Arsenic levels in check
Goodrich – In November Sunshine Water Treatment was granted DEQ approval to change the material in the tanks to enable students at Goodrich High School to drink the water again. Michael Floeter, general manager of Sunshine, said they pilot tested another material by using G2-R, which National Sanitation (a third party testing, non-profit institution in the water treatment industry) listed as being successful under a pilot study, which brought the arsenic level down to non-detectable.
Recall petitions exceeded minimum
Goodrich – In November, village resident Greg Tankersley said he had more than the 199 signatures needed to authorize the Village of Goodrich council recall, and said he expected to get more. Once the petition is turned in to Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr, he will have seven days to make sure everything on the petition is adequate.
Searing retires
Brandon Twp.- Sgt. Mike Searing announced his retirement from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
Searing was in law enforcement for 32 years and spent the last year as commander of the Brandon substation.
‘I’m proud to be called Sarge,? he said. ‘I love the streets and that’s why I didn’t want to be higher. I made it to sergeant… I hope that I’ve been a good one.?
Ortonville clerk/treasurer resigns
Ortonville- Mary Clark resigned as village clerk/treasurer in a letter dated Nov. 5.
The resignation followed an investigation into her accounting practices. Clark was given paid administrative leave by the council on Oct. 19 after a councilmember brought questionable recordkeeping to Council President Ken Quisenberry’s attention.
Quisenberry said there were checks made out to the village that had not been cashed and were placed in a filing cabinet. He adds that all the checks were eventually cashed, but some had been around for a period of time.
Clark’s actions were not considered criminal.
Besides problems as treasurer, Clark also had difficulties in her clerk duties.
Controversy erupted in June, hours prior to a petition filing deadline for the September village council election after Clark mistakenly posted as available a 2-year council trustee term. In actuality, the 2-year term was a partial term and another 4-year term was available in addition to the two that had already been announced.
Clark had no comment.
Burkett named substation commander
Brandon Twp.- Sgt. Pete Burkett was named the new sergeant and commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Brandon substation, replacing Sgt.Mike Searing.
‘I’m extremely excited,? said Burkett, a Goodrich resident and former Brandon detective who was commander of the Addison Township substation for the past four years.
‘I know the community and the citizens and we interact on a daily basis.?
Brandon, Groveland eye recreation deal
Brandon Twp.- Township officials proposed that Groveland Township increase their $15,000 annual contribution to the Brandon Parks and Recreation Department to $42,000 annually. Another suggestion was to levy a user fee on each Groveland participant.
‘I’m not trying to be vindictive,? said Supervisor Ron Lapp at the Nov. 5 board meeting. ‘But our township pays for Groveland kids to participate… It’s not even close. Equity should be our goal.?
The issue has not yet been resolved.
District library considered
Brandon Twp.- An informational meeting about district libraries on Nov. 14 at the library left little doubt that an attempt to create one here would cause resentment.
Creation of a district library was considered by the library board as a move to broaden the library’s tax base and increase revenue by drawing in Groveland Township residents who live within the Brandon School District.
However, the idea did not go over well with Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma, nor several of his constituents. Groveland residents do not currently contribute tax money to the library. If they want to use the library, they pay for an annual library card, at a cost of $100 for an individual; $150 for a family; or $6 if you are a student in the Brandon School District that lives in Groveland.
The creation of a district library appears to have been tabled for now.
DPW supervisor suspended
Ortonville- The village council voted at their Nov. 12 meeting to suspend DPW Supervisor Bill Prince for five days without pay.
The move came after bumbled repairs of a commode; damaging of a storm drain; timesheets incorrectly completed; unfinished sidewalk work; and a tree that the DPW was cutting down falling on their truck.
The DPW was plagued with numer street sweeper, a broken asphalt pot that was borrowed from a private citizen, a broken paint striper, incomplete or non-existent maintenance logs and late DPW reports.
Fr. Bernie Mullen dies
The Rev. Bernard J. Mullen, known as Father Bernie to friends and parishioners of St. Anne Church, died Nov. 28 at the age of 72.
‘He was a kind, gentle person who cared deeply about the people of St. Anne parish,? said Mary Ann McCarville, who worked with Fr. Bernie for the past four years at St. Anne. ‘He lived what he preached, especially being very generous to his many charities and people in need. He will be sadly missed by his staff and all the people of the parish.?