GRANT TWP – Township Supervisor Dan Dysinger has filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Treasury over a mysterious scoring system the State Tax Commission uses to grade assessment practices and record-keeping practices in a local unit of government.
     “We’re taking on the STC on behalf of every local assessing unit in the State of Michigan,” Dysinger said at his township office.
     The civil case was filed Aug. 9 in Ingham County Circuit Court.
     Dysinger as Grant Township Supervisor is represented by Okemos attorneys William Fahey and Stacy Hissong.
     In December 2009, Dysinger sought to identify the basis of STC scoring after Grant Township scored 55 out of 100 points linked to a 14 Point Mini Review.
     Through a Freedom of Information request, Dysinger asked Kelli Sobel, STC executive director, for “written criteria under which each point of the 14 point mini-review is scored” and “the specific rule or document in the STC guidelines that indicate a 20% inspection rate of real parcels,” his letter indicated.
State FOIA Coordinator Carla M. Robert denied the request. Dysinger appealed. State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine upheld the denial. Circuit court is the last option.     Read the rest »

     MADISON, Wis. – Local farmer and heart transplant recipient Jim Ogg recently participated in the United States Transplant Games held in Madison, Wis.

     Two years ago in September Jim received a heart at the University of Michigan Hospital after 20 years of a steadily deteriorating heart. His new heart obviously is working out well. At the Transplant Games this week he placed second in the 100 meter dash, earning a silver medal.

     Along with approximately 5000 attendees, 1500 athletes who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant competed at the Transplant Games in Madison from July 30 to August 4.   The games are designed to showcase how successful transplants can be and to call attention to the critical need for more organ donors. 

     According to the National Kidney foundation, every day 18 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, such as a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung or bone marrow, and 104,748 United States patients are currently waiting for an organ transplant.  To be put on the Michigan donor registry, go to www.giftoflifemichigan.org or visit your Secretary of State office.

–Special to Clare Sentinel

Tim Moore, former state representative

FARWELL – If asked, Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm would consider a special election call to fill the 97th District State Representative post vacated Aug. 6 when Republican Tim Moore resigned and began a new career as principal of Farwell Elementary School.
     Last week, deputy press secretary Tiffany Brown said the governor would consider taking steps to fill the position, if asked.
     The governor’s office has received several inquiries, Brown said.
     In an earlier statement and one Brown repeated last week, the governor viewed a special election at this late date as expensive and would not call a special election.
     Then, a short time later, Brown phoned The Clare Sentinel back to say the governor would consider it.
Contrary to comments made by some Clare County Republicans, including now former state Rep. Tim Moore, Granholm this year did indeed call special elections to fill vacancies in two Democratic House districts.
     Moore said last week he was “99 percent sure the governor did not call a special election for either man,” and claimed that was his reason for not leaving the House sooner.
     However, that is apparently not accurate since Andy Coulouris resigned in April from the 95th District and a week later Granholm called a special election.
     Mike Simpson, state representative for the 65th District, died in office in December, 2009. A special election was called in January.
     August primary election results for the 65th District show Republicans and Democrats nominated the same two candidates for a partial term of two months ending Jan. 1 and a full 2-year term beginning Jan. 1. The two candidates will have a run-off in November. A similar outcome occurred in the 95th District where a Republican and a Democrat beat out contenders to win nominations for partial and full terms.
     Call it political strategem; not wanting to waste money or confuse voters but putting up candidates to finish out the year didn’t spark interest in either party.
Read the rest »

Clare City Manager Ken Hibl

Commissioner Tom Koch

CLARE – The Clare City Commission has renewed a multiple year contract with Middle Michigan Development Corporation to assist in stimulating the local economy despite one commissioner’s suggestion MMDC’s advice could be slanted.
Commissioner Tom Koch at the Monday, Aug. 2, commission meeting repeated arguments he raised in July when he had an invoice to pay MMDC $12,500 tabled.
Koch’s dissatisfaction with the non-profit economic development organization based in Mount Pleasant can be traced back to late last year when it presented a comparable analysis on two potential sites for a new industrial park.

Jim Allen, former Clare city commissioner

Koch heard MMDC say there are no local dollars to put up as a match to acquire grant dollars to buy and develop private property adjoined to the current industrial park on the city’s south end, an option Koch favors so far, convinced it can be developed much less expensively.
Thus, the shortage of local dollars sweetened an offer presented by local developer Tom and Ron Kunse of the Clare Northern Group to enter into a public/private partnership.
If the city were to buy 40 acres he owns on Colonville Road, he would share the costs of building a park by paying to extend an existing sanitary sewer gravity line near the Burger King restaurant to the site and to share the cost of building a new water tower.
The city needs a water tower on the north end with or without new industry.
Already skeptical on facts and figures, Koch was stunned even more a few months ago during budget discussions when he learned the Local Development Finance Authority, or LDFA, has $250,000 banked presumably to use for industrial development.
The LDFA and MMDC work in concert on matters of development.
To address the latest wrinkle, newly appointed MMDC director Brian Anderson addressed the controversy last week. With him were several MMDC officials, and a delegation from the LDFA led by Chairman Jim Allen, who coincidently Koch had defeated in the city commission race four years ago.  
Heads of several manufacturing companies also were prepared to speak on behalf of the MMDC.
Anderson explained Kunse’s Clare Northern Group had pledged a local match of private dollars to a potential Economic Development Administration grant.
Private land on the south side is not part of the existing industrial park therefore no LDFA money can be used as a grant match, Anderson said.
“LDFA law states no money can be spent outside the boundaries of the district,” Anderson said, adding that the LDFA could take steps to change that.
“Land would have to be incorporated into the district,” he said.
As for information given last year, Anderson rejected the notion there was any intent to mislead the commission.
Whether it was a matter of interpretation or misstatement, what was said should not be evidence to cancel a partnership between the city and MMDC, he said.
Koch wanted to know how the MMDC determined there were no local funds available for a match. “Did you make it clear to us if you change borders of the LDFA, there may be funds?”
Based on assertions made last year, Koch had dropped his counter proposal.
Koch admitted he had not noticed the cash build up in the LDFA account. “This part got by me,” he said. “We looked at it, but we didn’t see it.”
Allen objected to accusations either the MMDC or LDFA mislead the commission.
After looking at the two locations, he said “going north made more sense because there was an input of money from individuals.”
However, Allen and Commissioners Jean McDonnell and Bill Horwood protested that any conclusion has been made. Officials await findings of the MMDC on whether grants for industrial development are even likely to materialize.
“The idea was to study the north project and apply for grants,” Allen said. “It wasn’t to do the north project.”
Allen questioned whether the LDFA money can be accessed while the LDFA is still making payments on an outstanding bond.
But the issue at hand, Allen reminded the group, was not the merits of developing an industrial park but whether to renew a contract with the MMDC.
City Manager Ken Hibl said the administrative staff recommended continuing this relationship and authorizing payment.
Commissioner McConnell agreed and made a motion to that effect; second made by Commissioner Horwood.
McConnell said Koch was wrapping a park proposal and MMDC into one lump. “They are separate issues,” she said, adding that money from the Clare Northern Group may or may not be available.
“We were not told money may or may not be available,” Koch retorted.
Mayor Pat Humphrey said the partnership has lasted a long time. “I don’t see we are misrepresenting taxpayer money.”
Koch voted against the motion that passed 4 to 1.
As for the MMDC, Anderson elaborated about the work and results garnered for the city of Clare during the last 20 years. He previously had to do a similar presentation when a Clare County commissioner objected to renewing the contract between the county and MMDC.
City Commissioner John Koch, the newest commission member and a relative of Tom Koch’s, said he appreciated learning about the process and accomplishments. Commissioner Horwood thanked Tom Koch for raising questions, because it brought to light what the MMDC does.
“We are working behind the scenes,” Anderson said.  
According to Hibl, the MMDC “has played a key and vital function in nearly every facet of economic development success we have experienced in the past decade.”
Beyond an industrial aspect, the organization has participation in Main Street’s economic restructuring committee, the Clare Railroad Depot committee, the East Michigan Council of Governments on the city’s behalf, providing ethics training to local businesses and city workers, initiating an Assets Based Community Development initiative for the county, among many more activities.
Anderson has begun to query manufacturers on job training, how they can expand, and what they need to retain and add to the work force.
MMDC has been instrumental in surveying potential entrepreneurs who are eligible and interested in opening in a business incubator. Planning is underway, Anderson said.
“If there is more we can do, we are open to suggestions,” he said. “We look at this as a partnership. We make sure the needs of municipalities we serve are being met.”

Clare City Manager Ken Hibl

     CLARE – City Hall is inundated with complaints over the new traffic signals at McEwan and Fourth streets downtown.
     City Manager Ken Hibl’s message came as no surprise to city commissioners who rattled off their own list at the Monday, Aug. 2 commission meeting.
     “We need feedback,” Hibl said, to give to the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding confusion over the timing of the traffic signals.
     Hibl met with an MDOT official who admitted the timing was off, Hibl said.
     Citizens will be asked to give name and phone number when they call City Hall to give an opinion.   Comments will be turned over to MDOT.
     Motorists wanting to turn left off of McEwan don’t know if the oncoming traffic will stop or continue.
     Before the new traffic control/signal light replacement project, motorists knew ongoing traffic had the red light if they had a left turn green signal.
     Motorists will have another adjustment to make soon.
     When MDOT finishes paving McEwan, the four lanes from Johnston Elevator north through downtown will drop down to three lanes.
     The three lanes will be for northbound and southbound traffic, and a center turn lane.
Read the rest »

By JOHN RAFFEL, The Clare Sentinel

     HARRISON – Scheduled for leave for Afghanistan Monday, Aug. 2, former Clare County resident Marshall Bonham says he’s ready to take on another challenge in what has been an impressive military career.
     Marshall Bonham graduated from Farwell High School in 2003, where he played basketball, baseball and football. He left in July of 2003 to enlist in the U.S. Air Force and has had three tours to Iraq,
Deployments to Afghanistan, Bonham said on Friday, “vary in length from a few months to seven months.” He added that he wasn’t able to disclose the exact location of his assignment.
     “He’s an extremely patriotic kid,” said his dad, Steve Bonham of Bonham Insurance in Harrison. “I remember as a high schooler he had an American flag that was given to him that was hanging in his bedroom immediately.”     Read the rest »

Rick Miller, back on the jobs as undersheriff, twp supervisor

     HARRISON – Clare County Undersheriff Rick Miller has returned to work with no medical restrictions to do his job after a recent medical issue.
     Miller confirmed he was off for a few days for medical testing after a heart-related medical issue. Miller was transported by ambulance to MidMichigan Medical Center-Clare for observation after a coworker became concerned while they were working together on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 7.     Read the rest »

City Manager Ken Hibl

© 2010 – Clare Publishing Inc.

U.S. Secret Service Wednesday, Aug. 11,

in Clare investigating credit card fraud case

By CINDY M. CRANMER

     CLARE – More than 150 credit card holders who frequented a local business that had its database accessed have seen fraudulent charges appear on their cards in a case that is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, according to authorities.
     It was determined in the ongoing investigation that the “location that was compromised” was the Doherty Hotel & Convention Center in Clare, according to Douglas Zloto, resident agent in charge for the United States Secret Service.
     “The Doherty Hotel has been very cooperative,” Zloto said.
     Zloto is in charge of the Saginaw office of the Secret Service, which covers numerous counties including Clare County, and which is investigating the matter. He said it was determined cards that were used at the restaurant of the Doherty Hotel were targeted by the person who is fraudulently charging them.
     “We’re in the process of determining the exact point of compromise,” he said. This means that the investigation will show whether an employee accessed the data or someone was able to get around firewalls from outside the company to retrieve the card numbers.
     Zloto said the hotel has put additional protections in place so an outside hacker would not be able to retrieve information again. “There is no other way for the system to be compromised if it was an outside hacker.”
     “If it was an inside person, it would be incredibly brazen to continue knowing the intensity of the investigation,” Zloto said. “The compromises taking place were not necessarily an employee though. The Doherty Hotel has been very helpful with the investigation,” he said.  Read the rest »

      HARRISON – A Mostetler Road resident who initiated a legal battle against an off-road recreational park from opening in her neighborhood expects the Hayes Township Board of Appeals will have to attempt a third vote.
    Resident Virginia Collins told The Clare Sentinel Thursday, Aug. 5, Circuit Court Judge Roy Mienk met with attorneys on both sides of the Michigan Moto Mania controversy after he recessed a hearing Tuesday, Aug. 3.
     “The judge is giving the issue back to the ZBA,” she said. “He wants the ZBA do consider an appeal and to make sure they have a quorum.”
     On two separate occasions, the township ZBA was to either rescind or uphold a special use permit the township planning commission granted the developer of the proposed off-road recreational park.
     Led by township Attorney David Dreyer, who said the ZBA was deadlocked, attorneys for the developer and two other residential parties opposed to the development preferred to have the court intervene in light of the ZBA failing twice to reach an adequate vote.     Read the rest »

Surrey Township Supervisor & County Undersheriff Rick Miller

SURREY TWP – On another issue causing strain among Surrey Township officials recently, Supervisor Rick Miller claimed that neither the township nor the village of Farwell will have to contract with the Clare County Sheriff’s Department for extra law enforcement patrol.
The comment was made at a special meeting Tuesday, July 26, of the Surrey Township Board.
Because Miller is both township supervisor and Clare County undersheriff, he is restricted from voting on the annual contract between the township and Sheriff’s Department. Not because he would have any monetary gain, but because the state prohibits a person with both titles to have a say-so in a negotiated contract between the two entities, such as a deputy contract.
Miller has consulted with several attorneys who have proposed different work-around options. The latest is not to have a contract at all, he said.
The current contract would automatically renew monthly.
“We would continue to bill you monthly,” Supervisor Rick Miller explained, speaking as the undersheriff during the Surrey Township Board meeting.
Pitchford said the auditor would want “a paper trail,” to indicate the township has a monthly bill to pay. Miller said the current contract is good enough. It says the contract can extend month to month after the contract expires.
Miller, however, is holding out for the day the county puts a millage on the ballot to finance road patrol.
“If I don’t have to negotiate or sign a contract, I am safe,” Miller claimed. “The township won’t have to vote monthly on a sheriff’s contract.”