Oakland County

Oakland County helps neighboring Macomb with IT after building fire

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:46:32 +0000

Oakland County is helping neighboring Macomb County get back online after a fire last week.

That suspected electrical fire seriously damaged Macomb’s IT department—shutting down phones and computer networks.

So Oakland County is offering Macomb staff, equipment and space to start re-building.

“Oakland County has opened up its data center to host Macomb County’s equipment and personnel on a temporary basis in order to get Macomb County back online,” says a press release from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s office.

Some Wayne County towns use money intended for Detroit Zoo for other projects

Steve Carmody — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:23:46 +0000

Some communities in Wayne County have been using tens of thousands of dollars in property tax money intended to support the Detroit Zoo for their own civic improvement projects.

Voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties approved a property tax increase in 2008 to help fund the Detroit Zoo.

But the Detroit Free Press reports some Wayne County cities have collected the tax and spent it instead on sprucing up their own downtowns. In some years, the money has added up to more than $200,000.

Oakland County's developmentally disabled adults celebrate the new year early

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:55:30 +0000

The new year will come early for some people in Southeast Michigan. Tonight, Oakland County Parks and Recreation will host its annual "Almost New Year's" party.

The two-hour dance is specially created for the county's developmentally disabled adults. The party not only occurs before the year change, but the year-end countdown happens at 8:30 p.m. instead of midnight.

Sandy Dorey created the event. She says older parents and caregivers often don't want to stay out late on New Year's. She says it's also difficult to make reservations for Dec. 31.

"We just thought, 'It's a celebration.' We'd have the hats and everything else, so we just kick it off a few days early," she said.

Stateside: Superintendent Dr. Vickie Markavitch on Michigan's proposed education overhaul

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Yesterday, we covered the proposed education overhaul bill that could drastically change the ways students attend school.

Today, we spoke with Dr. Vickie Markavitch about Michigan’s education system and her view of the proposed changes.

Markavitch, a Superintendent of Oakland County Schools, claims the changes would have a negative impact on Michigan’s schools.

“I’ve been an educator for 46 years. I don’t think we can turn over our next generation to something that is ‘anyhow, any one.’ It’s a corporatization of public education. It really has nothing to do with improving achievement,” she said.

Shots fired at vehicles along I-96 corridor in three Michigan counties

The Associated Press — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 14:53:27 +0000

WIXOM, Mich. (AP) - The Oakland County sheriff says authorities are investigating at least 16 shootings for any common threads in many Michigan communities.

Sheriff Mike Bouchard says no one has been injured but there have been "some very close calls." He told reporters Friday that cars and people appear to be the targets. Shootings have been reported in Oakland, Livingston and Ingham counties.

Bouchard says the shootings occurred Tuesday through Thursday. Someone shot at five vehicles in Wixom in just a few minutes Thursday.

Commentary: Challenging Brooks; Challenging Oakland

Jack Lessenberry — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:53:55 +0000

For the last 40 years, two things have been true. Oakland County, home to most of Detroit’s white-collar suburbs, has been Michigan’s richest county. And L. Brooks Patterson has been Oakland’s dominant
personality, first as county prosecutor, then as county executive. When his current term ends in January, he will have held that office for 20 years.

That’s exactly as long as his longtime political enemy, Coleman Young, was Mayor of Detroit. But while Coleman finally retired after 20 years, Brooks is, at age 73, running again.

Election fraud and the case of the two John Scotts

Kate Wells — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:21:03 +0000

2012 just may go down as the year of election fraud in Michigan. After scandals involving Jase Bolger and Thad McCotter, now it's the case of the two John Scotts.

The elder Scott is the Republican commissioner of Oakland County. He says this summer he heard about another John Scott, this one a 22-year-old Eastern Michigan University college student, who was gathering signatures to get on the ballot as an independent.

John Scott v. John Scott: Election fraud charge coming in Michigan county race

Mark Brush — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:00:28 +0000

Voters in Oakland Co. will see two John Scott's on their ballot this November; one an incumbant Republican, the other an Independent.

The race for Oakland Co. Commissioner in District 5 is between John Scott (R), Alexandria Riley (D), and John Scott (I).

The Oakland County prosecutor's office says it plans to charge John Scott (I) with election fraud over alleged petition-gathering irregularities.

Chief assistant prosecutor Paul Walton says a misdemeanor election fraud warrant would be issued today in Waterford District Court against the independent candidate for commissioner.

John Scott (I) is a 22-year-old Eastern Michigan University college student from West Bloomfield Township.

The incumbent John Scott (R) says his namesake opponent is trying to confuse the election process.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Commissioner Scott said several of his strong supporters had signed the petitions. When he called them to find out more, he learned John Scott was listed as the circulator on some of the petitions, but the people who signed them said a woman had solicited the signature.
Such tactics constitute misdemeanor election fraud, which carries a 93-day maximum jail sentence, said Oakland County chief assistant prosecutor Paul Walton. The warrant will be issued in Waterford District Court today.

Back in July, the incumbent Republican Oakland County Commissioner promised to challenge his namesakes petition gathering tactics.

From the Oakland Press:

Commissioner Scott is seeking a sixth two-year term in a newly drawn district representing parts of Waterford and West Bloomfield townships.

The commissioner says the other Scott’s filing “is just to confuse the election process."

“Naturally we’ll challenge this,” the commissioner said. “It’s fraudulent because there’s friends of mine signing petitions thinking it’s me.”

Back in July, John Scott (I) said he wasn't aware of the issue, “I didn’t really know who was running at first. I just wanted to get my name on the ballot.”

Scott (I) declined to speak with the Detroit Free Press about the issue.

Patterson: 'Not wearing a seatbelt was a mistake.'

Mark Brush — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:37:52 +0000

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson was involved in a serious auto accident on August 9 when a VW Passat turned in front of his Chrysler 300:

Patterson and his driver were not wearing seat belts at the time.

Today, Patterson issued the following statement regarding the civil infraction issued by Auburn Hills Police today for not wearing a seatbelt when he was among victims of a crash caused by a VW Passat that turned in front of his Chrysler 300:

Not wearing a seatbelt was a mistake," Patterson said. "I accept my responsibility and paid the $65 fine this afternoon."

After spending five weeks in the hospital, Patterson was released last Friday and it recuperating at home.

L. Brooks Patterson released from hospital, driver remains hospitalized

Mark Brush — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:06:00 +0000

Oakland County officials announced this afternoon that County Executive L. Brooks Patterson was discharged today from McLaren Oakland Hospital.

Patterson has spent five weeks in the hospital after he was severely injured in a crash in early August.

L. Brooks Patterson continues his recovery after car crash

Mark Brush — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:27:18 +0000

L. Brooks Patterson, County Executive of Oakland County, has been hospitalized since he was involved in a car crash on August 1o.

He had surgery to repair broken bones and a gash on his scalp. The Oakland Tribune reported Patterson suffered from two broken wrists, broken ribs, a broken femur, and the injury on his head.

He's been moved to a hospital rehabilitation unit at McLaren Oakland Hospital and is in good spirits, reports the Associated Press.

Patterson and his driver, Jim Cram, were not wearing seatbelts in the crash.

Two people in the other vehicle were also injured in the crash. The driver of that vehicle has been charged.

Inmates in Oakland County jail released due to overcrowding

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:27:12 +0000

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says releasing more than 200 prisoners from the overcrowded County Jail could have been avoided, if judges had used alternative sentencing.

He tells The Detroit News he sent a letter to judges earlier this month, notifying them of the "jail emergency and asking for cooperation to help avoid it."

Michigan law requires sentence reductions if prisoners don't pose a high risk.

Bouchard says beds are being used by inmates who don't need to be in jail, and could have been punished differently, avoiding the problem.

Oakland County officials: State should pay for McCotter special election

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 02:37:16 +0000

Some officials from Oakland County are trying to turn up the heat on Lansing to pay for a special election.

That election was called to replace Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned last month.

Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley called for the September 5th special election to fill out just the few remaining weeks of McCotter’s term. State officials maintain it’s required by law.

But that leaves local governments in suburban Detroit’s 11th district to pick up the tab.

DIA attendance more than triples after voter-approved millage

Mark Brush — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:48:58 +0000

Last Tuesday, the Detroit Institute of Arts got a major vote of confidence from area voters when they approved a millage request to fund the museum. Taxpayer support means the museum will have a stable source of funding for the next ten years.

The next day, the museum was free to the residents in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

L. Brooks Patterson wasn't wearing seat belt in crash

Mark Brush — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:59:13 +0000

Oakland County's chief executive is still recuperating from surgery after suffering serous injuries from an auto accident last Friday afternoon.

Initial reports indicate he and his driver were not wearing seat belts.

From Oakland County's Daily Tribune:

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and his driver, James Cram, were not wearing seat belts at the time of a serious car crash Friday, according to Auburn Hills Police Department’s preliminary findings.

The Tribune reports Patterson suffered from "two broken wrists, broken ribs, a gash to the head and a broken femur." He underwent more surgery yesterday at McLaren Oakland Hospital.

The office of L. Brooks Patterson said in a statement that Patterson was resting comfortably and doctors reported that the surgery went well.

Patterson's leased Chrysler 300 was being driven by a 60-year-old former state police trooper, James Cram, who suffered serious injuries.

The crash is still under investigation.