Mother Nature delivers a white Christmas

Those venturing out Friday faced frozen streets filled with foot-deep piles of snow and ice. ‘The roads are horrible,? said Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner. ‘It’s just unbelievable, just rotten.? Many Clarkston students missed out on Christmas parties, as classes were cancelled due to the almost 10 inches of snowfall, Dec. 19. Township offices ran […]

Green garbage

Independence Township leaders are talking trash with other communities, hoping to save some money. Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor, spoke to the Township Board, Dec. 16, about joining five other communities to study garbage-service consolidation in northern Oakland County, as well as new ways of disposing of trash. ‘The principle benefit of that study would […]

Red ink rescue

In this age of government bailouts, Independence Township Parks and Recreation requested and received its own. The department spent $120,000 this past year, but took in $40,000 in revenue. The extra $80,000 will come from other township departments. ‘We were trying to put in cost containment methods this year, which resulted in some departments being […]

City looks for its share of stimulus

The City of the Village of Clarkston is hoping to cash in on President-elect Barack Obama’s Federal Economic Stimulus plan. “Some of the numbers we have heard in this first round could be $300-$350 billion,? said City Mayor Stephen Arkwright. ‘Michigan may get up to 25 billion, it’s significant.? City Council gathered for a special […]

City looks into sewer complaint

When city officials checked a sewer running through Washington Road resident Norm Cristea’s property in 2003, they said it was sound. Six years later, the sewer broke, causing a sinkhole in his yard. “It’s an old plain pipe sewer that’s cracked and broken,? said Gary Tressel of Hubble, Roth, and Clark engineering firm. ‘It’s probably […]

County exec lays out economic forecast to township officials

Despite the upcoming inaugeration of President Barack Obama, the Clarkston area still faces economic troubles. Bob Daddow, Oakland County deputy county executive for special projects, explained them to Independence Township Board, Jan 6. ‘I would strongly suggest you plan two or three years out in your operating budget,” Daddow said. “If you don’t, you’re going […]

Trustees struggle with bid approval process

What was intended to be a quick update on the new Independence Township Hall turned into another debate. Trustee David Lohmeier asked why no bids were brought to the Township Board. “I don’t find anywhere in the minutes where the bid policy was waived,” Lohmeier said at the Jan. 6 meeting. “I believe it should […]

Trustees find agenda policy out of order

When Trustee David Lohmeier tried to make a formal motion at the Jan. 6 township board meeting, Supervisor David Wagner would have none of it. ‘It hasn’t been advertised,” Wagner said. “If we start doing that, then we might as well forget about publishing anything in the newspaper. This (opening comment) is not when you […]

Sewer plan mired in negotiations

Bids are in and workers ready, but sticky negotiations are clogging up resolution of a collapsed storm sewer situation. “We need the easement before we can work on this,? said City Manager Dennis Ritter, at the Jan. 12 Clarkston City Council meeting. Three construction companies submitted two bids each to repair Washington Street resident Norm […]

Stimulus plan hurts in long run, Ottman says

When it came time for City Council to approve the final stimulus plan package, Councilwoman Kristy Ottman wanted no part of it. ‘As much as I love the idea of us going through and getting this grant money, I am opposed to the actual stimulus plan. I think that it’s a band aid on a […]