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www.newbuffalotimes.com THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022www.newbuffalotimes.com
from May 5, 2022
New Buffalo Times
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1944 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1942
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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER
issue 18, volume 81 www.newbuffalotimes.com Thursday, MAY 5, 2022
Language approved in recall petition for New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey, councilmember Brian Flanagan PAGE 5
Radio Harbor Country celebrates new Sawyer
studio PAGES 6-7
New Buffalo, River Valley school boards continue conversation of sports merger PAGE 8
2022 Flag Day Princess, Prince are crowned; Flag Day Pig Roast boasts good food,
royalty PAGES 10, 19
Bison tennis players remain undefeated JUST A SPLASH...
ART ATTACK IS BACK
New Buffalo Times
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LaPorte County adopts higher income tax
Providing A Full Line Of
Home Medical Equipment
• Canes • Crutches • Incontinence Items • Bath Safety • Lift Chairs • Walkers • Rollators • Wheelchairs 15483 S. Dixie Hwy. • 243-5656 811 N. Macomb St. • 242-9011
Providing A Full Line Of Home Medical Equipment
• Canes • Crutches • Incontinence Items • Bath Safety • Lift Chairs • Walkers • Rollators Maintenance • Wheelchairs and repair available. 15483 S. Dixie Hwy. • 243-5656 811 N. Macomb St. • 242-9011 Meeting all the home medical needs for you and your family. 1144 N. Monroe St. • 242-2966
BY STAN MADDUX An increase in the local income tax to stop emergency responders from leaving for much higher paying jobs elsewhere has been adopted in La Porte County. PROVIDING A FULL LINE OF HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT 1 N. Whittaker Street Suite A New Buffalo, MI 49117 269.469.3636
Some of the money generated by the www.hometownpharmacy.com increase in the tax from .95% to 1.45% will go for making the wages of police “Just what the officers, paramedics and other public safety doctor ordered!” workers more competitive.
The money can also go for things like updated public safety equipment and a new LaPorte County Jail if there’s a decision at some point to replace the aging jail renovated 20 years ago in La Porte’s downtown, officials said. Bath SafetyCouncilman Earl Cunningham said all municipalities in the county approved resolutions in support of the tax hike and 56 of the 60 elected officials in those communities supported the increase. Maintenance and repair services available. Canes Crutches Incontinence Items “If you were giving away free candy I don’t know if you could get 93% of the people to agree,” he said. Meeting all the home medical needs for you and your family. Lift Chairs Rollators Officials said the need was created several years ago by property tax reductions statewide costing local governments millions of dollars in revenue. Providing A Full Line Of Home Medical Equipment Walkers Wheelchairs
More than 70 of the 92 counties in the state have already raised their income taxes to make up for the shortfall, officials said. LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody led the charge for the higher tax. He said the tax had to be raised preserve the quality of public safety and it was deserved because the demands and risks involved in public safety are much greater. “What they face on a daily basis is a different world than many years ago. Let’s not wait for a tragedy. Let’s not wait for further officers to leave. Give them the security,” he said. An estimated $13 million will be generated annually by the higher tax. About half of the revenue will go to county government while much of the remaining dollars will be collected by La Porte and Michigan City, officials said. Michigan City Councilman Paul Przybylinski expressed opposition to the tax. He said Michigan City has already taken good care of its police officers and firefighters and felt the higher tax was unfair given the high poverty rate in the county and high inflation nationwide. “It’s bad timing to do this. A lot of people are really hurting and they’re going to be hurting even more,” he said. Officials said the increase will cost someone with $30,000 in taxable income just over $200 a year.
Is it virtuous or base? — Dino N. Fatouros
1144 N. Monroe St. • 242-2966
MEETING ALL THE HOME MEDICAL NEEDS
FOR YOU AND
Maintenance YOUR FAMILY and repair services available. 1 N. Whittaker Street, Suite A New Buffalo, MI 49117 269.469.3636
Local Government Meetings
New Buffalo Times
Democracy Requires Transparency
CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM
NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE Chikaming Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM GRAND BEACH Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7PM MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR. MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM
DR. LINDLEY MOVING, RESULTING IN VACANCY FOR TWO EDUCATION BOARDS
During meetings held this month, both the Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees and the Berrien RESA Board of Education accepted the resignation of longtime public education steward Dr. Michael Lindley.
Dr. Lindley is moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, outside of district boundaries for both posts. He is currently serving on the Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees as a Trustee at Large. Dr. Lindley has served in multiple capacities on the College Board since 2010, with his current term set to expire Dec. 31. He is also the president of the Berrien RESA Board of Education and has been a member of the district’s board of education since 2019. His Berrien RESA six-year term was slated to end in June of 2025. His resignation is effective May 31.
“Dr. Lindley’s commitment to public service and selfless dedication has made a tremendous impact that will be felt at Lake Michigan College for years to come,” LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke said. “He’s been an integral part of the growth of the college, from the additions of the Hanson Technology Center and Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology to the largest renovation and remodeling project in college history. We will certainly miss his sage advice and leadership, but we wish him all the best in Indianapolis.”
His impact has been felt at the local school district level, too.
“Dr. Lindley has been a true champion of public education,” said Eric Hoppstock, superintendent of Berrien RESA. “Not only has he been a public servant as a board member, but he has also had a tremendous career as local district superintendent at multiple Berrien County school districts. He brought a wealth of knowledge to our Board meetings and provided keen financial insights and a strong focus on student outcomes, ensuring decisions were made both in a fiscally responsible and student-centered manner. We are grateful for his leadership and wish him well in Indianapolis.”
The Lake Michigan College vacancy process is as follows:
The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees consists of seven members and is elected at large in the Community College District during the general elections. Members are elected for six-year terms of office, which are staggered so that two and sometimes three expire every two years. Regular terms of office commence Jan. 1, following the date of the general state election. The general election laws of the state govern all elections.
Whenever a vacancy in the board occurs, the remaining members of the board, by majority vote, are empowered to fill the vacancy with a qualified elector of the Community College District. Any appointed person holds office until the next regular college election, at which time the electors of the Community College District fill the office for the unexpired portion of the term.
Dr. Lindley’s term was to expire Dec. 31. The board has 30 days following the May 31 effective date to fill this vacancy.
The Berrien RESA vacancy process is as follows:
For Berrien RESA, according to the Revised School Code, MCL 380.614: “A vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the intermediate school board until the next biennial election, at which time the vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term.” Dr. Lindley’s term was to expire June 30, 2025. The Berrien RESA Board of Education has 30 days following the May 31 effective date to fill this vacancy and plans to appoint a new member during a June 13 special board meeting.
The term of office of each member elected to an intermediate school board is six years and begins July 1 following the election. Although the only School Code requirement to be an intermediate school board member is to be a registered voter in a constituent school district, the Berrien RESA Board of Education would prefer a candidate who is currently serving or who has previously served on a local school district board of education or similar board.
Qualified and interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume listing work and volunteer experiences in writing by 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 to:
Mrs. J. Allene Smith, Secretary, Berrien RESA Board of Education, P.O. Box 364, Berrien Springs, Michigan, 49103.
Interested candidates should plan to participate in an interview session scheduled during a special Berrien RESA Board of Education Board Meeting June 13, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center, before the regular board meeting. Questions may be directed to Eric Hoppstock, superintendent, at eric. hoppstock@berrienresa.org.
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