BENZIE
Taxpayers to pay ex-employee $80K
FRANKFORT — The Maples' former director received more than a half-year's pay as severance in an as-yet mysterious ouster, documents show.
On Jan. 6, Rose Coleman either left or was removed from her post as director of The Maples, a Benzie County-owned skilled nursing facility in Frankfort.
She held the position for about six years and left under what officials described as a "mutual agreement."
The Record-Eagle obtained a copy of Coleman's severance agreement under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. The agreement said the county Department of Human Services board, which runs The Maples, will pay Coleman seven months' salary — roughly $65,000 — plus continue her insurance benefits through July.
Coleman made about $112,000 as The Maples' director, according to her most recent contract. The agreement also includes a payment of about $15,000 for accrued time off, bumping the total price for taxpayers to about $80,000.
Coleman declined comment when contacted by a Record-Eagle reporter. Marsha LaTour, DHS board chair, didn't return a call for comment.
Officials won't comment on the reason for Coleman's departure.
Police await tests in deaths of family
BEULAH — Benzie County investigators await forensic tests that could help them determine how and why three members of a Frankfort family died, and whether any were alive when an intentionally set fire leveled their home.
Answers also could help area residents come to terms with a tragedy that has gripped their town for more than two months.
Authorities found Chris and Linda Luedtke and their son, Christopher, 17, dead in their house after a Nov. 16 fire. Police later called the fire arson, and said Christopher died from multiple gunshot wounds perhaps a half-day or more before the fire.
Benzie County Sheriff Rory Heckman said his office hopes to soon receive final autopsy reports that will indicate how the parents died.
GRAND TRAVERSE
County may take miniature train
TRAVERSE CITY — The Spirit of Traverse City miniature train could become the Spirit of Grand Traverse — if some county commissioners get their way.
The Grand Traverse County board will consider bidding for the pint-size steam locomotive from Traverse City and moving it to the Civic Center.
The board will discuss the possibility on Feb. 15 and asked its parks and recreation commission to consider the idea when it meets Feb. 16.
Commissioner Dick Thomas measured the Civic Center for the track and estimates a mile-long loop could be created inside the park.
Traverse City commissioners recently concluded the train did not fit plans to redevelop the city bayfront. The train, which is about 25 percent as large as a normal locomotive, had circled Clinch Park on a 0.4-mile loop since 1982 and was popular with tourists and locals, though it consistently lost money.
The city recently issued a request for bids for the train and its track. The bid deadline is April 5.
Milliken receives Chamber award
TRAVERSE CITY — Elnora Milliken, the Traverse City woman whose efforts helped launch local performing arts landmarks, including the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, was honored Friday night with the 2011 Distinguished Service Award from the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.
"Through her role in founding the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and Old Town Playhouse, (Milliken) established the platform upon which other arts offerings have flourished," new chamber board President Tony Anderson said in a video announcing the award. "She is a pioneer in spirit and an artist at heart."
The award was presented at the chamber's annual dinner, which drew a crowd of more than 850 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme. The chamber has presented its Distinguished Service Award for more than 80 years to area residents for their social, cultural and economic contributions to the region.
This year's theme was "Stars in Your Backyard" and featured student performers from Traverse City Central and West high schools, St. Francis High School, Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Northwestern Michigan College Children's Choir, and dancers from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
BATA will receive facility upgrade
TRAVERSE CITY — The Bay Area Transit Authority, fresh off a huge showing of support in its November millage ballot, is taking that momentum and applying it to its Cass Road location.
Officials hope to start construction soon on a new waiting area and upgrades to its aging facility at Cass and South Airport roads.
The project is funded through grants, not millage funds, but BATA Executive Director Tom Menzel said agency officials want to show they're working on improvements.
The Cass Street facility functions as an administrative office and base for BATA's 135 employees and fleet of 70 buses.
The project will include a 354-square-foot addition to the facility's existing entrance to add an enclosed waiting area for riders. Brick siding and a clock tower will match the look of the area to BATA's main transfer station on Hall Street.
City still needs $1M for bayfront
TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City needs more than $1 million to complete the full, first phase of bayfront work, construction of which is expected to begin Sept. 4.
The city raised $1.4 million for renovations at Clinch Park, but the complete cost for the desired design is estimated at $2.6 million. The city must either come up with more money or eliminate parts of the project, a decision city Manager Ben Bifoss wants made in February.
City officials hope two city agencies, the Downtown Development Authority and Traverse City Light & Power, will contribute the remaining needed money. Bifoss plans to ask the Light & Power board to consider increasing its annual payment to the city by $1 million.
Bifoss wants a response from the utility in February.
The money request is one part of a package of financial proposals made of Light & Power by Mayor Michael Estes. City commissioners last week voiced support for his suggestion that the utility participate in an efficiency review to examine its staffing levels and overhead costs. Estes and Bifoss said they believe most commissioners also want to see the utility contribute the extra $1 million.
TC West staffer on leave amid probe
TRAVERSE CITY — Parents of students at Traverse City West Senior High School learned last weekend that a staff member was placed on leave amid a criminal investigation.
But with few details, rumors about the case are swirling in the community.
Grand Traverse Undersheriff Nate Alger said his office began investigating Friday after contact from school officials. He wouldn't provide further details.
Alger said the investigation is primarily that of the Leelanau County Sheriff's Department, though he wouldn't say who in that county is tied to the investigation. Leelanau sheriff's officials didn't return calls for comment.
TCAPS Superintendent Stephen Cousins declined to offer any details while the investigation is ongoing.
KALKASKA
Assistant named county prosecutor
KALKASKA — Kalkaska County has a new prosecutor.
Circuit Court Judges Janet Allen and Dennis Murphy on Monday appointed Kirk Metzger to the post. A replacement was needed after Brian Donnelly, who served as prosecutor since 1995, died of an apparent heart attack on Jan. 14.
Metzger worked under Donnelly since 2004, and served as chief assistant prosecutor since 2008.
"He's very experienced," Allen said. "He's been with the office for years."
State law requires a county's circuit judges to appoint a replacement if a prosecutor dies or leaves their post for other reasons. The appointed person serves out the former prosecutor's unfinished term.
Donnelly was up for re-election in November.
Metzger said he doesn't plan to run for the position.
MANISTEE
Onekama might merge government
ONEKAMA — Bret Mathieu believes in keeping things really simple, and one Onekama government works just fine for him.
He could get his wish, since village and township residents are working on a plan to dismantle the village government, and recently earned a $355,000 state grant to help do the job.
"It doesn't really matter to me; instead of Onekama Village and Onekama Township, let's just call it Onekama," said Mathieu, who owns a business in the village and lives in the township. "It's the village people who are having an issue with it."
The Michigan Department of Treasury recently awarded the grant to the Manistee County community as part of a program to assist local governments in collaborative efforts.
Onekama Township also will be among several townships in northern Manistee and southern Benzie counties that will jointly create new zoning master plans and work on ways to collaborate. That process will be funded by a separate state grant for about $157,000.
Onekama village and township officials have worked since October on disincorporating the village and merging all services under a single township government, but the process price tag had become prohibitive for a village of 400 people. The state money is expected to help.
