The Hastings Banner — Thursday, February 24, 2022 — Page 5Sweeping tax cuts are irresponsible
To the editor:
Tax cuts are sexy – everyone’s ears perk up
when they hear these words because, well, we
all want more money in our pockets, right?
Yet, time and again, we’ve seen unfair appli-
cation of sweeping tax cuts that benefit large
corporations, but not so much the small busi-
nesses and individuals.
Now our Legislature is proposing tax cuts
that will give large corporations a tax cut six
times greater than for individuals, who will
get a pittance, and small businesses won’t get
much more.
Yes, Michigan has a grand budget surplus
now, but our legislators are hyping tax cuts
without responsible planning and application.
Anyone who has attended our county’s meet-
ings about how to use ARPA funds knows
that these federal dollars cannot be used to
offset budget shortfalls caused by tax cuts.
I agree that the budget surplus we now
enjoy should be returned to the people, but
we need targeted application of tax cuts to
help families with children and senior citi-zens whose pensions have been unfairly
taxed.
And what about all the infrastructure issues
we have in Michigan? Can’t some of that
budget surplus go to fix the roads, ensure
everyone has clean water and shore up our
school systems?
“Extra” money sure seems to burn holes in
our legislators’ pockets.Joyann Kime,
MiddlevilleHASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY SCHEDULE
Lawmakers
waste time
with sales
puffery
To the editor:
In 2012, the Michigan Legislature and
administration increased taxes on seniors by
taxing pensions, and decreased business
taxes, under the guise of helping the econo-
my. This tax increase on seniors raised
approximately $350 million to $500 million
in revenue, to offset the $1 billion in business
tax cuts implemented the same year. The
argument was underpinned by the idea that
seniors with pensions were a diminishing
demographic, but the revenue would help the
state.
Fast forward to 2022: The current Whitmer
administration proposes rolling back the
senior tax. The GOP Michigan Senate oppos-
es this, saying it would be rash and could hurt
the coffers.
Speed up to the week of Feb. 13: The
same Michigan Senate wants to cut person-
al taxes from 4.2 percent to 3.95 percent,
and business taxes from 6 percent to 3.
percent. This flies in the face of caring
about the coffers of the state, but also again
favors business by 2 percent. The tax cut
proposed hits the state coffers by $2.5 bil-lion, with no information on to close that
gap.
This is a pure waste of time, absolute sales
puffery with Senate Majority Leader Mike
Shirkery trying to save face.
Enough of this. We need serious work to be
done in the Legislature, not puffery and fool-
ishness before the GOP convention in April
to bolster the party that does not trust its own
ballot counting.Ed Tillier,
Hastings176375
ANALYTICAL TESTING &CONSULTING SERVICES, INC.
14625 Doster Road
Plainwell, MI 49080
Phone: (269) 664-
Fax: (269) 664-
E-mail: [email protected]
February 23, 2022
Dear Contractor:
Delton – Kellogg Elementary School is soliciting bids for the removal of asbes-
tos containing materials. A walk-through survey of the removal area is March 3,
2022 at 2:00 PM. The walk- through is mandatory for contractors wishing to bid
on the project. Contractors will receive specifications at the walk-through.
Contractors will meet at Delton – Kellogg Elementary School located at 327
North Grove Street Delton, Michigan 49046.
Bids will be due on March 15, 2022 at 2:00 PM. All bid packets will be opened
at this time. Late bids will be returned unopened. When submitting your bid,
please make sure all requested information is included. Failure to do so may
result in the bid being rejected.
The Bids are to be submitted to the following address:
Attn: Jay Bourdo
Delton – Kellogg Elementary School
327 North Grove Street
Delton, Michigan 49008
Clearly mark envelopes: ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PROPOSAL-DO NOT
OPEN
Questions concerning this bid should be directed to:
Douglas A. Haase, Project Designer
Analytical Testing & Consulting Services Inc.
14625 Doster Rd.
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 664-176394
2022 BOARD OF REVIEW NOTICE
City of Hastings
201 E State St
Hastings, MI 490582022 BOARD OF REVIEW MEETING SCHEDULE
The City of Hastings Board of Review for 2022 will be held at the City of Hastings 2nd
floor conference room, 201 E State St, on the following dates:Tuesday, March 8, 2022 1:00 pm = Organizational MeetingMonday, March 14, 2022 3:00 pm-9:00 pm = Appeal Hearing
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 11:30 am-5:30 pm = Appeal HearingThe Board of Review will meet to hear questions, protests and to equalize the 2022
assessments.By board resolution, residents are able to protest by letter, provided protest letter
is received prior to March 10. Please mail to Assessor, 201 E State St, Hastings
MI 49058.The tentative ratios and the estimated multipliers for each class
of real property and personal property for 2022 are as follows:Agricultural................48.65..................1.
Commercial................46.80.................1.
Industrial.....................50.66.................0.
Residential..................46.43.................1.
Personal Property.......50.00.................1.Americans with Disabilities (ADA) NoticeThe City of Hastings will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with dis-
abilities at the Board of Review meetings upon 4 days notice.
Contact: Sarah Moyer-Cale 269-945-Elaine Garlock
Demolition of the former East Elementary
school building on Third Street is complete.
Only some scattered bricks show that there
had ever been a building there. It had been
built about 1952 to relieve crowding in the
1923 building which housed all grades in the
Lake Odessa school system. Soon after the
east building was done, the combination
shop/ag building was built on the north edge
of the school property. The east building had
several classrooms and an all-purpose room
with combined gym and auditorium. At one
point when the building was crowded, the
large room was divided into two classrooms.
This arrangement was for a short time, possi-
bly a year or two. We will await the new
construction, which is promised.
The former Anway-Ackerson house on
Johnson Street last week had rolls of carpet-
ing stacked on the wrap-around deck. This
may indicate the interior restoration is well
underway. Another house that is being slowly
restored is a farmhouse on Vedder Road
between Tasker and Bliss roads. This was
probably a Jarstfer house in the early days of
the community. It is opposite King Road.
A Tuesday story of a young actor from the
east side of the state has a paragraph focusing
on his role in the upcoming film “Pulled
From Darkness” which was produced by
George Johnson Jr., son of George and Judy
(Yonkers) Johnson of Lake Odessa. That film
will be released in the spring.
Saturday, several members of the Garlock
family attended an event near Stanwood to
honor Brian Garlock of Big Rapids and
Tampa, Fla., who is on the coaching staff ofthe Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. A
steady crowd had attended the forenoon
event at Ferris State University. The event
which was open to the public to see the Stan-
ley Cup and greet Brian who had attended
Ferris and worked at the arena. While the
cup was displayed in front of a beautiful
fireplace in a room filled with wild animal
mounts (at a hunt club) one could read the
engraved names. The name of Michael Booi,
a Tromp grandson and son of Nancy and Jeff
Booi of Bippley Road, was located from the
year when the Washington Team for which
he is an athletic trainer had won the Cup,
beating the Lightning for the championship
that year. The Lightning won the Cup in both
2020 and 2021. The two gentlemen who
move the Cup from city to city and guard it
constantly stated that the Cup would go next
back to Toronto where it is on exhibit at a
hockey museum all the months when it is not
on the travel circuit following the most
recent win. When Michael Booi hosted the
Cup, he had it filled with ice cream at Dairy
Queen so all of his guests at the Booi rural
home could eat from the cup.
We welcomed the balmy weather early in
the week, but cold temps in the range of
28-30 were to follow along with much rain
for the last half of this week. Last week on the
first warm day, the snowbanks shrunk greatly
and were lower in height.
The community Fresh Food truck will be
in the parking lot of Central United Methodist
Church off Third Avenue Tuesday, March 1,
at 2 p.m. Those who qualify for the free food
are expected to bring their own baskets or
boxes.Margilene Lewis to
celebrate 80th
birthday
Announcing the 80th Birthday of Margilene Lewis, aka Margie,
Sarge, Honey, Mom, Grandma, Sister, Friend to All, Stranger to none
by her Husband Alfie, children, Rob (in Heaven), Louise, Lorraine
and Husband Joe, Shari and Husband Dale and Johnny; grandchil-
dren John Herrick and Wife Rachael, Tyson (Herrick (in Heaven)
Lauren and Nick, Audrey and Tyler, Ashley and Nathen, Austin
Lewis and Lizzy Lewis; great grandchildren, John Tyson, Brad, Rent-
on, Hendrix and Miss Willow, her siblings, and many, many friends.
Cards and flowers (you know how much she loves flowers!) can be
sent to 245 Old Mill Rd, Middleville, MI 49333. Any questions please
call Louise @ 616-634-5618.
Terrance and June
Miles celebrated
50th anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Terrance L. Miles of Hastings celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary on February 18. They plan to celebrate with a
barbecue this summer, date to be determined.
The Miles’s were married February 18, 1972, in the Assembly of
God Church, Nashville, Michigan. The late Pastor Robert Taylor
performed the ceremony for Terrance and June Miles, formerly June
Miller. The couple have two sons, Matthew Miles of Holt, Michigan,
and Adam Miles of Hastings, Michigan; two daughters, Sarah Mick-
latcher of Hastings, Michigan, and Bethany Santos of White Lake,
Michigan, and nine grandchildren.Birthday Anniversary
Thursday, Feb. 24 – Movie Memories and Milestones enjoy an Academy Award-nominated 1945 film featuring a chance meeting at a
train station, 5 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 28 – Crafting Passions work group, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 1 – Great Decisions Foreign Policy Institute, 1:30-3:30; mahjong, 2:30; chess, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 2 – Itsy Bitsy Book Club meets via Zoom (monthly story time bag with link and crafts may be picked up at library),
10:30 a.m.
More information about these and other events can be provided by calling the library, 269-945-4263 or checking its Facebook events.