Blanket endorsement demonstrates conservative media bias

Livingston County Daily Press & Argus General manager Rich Perlberg erased any pretense that he is anything other than a Republican with a blanket endorsement of all the Republicans running for the Livingston County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.

The editorial glosses over the mismanagement of the nine-member, all-GOP board, and it buries the financial irresponsibility brought to the attention of the paper by the Livingston County Democratic Party.

“The Republican board has done well by the issues that resonate with Livingston County voters — providing essential services in a frugal and efficient way.”

Then why, Mr. Perlberg, does Livingston County have some of the worst roads in the state. They are even worse than a place that many county Republicans love to hold up to ridicule, the City of Detroit.

A blanket endorsement might be in order if they were running as a slate, but they are not. Not only that, there is an open seat in the 5th District I live in where Democrat David Berry is running. He is running against a candidate that has lost judicial races in the county at least twice where you had to stand on your own merit and not simply rely on the R after your name in predominantly Republican Livingston County.

But the biggest example of mismanagement by the board was the more than $100 million in debt county taxpayers could be on the hook for. The county backed bonds for developers for townships to put in water and sewer infrastructure for housing developments using special assessment districts (SAD). The money would be paid back when the owner bought the house and was assessed for it through their property taxes.

But as the housing market hit bottom, developers simply walked away, leaving the townships, the county and taxpayers holding the bag. The county has done everything legally possible to hide the debt until after the election. We don’t even know which townships are in trouble.

The Democrats have asked for a townhall meeting, but Republicans have continued to stall. They were aided by the local chamber of commerce, but it was shut down after the first tough question.

The board has tried to hide it with an obscure committee that never posted its notice of meetings anywhere but on the wall of the board office and only when it was legally required to do so. Then, it never bothered to approve the meeting minutes when it met, so it did not have to post them. Only a FOIA request by Democrats led to a year’s worth of minutes being finally approved. Conveniently, the chair of that stealth committee is not running for re-election, so he will not have to answer any embarrassing questions or be held accountable. It makes you wonder if he will be the scapegoat for the chair of the Finance Committee.

The paper said:

“Democrats have largely ignored these accomplishments. Instead, they have zeroed in on the large bond payments due for water and sewer special-assessment districts in townships across the county. County officials say they have taken the lead in managing the looming payments, which are first and foremost an issue for the townships. The complaints, say county officials, are exaggerated.”

This may be the reason for the blanket endorsement. This is a huge story that could lead to receivership and an emergency financial manger, yet the newspaper was only dragged to it kicking and screaming. The national business publication Bloomberg had to break the story while the newspaper located just across the street completely missed or ignored it. I guess this is payback for the Democrats breaking the story locally and pointing out that the newspaper fell down on the job of being a watchdog on local government.

I also see Mr. Perlberg’s hand in this when he rails against mass transit. He is a longtime critic of the planned Washtenaw Livingston (WALLY) commuter rail line that will link Howell and Ann Arbor.

“Their complaints, however, may largely fall on deaf ears. Many of their programs — such as supporting the WALLY commuter train between Howell and Ann Arbor, or establishing a county-run parks program — are examples, in the eyes of traditional county voters, of unnecessary, overreaching and, ultimately, expensive government. County residents, for example, already have ample access to state and regional recreation areas.”

That’s simply not true, because it has the support of the City of Howell and the Brighton Chamber.

If you want some real accountability and an independent watchdog on the board – a role the newspaper has rejected – vote for one of the Democratic candidates next Tuesday.

District 2 – Thomn Bell of Oceola Township
District 3 – Dane Morris of Hartland Township
District 5 – Dave Berry of Conway Township
District 6 – Keith Tianen of Putnam Township
District 7 – Kelly Raskauskas of Genoa Township
District 8 – Amir Baghdadchi of Hamburg Township
District 9 – Barry McBride of Green Oak Township

Democratic candidates vow to reform backward-looking board

The seven Democratic candidates for Livingston County Commission held a press conference on Monday where they outlined their common sense plan want to provide “Smart Leadership, Smart Growth” for the county’s future.

The candidates, six of whom are challenging Republican incumbents, described a platform that includes making county government more transparent, requiring the county airport to pay for itself, improving county infrastructure and seeking realistic solutions to the county’s multi-million dollar debt crisis.

The Democratic challengers also pledged to make the county more welcoming to business with a “one-stop shop” for new companies, more promotion of local businesses, and an improved county website to showcase Livingston as a desirable place to live and work. In addition, they promised to protect funding for needy veterans and create an active parks and recreation department to improve the quality of life for Livingston residents.

“Livingston County is at a crossroads,” said Kelly Raskauskas of Genoa Township, candidate for County Commissioner in District 7. “The decisions we make now have a direct impact on our ability to succeed in the future.”

Raskauskas said there are many instances when the incumbents have not shown “smart leadership.” She cited the County Commissioners’ failure to adequately publicize the availability of $24 million in small business funding under the Federal Recovery Act; allowing the county airport to run up millions of dollars in operating losses, and finally the decision to back millions of dollars in bonds issued by townships for infrastructure in subdivisions that were never finished. The debt has put the county in a financial crisis, leading to requests for a state taxpayer bailout for one of the richest counties in the state.

Keith Tianen of Putnam Township, County Commissioner candidate from District 6, said another example of poor leadership was the incumbents’ failure to respond when MDOT threatened to close a portion of M-36 for a year, putting local businesses and 100 jobs at risk.

“The Republican incumbents sat on their hands when businesses and jobs were on the line, but I stepped up and worked with Stakeholders in Dire Straits to challenge MDOT’s project and forced it to change its plan and protect local jobs,” he said. “Where were the Republican incumbents when local businesses needed their help?”

Dane Morris of Hartland Township, candidate in District 3, criticized the failure of the Commission to develop into parks two parcels of land that were donated to the county specifically for recreational purposes.

“To let our current parks sit idle and unused robs our families and youth of the recreational opportunities that our community so desperately needs, and to let these resources sit idle is an embarrassment and inexcusable,” he said.

The individual planks of the “Smart Leadership, Smart Growth” platform are:

-- Stop bailouts for the county’s Spencer J. Hardy Airport, which has posted $4.7 million in total losses since 2000 and received $2.7 million in funds from the county budget. The County Commission should follow its own policy of requiring business-type operations to pay their own way. The money wasted on the airport could have gone to improve county roads, public health or other projects of benefit to all county residents.

-- Improve county roads. The County Commission’s refusal to support more road funds has left Livingston County with some of the worst roads in the state – some 41 percent are in “poor” condition according to a November 2009 report from the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. As a result of county inaction, individual townships have been forced to ask voters to approve road millages.

--Improve the business climate with a “one-stop shop” for entrepreneurs; supporting local businesses and encouraging local businesses to work together.

--Support a study into the feasibility of WALLY, the Ann Arbor to Howell commuter rail line that has been endorsed by the City of Howell, Hamburg Township, the Howell Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce.

--Seek solutions to the county’s debt crisis brought on by excessive borrowing for unfinished subdivisions. Special meetings should be held to explain the issue to the public. The commissioners should immediately adopt a new borrowing policy to show they will no longer risk the county’s full faith and credit to support developer hand-outs.

--Insure greater transparency for commission business by using web, media, and other methods to inform the public, and soliciting feedback from residents at least once every two years on county business.

-- Create an active County Parks and Recreation Commission that utilizes all of its properties and resources to the maximum extent so that families throughout the county have access to recreational spaces.

-- Cut pension, health, dental, and life insurance benefits for part-time County Commissioners, whose annual salaries range from $15,325 to $18,114.

--Retain the levy that provides relief for needy veterans in the county, which the current Republican incumbents failed to levy for decades and then only reluctantly approved in 2009.

The seven Democratic candidates are: Thomn Bell, Oceola Township, District 2; Dane Morris, Hartland Township, District 3; Dave Berry, Conway Township, District 5; Keith Tianen, Putnam Township, District 6; Kelly Raskauskas, Genoa Township/Brighton City, District 7; Amir Baghdadchi, Hamburg Township, District 8, and Barry McBride, Green Oak Township, District 9.

Stale Livingston County leadership will stall any economic opportunity

Since last April the two main chambers of commerce have been holding meetings across the county for a “New Economy Summit” with the goal of laying out the process for writing a strategy for developing Livingston County's economy in light of the realities of the 21st Century.

It accomplished little because the all Republican Board of Commissioners are more interested in being able to put billboards up along I-96 that brag the county has the lowest county tax rate among Michigan's 83 counties than take any of the recommendations to make the county any thing other than a bedroom community. That has been one of my pet peeves since I moved here to my wife’s hometown 12 years ago.

We may have a low tax rate, but few services. Like the organizers of the forum said, quality of life amenities will improve the economy in Livingston County, "not industrial parks, not low wages, not low taxes."

Livingston County has no YMCA, yet smaller communities have them. We have no community colleges, yet almost every surrounding county has one. We have no county park system. We have no mass transit system. Our young people have to leave once they graduate from high school. Now, babies can no longer be born in the county after Saint Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital in Howell announced last month that they are closing the birthing center at the hospital.

Now, it’s apparent that the organizers of the summit are beginning to realize the hopelessness of the situation with the stagnant leadership this county is saddled with, and we will always be a bedroom community with little opportunity or reason for young people to stay.

Another session was held last week, and Glenn Pape, the regional land-use policy educator for the southeast region of the Michigan State University Extension, summed it up very well:

“He said the county needs to create economic opportunities here instead of sending people to commute to jobs in other communities. He noted Livingston County will remain a bedroom community, but "we can become the best damn community around,” according to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

I have wanted to comment on the situation on the hospital since I read about it, but this is my first opportunity. People were able to have their children born in the county for 82 years, but no longer. Does that even qualify as bedroom community anymore?

I covered the hospital in 2003 when it opened its $3 million birthing center renovation. I also wrote the story in May 2002 when it changed its name from McPherson Hospital, the name it had when it opened in 1928. I got a glimpse of how little the leadership at Saint Joseph Mercy care about the community.

The McPherson family settled Howell in 1836, but you will be hard pressed to find the once abundant name on anything in the city, other than a small street. Many long-time community members were upset at the name change because so many people had participated in the fundraising drive to establish and expand the hospital.

The McPherson family deeded their ancestral home on Michigan Avenue - site of the present day Banker’s Square and the former McPherson State Bank - to the city for a hospital that opened with 18 beds in 1928. When the need arose for a new hospital, a 10-acre site at the present location was purchased for $10,000 from the McPherson estate in 1954.

A fundraising campaign began in November of 1954 with the goal of raising $254,000. When the campaign ended in April of 1955, $789,000 had been raised from every segment of the community.

Ground was broken on the present hospital on July 15, 1956, and on Jan. 4, 1958 the 75-bed hospital opened for business. In 1990 the hospital underwent a $15.5 million expansion and renovation project.

The bottom line is to move forward we need forward thinking leadership.

Attractive MagLev mass transit system is years away

The Interstate Traveler Task Force issued its report at the Capitol in Lansing on Tuesday after some 10 months, and state lawmakers on the task force recommended fast-tracking of the mass transit system from Detroit to Lansing, if they can find the money.

According to the Interstate Traveler Company from Whitmore Lake, this high tech system called a “Maglev“ system travels using high speed magnetic levitation. The “on-demand public transit network will be built along the right of way of the US Interstate Highway Systems, and any other permissible right of way.” It will be fueled by solar power and hydrogen.

According to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, Task Force chair Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Genoa Township, said "This proposal could single-handedly change Michigan's future by providing thousands of jobs, additional revenue for state and local governments, and a massive expansion of our electrical grid." He also said “the MagLev could create a "watershed moment" for Michigan, creating thousands of jobs, and should immediately be discussed in state House and Senate transportation committees.”

I agree, and that’s one reason I have always been a big supporter of mass transit. However, I’m still amazed at the Rogers flip flop. You will recall that when Rogers was the chair of the all-Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners, they voted in September of 2008 to not only not provide any money to the Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line, but also to not be part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority. Rogers was quoted as saying the county cannot afford to finance the project that aims to create a Howell-to-Ann Arbor rail link.

This is a project that has public backing and exiting infrastructure. Now, I support the Maglev system and hope it becomes a reality, but part of the problem is there is not even a prototype demonstrating how the line works. That’s in sharp contrast to WALLY that has a federal funding commitment and existing infrastructure.

Now, critics will say Rogers supports MagLev system because they are only using private investment. The fact is there is no mass transit system that does not have some form of public subsidy, and I would have no problem with using it for MagLev. In fact, the public land the system will be built on can be considered a public subsidy.

But the MagLev may not have private funding. The task force report said, “the Interstate Traveler Co. refused to or did not have answers to many of the financial questions the members asked .”

I sure hope both systems go forward, but the one thing we know for sure is that the MagLev system is a log way off in the future.

Rogers flip-flops on mass transit

Freshman Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, has been getting plenty of ink since he was sworn into the Michigan House just two months ago in January, but the latest piece of publicity really floored me.

Radio station WHMI is reporting a “press conference will be held Monday by State Representatives Bill Rogers of Brighton and Wayne Schmidt of Traverse City, along with the founder of Interstate Traveler Company” to announce “the creation of a task force to study the feasibility of a rail line from Detroit to Lansing.”

Say what?

Is this the same Bill Rogers that served as the chair of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners who last September voted not to provide any money to the Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line linking Howell to Ann Arbor? The answer is yes. In fact, the board, under Rogers’ leadership, not only decided not to help with any money, but it also decided not to be part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority.

I am a huge supporter of mass transit, and use it every day; I van pool to Howell from Lansing. So, I’m excited about this proposal. Mass transit will generate jobs, especially one this extensive, but I fear this is just one more way for Rogers to get his name in the paper.

According to the Interstate Traveler web site, this high tech system reminds me of movies made in the 1950’s when everybody believed we would all have hover cars in 2000. The system Rogers and the House Republicans are pushing is called a “Maglev“ system that travels using high speed magnetic levitation.

According to the company web site, it’s a “first of its kind full integration of solar powered hydrogen production and distribution system supporting a high speed magnetic levitation ( MagLev ) on-demand public transit network built along the right of way of the US Interstate Highway Systems, and any other permissible right of way.” The system is “accessed by Traveler Stations that are built within the right of way of the Interstate Highway within the land locked real-estate.”

This sounds like an exciting concept that will take advantage of new, renewable energy sources, and I hope it comes to fruition. However, I wonder how much it will cost and how long it will take to build an entirely new system and infrastructure.

WALLY will use existing railroad tracks to link Livingston ad Washtenaw counties, but we couldn’t even get Rogers’ support for that. Why is he now supporting a promising but possible pie in the sky proposal? The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus has editorialized against every mass transit system and proposal that has been floated in the county for the last 20 years, and some right-wingers in the county have called WALLY a “train to nowhere.” It will be interesting to see what they think of this proposal.

The good news is no one is giving up on WALLY. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) took control of the planned WALLY commuter rail line. The coalition includes representatives from the cities of Ann Arbor and Howell, Washtenaw county, the University of Michigan, WATS, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Northfield Township, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Washtenaw Community College, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, local Chambers of Commerce, AATA and other interested groups and individuals from throughout the WALLY proposed service area. Howell City Councilmen Steve Manor has even spent his own money to support the project.

According to the WHMI report, the press conference will be conducted by Rogers and Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City. With the House controlled by Democrats and the Senate controlled by the Republicans, any successful proposal will require bipartisan support, especially one as complex as this. Where is it?

I see this as just one more proposal by Rogers aimed more at garnering publicity like his other ones than actually accomplishing anything.

His proposal to eliminate the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) surcharge without a replacement will - and should - go nowhere.

He recently introduced a bill and press release that would amend the Public School Employees Retirement Act to require all new Michigan public school employees hired after July 1, 2010 to have a traditional defined contribution plan instead of a defined benefit plan.

This bill was also introduced in the last two legislative sessions. It passed the GOP-controlled House in 2005 when the Republicans controlled both the House and Senate and didn’t become law. Why would it become law now?

I hope this transit plan is not just another publicity stunt.

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority picks up dropped ball on WALLY line

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) is picking up the ball dropped by the short-sighted Livingston County Board of Commissioners, and the authority announced last month it would take control of planned Washtenaw Livingston (WALLY) commuter rail line that will link Howell and Ann Arbor.

Proponents of WALLY that will use existing railroad tracks to link the two counties have been pushing to set up a new taxing authority. The county board decided in September to not only not provide any money to the project, but it will also not be part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority.

The resolution approved by the AATA board authorizes it to serve as the designated authority for the WALLY project and it will also allow AATA to complete the necessary environmental assessments to fulfill federal and state regulations.

AATA’s decision to act as the designated authority for the WALLY commuter rail project will allow it to receive promised federal funds. U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, previously told members of the coalition that a designated authority eligible to receive state and federal funding is needed in order to request funds for the project.

The WALLY Coalition, which has been working on the project for more than two years, includes representatives from the cities of Ann Arbor and Howell, Washtenaw and Livingston counties, the University of Michigan, WATS, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Northfield and Hamburg townships, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Washtenaw Community College, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, local Chambers of Commerce, AATA and other interested groups and individuals from throughout the WALLY proposed service area.

Halloween fun demonstrates how popular mass transit can be in Livingston County

Howell -- A fun seasonal weekend in Livingston County demonstrated why Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line will be successful.

The plan is to establish a Howell-to-Ann Arbor rail link using the existing tracks owned by the Great Lakes Central Railroad. A coalition consisting of Washtenaw County, the City of Howell and the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce are behind the project.

Downtown Howell was overrun Saturday evening with more than 7,000 children and families dressed in their Halloween costumes for the 6th Annual Legend of Sleepy Howell. Grand River Avenue and the surrounding streets were closed down and kids went trick or treating, and there was a haunted alley, costume contests for both canines and people, hayrides, broom ball, scary story telling and even marshmallow roasting. One of the most popular attraction was the “Dreadful Depot and Terrifying Train.”

The train was actually one of the 10 stainless-steel bi-level passenger cars that will be used on the WALLY line. One half of the car was decorated, and one was not. People could tour the car, and many, like me, took advantage of the opportunity to see what it could be like reading the newspaper while traveling to work in comfort. I can’t wait to get a seat on the upper level. I already commute to work in Lansing with the Michivan, and I am just one of 12 people who ride the van. I like it, and it saves me money and hassle. It is so popular, that starting this week we are getting a larger van. Since I started riding in November, we have added two new riders.

I know the WALLY train will travel north and south, but someday, hopefully, the rail line will travel east and west.

Getting the train on line will not be easy, and the Livingston County Board of Commissioners decided not to provide any money to the project or to be a part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority. The shortsightedness of the all Republication board is just stunning. It seems ironic that the Livingston County GOP is spending some $20,000 to brag that the county has the lowest tax rate in the state and second highest bond rating with TV ads and billboards.

They should also get one that says the county has virtually zero services, and they are ensuring Livingston County is a bedroom community where people do little more than sleep here. If their children want post-secondary education they have to leave, if they want to go to a county park or want any of the other things neighboring counties like Washtenaw, Oakland or Ingham offer they must get in their car and drive out of the county. If gas had not fallen dramatically below the peak of $4 a gallon the county would have started to lose population as people had to move closer to their jobs out of economic necessity.

The good news is some people realize the benefits of mass transit, and they are putting their money where their mouths are. Howell Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manor and Council member and former Mayor Paul Rogers are paying for some 4,000 brochures with information on the WALLY line out of their own pockets that they will distribute.

They know that for every $1 invested in transit projects, $6-$8 is pumped back into the local economy. Among the things the brochure talks about is the $74 million of development that has taken place within three blocks of a new Grand Rapids transit center since 2004. Public transportation also reduces auto fuel consumption by approximately 1.5 billion gallons annually, lowering the nation’s trade deficit and reducing dependence on foreign. The fuel efficiency of a fully occupied rail car is 15 times greater than the average commuter single-occupant auto.

To see what kind of opposition the project is up against we have this quote from Livingston County Commissioner Dave Domas. He’s against the project even before the study was started. Domas is usually a very level-headed official who I have a lot of respect for. This is just further proof we need an alternative voice or two on the board.

"I was opposed to WALLY almost from the earliest phase when it was presented to us," Republican Commissioner Dave Domas said in a recent interview. "I don't mean to suggest the people who proposed or supported it were not being responsible or anything like that — in my judgment, a railroad line that runs, what, 27 miles with several stops in between is like a toy train system."

Shortsighted Township Board refuses to pitch in fair share for mass transit rail line project

The Hamburg Township Board followed the shortsighted example of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners and turned down a request to kick in $1,0000 last week for an environmental review of the proposed site of a train depot for the Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line from Howell to Brighton.

The all-Republican Board of Commissioners voted last month not to contribute any funds, and to also not be a part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority. The all-GOP Township Board was asked to pitch in a mere $1,000 for the station proposed for the Featherly Road extension east of Hamburg Road, and the reaming $6,488 would be picked up by the other entities in the project. The answer was apparently, thanks but no thanks to the $6,488.

Partners in the project include the City of Howell, the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce, Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

Before any of the $500,000 in federal funds for station design and improvements can be spent, environmental clearance is required. It would consist of, according to an October 8 memo from Hamburg Township Supervisor Cindy pine, a review of historical documents and a limited field survey or dig to rule out any archeological remains.

A move to establish a mass transit hub in Howell and Livingston County has been ongoing since the mid 1990's, but there was hope this latest effort would succeed because of the strong commitment of the coalition members, high gas prices and the backups experienced along U.S. 23, the north/south highway to Ann Arbor where many Livingston County residents work.

Plans for a rail line between Ann Arbor and Detroit are steaming along, and the Ann Arbor to Detroit Regional Rail Project could see its first train hit the rails in just over a year. The effort in Livingston County remains derailed by shortsighted government officials, and a link all the way to Detroit remains a dream. With these two boards we see the danger of having just one party on the board for so long, and another voice would be a breath of fresh air.

Ann Arbor to Detroit Regional Rail Project will get the train rolling in southeast Michigan

Mass transit in southeast Michigan is going forward, despite efforts by some local officials to drag their feet and stay anchored in the past.

The regional planning agency the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) announced they are in final talks with the railroads to get trains running in the much anticipated Ann Arbor to Detroit Regional Rail Project. SEMCOG expects a few commuter trains a day will be up and running starting in Ann Arbor with stops in Ypsilanti, Metro Airport, Dearborn and Detroit near the end of 2010.

The project began as the Ann Arbor to Detroit Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis, and it intends to use existing tracks and infrastructure when possible. The project is being managed by SEMCOG, along with partners that include representatives of all communities in the corridor, Wayne and Washtenaw County officials, state and federal representatives, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the local transit operators (AATA, DDOT, and SMART), Amtrak, representatives of Norfolk Southern (NS) and Canadian National (CN) Railroads and members of the business community.

That's in sharp contrast to the stalled Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line that would create a Howell-to-Ann Arbor rail link. Livingston County, the fastest growing county in the state, is a bedroom community, and many residents work in both Ann Arbor and Detroit. A link up from Ann Arbor to Detroit would make the system even more violable.

However, the shortsighted, all Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners decided in September to not only not provide any money to the project, but it will also not be part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority.

However, the project is not dead, and the coalition partners - Washtenaw County, the City of Howell and the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce – are going forward. Local business leaders are also stepping up, such as Green Oak Township developer Earl LaFave who plans to build $77 million in commercial, residential and other development in Howell and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County along the planned rail line.

That effort may be helped with the introduction of House Bill 6114 in the Michigan House of Representatives that will create the Transit Revitalization Investment Zone Act. Under the act, a new kind of tax increment finance authority could be created that would promote development, including "transit revitalization improvements," within a specially designated transit revitalization zone.

It would permit local units of government to create tax increment financing authorities (TIFA) that captures future increases in property taxes within that district for the authority to use to finance public infrastructure improvement projects within the district. It's similar to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Local Development Financing Act (LDFA) used to establish industrial parks.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak, on May 13 and referred to the House Transportation Committee where it is awaiting action.

Developer will provide steam for proposed rail line

The push by Green Oak Township developer Earl LaFave should give the stalled Washtenaw and Livingston rail Line (WALLY) the steam it needs to get rolling.

The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus reported LaFave plans to build $77 million in commercial, residential and other development in Howell and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County along the planned rail line from Howell to Ann Arbor.

Washtenaw County, the City of Howell and the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce are part of a consortium that plans to form an authority to secure federal funding for the 27-mile rail line will ease traffic and stress on U.S. 23 traffic where many county residents drive to work in Ann Arbor.

Last month the all Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners decided not to become part of the coalition or to provide any money to the project. Despite the shortsighted decision, the consortium is going forward, and LaFave’s input will help it along.

I personally know LaFave, and I know he gets things done. I first met him when I was covering Green Oak Township for the South Lyon Herald back in 1998. Back then, GOT was known as Green Joke Township, and it was a target rich environment for a reporter. There were lots of lawsuits and conflict, and one of them was with LaFave and his brother who wanted to build the Hidden Lake development on the former gravel pit the brothers mined located behind the old township hall on Silver Lake Road.

The township originally granted the rezoning, but the township board then rescinded it when a group formed to place it on the ballot and voters rejected it. The argument was it was too large and the homes would be “cookie cuter.” The Hidden Lake issue drove GOT politics for a while in the late ‘90s. Anyone who has seen the finished development would be astonished by that description.

LaFave filed a lawsuit, and I came on the scene when the case was slowly making its way through the courts, and I mean slowly. I got to know him during the biweekly township boaed meetings when the board would go into closed session to talk about the many lawsuits, usually around 10 p.m., and just the diehards were left until the board came back into session. The LaFave offices were right next door to the township offices.

After months and months of delays he won the lawsuit, and the development was built. A few years later I got the opportunity to interview him in his home in the development for a feature story. It was and is the most beautiful home I have ever seen.

He started with one truck hauling gravel. He then took the next step of owning what he was hauling. Since s stone quarry needs to be reclaimed he took the next step of building a marina development, and the first one was in Northville.

With someone like that behind the project, we will finally see a reliable mass transit system in the region. I have heard the plan criticized because taxpayers will have to subsidize the mass transit system.

That argument holds no water when you consider how much tax money is spent on repairing, maintaining and building roads.

County board's decision to kill transit line demonstrates lack of foresight

A perfect example of why we need another viewpoint on the nine-member, all Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners is their decision last week to not only not provide any money to the Washtenaw Livingston Line (WALLY) commuter rail line, but it will also not be part of the coalition that wants to form a taxing authority.

According to a report in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, board chair Bill Rogers said the county cannot afford to finance the project that aims to create a Howell-to-Ann Arbor rail link. Officials have estimated annual funding from each county ranging from $75,000-$150,000.

A move to establish a mass transit hub in Howell and Livingston County has been ongoing since the late 1990's, but there was hope this latest effort would succeed because of the strong commitment of the coalition members, gas prices above $4 a gallon and the backups experienced along U.S. 23, the north/south highway to Ann Arbor where many Livingston County residents work.

The good news is that even though the county board continues to lack any forward vision at all, the coalition members plan to go forward despite the county's refusal to get with the times. Washtenaw County Chair Jeff Irwin said establishing the line is still feasible without Livingston County's help.

Locally, the City of Howell and the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce are behind the project. U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, said a solid taxing authority needs to be in place before federal funds can be secured.

I have heard this project described by one rightwing blogger as a "train to nowhere." I don't consider Howell, Brighton or Ann Arbor nowhere. Perhaps we could have gotten some of the massive federal funds Alaska gets every year, like from the money for the real bridge to nowhere. The problem is Gov. and GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin, who campaigned hard for it then and now says she is against it, accepted the money anyway.

The current gas prices illustrate the need for some real mass transit in this state. Hurricane Ike helped shoot gas prices back up to as high as $4.24 a gallon in Howell. The day before the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast on Friday, there were reports that gas went as high as $5 per gallon in Lansing.

This spike came after weeks of a slow, but steady decline in gas prices that led to gas prices falling to as low as $3.69 a gallon in Howell. Now, that wasn't because of the goodness of the oil companies or because supply increased. It was because demand fell because Americans are cutting back on driving and finding alternative ways to get to work, such as car pooling.

Now, wouldn't it be nice if commuters actually had a few options besides one car and one driver? Since November I have been a member of a car pool, van pool actually. This might be a good time to give a shout out to the Michivan. I'm sure you have seen them tooling around Lansing or parked in the commuter lots scattered all over Michigan.

But the failure of the county board of commisioners to cooperate with its neighbors and help create something that will benefit the region is just one more failure to look forward and provide any type of service to its residents.

Livingston County is a bedroom community, and it was also once one of the fastest growing counties in the state. That has been because two major interstates – one east/west and one north/south – meet in Livingston County. After talking to many people, I have found that the county is a compromise of sort when people relocate. One spouse may work in Lansing and the other in the Detroit area. Then Livingston County is the compromise. With gas relatively inexpensive that commute was not much of a problem, but with gas at or near $4 a gallon Livingston County is not so attractive anymore.

Now, for the people in the county who are against growth and want to shut the door behind them that may be fine. But for school officials who need new pupils and the per-pupil foundation grant they bring to the budget it's not so good. A commuter option would help.

The board's lack of foresight will ensure we stay a bedroom community where we have to leave the county to work, to go to college or even to take in recreation.

The county has more than 180,000 people, but we don't have as much as a community college of our own. Of the five counties that border the county, all but one has a community college of its own. We only recently got a county park, and that was only after it was forced on the county with a donation via a will more than four years ago. It is not much more than a piece of property, but Washtenaw, Ingham and Oakland counties have active parks with amenities.

All five of the counties have a full-blown YMCA – on of my pet peeves, by the way – yet Livingston County has just started one but does not yet have a facility. Even much smaller Shiawassee County has one. Now, I understand that county government does not have much to do with establishing a YMCA, but it certainly illustrates our lack of identity.