1975-12-10; Clare Sentinel

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CLARE
* -3"
®|)e Clare Sentinel
FIFTEEN CENTS
SIXTEEN PAGES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1975
OUR 96TH YEAR
VOL. 84 NO.l 5
20 Per Cent Hike In Water,
Sewer Charges Are Sought
HKAlt RESI'LTS - Former 14. Gus Aleck of the Clare S heriff Department (left) appeared before the
board last week to learn the results of a grievance filed against S heriff Ray Lippold. The board ordered
1,1. Aleck reinstated by a 4-3 vote. The bottom photo shows Deputy Richard J ensen. Commissioners are
Arnold Stamman and Don Case (back) and Toni Lester and Allan Kowalk (backs to camera). (Clare
Sentinel photon)
Ousted Sheriff's Lt. Aleck Not
Reinstated Despite Ruling
Ousted Clare Sheriff's Lt. Ghazey
(Gus) Aleck remains unemployed and
without pay despite a ruling by the Clare
County Board of Commissioners to
reinstate Lt. Aleck and pay him.
The board on Dec_ 1 voted 4**3 to uphold
a grievance filed by Li. Aleck against
Clare County Sheriff Ray Lippold.
The grievance asked "that Lt. Ghazey
Aleck be reinstated immediately with all
back pay and benefits immediately and
that his command authority be returned
immediately also.*"
The grievance also stated. "The Fraternal Order of Police directs your.
attention to Article 10, Section 7 tin-
activation) from the contract between
the County of Clare and the F.O.P. The
F.OJP. feiifls that if the Sheriff would
th ake himself aware of this contract that
he would have known of this section
and used it as the situation warranted,
not because of his impulse action
motivated by his discrimination against
Lt Aleck because of his political and
union affili-ttiori."
Ai of Dec. ft Lt. Aleck bad not been
reinstated nor paid his back pay and
become eligible again for health insurance, etc.
Shortly after the Dec. I meeting
Sheriff Lippold said he would not
reinstate Lt. Aleck now or in the future.
Sheriff Lippold repeated his earlier
statement that Lt. Aleck was fired
because of violations of departmental
rules and regulations.
Sheriff Lippold further emphasized
that he alone has the authority to hire and
fire members of his department as an
official elected by the voters of Clare
County.
Commissioner Donald Case is chair**
Seek Recall
Donald Green of Lake George announced today that petitions will be
circulated this week seeking the recall of
Sheriff Raymond Lippold.
Green said in view of charges against
the sheriff he did not feel that the sheriff
was capable of maintaining quality law
enforcement in Clare County.
man of the sheriff committee and chaired
the grievance hearing and later gave the
report to the board.
Case had voted against reinstatement
because he felt the issue should be settled
either by arbitration or a ruling by the
S tate Labor Board.
Case said "We did not have enough
information to make a decision one way
or another. This grievance (firing of Lt.
Aleck) did not come before us at the
same time their other greivances were
heard."
"My no vote was not because I believed
Gus was either right or wrong or the
sheriff was right or wrong. We did not
have enough evidence to make a decision
one way or another." Case said.
At the time of the 4-3 vote Case told the
board he would have nothing further to
do with the issue and would not sign a
voucher to pay Lt. Aleck, t Normally the
head of a department signs payroll
vouchers, he. sheriff, clerk, etc.)
"I still decline to act on this issue.'*
Case said Monday, Dec. 8.
(Continued mi page »■)
By Alfred R. Bransdorfer
Editor
A 20 per cent increase In Clare water
and sewage rates was recommended to
the Clare City Commission during the
report on an audit by J ohn Quinnan, CPA
of Clare.
Quinnan told the commission that both
the water and sewage systems should
operate at least on a break even basis.
He said the sewer system took in
$76,000 while paying out $81,000. The
water system took in $46,000 while paying
out $53,000.
Quinnan said that costs of these
departments keep going up and unless
something is done the gap between
income and expenses will continue to
grow.
He said a 20 per cent increase would
bring in enough money to close the gap
and provide some revenue for repairs.
Also recommended was a charge for
water turn off and turn on to cover costs
of the manpower doing this work.
An increase in water and sewer rates
has been suggested for the last few
year.
Also failing to cover costs by income
was garbage and trash collections.
Income was $24,373 locally plus $21,443
for outside users of the sanitary landfill.
Expenses were $103,000 which included
$40,000 for capital outlay.
Excluding the capital outlay the trash
collection plus landfill costs about $12,000
over and above income.
Quinnan recommended that some
charges be made in this operation to put
in on a pay for itself basis.
* Commissioner Larry Eastley said that
shouldn't some of these items be considered services much the same way as
police and fire.
Mayor Bill Ulrich said if we continue to
hold our millage at a reasonable rate
then it will be necessary to boost charges
for some of the city services.
The difference between income and
expenses to each of the departments Is
made up from general fund revenues.
Eastley pointed out that some of the
city's older homes have problems with
the plumbing which allows for loss of
water through leaking faucets and
toilets.
Under the present plan city residents
pay for their water on a Jlat rate hence
there is no financial reason to pay for a
plumber to stop the leaks.
Eastley wondered if it would not be
cheaper to provide this plumbing service
from the city has balanced against the
water loss.
Mayor Ulrich said he didn't feel the
city should be competing with private
businesses that do that work.
No action was taken. The matter will
be studied. If a rate increase is approved
it would start at the beginning of the
city's fiscal year which is July,
The Christmas party for city employees and members of various city
boards will be held in mid December.
Mayor Ulrich suggested that the
dinner-party extend hours this year to
midnight rather than cease immediately
after dinner.
Commissioner Robert Walters felt
there was ample time for a party
considering the cocktail party before and
the dinner afterwards.
After considerable discussion it was
agreed the party will continue until
midnight. Ulrich said the party is the
only thanks that the many members of
various city boards receive. They service
without pay, Ulrich said, and put in a lot
of hours and this party is the way we can
say thank you.
Walters expressed concern over the
liability of the city in case someone is
injured on their way home after the
extended party.
CABLE TV TOWER • This tower was erected last week although for a time
work on the tower was uncertain due to a union dispute over construction. The
tower went up without incident. The antennas still must go up. The crew that
put up the tower has left and union workmen may be required to put up ihe
antennas. (Clare Sentinel photo)
Police Probe Three
Burlgaries In City
A man who claimed he was just using
the restroom in Clare City Hail Monday
night was arrested for breaking and
entering and is now lodged in the Clare
County Jail, according to Sgt. Michael
Becker of the City Police.
Becker said Barney Gardner, 21, a
Clare resident was apprehended in a
downstairs restroom after the building
was locked up.
"Chief Tice had come to City Hall to
check on some paper work about an how-
after the building was closed," Becker
said. "He heard a noise and pinpointed it
as coming from the downstairs restroom.
He called Officer Craig Clair, who Went
to   the  basement  window   and   saw
Gardner."
Clair, who made the arrest, said the
man claimed he was just using the
facilities. "But, this was about an hour
after the building was locked up," Clair
added.
Two other breaking and entering in
Clare were reported to City Police
Tuesday morning. Thayer's Dairy, TnCf,
144 W. Fourth St. and Corky's Restaurant, 123 W. Fourth St., were broken into,
according to Becker.
Police were notified of both breaking
and enterings about 5:30 Tuesday morning. "We have no suspects," Becker said,
"And no other information will be
available until further investigation has
taken place."
Viet Nam Memorial
Planned by Class
The Clare High School class of 1975
finished their active school participation
last June, but they are still involved.
When the expenses were deducted
from their bank account last July, a
balance of $35. remained.
Earlier, the class decided to donate
any surplus sums to a fitting memorial
for Ihe veterans of the Viet Nam War
and especially to memorialize the men
who died in the service of their country.
An informal group composed of students and faculty is now being formed to
bring together all citizens who share in
this patriotic expression of gratitude.
Some students are preparing sketches
of memorials which will be submitted to
the School Board at a later date. Others
are assessing the community for financial support.
Costs for a tentative memorial are
being estimated at $900, The Student
Council has agreed to underwrite $200.00
of this cost, if approval can be acquired
from the School Board.
Any citizens who agree with this
project may send money to the "Viet
Nam War Memorial Fund" in care of the
Clare High School Student Council,
David Dull President.
Any monies donated at this time will be
escrowed for refunding if the project fails
to receive approval from the authorities.
A citizens advisory board is also being
formed, and any citizen of the Clare
Public School District may become an
active member of it.
Information concerning this Viet Nam
War Memorial may be obtained from
President David Dull or Forrest Meek at
the high school.
State OKs Hospital
The state of Michigan has approved a
proposal by Clare Osteopathic Hospital
to replace the old building at 104 West
S ixth Street with a new structure. Cost
of the project is $1,750,000.
A Certificate of Need has been issued
for the project by the Division of Health
Facility Planning and Construction of the
S tate Health Department.
The proposal was also accorded prior
approval by the East Central Michigan
Comprehensive Health Planning Council
and the state administrators of the
federal Hill-Burton program.
The plans call for the replacement
structure to contain 64 patient rooms,
delivery suite and nursery, intensive
care unit, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy departments, doctors' conference room, outpatient waiting area and chapel, storage
space, and administrative offices,
With a bed Complement of 64 acute
care beds, the new structure will have
two fewer beds than the present facility.
The project is scheduled for completion
in September 1977. When it Is finirfwd,
the old structure, now more than 3S years
old, will be razed.