Archive - Jan 2011

By JIM LINCOLN

Hospice of Lenawee has hit the road with a traveling display in an effort to educate Lenawee County residents about its fundraising campaign for construction of a $5 million building on nine acres along Wolf Creek Highway in Adrian.

A groundbreaking ceremony last fall kicked off the campaign, which has reached the halfway point with over 200 donors supporting the project. While successful in obtaining large gifts and support from corporate donors, foundations, and individuals, the momentum now moves to others in the county that can help Hospice reach its fundraising goal.

With a planned opening in the spring of 2012, construction is expected to get underway this spring, according to Bill Kenyon, Hospice of Lenawee President. Kenyon and Susan Reeder, director of community education and development support, are making an outreach effort to physician groups, service clubs and other organizations.  “We are asking for any opportunity to speak to groups or individuals,” said Reeder.

The Tecumseh District Library was the first stop for the traveling display, which provides information about the construction project, as well as background information on Hospice services.  The TDL will host the display through the month of January.

The project includes a 21,000-square-foot building to serve both as a residential facility, offering space for those unable to live out their last days at home, and a bereavement center open to Hospice families, as well as Lenawee County residents. In addition, administrative offices will be relocated to the site from the current location at 415 Mill Road, off N. Main Street, in Adrian.  

GLOV Enterprises has announced its intention to invest $1,050,000 in Tecumseh and create as many as 60 new jobs over a two-year period.  

GLOV Enterprises (GLOVE) is a newly formed company with the express intent to grow into injection molding in the Midwest.  The proposed project would include the purchase of the assets of Tecumseh Thermo Plastics (TTP), which has been in business for over 35 years at 412 South Maumee Street in Tecumseh, with long-standing contracts within the automotive industry.   This is where the proposed project is to be located.

On Feb. 22, voters in the Tecumseh school district will go to the polls to vote on the Non-Primary Residence Exemption (PRE) millage renewal of 18 mills which expired in July of this year. The millage is a vital part of overall funding for the district and is levied on non-homestead properties. Supt. Mike McAran answers some frequently asked questions about the issue:

Why should I vote YES on the Non-PRE millage Renewal?

A YES vote is a vote for full funding.  By supporting the renewal you will be guaranteeing that Tecumseh Public Schools (TPS) will be able to continue to receive $2.4 million a year for general operating costs to include such things as textbooks, classroom materials and highly qualified teachers.

What does ‘Non-PRE” mean?   

Non-PRE (non-primary residence exemption) properties are second homes; commercial and industrial properties; and some agricultural properties.  Essentially, Non-PRE properties are all properties with the exception of your primary residence (homestead).
Do schools still receive funding through property taxes; why is the school asking for a renewal?

Funding for school districts changed significantly in 1994 when Proposal A was passed by a majority of Michigan voters.  With proposal A, the state pays the majority of the cost.  In order for TPS to receive FULL FUNDING it must levy 18 mills on Non-PRE properties.

Is this a new tax?

NO.  This millage became mandatory for schools to receive full funding with the passage of Proposal A back in 1994.  The millage was renewed by TPS voters in 2004, 2005, and 2008.  The current millage expired in July of 2010 leaving TPS a shortfall of over $2.4 million for next year.  This is a property tax renewal on Non-PRE properties only; not a tax increase.

By PAUL KERSEY
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
 
Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to outline his agenda for dealing with a looming state and local financial crisis as part of his State of the State address. If Gov. Snyder were to ask me for my advice about what might be the most important speech he ever gives, it would be as follows:  

By now it has become fairly clear that government employee unions are the primary obstacle to the sorts of reforms that are needed in this state. The unions have abused their position as representative of state and local employees to build the state’s most powerful political machine. The oversized benefits they have negotiated have added $5.7 billion annually to the cost of government. The work rules they have negotiated have made government itself less effective. Their political and bargaining muscle is consistently used to block reforms, like merit pay for teachers, that are both popular and promising.

If Gov. Snyder is at all serious about reining in the cost of government employees and instituting a new culture of “customer service” in state government, it will be done over the strenuous objection of those same unions. There is simply no avoiding this conflict.

Gov. Snyder wants to be a transformational governor (don’t they all?), but even if he succeeds over the short term in reducing the burden of government employee benefits, as long as the current union structure remains intact it will probably be just a matter of time before his efforts are undone and Michigan is right back where it is now.

Helen Elizabeth Aebersold, 78, of Tecumseh, passed away peacefully, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, at Cambrian Assisted Living from complications of Dementia. She was born Jan. 24, 1932, in Deerfield to Percy J. and Lucille (McMahon) Keinath.

She graduated from Deerfield High School and Cleary College, then worked in the office at Tecumseh Products. On Nov. 7, 1953, in Deerfield, she married Donald Aebersold and they had 46-1/2 years together when he preceded her in death on July 28, 2000. While raising  their three daughters Helen worked at Jean Colgrove Gifts for years. Helen was a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary, the Herrick Hospital Auxiliary and the Tri-Town Extension Club; she loved to dance, shop and socialize with her friends.

Helen is survived by two daughters, Elaine (Dick) Tirb of Clinton, and Peggy (Rex) Aebersold-Fetzer of Casa Grande, Ariz.; son-in law and grandson, Rusty and Zeke Schwartz of Brooklyn; two sisters, Dorothy Gittus of Temperance, Mich., and Phyllis (Bob) Lamp of Holmes Beach, Fla.; several step-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and special in-laws, Charlie and Ethel Aebersold of Tecumseh.

In addition to her husband, Donald, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Rita Schwartz in April of 2010, her parents, and one brother, Harold J. Keinath. The family of Helen wishes to thank Cambrian Assisted Living for their special staff’s compassionate care.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, at 3 p.m. at the Tecumseh Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Home, 1448 Short St., Tecumseh. Burial of cremains will be in Brookside Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will take place on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tecumseh Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Home.
You may send condolences to the family at

Eleanor "Ellie" (Forgacs) Carlson, 68, passed away Jan. 15, 2011. Ellie was born April 28, 1942, in Tecumseh the daughter of George C. and Sara (Kochis) Forgacs. On Sept. 4, 2004, she married Wayne Carlson and he survives.   

Besides her husband, Wayne, Ellie is survived by her children,  Carol (Doug) Greathouse, Amy (Mark) Jones and Michael (Michelle) Carlson; grandchildren, Andrea Greathouse and DJ, Dustin and Andrea Jones, brothers, Rev. George (Barb) Forgacs and Rev. Steven (Gail) Forgacs; dear friends, Sue and Roy Rose and family; nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Missy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Sara Forgacs; stepfather, William Houser and brother and sister in law, Kenneth and Lori Forgacs.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Adrian with the Rev. Steven Forgacs officiating.  At her request, cremation will take place after the services and burial will take place in Franklin Cemetery, Tipton at a later date.

Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.