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Sunday, November 3, 2013

OPINION

SOUND OFF
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IN OUR WORDS
Millage, bond renewals, city charter amendments deserve voter support
uesday, Nov. 5 is an election day in Lapeer County though not everyone will have issues to decide at the polls. The residents of Imlay City, the villages of Almont and Clifford as well as the townships of Almont, Imlay, Goodland, Burnside, Burlington, and Rich can sit this one out. In the City of Lapeer, Mayor Bill Sprague is running unopposed for a third 4-year term as mayor. On the ballot for Lapeer city commission is Elaine Gates, 52, a paralegal and office manager for her husband, Bernard Jocuns, a trial attorney in Lapeer. Gates, however, is being challenged by two write-in candidates including current city commissioner Debbie Marquardt who last August opted not to run again for the position. Regretting that decision and wanting to stay involved in city government, Marquardt, 58, decided to get back in the race. Because she missed the filing deadline Marquardt has to run as a write-in candidate. Marquardt was elected to the city commission in 2002, and was reelected in 2005 and 2009. Three weeks ago Lapeer resident and medical marijuana advocate Jamie Fricke, 33, also decided to jump in the Lapeer city commission race as a write-in candidate. Its a rare occasion to have two write-in candidates running in an election, let alone challenging for the same seat as will be the case Tuesday for the city commission post. We applaud the level of activism and interest by these three candidates to serve their community coming from three very different walks of life. Lapeer voters will also be asked to amend the city charter as it relates to special assessment districts established within the city, whether its to finance a utility extension or reconstruction of local roads, water/sewer lines. In addition, the voters are being asked to change charter language for the recall and nominating petition process to be inline with state law. The latter two, Proposal 2 and Proposal 3, are essentially housekeeping measures for the City of Lapeer to be in compliance with state law. Charter Amendment Proposal 1 is a little more complicated as it deals with the special assessment process, yet we recommend the approval of all three city charter amendment proposals. As the special assessment process currently stands in Lapeer, it cannot be changed by the elected city commission. City officials are asking voter approval to take the special assessment process out of the city charter and place it into an ordinance. It would provide for consistency, flow, and structure within the special assessment process. Essentially in the event of a special assessment charged to a city resident or property owner it would allow unspent money to be returned much quicker to those individuals, a no brainer in our opinion that ought to be approved. Registered voters in the City of Lapeer and townships served by Lapeer Community Schools will be asked Tuesday to approve a five-year renewal of the non-homestead property tax that would allow the district to continue to levy 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks up to three mills. This applies to industrial real property and certain commercial property and rental and seasonal homes. As a renewal request, if passed, there would be no additional cost to taxpayers. If passed, the millage would raise an estimated $6.2 million for the LCS district in 2014. We recommend a YES vote and passage of the non-homestead property tax renewal sought by LCS. Likewise, residents of Deerfield, Elba, Hadley, Marathon and Oregon townships will be asked to renew a 20-year $50 million bond proposition by Mott Community College that would allow MCC to make building improvements, equipping and reequipping college buildings and sites as well as to purchase additional building and properties for the purpose of future expansion needs. Bond millage funds cannot be used for salaries or operating funds. We recommend a YES vote on this proposal as well to ensure the future vitality of MCC in our community. Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Keep the light

Lets not fall back. Im with everybody who doesnt want Daylight Saving Time changed. I mean after 5 oclock its dark. Who wants that? Lets just keep things the way there are. Erma Bailey Lapeer

Get with program!

IN YOUR WORDS
Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.
So wheres the pool?
The artists rendering of the proposed athletic complex is beautiful, but where is the pool? Not one of the proposed sports fields will be used in the winter. A pool can be used year round by everyone and all ages. Weve had swimming teams but theyve had to compete in less than good conditions. Our team had a good record, considering. The dive team had to drive to Oxford for instruction because of lack of pool time. The Lapeer teams have only been able to host one meet in three years. Its too hard for the Rec Center to change the water temperature, cancel classes and try to make room for locker use. Our teams have practiced there, but thats about it. In these beautiful plans we see a grand entrance, concession area, team locker room building behind the scoreboard and enhanced visitor bleacher space. Imagine having a football team without a field to play on, well, we have swim teams with no pool. Patricia Fitzgerald Lapeer commissioner if elected. A recent letter to the editor and an article in this newspaper painted a distorted picture of Jamie by pointing out only some of the facts about her life. Many people know her as a single mom who while raising three great kids graduated from college earning honors with a business management degree and was elected precinct delegate for the 2nd Precinct. And while its apparent that shes a smart, energetic, and hardworking young woman with drive, whats not so obvious is in her heart and soul. She spends more of whats got to be limited personal time helping other people with their problems than anyone I know of. She has helped dozens if not scores of people who are truly the most legitimate of Medical Marijuana Patients. One way or another good people are becoming ensnarled in what looks like a money making machine for the law enforcement community. Jamie founded the Lapeer Area cannabis Network several years ago to help those people and has donated much time and money to keep it going. Jamies not rich and has little for them to confiscate so one is left to wonder at the polices motivation in arresting her in the first place as she is clearly not a criminal. Being a write-in candidate is a huge disadvantage, so write-in Jaime Fricke. You wont be sorry. M. A. Waller Attica treatment, a phrase that has real meaning to those who survived the Holocaust. Again, in spite of over 160 visits to the White House by the head of the IRS, Obama claimed no knowledge of the special treatment. In fact he was quoted as saying he learned about it when he read it in the paper. When the government shutdown took place and the Veterans Affairs department told the survivors of American soldiers killed overseas that they would not receive the promised $100,000 benefit Obama claimed no knowledge. When Edward Snowden released documents disclosing the spying taking place by NSA upon United States citizens, both phone and e mail, Obama claimed no knowledge. When confronted with irrefutable evidence that Obamas solemn promise that if you like your health care plan you can keep it. No one will take it away ever. Obama did not claim a lack of knowledge. He just admitted that he lied to the American public. I am beginning to see a pattern. Obama is either not telling the truth, is so disengaged in governing that he truly has no idea what is going on, he is the most incompetent individual ever to serve as President or a combination of the three. As President he might not be aware of one, or even two of the above examples but it strains credulity to accept that he knew nothing about all of them. Following the principle of Occams razor, ie, the simplest explanation is most likely accurate; I think Obama is just a liar. John L. Lengemann Imlay City

The hours for trick or treating in Columbiaville for Halloween were 5 to 7 p.m. Seriously? Whoever thunk that one up obviously isnt a single parent with kids trying to work for a living. Get with the program and make it 6 to 8 p.m. next year like everybody else. Im not from Columbiaville, but Im just saying. Bob Rozen Oregon Township

Wake up parents!
I commend the young ladies telling their story of what they saw going on at West, because guess what? My 17-year-old girl said the same kind of stuff goes on, so I told her she needs to report it and not worry about being the snitch. She doesnt want to report it because she fears she will be bullied. I hope the school district and the police look into this, and parents you need to wake up in a big way. Julianne Croswell Lapeer Township

Time for a long talk

I see a lot of people on Facebook talking about the prescription drug abuse going on at the high schools, and some middle schools too, so before people blame the messenger (the newspaper) for telling a story they dont want to hear they better sit their kids down and have a long talk. This behavior and the drugs come from home. Maryann Bronson Attica Township

Fricke the right choice Tuesday

Not being a resident of Lapeer I cant vote in your city elections but if I could I would vote for write-in candidate Jamie Fricke. Shes running for city commissioner and will make a heck of a

President Obama is just a liar!

Editors note: The following guest column was written by Imlay City resident John L. Lengemann. For the past five years I have listened to liberals, pundits, talking heads and political leaders describe the intellect of Barack Obama as being beyond compare. He, purportedly, asks the most pointed and intelligent questions, he has hands-on involvement in all important matters, he has a most curious and inventive mind and he is able to reduce complex concepts to simple explanations instantaneously. However I am beginning to suspect that these claims are, perhaps, slightly overstated. Benghazi: Obama claimed he had no knowledge about the repeated requests for additional security. Obama claimed, as long as two weeks after the event, that it was caused by an obscure video on the internet. We now learn that almost immediately it was known by the news media as well as the State Department that it was a planned attack; not a spontaneous response to a video. We also learn that the day before the event on 9-11-12 a White House meeting was held regarding security in Libya. Fast and Furious: A Dept. of Justice plan to smuggle American made weapons into Mexico went awry and a Michigan man was murdered. Obama claimed no knowledge of the plan as did his attorney general The IRS made Tea Party organizations and organizations with names that were associated with liberty, taxes, democracy etc. the focus for special

Report the violators

My kids have told me there are drugs in the schools for two years, but I know from talking to them that theres a culture of protecting one another from the cops and school people. The kids and parents need to feel safe to report the violators, but heres the deal some of these kids come from prominent families and you know how small towns work. Anita Varney Mayfield Township

Easy to get drugs

My daughter graduated from Lapeer West last year. Now at MSU, she says it was easier to get prescription drugs in Lapeer than it is in her college dorms in East Lansing. Im glad my kid openly talks about this, but wow thats quite a statement coming from a college kid who likes to party. Holly Kallio Elba Township

THE COUNTY PRESS

Rick Burrough, President Wes Smith, Group Publisher Dale Phillips, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Hogan, Editor 810-664-0811, Ext. 1131 editorcp@mihomepaper.com

Not in my backyard!
I think Mr. Hogan wants to sell newspapers and is making up the drug stories to scare us. Im 64 and have never heard of heroin or other drugs in my neighborhood. This isnt Detroit, its Lapeer. Darryl Justin Jr. Lapeer

Newspapers VIEW
published by JAMS MEDIA

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