One of the most under-appreciated services a community newspaper provides is publishing Public Notices. Community newspapers like ours usually charge our public bodies less than the going rate because we believe they are important. Our newspaper also puts all those Public Notices on-line, so the entire community can check ’em out.
These are richly worded pieces of literature that read something like this:
‘Meeting called to order at 7:05 P.M. by Mayor Catallo. Roll. Present: Clifton, Catallo, Colombo, Gamble, Meyland, Savage, Werner. Absent: None.
‘Minutes of January 26, 2003, accepted as presented.
‘Agenda accepted as presented.
‘Bills in the amount of $173,068.11 approved for payment . . .?
Riveting stuff, I know.
Because Public Notices are not action packed, they are not well read. Most folks just believe the other folks they elected will do what’s right. (And most do.)
This past month I was asked by an attorney to dig back into The Oxford Leader archives not once but twice. This attorney, from somewhere south of North Oakland County, was working with the village of Oxford about their Downtown Development (taxing) Authority — established in 1984. The powers that be want renew this DDA, but when they checked with the powers in state government they were surprised.
Whether the correct paper work was never filed with the state, filed incorrectly or filed and lost by the state is a moot point. The people in Oxford couldn’t move forward without proof they correctly informed the public, way back in 1984, of their plans to create a new tax-capturing district. So, the lawyer called me. I searched our morgue (archives of our past editions) and then gave him a copy with a Publisher’s Statement validating the Public Notice was indeed published.
I’ve helped folks researching Public Notices from the 1940s to present day. The point is, Public Notices are important not only for today — to inform the citizenry of upcoming actions — but also for tomorrow, so future residents can research past deeds.
Most of the local governing bodies we are associated with, trust us with ‘their? Public Notices. In our circulation area, from Addison Township to the east, Atlas to the west, from Goodrich schools to the north and Lake Orion Schools to the south, I can only think of three public bodies who do not wish to keep their citizenry informed through published Public Notices in our pages. (Heck, even Oakland County uses us.)
Why those three do not, is up for debate — they’re probably punishing the newspaper because of something I wrote (imagine that, me writing something that would anger another). The bottom line is Public Notices are for the public — not for the public bodies.
The placing (spending) of your tax money into various accounts for this or that needs close scrutiny. In fact, all actions by the public bodies should be viewed much more carefully than they have. There is a move in government to reduce publishing requirements. But the fact remains Public Notices belong in the local newspaper. Here are some reasons why this is true.
Regularity ? People cannot be accurately informed unless there is a publication which is issued with absolute regularity. One in which folks historically know they can find information. There is no medium except the local newspaper than can present continuous opportunity to publicize important legal issues.
Permanence ? People cannot be adequately served unless the medium in which Public Notices are published is a permanent one. There are numerous occasions in which parties to legal action must be able to refer to a permanent record to prove Public Notice was actually given on the dates provided by law.
Proximity ? People need to know they can drive a few minutes to research town histories ? Public Notices. For Clarkston, that place is 5 S. Main Street, home of The Clarkston News.
Proof ? Public Notice in a public newspaper provides automatic proof of publications.
Readership ? People cannot be adequately informed unless public notices are run in a medium that has good reader traffic. No one reads everything thrown on their driveway. But the local newspaper is the only medium that allows as many people as possible to see a notice.
Confidence ? A good Public Notice medium must be one in which the public has confidence. The local newspaper is used by many people who read little else as a guide to local events and issues.
Convenience ? The local newspaper is a handy reference for school and church meetings, political affairs and for legal, credit, business and commercial transactions.
Documentation ? The local newspaper is the image of the town where it is published. IT records all events that will affect the lives of its citizens. IT records each and every milestone in the history of town. Public Notices are a part of this history and should be recorded when the history of the town is preserved.
If you don’t see your local public body’s Public Notices in our pages, maybe you should ask why? If you don’t wish to research to find out who is not in our pages, e-mail me and I’ll give you the three answers.
E-mail Don at: dontrushmedon@aol.com