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Saline Reporter
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011 Weave the Web:
that time, the board will decide on whether to exercise its power to unilaterally enact a 0.6-mill levy, as recommended by the Road Commission. Property owners would have to pay $60 for every $100,000 of taxable property value under the millage if the board ultimately goes ahead with it. Public Act 283 of 1909 (MCL 224.20) allows the Board of Commissioners, or Board of supervisors, as the law is written, exemplifying its age, to approve the tax levy by a majority vote of the board to meet its statutory obligation to maintain the countys roads, with the only stipulation being that the Road Commission make the request by October each year of the millage. A day after the tabling, Road Commissioner Ken Schwartz called the County Board of Commissioners assumption that the Road Commission as asking for any action a misconception. Were not asking for any particular millage or funding mechanism. We are acting pursuant to (the act) were here not to advocate for a millage or a bond or any kind of funding, Schwartz said. We are here merely to report our findings to this board and the County Commission decides (what to do with it). A day before Schwartz, as a matter of clarification, held back the Road Commission from the responsibility of figuring out the how part of his offices list of projects, County Commissioner Rob Turner attempted to squelch further consideration of the Act 283 millage Ive been getting a lot of emails and people walking up to me (expressing their) concern over this millage being passed by this commission, Turner said. He said some of the townships are for the millage, but several others arent. Turner clarified his position by saying that, as the boards liaison to the Road Commission, he is in favor of road repair by nature of his liaison duties, but said that the passing of the mill-

The

Your Hometown Newspaper

75

VOL. 61, NO. 41

County road tax still up in the air

Controversy arises over power to set millage without a vote
By Sean Dalton
Heritage Media

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All options are still on the table with regard to funding for $8.7 million to $9.7 million in road projects outlined by the Washtenaw County Road Commission in a Countywide Millage Projects List recently submitted to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. The controversy surrounding the usage of a century-old, obscure power of the Board of Commissioners to levy up to 1 mill for road maintenance and repairs without a voter referendum came to a head at the Oct. 5 County Board of Commissioners meeting, a day before Road Commission figures were presented at the boards Oct. 6 working session. The board voted 9-1, with Commissioner Alicia Ping being the only dissenting vote, to postpone further discussion of the Road Commissions projects list until a meeting Dec. 7. At

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County Commissioners Ronnie Peterson (left) and Rob Turner consider the issue at the boards recent meeting. age without a voter referendum is a poor vehicle for doing so. County Corporation Counsel Curtis Hedger warned the County Board of Commissioners that a vote to postpone indefinitely, as made by Turner and supported by Ping, would jeopardize getting the millage in place in time for the December tax collection, which would stall funding for the Road Commissions proposed projects. Commissioner Wesley Prater led the charge against Turners motion, which failed 3-7, with Commissioners Conan Smith and Barbara Bergman voting with Turner. I cant support it because I think youre jumping the gun, Prater said with regard to the lack of discussion that had taken place on the Act 283 millage. Presumably, the motion to postpone would have been followed up with a motion to hold a voter referendum on whether county residents wish to pay $60 more on $100,000 of taxable property values to continue to meet road maintenance and repair obligations. Act 283 hasnt been used
PLEASE SEE FUNDING/3-A

2 for U Dr. David Bickham at cyber summitt Childrens author Kelly DiPucchio reads her book

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Saline man says he robbed to pay drug debt

By Jim Pruitt
Special Writer

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SPECIAL REPORT: BEHIND THE SMOKE PART II

Former Marine: medical marijuana should be regulated to relieve pain

By Jerry Wolffe
Journal Register News Service

A warrant for felony armed robbery has been issued for a Saline Township man in connection with two armed robberies at local ATMs. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office has approved a warrant for two counts of felony armed robbery for Brentson McIntire, Pittsfield Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said via e-mail Oct. 5. McIntire was arraigned Oct. 5 on those charges and attempted armed robbery in Saline, Detective Don Lupi said. According to an incident report from Saline Police Department, the 30-year-old Saline Township resident was arrested Oct. 3 by Saline Police Department patrol officers and detectives from the Pittsfield Township Police Department. Saline Police got a tip from the suspects mom, who came into the station to report that her son intended to rob an ATM customer. She said he was addicted to heroin and was worried about what he might do. She said she dropped him off at Buschs ValuLand and he was wearing a black hat,
PLEASE SEE ROBBER/3-A

U.S. Marine who spent six months in Operation Enduring Freedom and has a severe back injury has found some relief in legally using marijuana three times a week. Spec. 4 Chris Swift, a 31-year-old Waterford Township father of two, with his current wife, Jaclyn, 27, also spent time in Okinawa Prefecture before being honorably discharged from the Marines on July 20, 2008. Swift, who went to Parris Island, S.C. for training to be a Marine, also has PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. He was involved in a severe car accident while stationed near San Diego and has degenerative disc disease

See more Behind the Smoke coverage on page 7-A and 20-A
in his lower back, he said. He is applying for Social Security Disability Income, and he and his wife, and two young girls live on his $500 a month in veterans benefits, he said. In addition, the family receives food stamps. His wife just gave birth to their second child and plans to go back to school to study to be an ultra-sound tech. His apartment rent is $499 a month, and Swift says his family is only making it because his wifes family is financially helping them. After I got into that car accident, I couldnt run, my back was sore, and my legs were killing me, he said. He said a truck ran a red light near the San Diego base and his car
PLEASE SEE POT/16-A

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Former Marine Chris Swift wants marijuana regulated properly so patients can use it to ease pain.

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seniors 60 and older and children ages 6 through 12. Clean-Up Day set in Pittseld Township: A Pittseld Township fall clean-up day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Pittseld Township Administration Building, 6201 W. Michigan Ave. The event is free for township residents. Recycle and/or discard unwanted household items/materials. No paint or home toxics will be accepted. Call 822-3135.

BRIEFLY...

to join the fun. To sign up, call Saline ATA at 429-5112. Harvest Dinner to be held at church: St. Parents Night Out to be held: A Parents Andrew Catholic Church will host its annual Night Out will be held Saturday at Saline ATA Harvest Dinner from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Martial Arts, 750 Woodland Drive, Saline. 910 Austin Drive. The homemade meal Bring the kids from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. for includes roast beef, mashed potatoes, butteractivities, games, pizza and a movie while you nut squash and homemade pies. The event is enjoy some grown-up time. Members and an annual benet for the St. Andrew Needy non-members ages 3 and older are welcome Fund. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for