Northern Michigan Elections & Government

A plan to boost funding for drug enforcement in Benzie County could face problems if voters approve it.

Questions have emerged over the language used in the ballot proposal.

A judge in Traverse City decided on Friday that there is enough evidence against attorney Clarence Gomery to bring his case to trial.

Gomery pleaded not guilty in District Court to a charge of solicitation for murder. He is accused of trying to hire a hit man in July to kill attorney Christopher Cooke.

Gomery is a former assistant prosecutor for Grand Traverse County -- and former county prosecutor for Leelanau County.

Benzie County will ask voters to boost funding for drug enforcement this November. Officials in the cash-strapped county have created a millage proposal that would allow a sheriff’s deputy to join the region’s drug task force, called the Traverse Narcotics Team.

The Traverse City splash pad needs major repairs, according to a preliminary report by consultants hired by the city.

The report details 18 different issues -- including safety hazards. It also says the splash pad at Clinch Park doesn't meet state code in several areas.

A Boyne City group wants fluoride back in the public water supply. That’s after Boyne City leaders ended the 40-year fluoridation program in May.

The group “Citizens United for Dental Health” is organizing a petition-drive to get the question on the November ballot.

Tom Veryser, the President of Michigan Community Dental Clinics, is a dentist and Boyne City resident. He supports fluoridation. He says he's seen anti-fluoride activism in the past, but was still shocked with the city commission's vote.

A former Grand Traverse and Leelanau County prosecutor is behind bars – accused of conspiring to murder another Traverse City lawyer in a murder-for-hire plot.

Attorney Clarence Gomery faces one count of solicitation for murder. Grand Traverse County alleges Gomery tried to hire a hit-man to kill attorney Christopher Cooke.

Deputies arrested Gomery early Monday morning in Leelanau County.

Voters in Wexford County will get to decide whether to continue supporting their bus system.

The county commission unanimously undid a vote from May that would have kept bus funding off the ballot.

But some commissioners still question whether taxpayers are getting their money's worth from the service.

Karen Carey took the bus to the Wexford County Commissioners meeting, where a driver helped her off with a wheel-chair lift.

Carey says she depends on these buses.

While the state of Michigan grapples with how to regulate e-cigarettes, the electronic glow of the devices will still be allowed at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center.

The county parks and recreation commission has snuffed out a proposal to ban electronic cigarettes on civic center grounds. Smoking traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products is already prohibited.

But Dan Laubenheimer, who manages an e-cigarette store, applauded the committee’s decision not to ban the devices.

Traverse City will at least delay a move to allow café seating in some downtown parking spaces. Monday commissioners voted to send the plan back to committee. 

In addition to so-called “platform cafes,” the proposal would allow café seating on the sidewalks to take up all but four feet of the walkway. Disability advocates Monday asked the commission to leave at least five feet for pedestrians, possibly six.

The Traverse City Commission voted five-to-one on Monday night to purchase a year’s supply of fluoride and continue a program that began more than 60 years ago.

Commissioner Jim Carruthers cast the lone vote against water fluoridation -- which he has opposed since he was first elected to the commission six years ago. Debate lasted for about an hour before the vote, where representatives from both sides of the issue had a chance to make their case.

The Mayor of Traverse City has endorsed Greg MacMaster in the race for Michigan’s 37th Senate District.

Mike Estes likes MacMaster’s commitment to fix Michigan’s roads without raising taxes or charging new fees. Estes believes new revenue will eventually be needed to fix the state’s roads, but he says the first steps should be to work within the current budget.

Voters have rejected Elk Rapids Public Schools’ bond for the second time in four months. The $10.9 million bond was for a new gym, security and athletic upgrades.

Elk Rapids superintendent Steve Prissel is disappointed with yesterday’s outcome.

"We have a supportive community when it comes to education. We know that," he says. "However, the voters spoke and there's not support for capital projects."

Three school districts up north are asking voters to pay to improve safety, technology and buildings. Alanson, Elk Rapids and Manton school districts all have new measures on the ballot for next month’s election.

Last November, almost half the schools in Michigan were unsuccessful at getting voters to approve their bond proposals. That included Elk Rapids Public Schools, which lost by a narrow margin. They are back with the exact same proposal that includes security upgrades at all its buildings and a new high school gymnasium.

UPDATE: A written response via email from Mayor Michael Estes.

Disagreements among conservatives will be on display in a northern Michigan primary during the coming year. Two experienced Republican lawmakers are running for the 37th state senate seat. The recent Medicaid vote is already emerging as a central issue in a race that will highlight some of the differences between Governor Snyder and the right wing of his party.