Latest news with #MonroeCountyBoardofCommissioners
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Monroe County meeting roundup: county by-laws and indigent defense commission
MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe News is providing a weekly round-up of which meetings are happening throughout the county and the biggest topics being discussed. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most up to date information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings scheduled Monday-Friday, March 3-7. Bedford Township Zoning Board of Appeals: 7 p.m. Monday, March 3, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 8100 Jackman Road, Temperance Approval to hire Steven Hicks as firefighter/medic Full agenda: Brownstown Township Township Board: 6 p.m. Monday, March 3, 21313 Telegraph Road, Brownstown Recreation Commission: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, Dundee Village Council: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 350 West Monroe Street Exeter Township Historical Society: 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 6158 Scofield Road, Maybee London Township Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 3 Milan City Council: Tuesday, March 4, 147 Wabash Street Approve the purchase agreement with WTA to purchase 20 new laptops at a price, but not to exceed $25,000 Full agenda: City of Monroe City Council: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 3, 120 East Front Street Nothing of note on agenda Full agenda: Monroe County Board of Commissioners: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 106 East Front Street Revisions and updates to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners By-Laws and Rules of Procedure Michigan Indigent Defense Commission/Department update Full agenda: Raisinville Township Township Board: 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 96 Ida Maybee Road, Monroe This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County meetings roundup: March 3-7
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monroe's Mark Brant case: When will his seat be filled? Was he paid? Who will investigate?
MONROE COUNTY — Now that Mark Brant has been removed from the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, what happens to his seat? Has Brant been paid for the new term that began Jan. 1? Who will represent the citizens of District 2? What is the status of the independent investigation of the Brant case and if/how it affected the Monroe County Board of Commissioners? David Vensel, chairman of the Monroe County Board Commissioners and District 6 commissioner, and others answer these questions. In September, Brant was convicted in federal court of maintaining a drug-involved premise and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. Brant resigned from the board of commissioners in October, but went on to win re-election to his post in the Nov. 5 general election. Brant was sworn-in Nov. 18, before he left for imprisonment in West Virginia, and officially took office on Jan. 1. He planned to serve out his full term, but the board of commissioners on Feb. 4 removed him from office based on Michigan election law which requires elected officers to be registered voters. "Mark Brant has not been paid nor given benefits for this term," said Michael Bosanac, Monroe County administrator and chief financial officer. Incumbent Republican Brant was re-elected to represent District 2 in November's general election. District 2 covers Milan, London, Exeter and Raisinville townships and Milan and Maybee villages. With Brant's removal from office, what happens to his seat? Vensel said it will not be filled until November, 2025's general election. 'I talked to Annamarie Osment (Monroe County clerk). We missed the deadline to consider a May (special) election. She said county commissioner is a partisan race and needs a primary. It looks like the timetable is an August primary and November general election,' Vensel said. Until then, Brant's post will remain vacant. "This is the best way to go. We really don't have any good alternatives," Vensel said. Philip Goldsmith, Monroe County's legal advisor from Lennard, Graham & Goldsmith of Monroe, said, "There is not going to be an appointment (for District 2 commissioner). An appointment is not even being considered. Under the circumstances, the board of commissioners said that (an election) was the best way to proceed. I agree with that. An election would be more appropriate than making an appointment." Vensel said all the commissioners on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners will "take on the concerns" of residents in District 2. 'I've said this before, I represent District 6, that's the district that elected me. But, I represent every citizen in Monroe County. That's not the same kind of representation as someone from their own district they chose, (but) the other eight commissioners will take on any of the concerns from residents in District 2 until the seat is filled," Vensel said. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners said it will hire a legal firm to investigate if/how Brant's years-long legal battle could have affected the board. Bosanac said the board made a "motion for up to $50,000 (for the investigation). In discussions (Tuesday night), they didn't believe it would cost that much." Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. "The board approved the (investigation at the Jan. 21) meeting. Me and Henry Lievens (District 9 commissioner and vice-chairman of the board) will take the lead soliciting and securing an outside legal firm to lead the investigation. I talked to a couple different firms (Thursday). We want outside counsel, with no ties to Monroe County,' Vensel said. 'We're trying to hone in on a firm that has experience (with such cases).' The chosen firm will investigate the entire situation, Vensel said. 'Everything related to the Brant case, what led to and caused it. We'll try to point out and establish our goals and objectives (with the legal firm)," Vensel said. The timeline for the investigation has not yet been determined. "We want (the investigation) to be completed as soon as possible. We just need to bring closure to this unfortunate situation," Vensel said. "We made a tough decision at the meeting on Tuesday night to accept the opinion of legal counsel, and we made the decision to move forward with the independent investigation. We're glad we're at a point of moving forward on this. We're hoping to be done with this in the near future." — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: When will Brant's seat be filled? Was he paid? Who will investigate?
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mark Brant removed from Monroe County Board of Commissioners post
(This story has been updated to add new information.) MONROE — Mark Brant has been removed from his District 2 Monroe County commissioner position effective immediately. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners is also planning to hire a law firm to investigate if/how Brant's case affected the board of commissioners. At Tuesday night's Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board voted 5 to 3 to remove Brant from office. After his September federal conviction for maintaining a drug-involved premise, Brant, a Republican, went on to win re-election to his post in the Nov. 5 general election, beating two write-in candidates. Although Brant is currently serving 18 months in federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, he took office on Jan. 1 and planned to serve out his term. Previous Coverage: Monroe County Commissioner Mark Brant will start his term behind bars | Opinion At Tuesday's meeting, the board entered a closed session to discuss a legal opinion from Phillip Goldsmith, the county's legal advisor from Lennard, Graham & Goldsmith of Monroe. The legal opinion is based on Michigan election law, which requires elected officers to be registered voters. 'He was not a qualified elector at the time of taking office on Jan. 1, 2025,' said Michael Bosanac, Monroe County administrator and chief financial officer. Brant didn't know about the board's decision to remove him prior to Tuesday's meeting. 'We went into closed session. After that, the opinion was released to the public. It was the first time it was available to the public and Mark Brant. It's now available to everybody,' said Tom Graham from the law firm. See the opinion here. Previous Coverage: Monroe County Commissioner Mark Brant will start his term behind bars | Opinion Brant's seat is currently unfilled. 'There is not any mechanism for an appointment,' Bosanac said. 'His seat is vacant. There will be a move for a special election.' Annamarie Osment, Monroe County clerk, said because Brant's position is a partisan position, a primary must be held. She said the primary is expected to be held in August, with the election in November. The Monroe County Board of Commissioners also plans to hire a legal firm to investigate if/how Brant's years-long legal battle could have affected the board. 'The board did not select anyone (yet),' Bosanac said. The cost of the investigation is not yet known. 'At a prior meeting, the board made a motion for up to $50,000. In discussions (Tuesday night), they didn't believe it would cost that much,' Bosanac said. Monroe resident Katybeth Davis, who has run as a Democrat candidate for local offices, was pleased with the Monroe County Board of Commissioners' decision to remove Brant from the board. Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content. "I am relieved that Mark Brant has been removed from his position as county commissioner, but I am also eager to get the results of the independent investigation, and I hope the investigation goes into every single county commissioner and their involvement in any illegalities," Davis wrote in an email message. "I will be requesting that there also be an investigation into the county's finances, state funds and grant money. I think Mark Brant has been doing a disservice to his community and constituents for over a decade, and I do not put it past him to respond and fight back to this ruling. I am hoping that the citizens of Monroe County get the transparency and accountability we deserve from our elected officials. I hope that people start paying attention and doing their research on who they are voting for before they cast their ballot on party lines." — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Mark Brant removed from office; investigation to begin
