HARTFORD TOWNSHIP HALL MAKEOVER… Hartford Township voters got their first look inside the newly renovated hall during the November election. The process began in 2015 with a facility evaluation study conducted by Wightman & Associates who ultimately served as architect and project manager with Hall Builders of Paw Paw to complete the $394,000 makeover. “We needed to understand if it was better to update or just build new,” said Supervisor Ron Sefcik. “It turned out that most of the building and mechanicals were still in good shape.” Energy efficient windows, LED lighting, floor covering, a secure cash window, office and meeting room furnishings and a low maintenance steel roof are just a few of the updates to the hall. The building was originally built in 1978 and had not seen any significant upgrades in nearly 40 years. Recently expanded hours of availability to the public might just indicate that the Township staff is quite comfortable in their revamped home. Township Supervisor Sefcik promises an official public open house event in the spring once winter weather sub-sides. (TCR photo by Jon Bisnett)

Rep. Nesbitt named House Member of the Year by MIRS; Majority Floor Leader touted for energy plan, leadership

 State Rep. Aric Nesbitt has been named 2016 House Member of the Year by the Michigan Information and Research Service (MIRS), an online newsletter providing news and analysis of state government.

Rep. Nesbitt, who serves as House Majority Floor Leader and chair of the House Committee on Energy Policy, was commended for his leadership in passing a long-range energy reform package on the last day of legislative session, guaranteeing Michigan affordable and reliable electric capability for decades to come. He was voted second most effective legislator by MIRS in last year’s end-of-the-year voting.

“It is an honor to be named House Member of the Year by this respected news organization,” Rep. Nesbitt said. “I worked hard during the six years I served in the House making reforms in Lansing that created more effective and efficient state government and a better Michigan for the families in the 66th House District and the state as a whole.”

Among the accomplishments Rep. Nesbitt achieved during his six years in the House are: Worked to make career technical education available to more high-school students who want to enter the workforce; introduced bills to protect the privacy of firearms owners; hosted annual senior and veterans expos in the 66th District; effectively worked with local communities to create jobs and expand recreational opportunities; hosted annual veterans roundtables to ensure those who served their country are receiving the benefits they deserve; eliminated regulatory burdens and unnecessary rules that burden job creators; and legislation to allow transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate in Michigan under a common-sense regulatory framework.

“One of my last acts as Majority Floor Leader was a resolution urging the Michigan Public Service Commission to reject plans by Consumers Energy and Entergy Corp. to prematurely close the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert Township,” Rep. Nesbitt said. “An early end to the agreement with the commission would be a sucker punch to the 600 workers at the plant and their families.”