Clarkston City Council voted unanimously, Feb. 10, to reject a proposed resolution against a Regional Transit Authority millage.
“I’m still not clear what the purpose of this resolution is,” said Council member Al Avery, who voted against the resolution along with Mayor Eric Haven and council members Jason Kneisc and Sue Wylie. “This is based on what we think might happen.”
Wylie agreed, saying no specific millage is being proposed at this point.
“I’d like to see a specific millage proposal before putting together a resolution,” she said.
“We don’t know what they’re trying to do or not do,” Kneisc said.
“It’s mostly a preemptive strike across the bow by communities in north Oakland County,” said city attorney Thomas Ryan. “It’s just to tell the legislature, when it does come out, we’re against it. Nothing fast happens in Lansing so we can wait.”
A motion to postpone the issue failed, 2-2. Haven and Kneisc voted to postpose, and Avery and Wylie voted against. Council members David Marsh, Joe Luginski, and Scott Reynolds were absent.
The proposed resolution stated, the “city strongly opposes the RTA ballot proposal being placed repetitively on a county-wide ballot, possibly at a higher rate, while continuing to exclude the city and its residents with equitable direct services or a repetitive service at a higher tax rate.”
Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle attended the Jan. 27 City Council meeting to support the proposed resolution against a multi-county RTA public transportation millage, saying it wouldn’t benefit north Oakland County.
– Phil Custodio