Senator Gregory Visits Ferndale Public Library

14th District State Senator Vincent Gregory, who is from Southfield but represents Ferndale and other neighboring communities, visited the Ferndale Public Library on Thursday, April 14, 2011 to meet with constituents to discuss the State budget and other concerns. Tomiko Gumbleton, Ferndale City Councilperson and current aide to State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, was also on hand to answer questions. A handful of interested residents turned out to meet with the Senator.

Ferndale Police Union Agrees to Concessions

A three-year contract with the Ferndale Patrol Officers that calls for major concessions in health care and fringe benefits was ratified by the Ferndale City Council Wednesday evening. “This is a significant agreement that will have a huge impact on our ability to keep officers on the street within the very difficult financial constraints faced by the City,” said Mayor Dave Coulter.

City Accepts Animal Control, Waggs has 30 days to find home…

After city leaders in Ferndale discovered that Oakland County had been providing animal control for free to some municipalities, while charging others for the service, the Oakland County has reshaped its Animal Control program and is now offering free service to any city.

City Council voted on March 28, 2011 to accept the service, and also to end an agreement with nonprofit group Waggs and Wishes

Groups Organize Around Headlee Override Issue

“Shall the City of Ferndale, County of Oakland, Michigan, be permitted to increase its authorized millage rate in 2011 for a term of five (5) years ending December 31, 2015, by an additional 5.4552 mills ($5.4552 per $1,000) on each dollar of the taxable value of all real and personal property in the City of Ferndale, which will restore to the City the Charter-authorized millage amount for general purposes which has been reduced by Section 31 of Article IX of the State Constitution of 1963, all of which tax revenues would be disbursed to the City of Ferndale; provided that the City shall not be authorized to levy more than three (3) additional mills in 2011. The Charter-authorized millage amount has been reduced by required millage rollbacks in recent years to 14.5448. If approved, the initial three (3) mills authorized for levy would raise approximately $1,681,806 in 2011.”

Switch-a-roo: Coulter & Covey…

Leadership in the City of Ferndale has taken an interesting twist. Craig Covey (former Mayor, now County Commissioner) has seemingly switched spots with Dave Coulter (former County Commissioner, just appointed Mayor). The switch-a-roo, which came about after a series of steps that could not have been planned if they tried, is only one of many coincidences in the lives of these two community leaders.