“More than $20 million” balance found in water fund audit, new city administration claims
By Jan Worth-Nelson The City of Flint’s water fund has a “fiscal year 2020 balance” of more than $20 million, according to a startling press release issued this afternoon from Communications Director Marjory Raymer. Municipal finance expert Eric Scorsone, hired by Mayor Sheldon Neeley in the first week of his administration, said it appears “budget estimates and forecasts have been used for years when assessing...
City Council Beat: Water shutoff fee removed, city administrator and EAB appointees approved
By Tom Travis and Luther Houle A $75 fee for water shutoffs in Flint has been eliminated by unanimous vote of the Flint City Council. After the vote on ending the fee, proposed by Councilperson Eva Worthing (9th Ward) the audience of about 50 applauded. Worthing explained, “I’m a single mom… I have my parents, though, and they help me when I struggle. If I didn’t have them and I needed to pay $75 for a shut-off fee and another...
MCC unveils a third Ballenger sculpture–this time at Ballenger Fieldhouse
By Paul Rozycki After unveiling statues of William S. Ballenger Sr. at Ballenger Park just a month ago, and at Memorial Park, William Ballenger III was joined by family and friends Nov. 25, as he dedicated one more remembrance of his grandfather — a bust at the Ballenger Fieldhouse on the Mott Community College campus. In his remarks, Ballenger said that, while his grandfather was a “numbers man” and the first treasurer for...
“The weight of an entire community” — Mott Foundation execs describe what they’ve learned in “Focus on Flint,” what they worry about, and how they hope a targeted $1 million might help
By Harold C. Ford Editor’s note: The following is an interview with the C.S. Mott Foundation’s Ridgway White, CEO and president, and Kimberly Roberson, Flint area program director. Also present at the interview was Kathryn Thomas, vice president for communications. After release of a 24-page Focus on Flint report, available here, the Mott Foundation announced availability of $1 million in grants for projects to improve Flint...
Lead line replacement opt-in alerts, census urgency top items at Neeley’s first press conference
By Melodee Mabbitt There was more than talk of a “bug” at newly-elected Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s first press conference Saturday, when local media were hauled in at 10:30 a.m. to an otherwise closed City Hall. The first item was a presentation by Neeley’s Interim Police Chief Phil Hart, who donned a suit on Saturday morning to try to close out coverage of an “electronic surveillance device” found in the mayor’s...
Democratic leaders, supporters gather en masse for Gary Peters campaign kickoff
By Paul Rozycki The 2020 Michigan U.S. Senatorial campaign may be nearly a year away, but it got an early kickoff when incumbent Democratic Senator Gary Peters paid a visit to the White Horse Tavern in Flint Nov. 23 for one of his first campaign fundraisers. He was greeted by a standing-room-only crowd that included lots of local political leaders, as well as many other supporters. The event was hosted by State Senator Jim Ananich,...
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