Transportation is vitally important to our families and we desire to make it as user-friendly as possible.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Following the completion of the focus groups, consultant William Banach presented to the LCS Board during Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, describing “unanimous support” for the concept of the plan, as well as shared questions and concerns that arose during panel discussions. “With that information, we will sharpen our thinking and speak to those concerns at community engagements in the near future,” Field said. “This the beginning of a much larger process.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cost of the bond proposal has not been released.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The next step, said Field, is to hold “much larger” focus groups, which will begin to take place over the next several weeks.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-10-07/Front_Page/LCS_proposes_rightsizing_plan.html#">Return to top</a></span></p>Judge Scott, Prosecutor Sharkey spar during Tea Party forum (From 9-23 County Presstag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-09-23:4510650:BlogPost:258062018-09-23T14:22:57.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-09-23/News/Judge_Scott_Prosecutor_Sharkey_spar_during_Tea_Par.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Story in 9/23 County Press</a></strong></p>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • jhogan @mihomepaper.com…</div>
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<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-09-23/News/Judge_Scott_Prosecutor_Sharkey_spar_during_Tea_Par.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Story in 9/23 County Press</a></strong></p>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • jhogan @mihomepaper.com</div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2018-09-23/13p1.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Probate Judge Justus C. Scott (right) and Lapeer County Prosecutor Michael Sharkey participated in a Lapeer County Tea Party forum on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Hogan ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2018-09-23/13p1.preview.jpg" alt=" Probate Judge Justus C. Scott (right) and Lapeer County Prosecutor Michael Sharkey participated in a Lapeer County Tea Party forum on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Hogan " title=" Probate Judge Justus C. Scott (right) and Lapeer County Prosecutor Michael Sharkey participated in a Lapeer County Tea Party forum on Tuesday. Photo by Jeff Hogan " class="image image-preview" width="250" height="189"/></a><span class="caption">Probate Judge Justus C. Scott (right) and Lapeer County Prosecutor Michael Sharkey participated in a Lapeer County Tea Party forum on Tuesday.<span> </span><span class="image-caption">Photo by Jeff Hogan</span></span></span></p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2018-09-23/13p2.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ The race between Lapeer County Prosecutor Mike Sharkey (left) and incumbent Lapeer County Probate Court Justus Scott is personal. Sharkey is calling Judge Scott a &ldquo;good &lsquo;ol boy&rdquo; member and part of a &ldquo;broken&rdquo; court system, while Judge Scott says Sharkey is about &ldquo;smoke and mirrors&rdquo; and challenges the prosecutor&rsquo;s integrity and experience level to serve as judge. Photos by Jeff Hogan ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2018-09-23/13p2.preview.jpg" alt=" The race between Lapeer County Prosecutor Mike Sharkey (left) and incumbent Lapeer County Probate Court Justus Scott is personal. Sharkey is calling Judge Scott a &ldquo;good &lsquo;ol boy&rdquo; member and part of a &ldquo;broken&rdquo; court system, while Judge Scott says Sharkey is about &ldquo;smoke and mirrors&rdquo; and challenges the prosecutor&rsquo;s integrity and experience level to serve as judge. Photos by Jeff Hogan " title=" The race between Lapeer County Prosecutor Mike Sharkey (left) and incumbent Lapeer County Probate Court Justus Scott is personal. Sharkey is calling Judge Scott a &ldquo;good &lsquo;ol boy&rdquo; member and part of a &ldquo;broken&rdquo; court system, while Judge Scott says Sharkey is about &ldquo;smoke and mirrors&rdquo; and challenges the prosecutor&rsquo;s integrity and experience level to serve as judge. Photos by Jeff Hogan " class="image image-preview" width="250" height="167"/></a><span class="caption">The</span> race between Lapeer County Prosecutor Mike Sharkey (left) and incumbent Lapeer County Probate Court Justus Scott is personal. Sharkey is calling Judge Scott a “good ‘ol boy” member and part of a “broken” court system, while Judge Scott says Sharkey is about “smoke and mirrors” and challenges the prosecutor’s integrity and experience level to serve as judge. <span class="image-caption">Photos by Jeff Hogan</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MAYFIELD TWP. — Justus C. Scott is running for re-election in November to serve the Probate Court judgeship for another six years. Challenging him to wear the black robe is Lapeer County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sharkey.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Incumbent Scott is running on his record of the nearly 18 years he’s served on the bench during which time he’s handled thousands of cases, while Sharkey is running to “restore integrity and root out corruption” in the Lapeer County Courthouse which he claims Scott is part of as a member of the court’s “good ‘ole boy network.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott first took office as a probate judge on Jan. 1, 2001. Before being elected judge, Scott served in the Lapeer County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s office for 21 years.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey has served as Lapeer County’s Prosecuting Attorney for only 21 months of the four-year term he was elected to in November 2016. Previously, he was in private practice as an attorney.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey’s tone and intent is similar to when he ran against incumbent prosecutor Tim Turkelson whom he claimed played favoritism with people he knew. Sharkey represented Lapeer County Circuit Court Judge Byron Konschuh when he faced what he called multiple “trumped up” felony charges in an embezzlement case. Sharkey had been vocal in his criticism of then Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson, before unseating him in the 2016 primary.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the audience of approximately 40 people was Judge Byron Konschuh, who supports the election of Sharkey.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott and Sharkey fielded 14 questions Tuesday evening from area citizens who attended a Lapeer County Tea Party forum held at the Mayfield Township Hall. While the seasoned public servants took the opportunity to introduce themselves to the public, they also expressed stark differences in the reasons they want to win the Nov. 6 election.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott was the elected Prosecuting Attorney for Lapeer County for eight years beginning in 1993, and was elected to serve as Probate Judge in 2001.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I’m going to work hard, listen to people and try to help them … I look it kind of like heart surgery. Do you want someone who has a lot of experience and has done this for a long time, or do you want someone who has no experience?”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey said he “dared to get involved” in the election for probate judge because he wants to change the court. “I’m running for the judge position because I don’t like what’s going on in the courthouse. People need to be treated fairly… You should know what’s going on in your courthouse.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Probate Court handles estates, guardianships of adults, guardianships of minors, guardianships of developmentally disabled persons, conservatorships of minors, conservatorships of adults, trust proceedings, mentally ill proceedings, adoptions, name changes, emancipations, and wills for safekeeping.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">While some questions were general in topic and ranged from court policy and procedure, most were more pointed and appeared directed at specific candidates to draw out responses associated with issues swirling about their campaigns and friction between them.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A question from an audience member asked Scott and Sharkey what injustices they’ve witnessed in the courtroom and what they did about it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott answered, “I’m the judge. If someone is caught contradicting or exaggerating stuff I will speak with them, and if it happens again they will not be allowed to testify again.” Scott added he can and has fined people and called deputies if people are disrupting a court proceeding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey responded, “This system is broken. The decision makers have friends.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then he said he’s submitted a complaint to the state Attorney General’s Office and a corruption board regarding an assertion that Scott abused his authority to influence the outcome of a case against his brother-in-law for a drunken driving offense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott replied, “This is nonsense. This is dirty politics … I did nothing of the kind.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Friday Scott told The County Press, “My brother-in-law was represented by Earl Morgan, an excellent attorney, who put on a vigorous defense but ultimately pled guilty to the original charge of operating under the influence, second offense.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another question demonstrated the contentious nature of the race and the strained relationship between Scott and Sharkey. The question was, “Do you think the court system is working?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey answered first.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I feel so compelled to step up and make a difference…I’m running because everyone should get a fair shake, and not because someone in the court will give special favors.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott answered, “Unlike my opponent I think we have a great system.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A resident asked, “Do you think lawyers should be investigated and are investigated?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott answered, “I’ve never been investigated. There’s a system in place to investigate and I believe there’s a process in place that works.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey replied, “No, maybe it’s a lack of resources (to investigate attorneys and judges)…I don’t have faith in the system to protect you.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The final question of the evening asked, “How do you define injustice?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey responded first. “My concern is for each and every client and to make sure they get a fair shake. You know why I ran for prosecutor, and now I’m running for judge. No favors to anyone.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott responded by holding up a copy of a two-sided Sharkey campaign handout that reads “Restore Honor and Integrity to our Lapeer County Courts.” On it is a small photo of former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Clifford Taylor with Sharkey with the rest of the Supreme Court when they held a court case in the historic county courthouse about 10 years ago.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott said he made arrangements with the Lapeer County Bar Association for attorneys to get their photos taken with Supreme Court justices with the stipulation that the photo cannot be used for “political purposes.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey responded that nowhere on the campaign literature did it say the judge endorsed him. “I don’t want his endorsement,” said Sharkey, referring to Justice Clifford Taylor, who recently told The County Press that he supports Scott. Taylor described Sharkey’s unauthorized use of the photo as “outrageous.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In closing statements Scott said the Tuesday evening Tea Party forum was his third event of the day. “I go around the county and meet with people. My opponent does not. I’m here with a positive record for 39 years. You need the real experience. I’ve dedicated my life to genuinely listening to people … Instead of smoke and mirrors and ‘look over there,’ this is who I am.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharkey closed with, “This is the democratic way … I think you need someone who has integrity. I did not have to run for prosecutor and I did not have to run for judge. I believe we need a new system, new justice … I’m willing to stand up for what I believe.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Friday, when The County Press asked for further information from Sharkey related to his accusations against the local court system he responded, “The most important quality for a judge is to remain independent and free from what George Washington called ‘entangling alliances.’ A judge simply cannot take sides and play favorites with his friends. Unfortunately, some of the judges in Lapeer County appear to have lost sight of this basic principal. This has turned the Lapeer County Courthouse into the ‘Just Us’ Club.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-09-23/News/Judge_Scott_Prosecutor_Sharkey_spar_during_Tea_Par.html#">Return to top</a></span></p>Mayfield Twp. resident hints she may end recall drive (From 6/13 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-06-13:4510650:BlogPost:251012018-06-13T21:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Final step to dissolve fire dept.</strong></span><br></br> Mayfield Twp. resident hints she may end recall drive<br></br> BY JEFF HOGAN<br></br> 810-452-2640 • jhogan@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p>Original Article <a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-06-13/Front_Page/Final_step_to_dissolve_fire_dept.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
<p><br></br> MAYFIELD TWP. — Nearly one month ago the Mayfield Township Board voted to dissolve a fire…</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Final step to dissolve fire dept.</strong></span><br/> Mayfield Twp. resident hints she may end recall drive<br/> BY JEFF HOGAN<br/> 810-452-2640 • jhogan@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p>Original Article <a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-06-13/Front_Page/Final_step_to_dissolve_fire_dept.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></p>
<p><br/> MAYFIELD TWP. — Nearly one month ago the Mayfield Township Board voted to dissolve a fire department it established last winter, sparking a firestorm of citizen backlash and ill regard held by some that continues today with a recall petition drive underway to recall Supervisor Dianna Ireland.</p>
<p>The township board on Monday, however, took another step to demonstrate its motion made May 14 to put the brakes on plans to set up an independent fire department and eventually end contracted services with Lapeer Fire & Rescue. The board agreed to resend minutes from the May 14 meeting to the Michigan Bureau of Fire Services that noted the board’s decision to dissolve the fire department and thereby end any notice in Lansing that Mayfield Township has a fire department. While the action was approved by Mayfield Township officials, until it had legal notification the fire department was still recognized at the state level.</p>
<p>Rhonda Howard, departmental analyst for the Bureau of Fire Services, on June 1 sent a message to Mayfield Township Deputy Clerk Jayme Crossen that read, “Thank you for the minutes, however, these are not signed or approved. I need a copy of the approved signed minutes before I can dissolve the department with the State and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).”</p>
<p>The May meeting minutes were approved Monday evening. The township clerk’s office on Tuesday intended to send the minutes to the Bureau of Fire Services where upon reception and processing the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. will officially be dissolved as necessary under state guidelines.</p>
<p>Recall organizer Joy Boots has said one of the reasons she continues the recall against Ireland is that the township fire department was still an entity in the eyes of the State of Michigan.</p>
<p>Boots was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting as she had an out-of-town engagement. When contacted later that evening by The County Press for a comment on the Board’s action, Boots said, “I would be tempted to stop the recall if I got a copy of the statement by the State saying the fire department has been dissolved. This is not a vendetta against her … I had said that was one of my issues, so I will have to give it some consideration now that they’ve taken steps to dissolve the fire department. I expect I will have a decision before June 19.” Boots has scheduled another meeting of a recall volunteers on that date at her home.</p>
<p>In order to place a recall election on the November ballot, Boots must obtain 670 certified signatures by Aug. 3.</p>
<p>Boots said she could always take future action, including a recall, if the township proceeds with fire department discussions without the input of township residents.</p>
<p>Ireland also shared that township legal counsel, including from the Michigan Township Association (MTA), stated that the township cannot run a general advisory question on the ballot. Ireland in early April asked of MTA staff attorney Catherine Mullhaupt, “I would like to know if you can put a general advisory question on the ballot, such as ‘Do you want Mayfield Township to have their own fire department?’”</p>
<p>Mullhapt responded, “No. There must be a state (state law) that says either a township may put a question on the ballot of that the electors may petition to put a specific type of question on a ballot (referendum). If there is no statutory authorization, it is an unlawful ‘advisory ballot.’”</p>
<p>Township resident Bernard Swift sought assurance that township officials aren’t having any discussions about a fire department. Trustee Dan Engleman responded, “The fire department has been rescinded,” but added the discussion of whether to seek alternatives to contracting with Lapeer Fire & Rescue has been talked about every time the contract is up for consideration. “But there is no advisory committee. You will know if there is.”</p>
<p>Ireland commented, “If we’re going to have an advisory committee we would have to appoint people. I have a few names of people who said they would like to be on the committee. If you want to be on the advisory council call me and I will take some names. Do you want to be on the committee?”</p>
<p>Swift replied, “Yes.”</p>
<p>“Okay,” said Ireland, “I will add you to the list” of interested citizens that might be considered to serve should the township at a future date decide to investigate the merits of a fire department again.</p>
<p>Trustee Both Potter- Knowlton said, “We all said we need to continue to look at alternatives.”</p>
<p>Township officials have stated they believe they are charged too much for fire services by Lapeer Fire & Rescue.</p>
<p>In other business:</p>
<p>• Two township residents addressed the board seeking cost relief from recent fire calls. The township charges residents $2,500 if the fire department is called to their home as the result of a fire or emergency run.</p>
<p>One resident received a $2,500 bill from the township after Lapeer Fire & Rescue was called to his home to check for a possible carbon monoxide problem. The sump pump in his home, he said, had malfunctioned and caused a burning smell in the home. He sought to have the charge reduced to $500 for a carbon monoxide test rather than a full fire run. Officials said they will investigate his incident to determine if a lesser charge is in order.</p>
<p>A second resident, a woman who lives on North Lapeer Road, sustained a grass fire at her home earlier this spring. She said she’s on disability and sought remedy from the $2,500 fire run charge. The woman was told it may be possible to work out a payment plan with the township. Mayfield Township pays a contract sum to Lapeer Fire & Rescue, though also charges residents a fire run fee of $2,500 — a charge some residents claim is unfair since they’re essentially being charged twice, once in the form of assessed taxes and second for fire runs to their home or business.</p>
<p>• Township resident Maurice Freed asked the township to consider offering curbside recycling services, though Clerk Julie Schlaud said their contracted waste hauler doesn’t offer such service.</p>
<p>• Several township residents asked officials to consider switching the board meeting start times to 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. (from current time of 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month) to allow greater ease for some people to make the meetings after getting out of work.</p>
<p>• Resident Mary Paine asked for a copy of the township’s noise ordinance and complained of the noise coming from a dragstrip near her home that has new owners.</p>
<p>• Township officials re-appointed Dave Schlaud and Clint Knoblock to three-year terms on its Planning Commission, while re-appointed to three-year terms on the township Zoning Board of Appeals were Allan Hoppe and Sharon Albrecht.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>Walkout planned in Lapeer County to honor, pay tribute to slain Florida students (From 3-4-2018 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-03-04:4510650:BlogPost:247092018-03-04T13:25:37.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-03-04/Front_Page/Walkout_planned_in_Lapeer_County_to_honor_pay_trib.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Article HERE</a></p>
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<p>BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE<br></br>810-452-2601 • npugliese @mihomepaper.com</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871000?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871000?profile=original" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p>Lapeer High School students Aurorah Stephen and Bayley Lewis appeared before the…</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-03-04/Front_Page/Walkout_planned_in_Lapeer_County_to_honor_pay_trib.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Article HERE</a></p>
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<p>BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE<br/>810-452-2601 • npugliese @mihomepaper.com</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871000?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871000?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>Lapeer High School students Aurorah Stephen and Bayley Lewis appeared before the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education on Thursday to express a desire to participate in the nationwide walkout planned for March 14 in remembrance of the victims of the Parkland, Fla. shooting that occurred a month ago. <br/>Photo by Nicholas Pugliese</p>
<p><br/>Lapeer High School students Aurorah Stephen and Bayley Lewis appeared before the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education on Thursday to express a desire to participate in the nationwide walkout planned for March 14 in remembrance of the victims of the Parkland, Fla. shooting that occurred a month ago. Photo by Nicholas Pugliese<br/>LAPEER — The tragic shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. occurred on Feb. 14, and exactly one month later, thousands of high school students across the United States will participate in a planned walkout in protest of gun violence and in remembrance of the victims of the shooting that claimed the lives of 14 students and three adults.</p>
<p>During the Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education meeting on Thursday, students representing the newly-formed club “Young Democrats” spoke during public time to express their interest in joining their peers nationwide next Wednesday. Lapeer High School student Aurorah Stephen spoke on behalf of the group, saying that “It is our wish to honor and pay tribute to the lives of the students and teachers who were lost on Valentine’s Day.”</p>
<p>Stephen said that Lapeer’s participation would be a matter of support. “We want to be part of the nationwide response to this tragedy, we want to be part of the actionable echo that is reverberating through our country,” she said. “We want to say ‘we hear you, we see you, we are with you.’”</p>
<p>The March 14 walkout has been dubbed the “National School Walkout” and in some cases is part of a greater youth movement for stricter gun laws led by survivors of the Parkland, Fla. shooting.</p>
<p>Stephen alluded to recent incidents closer to home that have brought the topic of student safety to the forefront. “Lapeer is no stranger to the fear, I, as a student, have questioned my safety,” she said. “We have been in the headlines and we are kept safe, but how close were we? What does the future hold?”</p>
<p>Stephen said that she’s “proud” that young people throughout the United States are asking these questions. “I want to be safe, I want my teachers to be safe, I want (the) school board to be safe. I want to explore all options to make us as safe as possible,” said Stephen. “This is an issue of public safety (and) I want Lapeer students to be a part of the solution.”</p>
<p>According to Lapeer Community Schools Director of Communications Jared Field, discussions have taken place between administrators in regards to a potential walkout. “We have consulted with our principals and Central Office Leadership Team regarding this topic, and we view our role as facilitative in nature,” he said. “We appreciate their desire to make their voices heard on this very difficult subject.”</p>
<p>During the board meeting on Thursday, LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie also shared that discussions have taken place, and that the walkout has potential to be a “teachable moment.” Wandrie said he’s had discussions with students and the walkout is not intended to be disruptive of learning, “but to be a part of it.”</p>
<p>“I think the dialogue between adults and young people will help us take on this fight, if you will,” he continued. “I would like to be a leader in this regard, in partnership with the students.” Field added that the administration “(wants) to be supportive of our students and help facilitate a safe and constructive dialogue with the least amount of distraction.”</p>
<p>According to Stephen, she and fellow classmates are aware of concerns by administrators regarding safety, which is what led her to address the board.</p>
<p>“I want this event to be organized, scheduled and rather than be in conflict with our educational day, I think we could make it inclusive of our school day,” she said. Stephen said that student safety forums planned at Lapeer High School on March 13 would provide a perfect opportunity to explain the logistics of a walkout to participating students. “I think we have the opportunity to express the compassion, ambition and community spirit of Lapeer High School,” said Stephen.</p>
<p>Similar discussions have taken place in North Branch and Imlay City, and while definitive plans have not been made, administrations in both districts have expressed comparable opinions when it comes to the topic of a potential walkout. According to Mark Hiltunen, principal of North Branch High School, the goal is to keep a potential walkout as safe and as least disruptive as possible. “We want to support something that’s responsible and respectful, but not something that could become chaotic,” he said.</p>
<p>Hiltunen has met with his school’s student council and while conversations regarding the subject have been had, more discussions are needed in the week to come.</p>
<p>North Branch Superintendent Jim Fish said that he and other North Branch administrators have been doing research on the topic of walkouts, watching a webinar on Wednesday hosted jointly by the Michigan Association of School Administrators and schoolfocused, Michigan-based Thrun Law Firm that explained the legal and practical ramifications for how district leaders can handle potential student demonstrations.</p>
<p>“It’s not as simple as just having a walkout,” said Fish. “We want to keep it nonpolitical, (and a walkout) will be supervised by administration and teachers, but our students would be organizing this event if it does happen.”</p>
<p>Imlay City Superintendent Stu Cameron said that his district officials have been proactive to gauge their students’ interest in participating in the walkout. “Our administration actually went to student leaders and said that if there’s interest, we want to make sure it’s safe, and to partner with the students,” he said. “This is an issue that near and dear to them, it’s life and death for them and for us too, and it’s very important.”</p>
<p>According to Cameron, some students have expressed interest, but to date nothing organized has developed. “A walkout is a great statement, but it’s just a statement to those who view it or how it’s publicized,” he said. “We talked to students about having an area where students could make prepared remarks memorialized victims.”</p>
<p>Cameron echoed his counterparts’ view that the walkout and the social impact surrounding the national event is a valuable teaching opportunity. “Part of our function as a school is to help grow these kids in a democracy,” he said. “We’re really looking at it as a learning experience.”</p>
<p>Students in the school districts of Almont, Dryden and LakeVille may also participate in the March 14 walkout, but The County Press was unable to confirm those plans as of press time.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>MayfieldTwp. Fire Dept. start-up costs: $3.5M (From 2-25 County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-02-25:4510650:BlogPost:247062018-02-25T14:29:23.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-25/News/Mayfield_Twp_Fire_Dept_startup_costs_35M.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Original Article HERE</a></p>
<p><br></br>Officials focused on assessing property owners<br></br>BY ANDREW DIETDERICH<br></br>810-452-2609 • adietderich @mihomepaper.com</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871113?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871113?profile=original" width="225"></img></a></p>
<p>Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom…</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-25/News/Mayfield_Twp_Fire_Dept_startup_costs_35M.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Original Article HERE</a></p>
<p><br/>Officials focused on assessing property owners<br/>BY ANDREW DIETDERICH<br/>810-452-2609 • adietderich @mihomepaper.com</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871113?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="225" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871113?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell estimates it will take $3.5 million to start the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. <br/>Photo by Andrew Dietderich <br/>Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell estimates it will take $3.5 million to start the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Photo by Andrew Dietderich</p>
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<p><br/>Start-up costs for the Mayfield Township Fire Dept. are now pegged at $3.5 million – a figure that could be passed on to residents via an assessment equal to “approximately one pizza dinner or several Starbucks drinks per month.”</p>
<p>That’s according to a “worksheet” and “inventory list” created by Mayfield Township Fire Dept. Acting Chief Tom Mitchell, and distributed by him to township board members on Feb. 12.</p>
<p>Because it was not given to anyone in the audience – nor any details discussed during the public meeting – The County Press requested the document through Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act.</p>
<p>The County Press also requested informational packets passed out by Township Supervisor Dianna Ireland about starting a fire department. Like Mitchell’s handout, no details were provided to the public at the meeting, nor any copies distributed.</p>
<p>Mayfield Township charged The County Press</p>
<p>• An article produced by the Michigan Townships Association called “Compensating fire chiefs.” The article is dated November 2014.</p>
<p>• Two printouts from the Michigan Townships Association “Answer Center” on its website: one called “Fire Chief Sample Job Description” and another called “Fire Departments and Fire Protection.”</p>
<p>• A print out of Michigan’s Police and Fire Protection Act 33 of 1951 that, among other things, parcels, and $550 assessed to vacant industrial sites.</p>
<p>About $509,112 (total) would come from assessments on parcels with structures. That’s based on $178 annually from assessments on agricultural and residential parcels with structures, $660 from commercial sites with structures, and $1,100 from industrial sites with structures. The majority of the $509,112 would derive from residential sites with structures since there are 2,492, according to the worksheet.</p>
<p>Another $125,000 would come from a “contribution from the township.” The worksheet does not say identify the source of the “contribution” from within the township budget.</p>
<p>Of the $683,114 in “projected annual inflows,” $432,000 would be used annually for 10 years to pay off a $3.5 million mortgage.</p>
<p>The department would have an operating budget of $250,000 on an annual basis, leaving a “surplus” of $1,114.</p>
<p>In a footnote, Mitchell says “after 10 years assessment amounts will decrease to only fund regular operating budget.”</p>
<p>Mitchell includes another brief statement at the bottom of the worksheet.</p>
<p>“The average cost for a residential parcel with a home located on it equates to: approximately one pizza dinner or several Starbucks drinks per month!!!”</p>
<p>In another document entitled “Mayfield Fire & Rescue Start-Up Inventory”, Mitchell outlines some of items (and costs) associated with starting the department.</p>
<p>Mitchell – who now has a seat at the board of trustees’ table – told the board he has “been working on some inventory lists” that he compiled by looking at “an actual catalog.”</p>
<p>“It’s a hypothesis…it’s a best guess...it’s what I’ve thought of all through the years in walking through other fire stations and looking at various things,” Mitchell said.</p>
<p>The “inventory list” calls for $1.5 million to be used for “fire station cost.” The document provides no details about how Mitchell came up with the figure.</p>
<p>Another line item, for “apparatus”, carries a $1 million estimate. Apparatus identified are: pumper; pumper – tanker (can be used as backup pumper), tanker (solely for water supply), rescue/ squad/quick attack, and brush grass fire truck. No details are provided about what each unit would cost, if they would be used/new, or any other information.</p>
<p>The line item for “firefighters’ gear & apparel” is $93,400 and another, for “firefighting & rescue equipment”, is $149,545.</p>
<p>Other miscellaneous costs make up the remainder of the estimated start-up costs, such as $2,000 for computer and furniture in the “chiefs’ room” and $7,750 for “kitchen.” The total estimated start-up cost is just over $2.8 million. However, Mitchell pits a “rounded” number at $3.5 million. There is no explanation given for why Mitchell “rounded” the figure up another $700,000.</p>
<p>Ireland – who did not return a message to The County Press by press time – said during the Feb. 12 meeting that it was “sort of a start-up budget, sort of.”</p>
<p>“That is…basically, yes…from the station up to the gear and all the guys to that point,” Mitchell said.</p>
<p>“But for the next month I’ll have something else for you guys, too,” he said. “I’m continually working on stuff, while working a full-time job so we’ll have more, every month I’ll have something for you guys to take a look at and discuss amongst yourselves, or for the board.”</p>
<p>On Jan. 8, township officials passed a resolution “establishing the township of Mayfield Fire Department.”</p>
<p>On Jan. 31 and Feb. 10, the township hosted public forums about the newly formed fire department. Many have expressed frustration about the how the fire department is coming together.</p>
<p>At its Feb. 12 meeting, the board appointed a deputy fire chief and created an advisory committee for the newly formed fire department.</p>
<p>Currently, Mayfield Township is serviced by Lapeer Fire & Rescue per a four-year deal that went into effect Oct. 1, 2017. The first year of the deal is costing Mayfield Township $185,000 with 2 percent annual increases.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>Lapeer OKs, yet limits medical pot (From 2-21 County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-02-24:4510650:BlogPost:249032018-02-24T15:30:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p>Last-minute amendments alter ordinance <br></br> BY JEFF HOGAN <br></br> 810-452-2640 • jhogan@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-21/Front_Page/Lapeer_OKs_yet_limits_medical_pot.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORIGINAL STORY HERE</a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871150?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871150?profile=original" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p>Mayor Bill Sprague (right) expressed frustration by an amendment to a proposed…</p>
<p>Last-minute amendments alter ordinance <br/> BY JEFF HOGAN <br/> 810-452-2640 • jhogan@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-21/Front_Page/Lapeer_OKs_yet_limits_medical_pot.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ORIGINAL STORY HERE</a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871150?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871150?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>Mayor Bill Sprague (right) expressed frustration by an amendment to a proposed ordinance made by Commissioner Dan Osentoski (left) that restricted the number of medical marijuana dispensaries that may operate in Lapeer to six. Photos by Jeff Hogan</p>
<p><br/> LAPEER — No more than six medical marijuana provisioning centers (dispensaries) will be allowed to operate in the city of Lapeer, and none will be allowed in the downtown central business district.<br/> With those two amendments introduced by Commissioner Dan Osentoski, the Lapeer City Commission voted 3-2 Monday evening to approve an ordinance to regulate the operation of five license types of medical marijuana business permitted by the State of Michigan. Monday’s vote concluded nearly 10 months of review and consideration by city officials after Lapeer “opted in” to allow medical marijuana in the city last April.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871340?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871340?profile=original"/></a>Lapeer City Commissioner A. Wayne Bennett voted No on Monday to approve medical marijuana ordinances in the city, stating his opposition is because the federal government classifies marijuana as a Substance 1 illegal drug. At his right is Commissioner Dan Osentoski who introduced an amendment to limit the number of dispensaries to six.</p>
<p><br/> Voting for the medical marijuana ordinance drafted by the city’s planning commission were Commissioners Osentoski, Catherine Bostick- Tullius and Debbie Marquardt, while opposed were Commissioners Joshua Atwood and A. Wayne Bennett, who cited his inability to separate from the fact that the federal government classifies marijuana as a Substance 1 drug like it does heroin and other narcotics.<br/> “Personally I’m not against marijuana as a pain killer, but I don’t have the money if the U.S. Justice Department choses to sue me for supporting this … Because of the oath that I and the rest of us took to honor the Constitution and God I’m not willing to go to jail.”<br/> Bennett added, “I do not want it (marijuana) until the federal government makes it legal.”<br/> Atwood read a prepared statement he wrote to articulate his opposition. “I want to make this perfectly clear; my opposition to MMFLA (Medical Marijuana Facility Licensing Act) is not based on me being a Republican, a Democrat or a Christian. I am looking at this ordinance with the eyes of a husband, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a small business owner, and as elected city commissioner. That being said, I do not judge nor think differently of those who are using medical marijuana. As stated before, I see its medical benefits.”<br/> He continued, “I strongly believe that this ordinance does come with a certain level of risk to the City of Lapeer…I am voting the way the individuals who voted for me would want me to vote. I understand there will be those who disagree with me. That is perfectly fine. I would rather be wrong now then right later.”<br/> Osentoski’s amendments were the result of research conducted by the newly-elected commissioner.</p>
<p>“I spent the last two weeks interviewing city officials, longtime city residents and the planning commission. I also reviewed 60 other city ordinances. The majority had limits. <br/> No one had a good reason as to why unlimited was good for the city … Some wanted to say it will work itself out, but that’s not good enough for me.”<br/> He continued, “We have 2,500 cardholders in the county and six (dispensaries) can fill those prescriptions. We don’t need to be medical marijuana hub of the region. We need to move slowly and can expand if it’s deemed good for the city. It’s not about the money, because the state gets the lion’s share. Why are people investing before the vote? We are only city in the area opting in and everyone wants a piece. Are they in it for the city? Of course not. I am the one that initiated the limit on provisioning and feel it’s best for the city.”<br/> Mayor Bill Sprague expressed frustration at Osentoski’s amendment. “My biggest disappointment is that we’ve been doing this for a year and five minutes before the meeting I hear about this change when we decided earlier that there would be no limits.”<br/> Last August the city officials voted to allow all license types to operate in the city — grower, processor, secure transporter, provisioning center and safety compliance facility licenses. Planning officials had been working ever since to work out the details to where such operations can be established in Lapeer. The planning commission’s work was finished in January when they approved a new zoning ordinance that indicated where medical marijuana business could locate. Grow operations can only be located in areas zoned industrial.<br/> Planning and city commission officials have put in place buffer zones to restrict how close a medical marijuana business can be to other structures and property uses in the city. Medical marijuana businesses cannot be within 200 feet of a city park, 500 feet of a commercial daycare facility, 500 feet of federal property (post office, armory) and 1,000 feet of a school.<br/> Chris Aiello, an attorney from Warren, was in the capacity audience and expressed his dissatisfaction with the limitation of dispensaries to six. He suggested the city’s decision to limit the number of dispensaries will set up the city for lawsuits. Aiello suggested many individuals in the room Monday evening that may have purchased property or made investments in the community thinking they were in line to open a facility may be excluded in their bid because of the restriction.<br/> “All this time, for a year you’ve been working on this and it comes to this? I question how you got to this point in three minutes (at Monday’s meeting). Now you have to set up criteria. Is it going to be first come, first served basis, a lottery, what’s it going to be?” Aiello asked.<br/> The city planning office has received more than 300 calls in recent months by individuals and corporate representatives seeking information on the status of the medical marijuana ordinances in the city — an indication to the strong interest by entrepreneurs to enter the medical marijuana business.<br/> Lapeer attorney Bernard Jocuns, a medical marijuana advocate, commented, “It’s cool that this has passed. But limiting the number of dispensaries is going to create a bizarre process,” and suggested it’s a “strong likelihood” that Michigan voters will pass legalization of recreational use of marijuana next November as it appears enough citizen signatures have been secured to put the measure on the ballot.<br/> The area that is ripe for medical marijuana development in Lapeer, as dictated by the city’s zoning ordinance and free of established buffers is along Imlay City Road (east of Walmart) to the city limits at Myers/Morris roads.<br/> The City Clerk’s office is currently drafting plans and a procedure to accept license applications effective April 1.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>DTE could spend $300M on Lapeer County wind farm (From 2-21 2018 County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2018-02-21:4510650:BlogPost:248012018-02-21T15:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p>Details revealed during ‘community outreach’ <br></br> BY ANDREW DIETDERICH <br></br> 810-452-2609 • adietderich@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-21/Front_Page/DTE_could_spend_300M_on_Lapeer_County_wind_farm.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871417?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871417?profile=original" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p>Matthew Wagner, manager of…</p>
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<p>Details revealed during ‘community outreach’ <br/> BY ANDREW DIETDERICH <br/> 810-452-2609 • adietderich@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2018-02-21/Front_Page/DTE_could_spend_300M_on_Lapeer_County_wind_farm.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871417?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="250" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2805871417?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>Matthew Wagner, manager of renewable energy development for DTE Energy, shows a map of DTE’s Echo Wind Park in Huron County, while explaining requirements of zoning ordinances and how they can dramatically limit how much land within an area can be used for wind energy projects. Photo by Andrew Dietderich</p>
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<p>LAPEER — DTE Energy Co. officials say a planned wind farm in northern Lapeer County could carry a price tag of up to $300 million, and that the number of people signing on to be involved has grown “substantially.”</p>
<p>Once operational, the project could consist of 50 to 60 wind turbines spread over the northern Lapeer County townships of Burnside, Burlington and North Branch.</p>
<p>However, DTE officials urge area residents to consider myriad variables likely to sculpt the final version of the wind farm’s site plan and timeline.</p>
<p>Those variables include zoning ordinance amendments under consideration by Burnside officials that DTE representatives claim would effectively make it impossible to erect a single wind turbine in that township specifically. The town- ship board could adopt the amendments as soon as Monday (Feb. 26).</p>
<p>“The current proposal will not allow wind in Burnside Township,” said Carla Gribbs, regional manager, DTE.</p>
<p>Gribbs — along with Matthew Wagner, manager of renewable energy development for DTE, and Cindy Hecht, a spokesperson for DTE — met with The County Press for more than two hours Monday.</p>
<p>Topics of discussion ranged from the potential economic benefit of a wind farm in the community to challenges DTE officials face in making it happen (including outside influencers trying to prevent expansion of wind energy projects in general).</p>
<p>Gribbs said the meeting with The County Press reflected the company’s ongoing community outreach efforts in the area.</p>
<p>“We think Lapeer, as a community, benefits from renewables,” Gribbs said. “There’s an economic benefit, and there is an environmental benefit, and there is support in the community.</p>
<p>“It’s not a campaign as much as it’s an ongoing piece of the conversation of community outreach so that you and the people that read your paper understand,” Gribbs told The County Press.</p>
<p>Wagner said currently, DTE has 89 easement agreements for wind development (more commonly called “wind leases”) in northern Lapeer County. The area covered by the agreements is “a little more than 15,000 acres of land,” Wagner said. He said the number of new signed leases has grown “substantially.”</p>
<p>Current plans for the wind farm do not extend beyond the confines of the three townships.</p>
<p>“We’re pretty excited,” Wagner said. “That’s quite a leap in three or four months.”</p>
<p>The County Press reported Oct. 8 that landowners in the area had signed the first 20 wind leases between July 7 and Sept. 26. Wagner said those initial wind leases represented about 3,000 acres of land.</p>
<p>The 40-year agreements (with an option for another 20 years) were recorded with the Lapeer County Register of Deeds.</p>
<p>Records in the Register of Deeds office show that since the story was first reported in October, no additional wind leases have been filed (as of Feb. 2, the most recent records available at press time).</p>
<p>However, Wagner said that will change soon.</p>
<p>“There’s a volume of agreements that we will start recording in phases,” he said, noting that there is “a whole process in evaluating” agreements and getting them approved.</p>
<p>“We will be starting to add additional recordings in a phased process frankly to deal with the volume that we’ve got,” Wagner said. “So you’ll start seeing those.”</p>
<p>The company isn’t done securing land for the wind farm, either.</p>
<p>“We’re still in the ‘acquiring easements’ and ‘community outreach’ phase,” Wagner said.</p>
<p>Wagner said the hope is to secure another roughly 10,000 acres before moving on with the next phase of the project.</p>
<p>At that point, DTE officials will begin a full-court press on collecting data about potential wind turbine locations. This will include looking at factors such as wind, weather and environment.</p>
<p>The company will then apply to the Midcontinent ISO (MISO) for an “electrical connection” that essentially will determine how much energy produced by DTE wind turbines can be transported via electrical wires.</p>
<p>Based on the information collected and granted permits for electrical connection, DTE planners will begin “siting” wind turbines, i.e. figuring out where it makes most sense to put the structures that generally top out at just under 500 feet (the highest point of the tip of a wind turbine blade when pointed straight up into the sky).</p>
<p>The company then will have to go through the processes of obtaining a slew of permits from the likes of the Federal Aviation Administration, Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Michigan Dept. of Transportation.</p>
<p>DTE then will turn efforts toward buying wind turbines.</p>
<p>“We haven’t even begun to think about procuring turbines for this project,” Wagner said. “But I can tell you in our past projects that the cost has been between $2 million and $3 million per turbine. My guess it will be slightly more (for the Lapeer project), but it’s hard to say.”</p>
<p>In Lapeer County, the costs could be $3 million to $4 million per turbine, Wagner said, “but it really is a function of how many turbines you’re buying, who you’re buying them from…there’s a lot of things that offset (the costs).”</p>
<p>The County Press asked specifically about total costs for the project.</p>
<p>“I’ll give you a range,” Wagner said. “I will say probably $200 million to $300 million.”</p>
<p>Ideally, DTE officials want the wind farm to produce 150 megawatts of energy.</p>
<p>Wagner said turbines would likely produce up to 3 megawatts each. Further, he confirmed that 50-60 turbines would be needed to reach the 150MW mark.</p>
<p>That raises one key question: Why is DTE setting up so many easement agreements if the intent isn’t to use each and every one?</p>
<p>Officials said factors such as setbacks (how far turbines can be from other things like houses) are likely to dramatically decrease the amount of land that is usable for the wind farm.</p>
<p>Both North Branch and Burlington townships have enacted moratoriums to develop and/or update zoning ordinances to address such factors (Burlington’s moratorium is for two years, North Branch’s is for one year, both were enacted last November.)</p>
<p>Burnside Township is closest to having an updated zoning ordinance that addresses commercial wind energy developments. The township board is set to discuss and possibly vote on recommended amendments to its zoning ordinance at next week’s meeting.</p>
<p>Tim Denney, Burnside Township attorney, said he has “given up predicting when the matter will be formally voted upon or what form it will take.”</p>
<p>“The township board has listened carefully to input from all sides,” Denney said. “After no less than three public hearings and other public meetings besides on the topic, the township board is likely close to a vote.”</p>
<p>Gribbs said there are concerns that Burnside officials will adopt amendments that are too restrictive. Even so, she said, the project is not entirely reliant on whatever officials in Burnside Township decide to do.</p>
<p>Communities that do end up hosting wind farms benefit, DTE officials said.</p>
<p>Specifically, Gribbs referred to “a pretty hefty sum” that will be paid in taxes.</p>
<p>“It does go to all,” she said. “It does benefit the township, and it’s the township’s choice of where to spend it.”</p>
<p>Wagner used Chandler Township in Huron County as an example.</p>
<p>“They’ve reported on an annual basis about $750,000 into their community (annually),” Wagner said. “About $120,000 of that went to their operating budget, about $15,000 went to their emergency budget, and about $600,000 of that went to their roads.”</p>
<p>“And that doesn’t include the county money, the school money…” Gribbs said.</p>
<p>Wagner said that during 2014-2016, Huron County reported about $27 million total “coming into the county.”</p>
<p>“I think Huron County has definitely seen a benefit as has Sanilac and Tuscola and Gratiot that have been the primary hosts to wind energy thus far,” Wagner said.</p>
<p>On paper, DTE’s plans for its Lapeer wind farm seem like a relatively clear flow chart.</p>
<p>The benefits, too, seem numerous.</p>
<p>So why does it appear to be a tough sell to some?</p>
<p>DTE officials said it’s largely about misinformation.</p>
<p>Gribbs said one source of misinformation has been word-of-mouth rumors about DTE’s plans and timelines for the project.</p>
<p>“One example would be I requested a document from one of the communities and immediately the clerk reported to the board that we were going to be in within two weeks and we were going to have a siting plan put forth,” Gribbs said.</p>
<p>Another problem, officials said, has been forces from outside of Lapeer County coming to the area and pushing “emotional buttons” of locals as part of their overall efforts to stymie growth of the wind energy business whenever possible, and for whatever motivations.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot more activity coming from outside these communities and coming into these communities and saying ‘You need to stop this right now,’” Wagner said. “It’s external influences coming in and saying “This is bad, bad, bad.”</p>
<p>That’s why, he said, the company is coming forward now and sharing details about its plan in Lapeer County.</p>
<p>“We’re really trying to make sure everybody sees both sides of this thing,” Wagner said.</p>
<p>Wagner said “there needs to be this process of learning and working things through and letting the community be educated as a whole.”</p>
<p>Return to top</p>Contention continues in Elba Twp.(From the 12-13-2017 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-12-13:4510650:BlogPost:245012017-12-13T20:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p>View Original Story <a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-12-13/Front_Page/Contention_continues_in_Elba_Twp.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
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<p>BY ANDREW DIETDERICH<br></br> 810-452-2609 • adietderich@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><br></br> <br></br> ELBA TWP. — Questions over meeting schedules and appointments in Elba Township prompted at-times contentious discussion during the township’s regular board meeting Monday.</p>
<p>One issue was the scheduling of zoning…</p>
<p>View Original Story <a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-12-13/Front_Page/Contention_continues_in_Elba_Twp.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a></p>
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<p>BY ANDREW DIETDERICH<br/> 810-452-2609 • adietderich@mihomepaper.com</p>
<p><br/> <br/> ELBA TWP. — Questions over meeting schedules and appointments in Elba Township prompted at-times contentious discussion during the township’s regular board meeting Monday.</p>
<p>One issue was the scheduling of zoning board of appeals meetings for 2018 with two board members saying the “fluid” nature of when they’re held makes it too hard for the general public to keep up.</p>
<p>The other?</p>
<p>A decision by Township Supervisor Mike Boskee to not reappoint longtime planning commission member Vickie Wagner-Smetanka. (He reappointed Michael Smith and Ken Kondrat.)</p>
<p>Boskee replaced Wagner-Smetanka with Brett Knisely, owner of the Lake Inn, 3711 Hunt Road, in Elba Township.</p>
<p>During Monday’s meeting, however, it was revealed that Wagner-Smetanka did not give any indication she didn’t want to be reappointed nor had she even been informed of the decision to replace her on the seven-member planning commission.</p>
<p><br/> Elba Township Clerk Rena Fountain said during Monday&rsquo;s board meeting that anyone seeking appointment or reappointment to a board or commission should take it upon themselves to express the interest. <br/> Elba Township Clerk Rena Fountain said during Monday’s board meeting that anyone seeking appointment or reappointment to a board or commission should take it upon themselves to express the interest.<br/> Kelly Bales, a township trustee, took issue with the approach.</p>
<p>“Did we even consider the people we are replacing to have a say in that decision?” Bales asked Boskee.</p>
<p>Boskee said Wagner-Smetanka is being replaced for “a multitude of reasons.”</p>
<p>“One of them, as everybody is aware, is her health is not…the greatest,” Boskee said.</p>
<p>Bales asked specifically if Boskee had been in communication with Wagner- Smetanka prior to Monday’s meeting. Boskee said he had not.</p>
<p>“So we’re just going to do this without saying anything to her?” asked Tim Lintz, another township board member. He said he was “upset” by the move.</p>
<p>“Well, I will say something to her after this,” Boskee said.</p>
<p>Boskee then noted his own previous experience of not being reappointed to the planning commission after serving for 10 years.</p>
<p>Lintz brought the conversation back to Wagner-Smetanka, noting she is one of the two “most senior” members on the board.</p>
<p>His questioned why the township would not only replace someone with such experience and knowledge of the planning commission, but also “not do her the courtesy of saying ‘You’re not going to get (re-appointed).’ You’re just going to do it and then tell her.”</p>
<p>“Does that seem morally right to you?” Lintz asked.</p>
<p>Boskee did not answer the question directly, but again referred to his own experience of getting replaced after having served a lengthy term on the planning commission.</p>
<p>Bales once-again brought the focus back to Wagner- Smetanka.</p>
<p>“Just because you said she has health issues…you don’t know what her health issues are now…I mean the planning commission hasn’t even met in how many months?” Bales said.</p>
<p>“To me, you have now, only one person who kind of only really has any kind of knowledge sitting on that planning commission,” Bales said.</p>
<p>Boskee denied the claim, saying all current planning commission members “have been there for more than one term.”</p>
<p>“That planning commission is not new by any stretch of the imagination,” Boskee said.</p>
<p>Lintz said Wagner-Smetanka may very well want to not be reappointed, but said that wasn’t the issue.</p>
<p>“The issue is, I think, we ought to give people consideration — especially one that’s been there for a while — and let them know you’re going to do it,” Lintz said.</p>
<p>To that, Boskee said he didn’t want “to get into private conversations” he’s had with other board members “one way or the other.”</p>
<p>Clerk Rena Fountain said anyone who seeks appointment or reappointment to any of the township’s boards or commissions should take it upon themselves to reach out to the township supervisor.</p>
<p>“Especially someone that’s been there so long knows…” Fountain said.</p>
<p>“Knows what? Knows that the supervisor is going to take them off the board?” Lintz said. “I would think if I was there for about eight years and had the knowledge that you wouldn’t be taking them off the board.”</p>
<p>Boskee cut the conservation off by stating “that is my appointment.”</p>
<p>A motion was made to approve the appointments. It passed 5-2.</p>
<p>Other appointments/reappointments approved with the vote were:</p>
<p>• Kristie Back to board of review. Phyllis Rickabus was approved as an alternate.</p>
<p>• Sean O’Bryan, Lonnie Loveland, and John Kosiara were reappointed to the zoning board of appeals.</p>
<p>The zoning board of appeals also came up in the beginning of the meeting, when Lintz raised questions over the schedule of meetings for 2018.</p>
<p>Per the township’s website, the zoning board reviews where or not “there are unique practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships imposed upon the petitioner’s property by the Elba Township Zoning Ordinance.”</p>
<p>Lintz took particular issue with the part of the official schedule that notes “Additional meetings will be scheduled on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., as needed.”</p>
<p>“Researching back over the minutes of 2017…that schedule wasn’t followed at all,” Lintz said.</p>
<p>The board met six times: (Tuesday) Oct. 17, (Tuesday) Sept. 26, (Thursday) May 18, (Tuesday) April 18, (Tuesday) March 28, and (Thursday) Feb. 23.</p>
<p>“Every one of those meetings are what you would classify as a special meeting,” Lintz said.</p>
<p>Lintz also noted a newsletter recently sent to township taxpayers with their winter tax bills that informed them that zoning board of appeals meetings would be held on the first Wednesday of the month (as needed) — not the first Thursday.</p>
<p>Boskee explained that the zoning board is only required to meet once. That meeting is set for Jan. 4.</p>
<p>All other meetings are scheduled at the request of the petitioner (the party seeking a zoning variance) and the availability of zoning board members, he said. Further, meetings must be publicly posted at least 18 hours before they are held, Boskee said, and those within 300 feet of the affected area are notified directly.</p>
<p>The newsletter day of the week was simply a typo, he added.</p>
<p>Still, Lintz took issue with the fact that even when petitioners request zoning variances that require the zoning board to meet, such meetings aren’t held on the day of the month approved by the township board.</p>
<p>Boskee suggested taking out mention of a specific day to indicate the zoning board will meet “as-needed.”</p>
<p>“That’s fine, but right now residents think it’s going to be on a Wednesday,” Lintz said.</p>
<p>The board approved amending the day of the week from Thursday to Wednesday.</p>
<p>Also during Monday’s meeting, the board:</p>
<p>• Approved paying $62,153.78 in bills.</p>
<p>• Approved “staff holiday compensation” of $300 per township employee in lieu of pay for days the township hall will be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.</p>
<p>Return to top</p>Lapeer voters defeat road millage, elect new city commissioner (From the 11-12-17 County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-11-14:4510650:BlogPost:244012017-11-14T07:52:01.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
<div class="field-item even"><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-11-12/News/Lapeer_voters_defeat_road_millage_elect_new_city_c.html" target="_blank">Original…</a></strong></div>
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
<div class="field-item even"><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-11-12/News/Lapeer_voters_defeat_road_millage_elect_new_city_c.html" target="_blank">Original Article</a><br/></strong></div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-11-12/11p1.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Dan Osentoski was elected Tuesday to the Lapeer City Commission. ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-11-12/11p1.preview.jpg" alt=" Dan Osentoski was elected Tuesday to the Lapeer City Commission. " title=" Dan Osentoski was elected Tuesday to the Lapeer City Commission. " class="image image-preview" width="250" height="158"/></a></span></p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><span class="caption">Dan Osentoski was elected Tuesday to the Lapeer City Commission.</span></span></p>
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<p><span>LAPEER</span> — In an extremely light turnout, 12.8-percent of Lapeer’s 5,890 registered voters turned out Tuesday to narrowly defeat a road millage proposal and elected a new city commissioner, Dan Osentoski, to office.</p>
<p>By a 24-vote margin, voters rejected a six-year, two-mill road millage proposal 383 to 359 that would have gone to maintain and repair city streets and sidewalks — long a complaint aired by residents and area drivers alike of generally being in poor shape. A similar proposal floated in November 2015 was defeated by 17 votes, 527-510.</p>
<p>“People have seen that we’ve been fortunate with grants and have worked so hard to get additional money for roads, but that pot is almost empty,” said City Manager Dale Kerbyson, disappointed at the results. “There will definitely be a slowdown in the amount of work getting done on roads, because for the foreseeabale future we don’t see too many other grant opportunities out there.”</p>
<p>The city’s Dept. of Public Works will continue to do crack and seal work as well as some road slurry projects — a thin roadway application of an asphalt, filler mix designed to buy the street surface additional years should money in the future become available for a more comprehensive fix such as a rebuild.</p>
<p>Next summer the only major project in Lapeer will be a complete rebuild of Baldwin Road from M-24 to the city limits in the area of the Taco Bell driveway. This “major street project” is partially funded by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation that awarded the City of Lapeer a grant of approximately $375,000 while the city will pick up the balance of the project cost — approximately $794,000.</p>
<p>“We will continue with the status quo as we have been doing as far as the crack sealing and other preventative maintenance, but we won’t have the money to do major construction elsewhere,” Kerbyson said.</p>
<p><span>New commissioner elected</span></p>
<p>Dan Osentoski, 52, will join the Lapeer City Commission on Nov. 20 when he’s sworn into office, to help the administration find more money for road funding as the result of winning a three-way race for a commission seat.</p>
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<p>Osentoski won the majority vote, 310, to defeat challengers Andrew Kluck (254) and incumbent commissioner Elaine Gates who finished last with 139 votes. Gates was elected to the commission in November 2013.</p>
<p>Osentoski owns Osentoski Insurance Agency in downtown Lapeer. He has served on the city’s Downtown Development Authority since 2015, and is currently on three committee assignments with the DDA’s Main Street Initiative Program designed to help Lapeer officials and residents enhance and grow downtown Lapeer. Osentoski is on committees to market downtown, a restructuring committee tasked to identify and exploit economic incentives to help downtown as well as an organization committee.</p>
<p>Osentoski credits his victory on going heavy to get the absentee vote which was a significant percentage of the overall turnout. Three hundred and forty-four absentee ballots were mailed out, and 303 were returned in Tuesday’s election.</p>
<p>Osentoski obtained the absentee ballot register by filing a Freedom of Information Act form for the public information with the city clerk’s office. “I mailed out 450 post cards that included a photo of myself and some of my background, including my education which I think is important to some people,” said Osentoski. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in business administration and a master’s degree in finance from Wayne State University.</p>
<p>Osentoski also knocked on a lot of doors and visited with local senior citizen groups several times.</p>
<p>“I’m excited and looking forward to get to work,” said Osentoski who noted he wants to see the city’s building department controversy resolved, and is eager to get and study the fees charged in other communities for permit applications and inspections.</p>
<p>Osentoski will be seated on the city commission at a time when the city’s planning department is concluding its work to draft ordinances that will identify where and how medical marijuana businesses will be allowed to operate in the city.</p>
<p>“I have no problem with medical marijuana. I believe there are some folks who really need it,” said Osentoski. “I don’t think there should be a marijuana dispensary downtown, but I think there are other locations that would be suitable.”</p>
<p>Mayor Bill Sprague will also be sworn into office on Nov. 22. He ran uncontested Tuesday and earned 591 votes. Sprague has been mayor since 2006. Prior to being appointed to mayor (re-elected in November 2013), Sprague served as a city commissioner from April 2001 to September 2006.</p>
<p>The Lapeer City Commission meets the first and third Monday of the month, at 6:30 p.m., in the second floor commission chamber at city hall.</p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-11-12/News/Lapeer_voters_defeat_road_millage_elect_new_city_c.html#">Return to top</a></p>Collecting Signatures for Colbeck Campaigntag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-06-07:4510650:BlogPost:231012017-06-07T22:01:14.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p> One of Michigan's most Conservative legislators has announced and is running for Governor of the state of Michigan. Pat Colbeck has led in many fronts over the last several years, From opposing Obamacare, fighting for Freedom to Work, and holding our state accountable, Sen. Colbeck has been there.</p>
<p> As part of the Colbeck for Governor Team, we are collecting the signatures for getting Sen. Colbeck on the ballot. If you live in Lapeer, Sanilac, Tuscola, St. Clair, Genesee, or Huron…</p>
<p> One of Michigan's most Conservative legislators has announced and is running for Governor of the state of Michigan. Pat Colbeck has led in many fronts over the last several years, From opposing Obamacare, fighting for Freedom to Work, and holding our state accountable, Sen. Colbeck has been there.</p>
<p> As part of the Colbeck for Governor Team, we are collecting the signatures for getting Sen. Colbeck on the ballot. If you live in Lapeer, Sanilac, Tuscola, St. Clair, Genesee, or Huron counties, and can sign / help circulate nominating petitions, please <strong>contact me at (810)417-1560</strong>, or email me at <strong><a href="mailto:wmgavette@lapeerteaparty.org" target="_blank">wmgavette@lapeerteaparty.org</a></strong> for more information or to obtain petitions. If you are not in those areas, contact me and I can let you know who to contact in your area. </p>
<p><strong>For more information, you can visit Sen. Colbeck's website at</strong> <strong><a href="https://colbeckforgovernor.com/" target="_blank">colbeckforgovernor.com</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>On Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/colbeckcares" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/colbeckcares</a></strong></p>
<p></p>New CPLs in county double in one year (From June 4, 2017 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-06-04:4510650:BlogPost:229052017-06-04T18:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY ANDREW DIETDERICH</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2609 • <a href="mailto:adietderich@mihomepaper.com">adietderich@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY ANDREW DIETDERICH</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2609 • <a href="mailto:adietderich@mihomepaper.com">adietderich@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
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<div class="field-item even">Original Article <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-06-04/Front_Page/New_CPLs_in_county_double_in_one_year.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></span></div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-06-04/2p1.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Photo by Andrew Dietderich ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-06-04/2p1.preview.jpg" alt=" Photo by Andrew Dietderich " title=" Photo by Andrew Dietderich " class="image image-preview" width="250" height="179"/></a></span></p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><span class="caption"><span class="image-caption">Photo by Andrew Dietderich</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span>LAPEER</span> — The number of Lapeer County residents getting licensed to carry a conceal pistol continues rising dramatically, even as a package of bills has begun winding its way through state legislature that would altogether eliminate the need for such permits.</p>
<p>The number of new concealed pistol licenses (CPL) issued doubled from 2014-15 to 2015-16, increasing from 644 to 1,232 over the one-year span, according to county records.</p>
<p>Through the end of May, another 464 new CPL permits have been issued in the county.</p>
<p>That means a total of <span>Proposed legislation would eliminate permits to obtain a concealed pistol license.</span></p>
<p>CPLs, according to Michigan State Police records.</p>
<p>Experts say they expect numbers to skyrocket if a new package of bills that eliminates the CPL requirements becomes law.</p>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-06-04/2p2.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Experts expect numbers of CPLs to skyrocket if a new package of bills that eliminates the need for permits and training becomes law. &ldquo;I think it will definitely increase the number of people interested in carrying,&rdquo; said R.C. Hellebuyck, owner of Hellebuyck&rsquo;s Trading Post in Lapeer Township. Photo by Andrew Dietderich ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-06-04/2p2.preview.jpg" alt=" Experts expect numbers of CPLs to skyrocket if a new package of bills that eliminates the need for permits and training becomes law. &ldquo;I think it will definitely increase the number of people interested in carrying,&rdquo; said R.C. Hellebuyck, owner of Hellebuyck&rsquo;s Trading Post in Lapeer Township. Photo by Andrew Dietderich " title=" Experts expect numbers of CPLs to skyrocket if a new package of bills that eliminates the need for permits and training becomes law. &ldquo;I think it will definitely increase the number of people interested in carrying,&rdquo; said R.C. Hellebuyck, owner of Hellebuyck&rsquo;s Trading Post in Lapeer Township. Photo by Andrew Dietderich " class="image image-preview" width="190" height="250"/></a></span></p>
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<p><span class="inline inline-right"><span class="caption">Experts expect numbers of CPLs to skyrocket if a new package of bills that eliminates the need for permits and training becomes law. “I think it will definitely increase the number of people interested in carrying,” said R.C. Hellebuyck, owner of Hellebuyck’s Trading Post in Lapeer Township. <span class="image-caption">Photo by Andrew Dietderich</span></span></span>“I think it will definitely increase the number of people interested in carrying,” said R.C. Hellebuyck, owner, Hellebuyck’s Trading Post in Lapeer Township. The business is part gun shop/part antique store.</p>
<p>“We oppose this legislation because it just will mean more guns, in more places, by more people that potentially have not been trained,” Dr. Linda Brundage, executive director, Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, told The County Press.</p>
<p>As an open carry state, licensed gun owners in Michigan can carry a firearm in public so long as it is not concealed nor in a place prohibited by state law, such as a court, church, or hospital.</p>
<p>Those who wish to legally carry concealed guns must have a CPL.</p>
<p>Per current law, a state-issued CPL requires eight hours of gun safety training on top of the associated costs.</p>
<p>After passing the CPL class, a candidate must then apply at the county clerk’s office. They must have photo identification and be at least 21 years old and be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully-admitted alien, and be a legal resident of Michigan for at least six months immediately prior to applying, though there are emergency situations in which that requirement can be waived.</p>
<p>A fee of $100 is due at the time of application, and another fee of $15 for fingerprinting is due. That is also done at the county complex. After the application and fingerprinting process is complete, applicants receive either a permit or a denial by mail within 45 days.</p>
<p>But all that could go out the door with the new bills approved by a house committee last week that essentially would put an end to the CPL in Michigan, should they be signed into law.</p>
<p>The bills, House Bills 4416 to 4419, still have a long way to go through the entire House of Representatives and Senate. According to a legislative analysis of the bills by the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency, they would:</p>
<p>Allow anyone to carry a concealed pistol without having to obtain a permit or participate in training (does not apply to people prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm based on criminal record).</p>
<p>Remove firearms from laws that prohibit carrying dangerous weapons.</p>
<p>Remove a provision that allows security guards to carry concealed weapons only when on duty</p>
<p>Lapeer County Sheriff Scott McKenna said he favors more people carrying concealed weapons, especially “if you have somebody who is out in the community to do something wrong…I like the idea of them not knowing who has that gun.”</p>
<p>But Brundage said her organization will fight passage of what she calls a “ridiculous” package of bills.</p>
<p>Brundage said the minimal amount of training required to obtain a CPL is considered critical by the Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.</p>
<p>“Guns are made to kill. Period,” she said. “And if you’re going to use one, you ought to have at least a modicum of training.”</p>
<p>The National Rifle Association – Institute for Legislative Action takes a different view.</p>
<p>According to a statement on its website, the proposed bills “recognize an individual’s unconditional right to keep and bear arms for self-defense in the manner he or she chooses.”</p>
<p>“Self-defense situations are difficult, if not impossible, to anticipate. Accordingly, a law-abiding adult’s right to defend himself or herself in such situations should not be conditioned by government-mandated time delays and taxes,” the organization states. “Twelve states currently have laws which allow law-abiding individuals to possess a concealed firearm for self-defense without a permit.”</p>
<p>Rep. Gary Howell, R-Deerfield, said he has yet to take a position on the bills, pending a more thorough review.</p>
<p>In general, however, he said it seems there’s a disconnect between Michigan’s open carry and concealed pistol laws.</p>
<p>“You and I can walk around town with a pistol on our belt without restriction,” Howell said. “But we have training requirements and licensing requirements to do the same exact thing if it’s inside your suit jacket. I think that’s created a lot of the consternation here.”</p>
<p>Those who said they support people carrying more concealed weapons are quick to point out they aren’t advocating for reckless gun ownership or use.</p>
<p>McKenna said law enforcement would likely take on more of a role in gun-related education and training should elimination of CPLs become law.</p>
<p>Hellebuyck said he agreed with the importance of education and training in gun ownership, pointing out the need to treat guns as tools instead of toys.</p>
<p>“I’m all for having some sort of training, for crying out loud,” said Hellebuyck.</p>
<p>Hellebuyck’s Trading Post just celebrated its five-year anniversary and said business is better than ever.</p>
<p>Handgun sales are brisk, he said, due in part to an endless news cycle that often makes people feel the need to seek ways to protect themselves.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot of crazy people,” Hellebuyck said. “There’s always been a lot of crazy people…we’re just hearing about it more.”</p>
<p>There’s also been a huge increase in the number of women interested in buying guns.</p>
<p>“I tell people all the time I wouldn’t want to be a rapist in Lapeer County, because there’s a lot of women packing,” Hellebuyck said. “And that’s a good thing.”</p>
<p>Hellebuyck said he thinks “it’s selfish for people to expect the police to protect them, especially in a rural area.”</p>
<p>“I think you have an obligation to protect yourself and your family and if you’re going to rely on the police to do it, that’s not a very realistic view,” Hellebuyck said. “I always go back to the old saying ‘When seconds count, police are minutes away.’”</p>
<p>But Brundage said such statements by those who make money from selling guns are nothing more than selling techniques.</p>
<p>“(They say) ‘Be afraid. Be afraid. There are people out there carrying concealed so be afraid. You better buy a gun,’” Brundage said.</p>
<p>“It’s that kind of escalation of fear that the gun lobby wants us all to feel.”</p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-06-04/Front_Page/New_CPLs_in_county_double_in_one_year.html#">Return to top</a></p>Lapeer voters to decide 2-mill road proposal in Nov.(From 5-17 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-05-17:4510650:BlogPost:228062017-05-17T09:45:14.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/News/Lapeer_voters_to_decide_2mill_road_proposal_in_Nov.html" target="_blank">Original Article Link</a></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • …</div>
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<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/News/Lapeer_voters_to_decide_2mill_road_proposal_in_Nov.html" target="_blank">Original Article Link</a></div>
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<div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
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<p><span><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span></span> — Lapeer voters will have an opportunity Nov. 7 to ensure there is sufficient funding to repair and rebuild residential streets. That’s when residents will go to the polls to decide a 2-mill road proposal for a period of six years.</p>
<p>The <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer City Commission</span> on Monday unanimously approved the ballot proposal, the same night officials approved the city’s 2017-2018 operating budget of approximately $9.7 million. The commission held a public hearing on the budget, though no one commented on the city’s spending plans for the coming budget year that begins July 1.</p>
<p>The proposed millage will raise approximately $500,000 per year, or $3 million over the six-year life of the millage.</p>
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<p>Also on the Nov. 7 ballot in Lapeer, <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Mayor Bill Sprague</span> and Commission <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Elaine Gates</span> are up for re-election. Terms of office are four years.</p>
<p>In November 2015 Lapeer residents narrowly defeated a 2-mill road millage proposal by 17 votes — 527-510. Lapeer officials are hopeful for better results this fall on what has been a frequent complaint by residents and areas motorists, and that’s the condition of the city’s residential streets — including a few that are still gravel with no curbs.</p>
<p>The Lapeer City Commission held a budget workshop May 2 at which time officials extracted $293,000 from the 2017-2018 budget to roll into local streets this year. The exercise, while successful to set aside some money for more crack sealing and micro-seal work on streets, was uncomfortable for several officials who expressed frustration they had to unfund other budget priorities and suggestions that included a seasonal outdoor ice rink at <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Annrook Park</span> and directional signs to steer residents and visitors to key attractions in the community.</p>
<p>Lapeer, like other municipalities, used to be able to count on regular revenue sharing checks coming from the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_ind">State of Michigan</span> — but that money has become less and less, and without it reduces money available to apply to local street projects.</p>
<p><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer City Manager Dale Kerbyson</span> said the reduced revenue sharing has meant the city coffers have seen nearly $4 million less over the last 10 years.</p>
<p>The loss of revenue sharing from the state, coupled with state law that eliminated personal property taxes marked an additional decrease in revenue to the city.</p>
<p>State shared revenue decreased by 15 percent between 2004 and 2011 for the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">City of Lapeer</span>. Also, property taxes dropped 35 percent between the years 2008- 2014 to reduce the city property tax revenue.</p>
<p>If funding had stayed the same as it was in 2001, the City of Lapeer should have received an additional $5.4 million over the last 15 years. This is roughly a 30 percent loss in revenue.</p>
<p>Commissioner <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_ind">Joshua Atwood</span>, while he voted for the November road millage proposal, said the city shouldn’t “keep a closed mind” to new attractions and events for citizens to enjoy such as an ice rink. While at a recent EcoTourism summit, Atwood said the city could benefit from offering bike or kayak rentals to the public to bring more people into the community.</p>
<p>Following the summit Kerbyson approached representatives from several of the city’s TIFA (Tax Increment Finance Authority) districts who indicated an interest to finance the new recreational opportunities. “The bike rentals will probably happen sooner because it’s easier to do,” Kerbyson said.</p>
<p>The city commission was in agreement following its budget workshop that the City of Lapeer needed to secure longterm financing for local streets so that it can continue to offer new and enriched city services at the same time.</p>
<p>If Lapeer voters in November approve the 2-mill road millage proposal it will suspend the city’s current practice of charging special assessments to property owners whose street is slated for improvements in which they pay a portion of the overall cost of the project.</p>
<p>This year’s three city street projects in Lapeer, a rehab project to a section of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">DeMille Road</span> as well as reconstruction to portions of Court and <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Calhoun streets</span> all include special assessments charged to homeowners and businesses along the roadways.</p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/News/Lapeer_voters_to_decide_2mill_road_proposal_in_Nov.html#">Return to top</a></p>Judge Konschuh sues officials citing defamation of character (From 5-17 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-05-17:4510650:BlogPost:229032017-05-17T09:32:05.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
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<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/Front_Page/Judge_Konschuh_sues_officials_citing_defamation_of.html" target="_blank">Link to Original County Press Article</a></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span> </strong>— <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Judge Byron Konschuh</span>, 40th Circuit Court, through his …</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/Front_Page/Judge_Konschuh_sues_officials_citing_defamation_of.html" target="_blank">Link to Original County Press Article</a></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span> </strong>— <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Judge Byron Konschuh</span>, 40th Circuit Court, through his <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Flint</span> attorney <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Tom Pabst</span>, on Monday filed a six-count lawsuit against a host of Lapeer-area officials he contends maligned his reputation stemming from multiple felony charges in a contentious embezzlement case. The lawsuit said damages to the injuries he sustained far exceed $100,000. The suit was filed in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lapeer County</span>’s 40th Circuit Court.</p>
<p>In April 2016 Lapeer Chief Circuit Court Judge <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_ind">Nick Holowka</span> reinstated Konschuh to the bench after 20 months of administrative leave.</p>
<p>Konschuh was placed on leave after being charged in 2014 with five felony counts of embezzlement following an investigation by the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan State Police</span>. The allegations focused on funds Konschuh was accused of using inappropriately from 2009-2013 while serving as Lapeer County prosecutor.</p>
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<p>Prosecutors alleged Konschuh used funds his office received from a third party that ran a bad-check recovery program that were placed in his own personal bank account. He was also accused of putting money his office received from <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Genesee County</span> as reimbursement for a training program into the account.</p>
<p>Prosecutors claimed Konschuh used the funds, which were not reported to county authorities, to finance purchases that were not allowed under state law. Purchases included donuts, staff gifts and drinks at a local bar.</p>
<p>In the end, an agreement was reached to dismiss the felony counts and have Konschuh enter a no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge. </p>
<p>Principal defendants named in the lawsuit include former <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson</span>, former Asst. Prosecutor <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">John Miller</span>, Asst. County Prosecutor <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Cailin Wilson</span>, County Treasurer <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Dana Miller</span>, County Controller <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">John Biscoe</span>, and the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">County of Lapeer</span>.</p>
<p>The lawsuit lists six counts: malicious prosecution, abuse of process, invasion of privacy, libel/slander, tortious interference with contractual relations/business expectancy and gross negligence.</p>
<p>The defendants have 21 days to file a written answer with the court.</p>
<p>Biscoe told <em>The <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">County Press</span></em> he was served with the lawsuit notice Tuesday and is wading through the document. He refrained from comment as he has yet to read the entire suit, and said per protocol involving lawsuits it will be forwarded to the risk management authorities at the county’s insurance company.</p>
<p>Look to Sunday’s edition of The County Press for the full story.</p>
<p><em><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Jeff Hogan</span></em></p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-05-17/Front_Page/Judge_Konschuh_sues_officials_citing_defamation_of.html#">Return to top</a></p>Lapeer Indivisible Team organized to resist President Trump’s agenda (From 3-26 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-04-17:4510650:BlogPost:229012017-04-17T22:12:26.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<div class="clearfix content"><p><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span> — Lapeer Indivisible Team (LIT), a new chapter of the national group, Indivisible, was recently launched in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lapeer County</span>.</strong></p>
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<p>As with other Indivisible groups organized to resist President <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Donald Trump</span>’s agenda around the country, LIT’s purpose is to stand up for democracy…</p>
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<div class="clearfix content"><p><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span> — Lapeer Indivisible Team (LIT), a new chapter of the national group, Indivisible, was recently launched in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lapeer County</span>.</strong></p>
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<p>As with other Indivisible groups organized to resist President <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Donald Trump</span>’s agenda around the country, LIT’s purpose is to stand up for democracy through implementation of the “Indivisible Guide” and provide county residents opportunities to gather, share opinions and hold members of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Congress</span> accountable.</p>
<p></p>
<p>LIT will focus attention on local members of Congress including Rep. Paul Mitchell, who represents the 10th Congressional District that includes Lapeer County, and senators <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Gary Peters</span> and <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Debbie Stabenow</span>. In addition, the group will follow <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Michigan</span> legislative activities and state Rep. <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Gary Howell</span> and <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Sen. Mike Green</span>.</p>
<p>LIT members will thank local members of Congress when appropriate, push them to do more where needed, and express opinions regarding current legislation and other important issues. The group will follow legislative activities, contact and visit members of Congress and attend public events while maintaining a positive and civil approach.</p>
<p>LIT members have agreed to the following guiding principles:</p>
<p>• The current administration’s agenda will take America backwards and must be stopped;</p>
<p>• To work together to achieve this goal members will model the values of inclusion, respect, fairness and honesty;</p>
<p>• The team is nonpartisan and welcomes people who support their principles.</p>
<p></p>
<p>LIT can be found on the national Indivisible website,<span> <a href="http://www.individualguide.com/" title="www.individualguide.com">www.individualguide.com</a>,</span> and at<span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/" title="www.facebook.com/groups/">www.facebook.com/groups/</a> LapeerIndividualTeam/.</span> The next LIT meeting will be held April 3. Contact<span> <a href="mailto:lapeerindividualteam@gmail.com">lapeerindividualteam@gmail.com</a></span> for details.</p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-03-26/Opinion/Lapeer_Indivisible_Team_organized_to_resist_Presid.html#">Return to top</a></p>The Repeal and Replace Common Core House Bill 4192 has a House hearing!!. Wed, 2-15 2017tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-02-13:4510650:BlogPost:228012017-02-13T21:00:00.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p>STOP COMMON CORE IN MICHIGAN INC. February 2017</p>
<div align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></hr></div>
<p></p>
<p>Friends</p>
<p>It’s finally here!</p>
<p><b>The Repeal and Replace Common Core House Bill 4192 has a House hearing!!. </b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>And your attendance is needed on</p>
<p align="center"><b><u>Wednesday February 15, at NOON to 1:30pm</u></b><b>.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><b>“Let's pack the house!</b></p>
<p align="center"><b>…</b></p>
<p>STOP COMMON CORE IN MICHIGAN INC. February 2017</p>
<div align="center"><hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"/></div>
<p></p>
<p>Friends</p>
<p>It’s finally here!</p>
<p><b>The Repeal and Replace Common Core House Bill 4192 has a House hearing!!. </b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>And your attendance is needed on</p>
<p align="center"><b><u>Wednesday February 15, at NOON to 1:30pm</u></b><b>.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><b>“Let's pack the house!</b></p>
<p align="center"><b></b></p>
<p align="center"><b>”</b></p>
<p align="center"><b> Gary Glenn</b></p>
<p><b><u>And</u></b> <b>Call and email</b> your Representative in Lansing! Use this link to find them</p>
<p><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=legislators" target="_blank">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=legislators</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Location: <br/></b> <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=committeemeeting&objectname=58&chamber=House" target="_blank">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=committeemeeting&objectname=58&chamber=House</a></p>
<table border="0">
<tbody><tr><td valign="top"><p align="right"><b>Committee</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"><p>Michigan Competitiveness</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><p align="right"><b>Clerk Phone Number</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"><p>Sondra Gordon <a target="_blank">517-373-0910</a></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td><p align="right"><b>Location</b></p>
</td>
<td><p>Room 307, House Office Building, Lansing, MI or Capitol depending on crowd size</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td><p align="right"><b>Date</b></p>
</td>
<td><p>Wednesday, 2/15/2017</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><p align="right"><b>Time</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"><p>12:00 PM</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><p align="right"><b>Agenda</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"><p><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2017-HB-4192" target="_blank">HB 4192</a> (Rep. Glenn) Education; curriculum; implementation of certain curriculum standards and assessments in place of common core curriculum standards and assessments in this state; require.<br/> <br/> OR ANY BUSINESS PROPERLY BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><p align="right"><b>Chair</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="top"><p>Lee Chatfield</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>A note from Gary Glenn</p>
<p>:</p>
<p>Please share with anyone you know who might want to testify, and spread the word at the state Republican convention this weekend if you're attending!</p>
<p>The state House of Representatives will hold a committee hearing next Wednesday, Feb. 15th, noon to 1:30 p.m. on my legislation -- House Bill 4192 -- to repeal Common Core education standards in Michigan. The bill is cosponsored by 26 Republicans and two Democrats.</p>
<p>Hearing will take place at the state Capitol or across the street in the House Office Building, depending on anticipated crowd size. Final location will be announced likely next week.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>You can read HB 4192 here </b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2017-HB-4192" target="_blank">http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(yjb4jq2iq5pvf5e25pebvw2r))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2017-HB-4192</a></p>Daley announces bid to run for Senate seat (From 2-12 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-02-13:4510650:BlogPost:226012017-02-13T20:15:47.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-02-12/News/Daley_announces_bid_to_run_for_Senate_seat.html" target="_blank">Original Article Link</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com…</a></div>
</div>
</div>
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<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-02-12/News/Daley_announces_bid_to_run_for_Senate_seat.html" target="_blank">Original Article Link</a></strong></p>
<p></p>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
<div class="field-item even"></div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-02-12/11p1.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Kevin Daley ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-02-12/11p1.preview.jpg" alt=" Kevin Daley " title=" Kevin Daley " class="image image-preview" width="229" height="250"/></a></span></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><span class="caption"><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef"> Kevin Daley</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><span><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">ARCADIA TWP</span></strong>.</span> — It’s official. Kevin Daley wants to make another run at becoming our next 31st Senate representative.</p>
<p>Daley, 59, on Friday officially announced his 2018 candidacy to run for the seat currently held by <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Sen. Mike Green</span>, R-Mayville. Green is term limited and cannot run again. Daley would be on the August 2018 primary ballot. As of this weekend he’s the first candidate to announce his interest in the 2018 election to serve the three county Senate district.</p>
<p>“I am proud of my solid conservative record throughout my time in public service from the local to the state level,” said Daley. “It is with the support of my family and the good people of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Bay</span>, Lapeer and <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Tuscola</span> counties that I would like to continue my service as state senator for the 31st.”</p>
<p>Green is reportedly on the short list to be appointed by the Trump administration to serve as director of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Michigan</span> office of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">United States Dept</span>. of Agriculture (USDA) <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Rural Development</span>.</p>
<p>Green’s appointment has been said to be “certain,” though when he takes the job is undetermined. It may not be until May or later. If Green gets the federal post he will have to resign as state senator and then a special primary election date will be set by the governor’s office to begin the two-election process to fill the open seat.</p>
<p>Daley will run to fill Green’s partial term as well, should he get the federal post.</p>
<p>Daley served as <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">82nd House District</span> representative from 2009-2014 during which time he said he “offered a common-sense approach to legislation and positive change within state government” while never missing a vote or session during his six years of service.</p>
<p>Daley served as chairman of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">House Agriculture Committee</span> where he “was a fierce advocate for the needs and values of rural Michigan. He stands behind his 100-percent prolife and pro-Second Amendment voting record as state representative.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Daley was born and raised in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Arcadia Township</span> and continues the family farming tradition as a fifth-generation farmer operating on 400 acres. He is a lifelong member of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Immaculate Conception Catholic Church</span> and has been involved as a board member and chair of the parish council, as well as a member of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Knights of Columbus</span>.</p>
<p>He has also committed time, talent and service to the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer County Farm Bureau</span>, <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan Corn Growers Association</span>, <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan Milk Producers Association</span>, the Kiwanis <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef pt_noarticles" title="No other articles found">Sunrise Club</span> of Lapeer and the Lapeer/Tuscola <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Habitat for Humanity</span>. Daley began his public service as an Arcadia Township trustee, treasurer and supervisor over the course of 24 years.</p>
<p>Daley and his wife of 39 years, Debbie, a teacher in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lapeer County</span>, raised three children who have given them five grandchildren.</p>
<p>Daley’s election campaign is co-chaired by Mary-Sue Weber and <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_ind">Chris Tuski</span>. Treasurer is <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Bob Rowden</span>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2017-02-12/News/Daley_announces_bid_to_run_for_Senate_seat.html#">Return to top</a></p>Tentative deal reached between LCS, teachers (From 1-29-2017 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-01-31:4510650:BlogPost:225012017-01-31T19:01:10.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<h2 class="story-title">Tentative deal reached between LCS, teachers</h2>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p><span><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span></span> — Culminating nearly 10 months of negotiations, …</p>
</div>
<h2 class="story-title">Tentative deal reached between LCS, teachers</h2>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p><span><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">LAPEER</span></span> — Culminating nearly 10 months of negotiations, <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer Community Schools</span> officials announced Friday the district has reached a tentative agreement on a two-year contract with the union representing its 270-plus teachers.</p>
<p>The bargaining teams from the district and the Lapeer Education Association (LEA) met Thursday to finalize the terms of the contract. In order for the agreement to be in effect, it must be ratified by the LEA membership and approved by the school board. Ratification is expected to be complete by the end of the week.</p>
<p>“It’s a good day. It’s always good to be able to reach a mutual agreement to end a contract dispute,” said <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie</span>. “Although it took a long time it demonstrates that we can still work together to resolve complicated matters like this … We’re very pleased to get this behind us and we can get back to the business of educating our students.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Lapeer’s teachers have been working under the terms of the 2015-2016 one-year contract after it expired at the end of last June. Teacher pay has been frozen while negotiations were underway last year.</p>
<p>Wandrie said the first LEA negotiation session was April 21, 2016.</p>
<p>School officials would not comment on the terms of the tentative contract until it’s approved by the teachers and school board. Teachers had said publicly the district was asking for a pay cut, while the district disputed their claim.</p>
<p>LEA union spokesperson Rejean Wolski commented of the tentative agreement, “The executive board members stand behind the negotiating team. We feel this proposal is a positive step in the right direction and it affords a measure of good faith financially towards what we each deserve.”</p>
<p>The contract with the teachers, should it be approved, is the last of seven bargaining units the district has reached agreements with. Each unit bargains independently with the district on the terms of their contract.</p>
<p>Earlier this month the district announced ratification of a new contract with the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer Education</span>al Support Personnel (LESP) union that represents the district’s paraprofessionals and the majority of its secretarial staff. In December, members of the district’s bargaining team met with the leadership of the LESP to finalize the terms of a two-year contract. The contract includes several modifications to working requirements and compensation structures.</p>
<p>“We are pleased to have come to an agreement that is amenable to both parties, and we look forward to maintaining a strong working relationship into the future,” said Wandrie at the time. “As a district, we remain committed to the process, bargaining in good faith and always seeking new and innovative ways to compensate our employees, even in the midst of hard times.”</p>
<p>The LEA, LESP and custodial contracts are two-year contracts, while the others are one-year agreements.</p>
<p>When approved, the LEA contract will be posted on the district’s website,<span> <a href="http://www.lapeerschools.org/" title="www.lapeerschools.org">www.lapeerschools.org</a>.</span></p>
</div>Daley, Howell may square off (From 1-22-17 Lapeer County Press)tag:lapeerteaparty.ning.com,2017-01-22:4510650:BlogPost:223012017-01-22T07:20:12.000ZWilliam Gavettehttp://lapeerteaparty.ning.com/profile/WilliamGavette
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-subhead"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">GOP heavyweights consider Senate bid</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com…</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="clearfix content"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-subhead"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">GOP heavyweights consider Senate bid</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-oht-author"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">BY JEFF HOGAN</div>
<div class="field-item even">810-452-2640 • <a href="mailto:jhogan@mihomepaper.com">jhogan@mihomepaper.com</a></div>
<div class="field-item even"></div>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-01-22/1p1.jpg" rel="lightbox[node_images][ Prior to Gov. Rick Snyder&rsquo;s State of the State address on Tuesday, Deerfield Township Republican Rep. Gary Howell (right) chats with former representative Kevin Daley of Arcadia Township. Howell recently took the oath of office for his first full term in the Michigan Legislature after first winning a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated when Todd Courser resigned. Photo by Jeff Hogan ]" class="lightbox-processed"><img src="http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/sites/thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/files/images/2017-01-22/1p1.preview.jpg" alt=" Prior to Gov. Rick Snyder&rsquo;s State of the State address on Tuesday, Deerfield Township Republican Rep. Gary Howell (right) chats with former representative Kevin Daley of Arcadia Township. Howell recently took the oath of office for his first full term in the Michigan Legislature after first winning a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated when Todd Courser resigned. Photo by Jeff Hogan " title=" Prior to Gov. Rick Snyder&rsquo;s State of the State address on Tuesday, Deerfield Township Republican Rep. Gary Howell (right) chats with former representative Kevin Daley of Arcadia Township. Howell recently took the oath of office for his first full term in the Michigan Legislature after first winning a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated when Todd Courser resigned. Photo by Jeff Hogan " class="image image-preview" width="379" height="209"/></a></span></p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><span class="caption">Prior to <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Gov. Rick Snyder</span>’s <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">State of the State</span> address on Tuesday, Deerfield Township <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Republican Rep</span>. <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Gary Howell</span> (right) chats with former representative <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Kevin Daley</span> of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Arcadia Township</span>. Howell recently took the oath of office for his first full term in the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan Legislature</span> after first winning a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated when <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Todd Courser</span> resigned. <span class="image-caption">Photo by <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Jeff Hogan</span></span></span></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">MAYFIELD TWP</span>. — Local and statewide politics in 2017 just got interesting</strong>.</p>
<p>At a Thursday evening meeting of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer County Republican Party</span> held at <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Mayfield Township</span> hall, former 82nd state representative Kevin Daley announced he would run for the state Senate seat that could be vacated if 31st District <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Sen. Mike Green</span> is tapped by the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Donald Trump</span> administration to serve as director of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Michigan</span> office of the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">United States Dept</span>. of Agriculture (<span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">USDA</span>) <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Rural Development</span>.</p>
<p><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lapeer County</span>’s current state rep, Gary Howell, R-<span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Deerfield Township</span>, who was also in attendance at the GOP meeting at Thursday night, told the audience that he too is giving consideration to run for the 31st Senate seat that includes the counties of Lapeer, <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Tuscola</span> and Bay if Green were to get the USDA job.</p>
<p>Daley, 59, of Arcadia Township, was our 82nd House representative from 2009 to 2015 when he was term-limited from running again because he had served the constitutionally allowed three, two-year terms.</p>
<p>Todd Courser of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Clifford</span> won the subsequent general election to serve the 82nd seat only to resign in shame on Sept. 11, 2015 following an extramarital affair and cover-up plot he concocted to cover his relations with then state <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Rep. Cindy Gamrat</span> who was expelled from the state House.</p>
<p>Green anticipates he will hear from the Trump administration within a month or so on whether the Michigan job is his, but has been assured his standing is excellent and he has a good chance to head the Michigan office of the USDA.</p>
<p>If that happens it’s possible Daley and Howell will go headto head in a special primary election for the 31st Senate seat that Green has held since 2010.</p>
<p><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan State Senate</span> terms are four years, while state House terms are two years. In Michigan, state senators can hold office for only two terms. In the House, representatives may serve three, two-year terms.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Daley made an August 2014 primary bid for the 31st Senate seat, though he came up short against incumbent Green who was better known than Daley in Tuscola and Bay counties. In <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer County, Daley</span> slammed Green 6,576 to 2,423, but it was in the northern part of the district that Daley did not do as well — though he didn’t miss the opportunity to move on to the general election by much.</p>
<p>In what was then a threeway primary race in 2014 in the three-county district, Green took 10,409 votes (49 percent), to Daley’s 9,756 (46 percent) followed by L. <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Jeffrey Phillips</span> of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Caro</span> in a distant third with 341 votes (4 percent). Unlike Lapeer County, in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Bay County</span> the majority of elected offices are held by Democrats. President Trump, however, flipped the working class county in November to handily defeat <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Hillary Clinton</span> much like he did in 12 other Michigan counties.</p>
<p>“It’s not an easy decision, but I think I have another 10 good years in me,” Daley told <span>The <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">County Press</span></span> on Friday. “My wife and family are on board with my decision … I’ve got a great relationship with many senators already and certainly in the House where I served. That’s what you need to have in order to get anything done. It’s about relationships and trust.”</p>
<p>Daley indicated he has filed the necessary paperwork with the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan Bureau of Elections</span> to establish a campaign committee that would allow him to raise money for a primary election should Green get the USDA post.</p>
<p>Howell, 69, commented, “First, I think it’s premature to be having this discussion. We don’t know if he (Green) will be offered the job. But having said that I’m giving very serious consideration to running for the Senate seat should it become open.”</p>
<p>He continued, “My goal is to be an effective legislator. I think I can be even more effective for Lapeer County and the state in the Senate.”</p>
<p>The <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan Senate</span> includes 38 members, while the House has 110 members.</p>
<p>“The Senate has fewer people, and there’s more opportunity to serve in a leadership role or be on an influential committee,” Howell told<span> The County Press</span> on Friday. “I’m honored to serve on either body, but generally it’s possible to get more done on the Senate side.”</p>
<p>Howell won a November 2015 special primary election that determined the Republican and Democrat candidates who run to serve the remainder of Courser’s two-year term. That primary brought out a crowded field of 11 Republican candidates that included Courser who ran for the seat he had just resigned from. In a March 2016 special general election Howell defeated Democratic challenger <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Margaret Guerrero DeLuca</span> of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Imlay City</span> to win the final 10 months of Courser’s term in the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Michigan House</span>. Howell and Guerrero DeLuca squared off again last November with Howell winning his first full term in the state House by a wide margin. That new term that began earlier this month runs through Dec. 31, 2018.</p>
<p>Daley, a 1975 graduate of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer High School</span>, over the course of 24 years served as trustee, treasurer and then supervisor of Arcadia Township. “I still have some in the tank and I think I still have the connections to be effective in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_geo">Lansing</span> for Lapeer County and Michigan,” Daley said.</p>
<p>Daley takes issue with Howell’s expressed interest to run for the Senate seat if Green resigns to work for President Trump.</p>
<p>“He told people he had no other desire to do anything but run for the 82nd seat. I think it’s wrong what he’s thinking of doing,” Daley said.</p>
<p>“We just went through a long period here in Lapeer County during the whole Courser mess when we didn’t have representation in the House, and now we might have that all over again if Gary (Howell) runs,” Daley said.</p>
<p><span>What’s next?</span></p>
<p>If Green gets the USDA job, a special primary election would need to be called by the <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_ind">State of Michigan</span> in Lapeer, Tuscola and Bay counties. Following a primary, a special general election would follow several months later.</p>
<p><span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lapeer County Clerk Theresa Spencer</span> was at Thursday’s meeting of the local <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Republican Party</span> when Daley made his announcement, followed by Howell’s statement that he too would consider a run for Green’s Senate seat.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t surprised when he said it to the body that was there,” said Spencer. “After I read in the paper that Green was in the running for the USDA position I kind of figured that Kevin might be interested to run again. But he probably didn’t think Gary would run against him. It should be pretty interesting if that happens.”</p>
<p>Michigan election law allows for three scheduled elections each year — in <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">May, August</span> and November. “I need to check with the State, because maybe there’s some fine print that would allow the state to schedule a special election other than the three months mentioned,” Spencer said.</p>
<p>In order to run a May primary election, said Spencer, the filing deadline would be Feb. 7 which looks doubtful since it’s unlikely the new agriculture department secretary just nominated by President Trump will be confirmed in time to appoint Green to the Michigan post.</p>
<p>The next opportunity for an election — August — would require a filing deadline in the third week of April.</p>
<p>Spencer anticipates the cost to conduct a special primary election would be borne by county and local government.</p>
<p>Following Courser’s resignation, the special November 2015 primary election that began the process to fill the vacant seat was estimated to cost Lapeer County taxpayers more than $121,000 — money that had been not budgeted and therefore had to be found elsewhere in county coffers.</p>
<p>“Hang on and we’ll see what happens,” Spencer said.</p>
<p><span>Michigan State Senate</span></p>
<p>• Salary: $71,685 plus expenses per year makes Michigan state senators and representatives the fourth highest paid legislators in the country.</p>
<p>• Term: Four years, with a limit of two terms.</p>
<p>• Currently in its 99th session, the Michigan State Senate is comprised by 38 members elected from individual districts throughout the state. The <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Lieutenant Governor</span> of Michigan, currently <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Brian Calley</span> (R), carries the role of <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef pt_noarticles" title="No other articles found">Senate President</span>. The Republican Party holds the majority, led by <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof</span> of Michigan’s <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef pt_noarticles" title="No other articles found">30th District</span>.</p>
<p><span>Michigan House of Representatives</span></p>
<p>• Salary: $71,685, plus expenses.</p>
<p>• Term: Two years, with a limit of three terms.</p>
<p>• Also in its 99th session that began Jan. 11 of this year, the Michigan House of Representatives consists of 110 members elected from constituencies in the state.</p>
<p>The Michigan House is led by a Republican majority with <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Tom Leonard</span> acting as <span class="pt_phrase_term pt_term pt_undef">Speaker of the House</span>.</p>
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