Village storm drain
Dear Editor,
Thank you for your patience as the Village of Ortonville worked to complete the Crossman Park Storm Drain over the past several weeks.
It has been inconvenient, to say the least, but it is exciting to see the drain already working. Derrick Diamond and his crew did a fantastic job despite the conditions. This project will have a lasting positive impact for the Village and its residents.
I encourage you to stop in Crossman Park in the coming weeks, as we prepare for a long season when Crossman Park is usable every day.
The surface will stay like it is until asphalt plants open in the late spring. Our DPW crew will be repairing any trouble spots as the area settles, and if there are any issues to bring to our attention, please contact me at the Village Offices
Ryan Madis Village Manager

Vote no museum act
Dear Editor,
As if we aren’t paying enough already in property taxes, the Michigan Senate under Republican leadership may soon be voting on SB-653, the “History Museum Authorities Act.”
We already pay for the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Zoo. Now some legislators want to add another 0.4 mills to our property taxes for this during a time we already see higher taxes due to inflated home valuations.
Will this tax help our own Ortonville Community Historical Society or Oxford’s North Oakland Historical Museum? No! In fact, Democrat Senator Marshall Bullock wrote the bill to exclude any museums in cities with under 500,000 in population. So just Detroit’s two museums are expected to receive the $42 million to be raised each year for 20 years. A home in Oakland or Wayne County with a taxable value of $150,000 will see another $1,200 in property taxes over the period of this bill, if put on the ballot.
The bill may be scheduled soon for a vote. Please Google your State Senator’s number today and let her know your opinion.
Jay R. Taylor
Brandon Twp