Livingston: Hamburg Twp. clerk ousted in recall

Valerie Olander / The Detroit News

Hamburg Township --Voters on Tuesday approved tax hikes to pay for police and parks by a 2-1 margin and recalled Clerk Matt Skiba.

Results for a $59.5 million bond to fund technology and building upgrades in Pinckney Community Schools was too close to call, School Board President Anne Colone said, as results from six of seven precincts were reported by Livingston County Election officials.

Skiba was elected last November ousting a long-term incumbent. Skiba, who was not available for comment Tuesday night, has called the recall effort political and orchestrated by former clerk Joanna Hardesty.

The Township Board will meet Thursday and will discuss the process for appointing an interim clerk, who would fill the seat until a February election, Supervisor Pat Hohl said.

"We have no one in mind. It was not a political thing," Hohl said.

Russ Heatwole, 45, of Hamburg Township, said he voted in favor of the recall because Skiba's short time in office has been full of controversy and allegations of mismanagement.

"It seems to me that there have been a lot of mistakes made," Heatwole said.

The police tax will increase from 1 mill to 1.5 mills, costing an average homeowner about $50 more, or a total of $150 annually. The 1.5 mills will keep the 12-officer department running as is, Chief Steve Luciano said. Three police jobs have not been filled this year and more cuts were expected if the proposal didn't pass.

A first-time levy of .25 mill for the operations and maintenance of parks, Lakeland Trail and the senior-community center will cost about $25 annually for 10 years, raising nearly $250,000 each year for the township.

The $59.5 million school bond, if approved, will not increase taxes but extend the Pinckney school district's debt levy for 10 years or until 2027. Voters approved an 18-mill tax renewal for non-homestead properties, such as second homes and businesses.

Shirley Jackson, 59, Hamburg Township, said she supported paying higher taxes for police and parks, despite the economic downturn.

Jackson said she felt the Pinckney bond was a priority to turning around the economy.

"Our kids need to be educated if we let the schools go down, then how are we going to draw new industry to the state?" she said.

In other elections, voters in the Brighton Area Schools ousted longtime board member Joe Carney in a seven-way race for two seats.

Top vote-getters were incumbent William Anderson, with 788, and Randy Swain, 629. Carney came in fourth with 426 votes, behind Miles Vieau.

In other races, the top vote-getters for Brighton City Council were Larry Schillinger, Ricci Bandkau and Shawn Pipoly, who won four-year terms.

Brighton Incumbent Councilman James Muzzin won a two-year term.

In Howell, Scott Niblock, Paul F. Rogers and Dawn Cooper were re-elected to the City Council in a four-way race for three seats.

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