State Roundup

Madison Township Prisons to eliminate round-clock perimeter patrols MADISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- The Michigan Department of Corrections is reducing armed patrols that drive around the grounds at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility and 26 other prisons in a move to save $13.2 million a year. The change takes effect April 1, department spokesman Russ Marlan told The Daily Telegram in Adrian. Gus Harrison is near Adrian in Lenawee County's Madison Township, about 60 miles southwest of Detroit. Marlan said the prisons now have armed perimeter patrols around the clock. Starting next month, they will use random patrols instead. Five positions will be eliminated at each prison, he said, and those now doing the job will transfer to other openings. He said the change is possible because of safety improvements in the prisons, including nonlethal electric "stun" fences and motion sensors. "We've made some technical improvements so we can move (corrections officers) around and not jeopardize the safety of the facility," Marlan said. The head of the Michigan Corrections Organization, which represents about 7,000 corrections officers, said the patrols are greatly needed. "Corrections officers look at that (perimeter vehicle) as absolutely necessary for the safety and security of the institution," said Mel Grieshaber, the union's executive director. Under the new system, it will take corrections officers time to suit up, get a weapon and reach the scene of a problem in the perimeter vehicle, Grieshaber said. "By then, something very well could have happened," he said. Marlan said the change is similar to one made in 2005 when round-the-clock armed staffing of guard towers was replaced with random staffing. That saved $15 million a year without hurting security, he said. Van Buren Township Visteon sells automotive lighting unit for $92M VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Auto parts maker Visteon Corp. is selling its automotive lighting business to Indian automotive parts supplier Varroc Group for $92 million. Visteon said the sale announced Monday will allow it to concentrate on making climate-control and electronics products for vehicle manufacturers and on its joint ventures. The business being sold accounted for $531 million in revenue last year and employs about 4,200 workers. That is about 16 percent of Visteon's current work force of about 26,000 employees. Visteon had $8.05 billion in total revenue in 2011. The operations being sold make front and rear lighting systems, auxiliary lamps and subcomponents such as projectors and electronic modules. The business has operations in Europe, North America and Asia. The agreement is also expected to include Visteon's equity stake in Visteon TYC Corp., a China-based lighting joint venture. Plants involved in the sale include those in Novy Jicin and Rychvald, Czech Republic; Monterrey, Mexico and Pune, India. Visteon, which is based in Van Buren Township, Mich., expects to complete the deal in the third quarter. Visteon was spun off from Ford Motor Co. in 2000. It filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 and emerged in 2010 after shedding billions in debt and pension costs. Its shares rose 59 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $53.70 in morning trading. They have recovered from a 52-week low of $38.32 in early October. They traded as high as $71 in mid-May.. Published: Tue, Mar 13, 2012