An Open Letter to the Cheboygan County Commissioners

Dear Cheboygan County Administrator Jeffery Lawson and County Commissioners John Wallace, Rich Sangster, Cal Gouine, Mike Newman, Bob Bolinger, Karen Johnson, and Roberta Matelski;

I have addressed this to each of you because you should all know that the Cheboygan County voters and taxpayers are not as dumb as you think. Do not tell us one thing and then do another.

I sat through county meetings at Mackinaw City, two CCE-911 meetings, and additional meetings back in Cheboygan County. Mr Lawson and Commissioner Wallace stated repeatedly that we needed to fund an 800 MHZ radio upgrade for the CCE-911 dispatch service and our first responders. There was much discussion of telephone surcharges or an extra millage. Employing still fuzzy math the entire Board agreed to propose .5 mills additional taxes on every taxable parcel in Cheboygan County to raise an estimated $717,761 over four years. That total is $2,877,041 in additional taxes.

That exceeds the earlier estimated cost of $2.74 million dollars. I should repeat again that the county has a surplus of unassigned funds totaling $8.035 million dollars. The Cheboygan County Policy of 30% unassigned funds exceeds the State of Michigan recommendation of a 15% to 25% “rainy day” fund. The $8.035 million dollars as reported by the auditor is 69% of the annual budget and exceeds the County own fiscal policy by over 100%. Fiscal responsibility should mandate the County Commissioners stop borrowing, over-taxing us and instead spend the more than $4 million dollars, our tax dollars, they have stuffed into money-market accounts.

It does get worse. The .5 millage proposed wording as agreed upon by the unanimous agreement of the County Commissioners says nothing at all about an 800 MHZ infrastructure upgrade and new radios for Cheboygan County’s first responders.

It will instead be spent, as the proposal states, “for the purpose of financing facility, equipment, maintenance and operating cost of the Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet County 911 (CCE) public safety call answering and dispatch services”. It will pay for borrowing money, maintenance, and operating cost for the entire Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet County 911 (CCE) public safety call answering and dispatch services. That far exceeds the stated need to pay for upgrades to 800 MHZ radios.

Taxpayers deserve truth in advertising. This millage proposal is a bald-faced lie. The incumbent County Commissioners are complicit in the deceit; they should be voted out of office on the same ballot that bears their millage proposal. 

Let these people who have lied to us about the need for additional taxes know this nonsense must stop. Their emails are public. I encourage you to personally let them know that Cheboygan County does not need any more lies.   

Vote for your new County Commissioners and vote NO to new taxes.   

Thank you,

Carl Muscott

Indian River

Elect Carl Muscott as your Cheboygan County Commissioner for District Six. Please make a vote for our future on the August 7, 2018 Primary ballot.   

 

 

CHARLEVOIX, CHEBOYGAN, AND EMMET COUNTY 911 CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH SERVICES MILLAGE PROPOSAL

Shall the total property rate in Cheboygan County be increased by .5 of a mill (1/2 of a mill or 50 cents for each $1,000 of valuation) and levied for (4) years, beginning in the year 2019 and continuing through the year 2022, inclusive, for the purpose of financing facility, equipment, maintenance and operating cost of the Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet County 911 (CCE) public safety call answering and dispatch services? If approved and levied in its entirety, this millage raises an estimated $717,761, in the first calendar year after its approval.

Shall the proposal be adopted? ___ YES ____ No

July 5-2018 email to Cheboygan County Commissioners

Dear Commissioners,

I see again in the Cheboygan Tribune that the County of Cheboygan and specifically Administrator Jeffrey Lawson is planning to participate further in this ruse of alleged mediation meetings perpetrated by some members of the Inverness Township Board. I had previously requested the Board of Commissioners suspend Cheboygan County's involvement in the dispute until the Inverness recall situation was legally resolved.  

Last year Mr Lawson had publicly stated in a Board meeting he was "fully qualified" to mediate a meeting between the city and township. In response to a FOIA request seeking proof of his certification or training Mr Lawson stated in writing he had "no qualifications" as mediator. The series of secretive meetings attended by Mr Lawson have had only partial participation by the Inverness Board and the City of Cheboygan Council. To the best of my my knowledge, these secretive closed doors meetings were also attended by the legal counsels representing the two parties.

Administrator Jeffrey Lawson, publicly admitting he is not a qualified mediator, is at best a third wheel that opens Cheboygan County to the possibility of increased exposure to litigation. The Inverness Board and the City of Cheboygan Council are both represented by their respective legal counsel and those lawyers have professional  experience resolving agreements. Mediators do have some legal definition in Michigan and especially mediators acting pre-trial.  The Community Dispute Resolution  Act  260 of 1988 provides some protection from civil liability to a mediator trained and acting under that act. 

http://courts.mi.gov/administration/scao/officesprograms/odr/pages/mediation.aspx

This would all be quite a mess to sort out if Meijer still had any intention to build in Cheboygan County. Who gets sued for the deliberative delays that have created an unwritten moratorium blocking a Meijer store? Everyone and especially Mr Lawson posing as a "mediator". 

Carl Muscott

Excerpt from February 19, 2018 email to B of C.

Finally, after several years of inaction, Mr Lawson reversed his position and offered to mediate the negotiations between the parties. I heard, and the Tribune reported, "Both Cheboygan County Administrator Jeff Lawson and Community Development Director Steve Schnell are fully qualified to mediate a meeting between the city and the township." When I inquired, Lawson stated he had no certifications or training as a mediator and could not speak for Mr Schnell's qualifications. I see that as the head of the County's administration knowingly uttering a false statement. After almost four months of Mr Lawson's efforts conducted while he ignores his county responsibilities, neither party has sat down across from each other at a table.

Vote NO to the County Commissioners Planned Millage

Cheboygan County wants to needlessly raise your taxes again. Please take a moment to respond to their proposed ballot question with a NO on this survey link.

* Shall the total property rate in Cheboygan County be increased by .5 of a mill (1/2 of a mill or 50 cents for each $1,000 of valuation) and levied for 4 years, beginning in the year 2019 and continuing through the year 2022, inclusive, for the purpose of financing facility, equipment, maintenance and operating cost of the Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet County 911 (CCE) public safety call answering and dispatch services? If approved and levied in its entirety, this millage raises an estimated $717,761, in the first calendar year after its approval. 

Vote NO to tax increase

I have been a local government "Watchdog" for years and need a seat at the table to better represent taxpayers and move Cheboygan County toward a brighter future.

I am the Republican candidate for Distinct Six County Commissioner. If you reside in Tuscarora or Mentor Township, please vote for me on the August 7, 2018 Republican Primary Ballot. I need your support and please spread the word.

The incumbent has more than 20 years at the table with nothing of note accomplished. It is time for a change.

I am always ready to hear what you have to say. Please contact me with your concerns or questions.

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