Predicting what voters will do at the polls, despite what television pontificators claim, is nearly impossible. Two local millages were up for renewal on last week’s ballot; one was seen as a slam dunk and the other anything but. So what happened with them at the polls? The exact opposite of what was expected.
The Grand Blanc Township mosquito control millage has been consistently renewed by voters for several years. The last time it was on the ballot, however, it was very nearly defeated. This year, opposition to the chemical spraying method sometimes used was mobilized early and got publicity throughout the year.
Anyone who attended township board meetings during the summer also knew that many residents were not happy with the program. One of the wettest summers in recent memory made controlling the mosquito population nearly impossible, and many residents showed up at the meetings to ask what, exactly, their tax dollars were going for.
On top of that, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus were discovered in the township late in August, and residents found out more than a month later because it takes at least six weeks for labs to analyze results and get them back to the pest control company. All in all, not a banner year for a program hoping to continue.
By now, we all know how the election went. Voters approved the renewal by more than 4,000 votes.
For City of Grand Blanc voters, a parks millage was on the ballot for renewal. Funding from this millage has been used to fund many different programs, including the Summer Concert Series, the Senior Center and upgrades at all parks within the city limits.
Grand Blanc is widely recognized for having a Parks and Recreation Department that offers a large variety of programs and several well-maintained parks. It is obvious that the department spends money responsibly and has used taxpayers’ money to enhance the quality of life for community residents.
Anyone who strolls through a Grand Blanc park can measure these results for themselves. Grand Blanc is an area with many diverse and unique opinions, but I have never heard a critical word about the parks department.
So how did this millage fare? Voted down by more than 300 voters. Obviously, I will not soon be switching careers to election prognosticator.

Apology in order
Last week, an item ran in our Crime Blotter section describing a fight between two kids at a bus stop. This is typically not the type of thing we put in that section and I, as editor, failed to adequately scrutinize the section before allowing it to be published.
The kids involved are just that — kids. Putting this item in the section was an oversight on my part, and if either of the kids involved or their families were upset or offended, I offer my sincere apology.
Getting into a physical confrontation with a schoolmate was definitely not the appropriate way for either party to handle the disagreement, but allowing it to be publicized in the newspaper was incorrect on my part as well. I certainly did not intend to draw negative attention to the situation or make it seem like a more serious offense than it was.

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