NOCFA Chief, Jeremy Lintz

Although I openly accept criticism and opinions from concerned residents, I have to take exception when someone starts throwing the word “fact” around, especially in a public forum. The word “fact” means the truth or actual existence of something, as opposed to the supposition or  belief about something.

Within the “comments” section of a news story in the Holly Express regarding the construction of the North Oakland County Fire Authority Station 3, an individual calling himself John Graham has stated his written comments as “facts.” I am not sure where this person is getting his information, but his “facts” are grossly incorrect.

As a member of the Holly Township Safety Committee, I am rather confused by the comments made by Tom McKenney in this publication and in an email he routed to our Committee. While it is true that Mark Diaz and I met with the Village Public Safety Committee [PSC] to discuss the bid we received in response to our request for local police service, I feel compelled to respond, if only to present an opposing view of what took place.

We initially asked the township to prepare a bid request on our behalf, and submit it to the following law enforcement agencies: village of Holly, Oakland County Sheriff, and the cities of Fenton and Grand Blanc.  The only responses we received were from the Village at $107,114 and the Sheriff at $117,672.

After comparing both proposals, our committee agreed that more important than the lower cost, we felt the Village presented a more valuable service based on their proximity to the proposed special assessment District [SAD]. In addition, due to their current staffing level; we believe they provide more available police personnel if needed to handle 911 calls.

Kent Barnes, Superintendent fo...

I want to thank all the individuals who have e-mailed me, phoned me, or stopped me at the grocery store to ask about the governor’s budget proposals. The overriding question is “how do these proposals impact the Holly Area School district?” This question is a fair one, and I offer the following information for your review.

The governor’s proposed budget results in a loss of revenue of $470 per student. In other words, our fiscal year 2012 per pupil foundation allowance would be $6,846 ($7,316 - $470). Using a student count of 3,650 students, the $470 reduction amounts to $1,715,000. The change in the retirement rate (from 20.66 percent to 24.46 percent) amounts to an increase of approximately $760,000.

Upon learning of the Village's intentions to cease all response to the Township there were some of us that raised an eyebrow of concern.  Living in Holly has always meant a quieter, more peaceful way of life.  However, I for one became concerned when I found out that the MSP Groveland Post was operating at a skeleton crew level and the Village said they would no longer respond to our 911 calls.  Not that I have ever had cause to call the police to my home, only that in the event such a situation was necessary, I would like to get a response in a reasonable amount of time.

A group of us formed a small committee to find out how much it would cost our community to pay for increased police services as well as get a grasp on how the community felt about the current situation.  I guess you can consider this committee a fact finding committee more so than a public safety committee.  We wanted to know what our neighbors thought and the cost. 

After receiving the bids that have been prepared by the Oakland County Sheriffs Department (and after we get the bid for what we asked for from the Village Police Department) I think we will have the answer as to the cost per household, per year.

Why these simple questions threaten some people who have voiced a strong resistance to this cause is beyond me.  To call our group "radicals" is absurd.  We share a common belief -  concern for the safety of our families and our community.  That's why we want to know how much it would cost for more police services.