Tecumseh Herald Editorials

To the Editor,

I want to thank the residents of Raisin Township for their support in our initial recall effort of the Township Supervisor and Board of Trustees regarding the issue of unfair property tax assessments.

Approximately 90 percent of those residents we met signed our petition, but we couldn’t meet with everyone and we were not able to obtain the required signatures in the time frame allotted. Nevertheless, we feel this was a victory and increased awareness of the issue throughout the community. I can say the fault is mine due to the lack of experience in matters like this.

The time, organization and manpower required to accomplish this was underestimated. I want to thank all those individuals who helped in procuring the signatures and assisted in all respects to getting us to this stage.  Using this knowledge and the encouragement of the many residents looking for resolution to this situation, we will endeavor to better inform the public via an informational web site, be more organized and better manned to meet our next goal.

You may contact me with questions or for information in supporting our efforts.

Mike Wilson
Tecumseh

To the Editor,

I work at Bad Hair Day? Salon & Spa, a local hair salon, and need to tell you about a very disturbing trend that is on the rise in our community.

When you walk the aisles of many drug stores, grocery stores or super markets, you’ll find professional hair care products like Paul Mitchell and other brands on store shelves. It may seem like you’re getting a “deal” but you’re not.

The professional salon products found on shelves of mass retailers are diverted  — and they were channeled through the gray or black market.

The contents of these bottles and cans can approach or be past their maximum shelf life or spoiled. At worst, the product has been tampered with or may be counterfeit — and that could cause health problems for the user. In fact, counterfeit products tested by independent labs found harmful levels of bacteria that could potentially make the user sick enough to require medical care. (FOX News, June 2003).

Here are a few reasons why buying professional salon product is a steal — not a deal:

• Diverted product is not guaranteed — the only place consumers can confidently buy and use genuine professional hair care products is from a hair salon.
• It costs more in a drug store — diverted products pass through so many hands before hitting store shelves, they usually cost more than if you were to buy them in a hair salon. In many cases, “discounted” products can cost as much as $3 more a bottle.
If you have more questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at the number below or call the John Paul Mitchell Systems Product Control Hotline at 1-888-398-8884.

Ben Anaya
Bad Hair Day?

To the Editor,

Congratulations to Joh Walker and her staff for another successful show at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts. Davy Jones from the Monkees appeared here on Saturday, Jan. 30 to a packed auditorium. It was an incredible accomplishment to bring to this town.

I think the audience loved him and he had a lot of very nice things to say about our establishment and the community. A highlight that the attendees and Davy himself enjoyed was that Johanna was able to showcase the original Monkee Mobile in front of the TCA for all to see.

Another amazing fact was attracting an audience from not only the Tecumseh area, but also from surrounding areas more than an hour’s drive away. If you have not been to the TCA in a while, please consider one of the upcoming entertainment venues. The season brings high quality, reasonably priced, diverse entertainment — enough to be attractive to most anyone. Plus the TCA needs your support!

Kevin Welch
Tecumseh City Manager

To the Editor,

The coaches of Tecumseh Wrestling Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire community for the success of our recent MYWA tournament.  

We had hundreds of volunteers throughout the day, from parent coaches and parent volunteers to middle and high school wrestlers working the tables.  We extend our appreciation to the Fan Club for assisting us in the concessions.  

A huge thank you has to go to our sponsors also, who made it possible to feed these many volunteers and workers. They were Bailey’s Water Care, Basil Boys, Big Boy, Busch’s, Danley’s Country House, Jerry’s Market, Kapnick Orchards, Lev’s Bakery and Meijer.   

It is because of the generosity of all of you through your donations and all of those who dedicated their time to this event that continues to make this club a huge success for Tecumseh.

Sincerely,
Larry Patton
Todd Amstutz
Greg Marten
Casey Randolph
Coaches, Tecumseh Wrestling Club

To the Editor,

Raisin Township assessor David Powell and Director of Lenawee County Equalization Marty Marshall continue to cause detriment to my family, as they continue to tax property we don’t own. I spent hours looking over legal descriptions and chains of title to find this infringement. Our file has information outlining this conspiring abuse and continued Illegal practice. I hope this type of practice by Raisin Township, Lenawee County Equalization Department is an isolated incident. However, after conversing with others in the Township, this appears to be systemic.  Families are being hurt and very little has been done.

I encourage everyone who believes this abuse is happening to them file a Request for Investigation (contact information below).

I listed some facts below that should help real property owners understand how real property must be assessed and how arbitrary values are currently being used. Please keep in mind, the only way citizens will ever change status quo, is sending a united and concise message to our ELECTED OFFICIALS.  Chain of command is as follows:

Local assessor, Board of Review, State Tax Commission, Michigan Tax Tribunal and contact Lenawee County Equalization (Director), Lenawee County Commissioners.

(Please send your complaints or request in writing)

Michigan Tax Tribunal Court said “True Cash Value” is law, not guidelines.
Michigan Tax Commission said our Guidelines are guidelines and give assessors a starting point.
Michigan Supreme Court said “True Cash Value” is law and our tax commission shall correct assessment roll.
MCL 211.27

THE STATE TAX COMMISSION HAS JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO MCL 211.154(1), TO CORRECT THE TAXABLE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY INCORRECTLY REPORTED OR OMITTED INCLUDING THAT WHICH IS ERRONEOUSLY RECORDED ON THE LOCAL ASSESSMENT ROLL

To the Editor,

My Tecumseh Herald arrived today and I sat down to read it
from cover to cover. When I reached the second section about the sports, etc.,
I was utterly disgusted upon seeing the picture of the Tecumseh Varsity
Cheerleaders.

If I were the mother or grandmother of one of those girls, I
would have been down to your office in a flash! You absolutely never, ever, see
a picture of that nature with young men in it.

You should be ashamed! I cannot believe that this was the
only shot that photographer took that day. Who has the final say of which
pictures are published in your paper?

Please send an apology to those young women who are pictured
and print a better picture next week. I would imagine they were the talk of the
school on Friday. And not in a positive way!

Janet Rohrback

Bellaire