Almont facing sinking fund and fire millage requests

Imlay City commission has three candidates for four positions

 

TRI-CITY AREA — At least two jurisdictions in the Tri-City Times coverage area have competition in the upcoming General Election.

The look of the Imlay City commission is about to change.

Three residents have filed for four open city commission positions in the November Election which is less than one month away.

Those finishing their current term on the commission are the Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem and one Trustee.

City officials say according to the charter, candidates are allowed to hold office for two consecutive terms of two, or four, years.

After that, commission members are term limited from further service on the board and cannot run again for two more years, creating a break in their service on the city commission.

Terms are staggered on the board so the entire board is not up for re-election at the same time.

Once the dust has settled from the November 5 election, and the results have been verified, the City Commission will review applications for the fourth open position and consider making an appointment to fill the board.

Incumbent commissioner Bob Tanis is seeking re-election, while two new applicants, former city commissioner Stu Davis and Tom Blount have filed their intentions to sit at the city commission table. It will be Blount’s first time serving on the commission.

According to the city charter, every two years, four of the seven seats on the Commission are up for election. Mayor Joi Kempf and Mayor Pro-Tem Ted Sadler currently fill positions that are term-limited and will not be able to serve on the commission for two years.

A third spot at the table, held by Shane Collison, is also up for election after he chose to not seek re-election.

Three other positions, those of Joe DeLuca, Barbara Yockey and Al Ramirez are not on the ballot as they are in the middle of their four-year terms.

Any registered voter who is a resident of Imlay City can submit their resume for consideration by the commission.

Meanwhile in Almont, voters are being asked to once again consider a ballot issue regarding the Almont Community School district.

Twice this year, voters soundly rejected bond proposals that would have allowed for numerous upgrades to aging facilities with an eye to the future.

School officials are hoping the third time is the charm as they have presented a sinking fund proposal that if approved, would generate approximately $1 million each year of the five-year plan.

The primary concern for the school board and Supt. Kimberly VonHiltmayer is security and safety throughout the district.

On the ballot, Almont voters will see the following question: Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Almont Community Schools, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 2 mills ($2.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2024 to 2028, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for, and the construction or repair of, school buildings; for school security improvements; for the acquisition or upgrading of technology; for the acquisition of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used for the maintenance of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of eligible trucks and vans used to carry parts, equipment, and personnel for or in the maintenance of school buildings; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used to maintain such trucks and vans; and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2024 is approximately $997,858?

Almont voters have a second millage request to answer, this one is regarding a fire department request.

The department is seeking a renewal of millage for fire department operation and maintenance: “Shall the constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be levied on all taxable real and personal property in the township of Almont, Lapeer County Michigan be increased by one ($1) dollar for each $1,000 of the taxable value of such property, as finally equalized, pursuant to 33 PA 1951, as amended for a period of ten (10) years (2026 through 2035 inclusive) for the purpose of providing funds for the operation and maintenance of the township fire department, purchase of fire extinguishing apparatus and equipment and housing for the same? The estimated revenue to be collected in the first year that the millage is authorized and levied is $490,803.

A portion of the revenue collected will be disbursed to the Village of Almont Downtown Development Authority. The proposed millage is a renewal of a previously authorized millage and does not constitute new additional millage.