#phocagallerypiclens 2-phocagallerypiclenscode-Community/hpd dispatch center window.jpg

Holly Police Department

HOLLY, Michigan - Back in the fall of 2006, village voters approved a three year 2- mill special assessment to improve their police services.  As of  this July, Holly Village residents’ property taxes will be cut by 2-mills.  The police services special assessment is no longer being collected from village residents.  

The goals of the special assessment were technology improvements, safety and personal protection equipment for police officers, a vehicle fleet maintenance program to reduce operating costs, a few much-needed building renovations, and overhauling the local E911 Communications Center.  

The special assessment cost the average homeowner approximately $175 a year which was added to their property tax bill.  Over the three years, the special assessment collected a total of $822,703 from village taxpayers for the improvements.  

Today, Village Manager Marsha Powers reports that all of the intended goals of the special assessment have been achieved.  “The monies collected from the special assessment millage were put to work in the best interests of the taxpayers and village residents,” Powers said.

HOLLY, Michigan – The burning question in Holly these days seems to be what to do about the vacant Downtown Development Authority director position, but after the March 8 DDA Board of Directors meeting, the decision is still up for debate.

Last week, Village President Pete Clemens said Village Manager Marsha Powers would be assuming the duties of Holly’s DDA director and putting the $28,000 to $32,000 in director wages back into the village’s general fund.

Before Monday’s meeting, Powers emailed Robert Donohue, program coordinator for the Main Street Oakland County, asking him if there are other communities in which village or city managers serve as the DDA director, augmenting daily and event operations with an event coordinator or staff position. His response wasn’t the one most villagers expected to hear.

#phocagallerypiclens 2-phocagallerypiclenscode-Community/dda board 1.jpg

Holly DDA board members, Jeann...

HOLLY, Michigan – Budget reductions and a prior financial commitment of $4,500 to the ongoing Village Office reuse study are to blame for Holly’s Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors’ decision to not fund the proposed Economic Development Task Force market research survey.

In September, the Holly Area Economic Development Task Force was born – a group of concerned area citizens from throughout the community, interested in identifying ways to help spur economic development not only in the village, but also in the township.

Charged with leading the group, Holly Township Trustee Janet Leslie enlisted the help of resident Ryan Bladzik, owner/principal of Great Lakes Creative Marketing and Communications in developing a market research survey.

Bladzik, who volunteered his professional services to the cause, said the 37-question marketing survey covers a wide assortment of  demographic categories, including employment, consumer habits, dining habits, opinions and attitudes, lifestyle information, media and information and activities and hobbies, giving area businesses and organizations key information in spurring economic growth.

HOLLY TOWNSHIP, Michigan – A Holly Township resident living in the 14000 block of Hess Road was robbed Sunday evening, after a man claiming to be an undercover narcotics officer gained entrance to his home.

The suspect, who did not claim a specific agency or wear a uniform, handcuffed the homeowner and proceeded to steal cash and other property from the residence. The homeowner was unharmed and able to summon help after the suspect fled the residence on foot.

A K9 deputy from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for assistance from the Michigan State Police and was able to track the suspect approximately 75 yards before the tracks ended abruptly north of the scene. It is believed the suspect entered a vehicle and left the area.  

MSP describes the suspect as a white male, 30 to 40 years old, medium height, stocky build with short hair, and is thought to be driving a white or cream-colored van. Anyone with information pertaining to the robbery is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Groveland Post at (248) 634-4882.