VeinSolutions in town to treat vein troubles

Along with McLaren and Clarkston Medical Center building new facilities in Independence Township, Dr. Russell Becker of VeinSolutions saw a local need for his services. ‘We thought this is a new community where we don’t have a referring base at all and they don’t know us, so we thought we’d come down here and set […]

Compensation-gate?

Supervisor David Wagner faces possible state investigation over ‘unauthorized compensation? in connection with the new township hall. Independence Township Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to authorize the clerk to check into having Michigan Department of Treasury or Michigan State Police investigate whether Wagner had the right to pay Building Department Director David Belcher without board […]

Lay it on the line

Trustee Neil Wallace wants everything released to the public about purchase of the new Township Hall, including confidential and privileged. The reason: to regain people’s trust. ‘What we face as a current board and what the past board has put on us is unprecedented,” Wallace said. The Independence Township Board voted 5-2 to release the […]

Music man’s path leads to Clarkston

Growing up in a large Italian-German family in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jason McCord of Independence Township said his music started early. ‘When I was 8 or 9 years old, I used to put on music shows for the kids in the local area,” McCord said. “It was great, I would have them on the back of […]

$40,000 too much

Township trustees were angry when they found out an extra $40,000 was added to the new Township Hall’s $800,000 budget. ‘It’s none of my business, I don’t know what I am talking about, you should stay out of it, and it will come in under budget ? that’s what I’ve been hearing since I’ve got […]

Locals get first look in new policy

“My Clarkston Buy Clarkston” is a good idea ? it’s now official policy in Independence Township. The township’s new supply policy places priority on local businesses. ‘Those folks pay taxes that allow us to buy things,? said Trustee Neil Wallace, who introduced the policy. ‘Provided we can get the same quality of product or service […]

Passing it along

As has been tradition since 2002, residents of Independence Township will see their sewer rates increase to cover ‘pass through? rate increases in the Clinton-Oakland sewage disposal system. Director of Public Works Linda Richardson recommended an increase of $10 per quarter at the July 7 board meeting, including $1.66 per 3,200 cubic feet of water […]

No to cable broadcast

When Trustee Neil Wallace brought forth a motion to have special meetings taped and broadcasted on the local cable access channel, his request was denied by a 5-2 vote. ‘I have learned over the course of the last special meetings that we’ve had this spring, that there is apparently an unspoken directive or policy that […]

$40,000 rescinded

Due diligence takes time ? that was the lesson some trustees took away from a $40,000 budget adjustment for the new Township Hall. ‘Just as a lesson ? we need to slow down the voting part,? said Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen. ‘Maybe do a little less of the discussion part so we all understand what’s in […]

HR contract approved

The new human resource director’s $87,000 salary, minus 10 cents, is too much for Trustee Mark Petterson. ‘That’s quite a considerable amount, much more than our fire chief. I am absolutely disgusted that we have hired somebody at this price,? said Petterson, one of two who voted against the contract. ‘In today’s economy, we went […]