Flint: State DHS office moves out of moldy building
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Department of Human Services has finally moved out of a rented office building in Flint years after state workers noticed mold growing there.
The Flint Journal reported that taxpayers have been charged more than $1 million since 2007 for the lease of the building where workers complained of musty odors and mushrooms growing in the carpet. Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed ordered the West Pierson Road offices closed after seeing the building firsthand Monday.
State officials and the pastor of Abundant Life Ministries, which owns the building, say taxpayers got a fair deal for the lease of 40,000 square feet for $30,540 a month. But the Journal reported that others say the state paid too much for substandard offices.
An environmental report commissioned by the state and issued in March found the building “has reported to have been leaking for years from various roof leaks. Staff reported mushrooms growing on the carpet on the east wall. The staff also has complaints of allergy symptoms while they are in the building.”
The state’s indoor air quality investigation also found that the office had musty odors, wet carpet, water stains and mold.
The state has stopped paying its rent on the building, and says it will not make any more payments before the lease expires at the end of September.
The Rev. Larry Holley of Abundant Life said he was working with contractors to fix roof and mold problems before DHS decided Monday to leave the building.
“It wasn’t that bad — in my opinion,” he said. “They said we need to get something done. We were all in agreement something needed to be done. It’s not like we sat back and said, ‘Let the mushrooms grow.’”
Holley said he doesn’t blame the state for leaving and has no plans to sue for any unpaid rent before the lease is up. He said he plans to renovate the building for use by the community.
“I don’t feel they did me wrong,” he said. “Sometimes a relationship can end in a good way. Sometimes it ends a little rocky.”
Plans call for the agency to move temporarily to a former Kmart building, county DHS Director Sheryl Thompson said. The state is expected to build offices in Flint by June 2011, she said.
State Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-Flint, said the new DHS office should stay close to the Pierson Road facility to serve poor clients who received financial, food or medical assistance on Flint’s north side.
Lansing: Michigan plans redevelopment workshops
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state of Michigan is holding a series of brownfield redevelopment workshops in May and June.
The first of the events from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. was scheduled for Monday in Mount Pleasant. It’s an in-depth review of brownfield redevelopment.
The second is titled “Advanced Topics in Brownfield Administration” and will be Tuesday in Livonia. It’s geared toward experienced officials responsible for administering their communities’ brownfield programs.
The third “Brownfield Basics” is May 12 in Kalamazoo and is designed for beginners and local government officials. The fourth, titled “Putting It All Together,” is for those of all experience levels, is June 23 in Escanaba.
Lansing: Sheltrown pulls out of race to replace Stupak
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic state Rep. Joel Sheltrown of West Branch is bowing out of the race for Congress three weeks after saying he was getting in.
Sheltrown said Monday he’s ending his campaign for the 1st District seat of retiring Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak.
Sheltrown says that he realized in order to run a successful race, he would have had to abandon his duties as a legislator to campaign full-time. He cannot run again for state House because of term limits.
Other Democrats in the 1st District race include Gary McDowell of Rudyard and Connie Saltonstall, former Charlevoix County commissioner. Republicans running for the seat include state Sen. Jason Allen of Alanson, Dan Benishek of Iron River, Linda Goldthorpe of Helmer, Don Hooper of Iron River and Tom Stillings of Antrim County’s Torch Lake Township.
Detroit: 2 Jeeps seized in fraud investigation
DETROIT (AP) — Federal agents say they've seized two museum-quality military jeeps in Michigan in an investigation of people who claim to offer legal research to prison inmates across the country.
Postal agents in Detroit believe it's a fraud that has added up to more than $300,000 since 2002. No charges have been filed.
They say John Wilson of Sanilac County may have used some of the money to restore a 1942 Willys Jeep and a 1952 model.
In a court filing Monday, the government says Wilson and two other people have contacted prison inmates or their families with offers to work on appeals. The fees range from $500 to $3,500. They are not lawyers.
A message seeking comment was left for Wilson.
