By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
October 28, 2009 - 10:57 a.m. EST

TUSCOLA COUNTY — During the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election, two communities in the Tuscola County Advertiser’s readership area will be voting on city issues.

Only the residents in the village of Caro and Almer Charter Township and Indianfields Township, which are in the area to be annexed if Caro changes from a general law village to a home-ruled city, will vote on the first draft of the proposed home-ruled city charter on the ballot along with some city council seats.

The Caro City Charter Proposal asks: “Shall the proposed charter for the City of Caro drafted by the Charter Commission elected Nov. 4, 2008 be adopted?”

Vote “yes” or “no.”

Also on that ballot will be council seats. This part is complicated because some of the candidates for city seats were just voted in as Caro Village Council trustees last month.

Even though Thomas Striffler was just elected as village president, he will be running for mayor; and newly-elected village trustees Joseph Greene and Rick Lipan will be seeking election as city council members.

Others seeking city council seats are Michael W. Henry, Charlotte M. Kish, Amanda Langmaid and Richard Pouliot.

Six trustee seats have to be filled.

However, if voters turn down the charter, village government would continue and those with the council seats who were elected in September stay as is.

Even Tuscola County Clerk Margie White-Cormier, who is the county’s chief election officer, says the Caro election is confusing.

“There has to be (city) seats on the ballot in case the village becomes a city,” said White-Cormier, noting if the charter passes, those seeking election will then be city council trustees. “The results of the September election (would be) moot.”

Further adding to the confusion, Trustee Bernard Nelson, who was voted in last month, would be off the council if the charter is approved to make the village a city.

However, if the proposed charter is turned down, the charter commission has the opportunity to rewrite the charter, and go back to the voters with the revised version; also, the results of the September Village election would stand.

SEBEWAING

VILLAGE

Voters in the village of Sebewaing will also be deciding on a city issue, but they aren’t as far along in the process as Caro.

In Sebewaing, there will be a referendum vote on whether or not Sebewaing village officials should continue the process of trying to change from a general law village to a home-ruled city.

The vote will be on the “referendum on incorporation process.” The ballot question will ask: “Shall the proceedings continue that propose to incorporate the village of Sebewaing as a Home-Ruled City?

A “Yes” vote permits the incorporation proceedings to continue.

A “No” vote ends incorporation proceedings.

Voting “no” at this juncture terminates the city incorporation proceedings.

Voting “yes” permits the incorporation proceedings to continue, but it is not a final vote on the matter.

A yes vote only allows the rest of the village to city procedure to continue. It is not an affirmation of the change.

If voters approve allowing the process to continue, the next step would be electing a charter commission.

Then, when that is done, the charter commission would have up to three years to write a city charter.

That proposed charter to be a city would go to voters to accept or reject.

If the first charter is rejected by voters, the commission can draft a second charter. That charter will also be voted on. If it is accepted, the shift to city government is done; but, if it is voted down, the effort to change government format is done and Sebewaing remains a village.

Also on the Sebewaing ballot will be a request for new millage of 3 mills for five years “for the purpose of operating, maintaining, replacing, and expanding” the village’s water system.

If approved, the millage is expected to generate about $103,298 the first year, and cost the homeowner of an $80,000 house about $120 in taxes.

VASSAR CITY

There are nine people running for three council seats in the city of Vassar.

Those vying for the three seats are: incumbents H. Faye Hembling and Henry L. Hornung; and newcomers Patricia A. Gawne, Ted Gamet, Barry Schwetizer, Judy Adams, Robert C. Curtis, Brandon J. Frank and Dan Stedry.

Patsy Schell is not seeking re-election.

FRANKENMUTH

In Frankenmuth, those who filed for city council seats were: incumbent Gary Rupprecht who will seek another 2-year term.

Incumbents trustees Richard Galsterer, Gary Zeilinger and Richard Meyer are being challenged by newcomer James Furbush.

The polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.