Week in Review: a Big Spaghetti Mess
“What action do we need to take tonight?”
Week in Review
City Council, Monday, January 6
County Commissioner Update
Mayor Pro-Tem Paladino: “What did you learn from your meeting about the jail?”
Commissioner Ingles, on building a jail: “When that will happen, we don’t know. Probably not in the next three or four years. . . In the short term, it’s possible that there are Lenawee County or Branch County facilities that could be utilized. That is yet to be discussed.”
Letter from Susan Smith
Susan Smith of the Economic Development Partnership wrote a letter on behalf of Hillsdale County’s managerial class, demanding that the people of Hillsdale upgrade the Airport’s hangar doors (and presumably affirm every other expansion project) or be stripped of the Multiplier Effect.
Councilman Socha, on his managerial connections: “They were not pleased because it’s a big part of the Economic Development for the City—for example, big companies like Ritz-Craft chose Jonesville because of Hillsdale’s Airport.”1
City Manager Mackie: “Corporate hangar number two is owned by one of those businesses. . . so all the members of the Hillsdale County Economic Development community—there are many that benefit from the Airport.”
Paladino, surprised that his conversations about the hangar doors were leaked: “I requested this construction plan just a few weeks ago, so that’s interesting that [the members of the County managerial class] know about it.”
Mayoral Vacancy Election
Despite having previously said otherwise, City Attorney Toby reinterpreted the laws of the state and the city, arriving at the new conclusion—apparently supported by City Staff—that it is of the utmost urgency to fill the mayoral position with an election as soon as possible.
Toby’s “strong” recommendation: “The only thing that’s for sure, I think, is that there are three state election dates; there is a reference in your Charter to the ‘next regular state election.’ Those three dates are considered ‘regular state election dates.’ So that makes some sense. . . Basically, it’s a big spaghetti mess.”
Bentley: “Is it fair to say it’s ambiguous? I think it’s self-evidently ambiguous. . . Can we all agree that this is our decision?”
Mackie: “The cost of an election is approximately $6,000 for the City.”
Paladino, on the mess that could result: “We could potentially have a primary, a general, a primary, a general, and then the next election after that would be a primary city-wide. So we’d run five elections in a row.”
Socha, requesting the answer from Toby: “What action do we need to take tonight?”
No action was taken, and a May special election is now off the table. The matter will be dealt with again at the January 21 meeting, with Council seeming to favor an August special election.
Airport Hangar Door Upgrade
The Airport, which receives about $150,000 per year from the City for its annual operating budget, would like $105,000 to build new hangar doors. The argument presented is that the new hangar doors will allow for an increase in hangar rental fees, helping the Airport achieve revenue neutrality.2
Mackie: “This is something the Council has been interested in, getting the Airport to be more self-sufficient. . . In order to achieve that, you’ve got to invest in the facilities.” On technicalities: “No money was ever reallocated from the Airport to pay for the roads.” Probably true enough; however, money that could have been allocated to the roads—or anything else—has been and continues to be spent at the Airport.
Steve, Airport handyman: “It’s a win-win.3 Threatening Council: “It’s something that you guys cannot keep putting off, ok? It’s something that we need to start working on, ok? Another thing to consider is, if I’m not there, who else is going to do it, ok?. . . If there’s no projects, I’m not staying.”
Councilman Bruns: “I’d like to see the plan for revenue-neutrality. . . Are there other six-figure expenses coming to make that happen? If so, I’d like to know about them ahead of time.”
Socha, on increasing hangar rates annually: “I was thinking of an inflationary clause—always have a five-percent increase.”
Public Comment
Jack McClain: “If the Airport can be self-sufficient in two years, that’s great. But I guess I don’t know why that wasn’t done years ago.”
Shannon Gainer, not accepting Development logic: “If we didn’t have the Airport taking that money and draining our community, that money could be used for roads.”
Upcoming Events
County Commissioners, Tuesday, January 14
External Links
“With a strong recommendation from the city of Hillsdale’s attorney, the Hillsdale City Council will discuss the possibility of an August election for residents to choose a new mayor.” Corey Murray.
“The city of Hillsdale and Michigan’s Department of Transportation will co-host an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, for residents to ask questions and learn of a plan to reduce the number of lanes on Broad Street (M-99) in the historic downtown Hillsdale this summer.” Corey Murray.
“On the grounds of both principle and prudence, the H-1B program is indefensible.” Kevin Portteus.
“Whitmer was on her A-game when she thought there was a chance she could be the vice-presidential pick . . . But throughout the past year, she has shown little interest in Michigan’s real needs, favoring her book tour and out-of-state travel over more homegrown issues.” Kaitlyn Buss.
“There is concern that pregnant women and children are getting fluoride from many sources . . . and that their total fluoride exposure is too high and may affect fetal, infant and child neurodevelopment.” New York Times.
“Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of ‘unconditional discharge’ after a brief virtual hearing.” Justices Roberts and Barrett.
“A federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s new Title IX rule nationwide, crushing its efforts to strengthen discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” Politico.
“There will be no reactionary restoration of the pre-internet past.” Peter Thiel.
“The Trump effect on Europe has only begun to make itself felt and we can expect the major powers in Europe, especially Germany and France, to be rocked by populism and anti-elite sentiment. Romania’s Trumpian turn is only the prelude to the drama.” Titus Techera.
But haven’t all of these corporations come to Hillsdale and Hillsdale County despite the Airport not being particularly posh? It seems to our unDeveloped minds that they are here already, and now after the fact would like the Airport to be a bit more comfortable. To CEOs and Board Presidents reading this, please excuse our ignorance.
This argument ignores the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Council will almost certainly commit for its Airport “Capital Improvement Plan” over the next several years.
Nobody ever loses in Hillsdale! Thanks to the Multiplier Effect, every seeming loss of cash from your pocketbook is actually a secret win. You pay property taxes, and in return your cash is multiplied and blessings are bestowed on you tenfold by managerial voodoo magic.
The embedded sarcasm in the footnote below s both brilliant and accurate.
3 Nobody ever loses in Hillsdale! Thanks to the Multiplier Effect, every seeming loss of cash from your pocketbook is actually a secret win. You pay property taxes, and in return your cash is multiplied and blessings are bestowed on you tenfold by managerial voodoo magic.