FlintTalk.com

Political Talk :: RE: LAND BANK FLINT'S BIGGEST SLUM LORD

Author: Public D
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:43 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 10

quote:
Steve Myers schreef:
Slumlords and speculators pay taxes, the Landbank does not.

The Landbank needs to go and all its properties needs to be tuned over to HUD where they should have been in the first place.

Dave, we've all seen those properties. Did you know who the owners were before the Landbank posted their sign on the door? They don't pay taxes because that's where they get much of their funding to enact the limited number of projects they're able to. It's not enough, to be sure. Audit the shit out of them if you like. But you'll find that the spending, and more importantly the approach, is sound. It's not what anybody wants to hear about their own block, but you really do have have to step way back and look at a bigger picture. It's the only way the bigger solutions to such big problems will ever happen.

Steve, I will never understand your love-affair with non-local control. HUD? Are you nuts or Don Williamson? Good luck as a local politician and/or Walmart t-shirt salesman.
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Political Talk :: RE: Manning Street Houses

Author: Tegan
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:29 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 39

After writing all this, I realized that your requirements for a interest free loan may have had crazy stipulations. I had general rules for State historic tax credits in mind, so maybe the rules are different.

Dave, I've seen requirements for HD's in both Kalamazoo and in Ypsilanti. The ones you list for Civic Park seem a little ridiculous. While yes, if the windows and doors were originally wood and still are wood, they should remain wood. However, a lot of districts will let it slide if the windows have already been replaced with metal or aluminum. I've never heard a stipulation for wood only eave troughs, especially since many old buildings didn't have gutters and instead relied on good ground grading to keep the water away from the foundation, In Kalamazoo, they simply asked, if I recall correctly, that the eave troughs be inconspiuous. I've NEVER heard of a stipulation for slate roofs ONLY. Like I said above, generally if an original slate roof is still in tact, they would prefer it to be replaced with slate or a composite material that mimics slate. However, and we've had this discussion in at least two or three preservation classes, because of the high cost of slate roofs (although they last 100 years before they need replaced), most HDC's will allow for replacement of a inconspicuous shingle roof that matches in approximate color.

The paint requirement is also ridiculous. Paint is ephemeral and can always be redone, unless you are painting unpainted brick or stone, which is usually not allowed in historic districts unless there is a REALLY good reason.

Dave, I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with historic district rules, HDC's usually use the Secretary of the Interiors Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation, since it allows for the greatest number of concessions for use. Just keep in mind that not all historic district rules were like the ones you had.
_________________
I don't know. Maybe I'm naive.

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Political Talk :: RE: Manning Street Houses

Author: Public D
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:26 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 39

quote:
Dave Starr schreef:
I help our block club take care of 5 empty houses on our block now. That's all I can do. They don't care; they're busy creating yuppieville in the center of town.

I'm inspired and grateful for the work you do in your neighborhood, Dave. We need more like you! But throwing around divisive labels like Yuppieville is not helpful to anybody's effort. I have yet to hear you make similar statements against suburbia or the impact that more deliberate sprawl, wealth, and paranoia isolation, and rationale for it, has unleashed over the last 40 + years ��even when we all know that has been its overt purpose from the start. To the contrast, Kildee and the Landbank have rightly made it their mission to try to mix income levels and ethnicities through their efforts to create a more interesting, vibrant, tolerate, and community-united region. It won't be easy. Don't give up. And don't worry about the curtains before the house is (re)built.
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Open chat :: RE: Were you "health guarded" as a kid in Flint School

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:21 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 1

�Being a �Health-Guarded� child in Flint schools meant that you had all the required disease inoculations.�

Source:
http://www.mlive.com/stories/news/150list.html

Open chat :: RE: Civil War movie at Crossroads?

Author: Tegan
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:15 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 1

i work there, but I haven't heard anything about it. However, a lot of times, private use of the village for movies and such, unless they are promotional or require the use of the interpreters, sort of goes unnoticed by those who only work when the village is open to the public, especially when we are getting ready for wonderful programs like Day Out With Thomas, Railfans, and the Huckleberry Backyard Jam, which just wrapped up today.

I will ask on Wednesday though . Or you can call the Genesee County Parks office tomorrow and ask the wonderful ladies in the front office.
_________________
I don't know. Maybe I'm naive.

I need a job too.

Open chat :: RE: Article on Flint now #1 most viewed on Newsweek.com

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:07 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 24

quote:
First of all, unless you're Terry Bankert, you have a lot to learn about child support. And posting messages.

Flint8, what part of this did I misunderstand? Please enlighten me.

Political Talk :: RE: LAND BANK FLINT'S BIGGEST SLUM LORD

Author: Adam
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:06 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 10

I think an easier solution would be to simply charge (fine) the land bank for mowing their properties but that would involve code enforcement which is something it seems "only" normal cities do.

Political Talk :: RE: LAND BANK FLINT'S BIGGEST SLUM LORD

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:52 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 10

Just reading this irks me. I understand what Dave is saying. Consider these ideas, alter or add your own:

1. To own property in the City of Flint, one must reside in the City of Flint or within Genesee County and maintain the property. Violations punishable by fine of $___. Multiple violations punishable by fine of $___ and jail(?).

2. Malicious destruction of, or theft of parts from, property shall be punished by fine AND jail, AND thief shall assist certified contractor to reconstruct the destruction. Thief or destructor shall provide costs for parts and labor.

3. From the date property reverts to the land bank they have one year to sell, or demolish.

4. From the date property reverts to the land bank they have the responsibility for external maintenance.

Political Talk :: RE: Do they teach real math in Flint?

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:24 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 2

quote:
Cooney says. "The outcome will be the same, but how we get there will be different." Thus, when a parent is asked to multiply 88 by 5, we'll do it with pen and paper, multiplying 8 by 5 and carrying over the 4, etc. But a child today might reason that 5 is half of 10, and 88 times 10 is 880, so 88 times 5 is half of that, 440 � poof, no pen, no paper.

Is this what they call the "new math?" Anybody have a reference? I've been curious to see a simple explanation.

Political Talk :: RE: Andrew Heller and the Erection, opps I mean Election

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:16 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 24

Ted wrote: "I just keep looking at the reasons behind what everyone keeps saying about getting rid of the office. Hmmm If the Reg of Deeds was doing great and wonderful things like the County treasurer is. Would we be talking about combining it? Also, What great things can this office do. Many point to the last reg of deeds who hasn't been in the office for quite some time as the reasoning for getting rid of the office."

Dan Kildee is politically motivated. Melvin McCree was not; he followed in his father's footsteps into the office of Register of Deeds. The office of the Register of Deeds is to record land records. Pointing to the absence of Mr. Mcree during an illness or disability isn't reason to eliminate the office, he has well-qualified staff to carry on in his absence. If that were good enough reason, we should have eliminated the Flint Ombudsman's office when the previous Ombudsman was out for so long.

Political Talk :: RE: Andrew Heller and the Erection, opps I mean Election

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:02 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 24

Ted, I appreciate your comments. In northern Michigan there are some counties where a judge serves multiple counties; here in Genesee County we have multiple judges serving one county. The offices for county clerk and register of deeds in less populated northern counties likewise don't have the volume we do here so it might make sense to combine them there. But not here. Our POPULATION is greater, the VOLUME OF RECORD KEEPING is also. Clerk's office (vital records, assumed names for business, notary, etc.) and Register of Deeds (land records) should be separate. I have to assume the "County Clerk" in this discussion is not meaning to include the office of the "Genesee County Circuit Court Clerk" for purposes of joining with the Register of Deeds--that would be a fiasco.

With regard to having records for these offices online, they already are (with the exception of birth records which are restricted).

Genealogy info: http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/clerk/genealogy.htm

--
Ryan, the office of the county clerk (assuming you must only mean the vital records division) and the Register of Deeds would not make a one-stop shop. You'd have to combine the Treasurer's office as well--that makes three. So you would move the treasurer's office and the register of deeds office into the county clerk's office and make overcrowding and overwork? And leave their existing quarters in the administration building empty to save money? Why do you think those two offices were moved to the NEW Administration Building to start with?

The old county jail was demolished and replaced with a new one in another block.
The old probate court building was demolished and moved into the newly remodeled county courts building.
When the administration building was built the Register of Deeds, Treasurer and Friend of the Court (from the county courhouse) were moved there.

To sell property in the city of Flint and record the deed, you have to get city tax certification at the City Treasurer's office at City Hall, go across the street to the Administration building to get County Tax Certification at the Treasurer's office, and across the hall from there to the Register of Deeds to record the deed. That makes more sense than having to go to City Hall, the Administration Building, and the Courts Building just to record a deed.

Ryan stated: "Many cities around Michigan have combined the two offices. Within those cities they report a savings to their budgets as well as a more efficient running office." WHAT CITIES have combined the office of the COUNTY CLERK and COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS? I would like to compare their population to Genesee County. How is the office of the Register of Deeds a REDUNDANT office? What other office does it duplicate?

Open chat :: RE: Flint has blown a gasket...

Author: twotap
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:51 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 18

quote:
This thread has nothing to do with cars

A thread about GM but its not about cars. I believe you turned it into a thread about cars other than GM. Toyota hmmm what would Flint be like if not for them. If you decided to actually own a car what would you choose?????
_________________
""Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -Hemingway"

Political Talk :: RE: Us vs them

Author: twotap
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:48 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 48

Well then a prochoice candidate like Gore, Kerry or Baracko should win easily since that seems to be THE litmus test and like your poll shows its unanimous.
_________________
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Political Talk :: RE: Andrew Heller and the Erection, opps I mean Election

Author: 00SL2
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:40 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 24

Source: http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-168-200

MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW (EXCERPT)
Act 116 of 1954

168.200 County officers; election; combination or separation of offices of county clerk and register of deeds.

Sec. 200.

***

(2) Subject to subsections (3), (4), and (5), a county board of commissioners may by resolution combine the offices of county clerk and register of deeds in 1 office of the clerk register or separate the office of the clerk register into the offices of county clerk and register of deeds. A combination or separation of offices shall not take effect before the expiration of the current term of the affected offices.

(3) Before adopting a resolution to combine the offices of county clerk and register of deeds or separate the office of clerk register into the offices of county clerk and register of deeds, a county board of commissioners shall study the question of combining or separating the offices. The mandatory requirements of this subsection may be satisfied by conducting a public hearing pursuant to subsection (4).

(4) The county board of commissioners as a whole body shall hold not less than 1 public hearing, held subject to the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, on the question of combining or separating the offices of county clerk and register of deeds. The county board of commissioners may vote on the question as a regularly scheduled agenda item not less than 10 days or more than 30 days after the last public hearing held by the county board of commissioners on the question.

(5) Not later than the sixth Tuesday before the deadline for filing the nominating petitions for the office of county clerk, register of deeds, or clerk register, the county board of commissioners may by a vote of 2/3 of the commissioners elected and serving combine the offices of county clerk and register of deeds or separate the office of the clerk register. The resolution shall become effective upon the commencement of the next term of office of the county clerk, register of deeds, or clerk register after the adoption of the resolution.

Open chat :: Were you "health guarded" as a kid in Flint School

Author: Shawn Chittle
Subject: Were you "health guarded" as a kid in Flint School
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:39 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 1

What did it mean if you were "health guarded" as a child in the Flint schools? Someone gave me a pin that says "1940 Flint Child Health Guarded" was that some kind of public health care program? If so, what did it entail?

Thank you.