August 26, 1970 15 Cents
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115th Year, No. 17 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1970 15 CENTS Mediation fails Clinton County Commission St. Johns ed board, teachers stalemated approves airport authority time with the teachers. By TIM YOUNKMAN Area Economic Opportunity —Heard the Tri-County Re By RON KARLE Agerstrand said a meeting of Editor News Staff Writer Commission. gional Planning Commission au the teachers association is set The commission currentlyre- dit report explained by Mrs, for Thursday night "to get some It took two ballots Monday A three-hour session between ceives $1 million in public funds Roberta Lawrence, account real firm direction" from the morning for the Clinton County thus requiring elected public of the St. Johns Education Associa members. Board of Commissioners to take (Story continued on Page 2-A) tion and the board of education ficials on the board of directors. "We probably would not vote action, but after it was all over, Monday night ended in another to strike onThursday,"headded. they endorsed a proposed Tri- stalemate despite the efforts of County airport authority. a state-appointed mediator. Agerstrand indicated that the teachers would probably deter By a vote of 7-4, the com The main issue of contention mine whether they would with missioners decided to approve is salary with class size, in hold their services if agreement Clinton County's participation in surance and workshop grants is not reached in time for Mon the authority, thus opening doors also among the major problems. day's scheduled school opening to a possible referendum vote by "We're down to brass tacks or if they would work without a citizens in November, now," said Supt. Earl Lancaster. contract as negotiations pro The confusion on.balloting oc "Unless a settlement is reached, gressed. curred afterCommissioner Rob fact-finding is the next step as ert Montgomery, supported by prescribed by law.* "A strike situation for school teachers is a different can of Commissioner Roy F. (Jack) An If a fact-finder is called in worms," said Agerstrand. "You drews, moved to approve the he will listen to both sides and don't talk about the word strike county's admission into theTri- then will submit his recommen too soon." County authority. dations as to what should be done. When the two sides met Mon After several minutes of dis His conclusions are not binding, day, the school board had offered cussion, Andrews called for the however. a starting salary of $7,420 while question which was immediately "Either side can request it," the teachers had asked for challenged by Commissioner An said Lancaster, "but I'm not sure $7,600. drew Cobb. we are going to ask for it." Monday night the board coun Cobb called for a vote to de Charles Agerstrand, president tered with §7,500 and the teach termine whether or not the com of the SJEA, said his group does ers responded with a request for missioners should vote on the not plan to ask for fact finding. ? 7,575. proposal or table it. "Fact-finding takes a good two Earlier, the teachers had By an 8-3 vote, the commis Weeks," saldAgerstrand. "Ithlnk sought a provision for sabbatical sioners decided to vote on the we can settle without it," leaves which the board countered plan. As of Tuesday morning, how with an offer of $5,000 to be When the final balloting on the ever, no further meetings had used for teacher workshops.The authority took place, four com been scheduled between the teachers countered this by drop missioners issued "no" votes. < teachers and the board of educa ping their requestfor sabbaticals They were Cobb, Maurice Gove, tion. but asking that $20,000 be granted William Hufnagel andQaudeUn- • It appeared the .assistance of a for workshops. derhill. The question of a landfill for Watertown mediator was a one-shotattempt Also unresolved are class siz Commissioners approving the brought ouf an unusually large number of at settlement and that he prob es in grades one through six authority were Gerald Shepard, ably would not be brought back. and details of an insurance pack Walter Nobis, RexSirrine, Duane people to Monday's meeting of the county • "I am disappointed at the out age. Chamberlain, Montgomery, An commission, come of the mediation talks," "I think the public should know drews and Gerald L. Lankford. said Agerstrand. "I would like to these things," said Lancaster. The commission noted that say that we are still willing to "If there's a groundswell (in several petitions werebeingcir- meet with the board at any time the community) to give these peo culated to place the question be Watertown Township to resolve our differences. ple these things, then we'll give BE**" fore the voters in the general The board has not indicated them. It's a democratic proc election in November. that it would not meet at any ess." The petitions were to be filed 'demonstrates' against no later than Sept. 14 to be validated. Gove, who voted against the Commission votes FLAMES LIGHT THE EVENING SKIES proposal, told the commis andfill project sioners that he liked "the con A tanker rig overturned and burst Into flames Friday night on U. S. 27, cept of the authority." A packed courthouse meeting ardy," he said. "There has been "I think, thatl was of the opin room was the scene of a demon a gradual erosion in the local for traffic signa three miles north of St. Johns. The flames, visible for miles seared the ion that we'd have hearings. ..to stration—Clinton County style- government." highway and tied up traffic for more than two hours. The area was rocked explain this to the people to get by citizens of Watertown Town Commissioner Roy F. (Jack) ship, scheduled site of a new Andrews told the citizens that he with explosions but the flriver, James H, Edlund, 29, of Muskegon, jumped an indication of how the public at U.S. 27-Sturgis thinks before we vote on it," sanitary landfill project. had consulted with the Tri-County ' to safety and was not injured. Edlund notified the St. Johns Fire Depart he said. Herman Openlander, township Regional Planning Commission "I'm glad we accomplished experts before casting his yes By RON KARLE ment which responded to quell the fire. The flames damaged the road so Montgomery told the board supervisor, told the hoard that Editor something," said Mrs. Maples, that action was necessary. the township board and planning vote. "because so many people told us badly that all traffic was directed to use the southbound lane. "If we pass it, we'll pass it commission had voted "100 per He said one of his reasons The St. Johns City Commission 'I'm for you but you're not going for the people to express their cent to turn down the landfill." was the short-term commitment. Monday night decided to "straddle to get it'." Photo by ED CHEENEY thinking. There should bea great "This is only a big benefit to The landfill, operated by Vector deal of dissemination on this Construction Company, will run the red tape" and put the wheels When asked if this meant the a certain metropolitan area," he in motion for a traffic signal subject," Montgomery said. said. for five to seven years and then end of People Who Care, she at the intersection of U.S. 27 When asked about the petition He said that he could bring be used as a golf course-recre said, "No, not at all." and Sturgis Street. ers, Montgomery said "there more than 500 people with "ban ational complex. She said the group is working He said that it was very hard After the reading of a four- is no question that there are ners and signs" to demonstrate on a bicycle safety program for County merchants salute to find a suitable location for a page study from the State High enough signatures," their dissatisfaction with the spring and fall with school of landfill site without local citizens .-/ way Department concerning the Approximately 610 signatures county board on approving the ficials. being upset. intersection and three other will be required to place the landfill site. points, the commission unani She also indicated the group question on the November ballot. About 35 township residents Andrews said that in fact the mously voted to put the traffic would stay together to work for Clinton's farm families In other action the board: ventured into the county seat surrounding area land would light in. the rerouting of U.S. 27 around —Appointed Gerald Shepard to headquarters to show their an eventually appreciate in value. St. Johns which she termed the Business and professional zaar of Values poster. Or you another term asClintonCounty's ger. Turning down a suggestion of (Story continued on Page 2-A) "ultimate goal." people of Clinton County are may use the free coupon in representative on the Capitol "Local government is in jeop yet another meeting with highway In addition to supporting a sending more fine values your Section B. officials, Commissioner James traffic light at the intersection, way again this week, but with a Bring or mail these entries Grost got the support of the com the commission also favored special eye to items of par to the Clinton County News, First Nighters mission for the signal. highway department recommend ticular interest to rural and 120 E. Walker St., St. Johns Progress in DeWitt The intersection came into the ations calling for the prohibiting farming families. 48879. to hold tryouts public eye more than two months of left turns from southbound U.S.