Local Government

Published July 5, 2019

Warren Weekly

Governor appoints Bieda to Michigan Tax Tribunal

WARREN — Former state legislator Steve Bieda has been appointed to the Michigan Tax Tribunal by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Published July 5, 2019

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

With high water levels, St. Clair Shores working to keep roads dry

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Living at the east end of Lincoln Street, Sue Rothe said that she feels badly that the city is having to work so hard to keep water off of the road.

Published July 5, 2019

Warren Weekly

Effort afoot to control state’s ‘lame duck’ legislative period

WARREN — It’s been tried before in various ways, but two state legislators with ties to Warren are looking to require a larger consensus during the “lame duck” session in even-numbered election years.

Published July 1, 2019

Southfield Sun

Whitmer launches Census Complete Count Committee in Southfield

SOUTHFIELD — On June 11, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a handful of local leaders gathered at Southfield City Hall to launch the Census Complete Count Committee.

Published July 1, 2019

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Ferndale approves LED light conversion for all DTE-owned streetlights

FERNDALE — With a hope to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and improve its carbon footprint, the Ferndale City Council approved a proposal to convert all DTE Energy-owned streetlights in the city to LED.

Published July 1, 2019

Grosse Pointe Times

Grosse Pointe Farms mourns loss of Councilman Peter W. Waldmeir

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Grosse Pointe Farms officials are mourning the loss of one of their own. Peter W. Waldmeir, 65, the longest-serving current member on the City Council, died surrounded by family June 28 after a battle with lung cancer.

Published June 28, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Macomb board postpones ordinance vote

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Two options were on the table to vote on for a Macomb Township ethics ordinance: the Macomb Township ethical conduct ordinance, created by the ethics advisory committee, and the Michigan Township Association’s Code of Ethical Conduct.

Former Macomb Township trustee Dino Bucci was scheduled to appear in federal court for a final pretrial and plea hearing June 27 in Port Huron. On June 26, the hearing was cancelled. He is reportedly cooperating with the government.

Published June 28, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Bucci plea hearing cancelled

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — First placed on the docket in May 2018, a final pretrial and plea hearing was recently cancelled for former Macomb Township trustee Dino Bucci.

Published June 28, 2019

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Millions of local documents go digital in Clinton Township

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A multi-year process of transferring files from paper to an electronic inventory has been occurring in Clinton Township, providing both township staffers and the public with different ways to stay abreast to the past and the future.

Published June 27, 2019

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

General employee contracts aim to bring pay in line with comparable communities

ST. CLAIR SHORES — At its June 17 meeting, City Council approved three-year contracts for general employees that provide wage increases and, in the case of one bargaining unit, a pool of money to bring some positions’ pay in line with other communities.

Published June 27, 2019

Warren Weekly

Stevens announces mayoral write-in campaign

WARREN — The courts have declared Scott Stevens ineligible to run for City Council, along with three other longtime incumbents. But while the deadline to file to run for election to other city offices has long passed, Stevens is now eyeing a write-in campaign for mayor.

Published June 27, 2019

Madison - Park News

Madison Heights millage increase proposal added to November ballot

MADISON HEIGHTS — During the general election Nov. 5, there will be a proposal on the ballot asking residents to approve a general charter millage increase. If approved, the millage will help bolster public safety services in the city by hiring additional personnel in police, fire and emergency medical services. The millage will also improve quality-of-life programs such as the library, parks, recreation, economic development and downtown development.

Published June 26, 2019

Troy Times

Barbs fly at Troy City Council meeting

TROY — While former City Manager Brian Kischnick is behind bars — serving a sentence in federal prison for bribery — questions about Mayor Dane Slater’s driveway sparked heated discourse at the council table.

Published June 26, 2019

Grosse Pointe Times

Grosse Pointe Shores tax rate remains same for 2019-20 fiscal year

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — Grosse Pointe Shores will start the 2019-20 fiscal year July 1 with a budget that reflects the challenges facing many municipalities in Michigan.

Attorney Paul Cassidy, who represents Macomb Township General Counsel and Human Resources Director Tom Esordi, seen here, sent a letter to Supervisor Janet Dunn regarding a “public verbal ambush” launched against Esordi by Clerk Kristi Pozzi May 22.

Published June 25, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Do Macomb Township employee’s 2 positions create a conflict of interest?

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Once again, the issue of a potential conflict of interest has been addressed in Macomb Township.

Published June 25, 2019

Royal Oak Review

Royal Oak to ban sale of cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets at pet stores

ROYAL OAK — On June 10, the Royal Oak City Commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets at retail pet stores in the city.

Macomb Township Treasurer Karen Goodhue on June 12 offered a second option for an ethics ordinance that the Board of Trustees could vote on at its June 26 meeting. The first option would be the ethics ordinance presented by the Ethics Advisory Committee.

Published June 24, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Goodhue presents second option for ethics ordinance in Macomb Township

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Two weeks prior to a highly anticipated vote on an ethics ordinance, a second option was proposed.

Published June 24, 2019

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Chicken ordinance introduced in Clinton Township

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Chickens may officially come to roost in Clinton Township.

Published June 24, 2019

Madison - Park News

Hazel Park budget aims to repair roads, give raises to staff

HAZEL PARK — Despite a steady rise in home market values, current homeowners in Hazel Park will only see their city tax bills increase by about 2 percent in fiscal year 2019-20, which begins July 1.