By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
September 26, 2009 - 11:22 a.m. EST

SEBEWAING — There will be a referendum vote Tuesday, Nov. 3, on whether or not Sebewaing Village officials should continue the process of changing from a general law village to a home-ruled city.

The ballot item 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 terminates incorporation proceedings.”

The voter then checks either yes or no.

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, after 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 before the 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 complete.

However, if it is rejected, the effort to change government format is done and Sebewaing would remain a village.

Water system upgrade millage

In addition, there will be a request for new millage to help fund the village’s water system.

The request is for 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 owner of an $80,000 house about $120 in taxes.

The deadline to register to vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election is by 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

Voter registration can be done at the Secretary of State’s Office, the Huron County Clerk’s office, the Sebewaing Township office at 14 Sharpsteen St. and the Sebewaing Village office at 222 N. Center St.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.