AGENDA REPORT. TO: Mayor & City Commissioners FROM: Diane Lyon, City Clerk DATE: April 29, 2015 RE: *Communications. For the Agenda of May 4, 2015

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1 AGENDA REPORT TO: Mayor & City Commissioners FROM: Diane Lyon, City Clerk DATE: April 29, 2015 RE: *Communications For the Agenda of May 4, 2015 *Note: This is a Consent Agenda item and is considered as routine by the City Commission. As such, this matter shall be automatically enacted by one motion with all other Consent Agenda items unless a Commissioner or citizen requests this item be individually discussed, in which event it shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered and acted upon in its designated sequence on the approved Clare City Commission agenda of May 4, The following major items of correspondence were either received by or transmitted by the City since the last regularly scheduled City Commission meeting: Bureau of Elections News Updates. The Michigan Bureau of Elections has provided a reminder for people to get out and vote in the upcoming May 5, 2015 Special Election. SOS Express. The Michigan Secretary of State s 04/27/15 newsletter discussing awareness of the need for organ donors, lighthouse preservation plates, office remodeling and relocation projects, community service options for driver responsibility fees, and the SOS Mobile Office is provided for review. Clare County Community Foundation We received acknowledgement of receipt of our grant application to the CCCF for grant funding for the Downtown Façade Improvement Project. DTE Information. DTE has provided correspondence regarding their security deposit policy. Attachments. As outlined above.

2 State Proposal 15-1 on all ballots statewide Diane Lyon From: Sent: To: Subject: Michigan Secretary of State Wednesday, April 29, :40 AM Diane Lyon Election Reminder: Statewide ballot question to be decided Tuesday Proposal 15-1 on all ballots statewide Voters across Michigan will head to the polls this coming Tuesday to decide a statewide ballot question. Find your polling location and track your absentee ballot at the Michigan Voter Information Center at You also can view your sample ballot to see if your community or school district has other items on the ballot. How you can get an absentee ballot Voters who qualify may choose to cast an absentee ballot. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are: Age 60 or older. Physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another. Expecting to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls will be open on Election Day. In jail awaiting arraignment or trial. Unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons. Appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence. Those who wish to receive an absentee ballot by mail must submit the application by 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Visit us online to find out more. ExpressSOS.com allows voters to change address Many Michigan residents who already are registered to vote can change their official state address, including their voter registration address, online at no cost. Visit ExpressSOS.com and follow the simple instructions. Voter ID reminder Voters will be asked to provide identification when they visit the polls on Election Day. They will be asked to present valid photo ID, such as a Michigan driver s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them to the polls still may vote. The person will be required to sign a brief affidavit stating that he or she is not in possession of photo ID. The ballot will be included with all others and counted on Election Day. 1

3 Find out more. Having trouble viewing this ? View it as a Web page. Please do not reply to this . We are not able to read or respond to replies sent to this address. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact Us page. Manage Subscriptions Unsubscribe All Help STAY CONNECTED: This was sent to dlyon@cityofclare.org using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Michigan Secretary of State 430 W. Allegan Street Lansing, MI

4 Diane Lyon From: Sent: To: Subject: Michigan Secretary of State Monday, April 27, :34 PM Diane Lyon NEWS RELEASE: Secretary Johnson encourages eligible residents to vote in May 5 election -- For immediate release -- Secretary Johnson encourages eligible residents to vote in May 5 election State Proposal 15-1 on all ballots statewide LANSING, Mich. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is encouraging all eligible voters to cast their ballots in the statewide election May 5. Voting provides an opportunity to make one s voice heard, said Johnson. Because voting is an essential part of our democracy, I encourage all eligible residents to take a few minutes to cast a ballot on Election Day. The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All communities will have an election, even if the only item on the ballot is State Proposal Official ballot language can be found at To view your sample ballot, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at Johnson said the website is a great online resource for voters. They can find their polling location or track their absentee ballots to confirm their absentee ballot has been received by their local clerk. There is still time for voters to obtain an absentee ballot. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are: age 60 or older. physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another. expecting to be out of town for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day. 1

5 in jail awaiting arraignment or trial. unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons. appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence. Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. on Monday, May 4. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday must fill out the ballot in the clerk s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day. Residents who registered to vote by mail or via a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct. This restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or 60 or older. Voters must fulfill identification requirements under Michigan law. They will be asked to present valid photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them may still vote. They will sign a brief affidavit stating that they re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day. Voters obtaining absentee ballots in person must meet the same photo identification requirement as voters who cast ballots in the polling place. Under Michigan law, voters will also be presented with an application at the polls. By signing the application, the voter certifies that he or she is a U.S. citizen. A specially equipped voting station called the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is also available at each polling location for use by voters with disabilities. For media questions, please call Gisgie Dávila Gendreau at For more about the Secretary of State's Office: To find Secretary of State office locations and services, visit Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at and Facebook updates at Online services are available at Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customerservice representative at 888-SOS-MICH ( ). Having trouble viewing this ? View it as a Web page. Please do not reply to this . We are not able to read or respond to replies sent to this address. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact Us page. Manage Subscriptions Unsubscribe All Help STAY CONNECTED: This was sent to dlyon@cityofclare.org using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Michigan Secretary of State 430 W. Allegan Street Lansing, MI

6 Diane Lyon From: Sent: To: Subject: Michigan Secretary of State Monday, April 27, :35 PM Diane Lyon SOS Express News from Secretary of State Ruth Johnson Go Blue! Go Green! Secretary of State team celebrates National Donate Life Blue & Green Day Secretary of State branch offices employees help promote organ, eye and tissue donation year-round but during Donate Life Month in April, they pull out all the stops. On April 17, many SOS offices participated in National Donate Life Blue & Green Day, when supporters of the cause across the nation are encouraged to wear those colors to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation and to help raise awareness of the critical need for donors. SOS Mobile Office is making the rounds The full-service Secretary of State Mobile Office is always on the go, crossing the state to offer convenient services to residents. The office recently registered new voters at Grand Rapids Community College and participated in community events in Detroit and Pontiac. It will finish up the month at the Van Buren District Library in Decatur on April 30. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said she is proud of her team, which registers tens of thousands of organ donors every month. Over the past four years, the percentage of the adult population on Michigan's donor registry has increased from just 27 percent in 2011 to more than 50 percent today, improving the odds for the approximately 3,500 patients in the state who are waiting for 1

7 an organ transplant. Lighthouse plates help preservation Five historic Michigan lighthouses will be awarded Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grants, which are funded by sales of Michigan's Lighthouse Preservation license plates, state officials recently announced. Michigan s lighthouses are the gems that dot our state s beautiful coastline, said Secretary Johnson. I thank the thousands of Michigan motorists who have chosen to support these historic buildings that tower majestically over our shores. Read the MLive story Secretary of State office remodeling and relocation projects are underway During the spring and summer, several Secretary of State offices across Michigan are being remodeled or relocated, requiring temporary closures. Information about the dates of closures, as well as directions to alternative offices, can be found on the Branch Office Locator. Customers are encouraged to use online services at the No- Wait Secretary of State, ExpressSOS.com, which may save them a trip to a branch office. Community service option for Driver Responsibility Fees The Secretary of State's Office is teaming with the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Michigan Public Service Commission to get the word out about a new community service option that is being offered to some motorists as a way to waive Driver Responsibility Fees. Linda Lee Tarver, SOS director of community affairs, (above, at right) gave a presentation at the Michigan Works! service center in Highland Park on April 16 with Kyle Dymond, an assistant administrator in Treasury's Office of Collections, and Jessi Adler, MPSC communications director. More than 70 people attended the event and were able to receive details and ask questions about the program. Having trouble viewing this ? View it as a Web page. Please do not reply to this . We are not able to read or respond to replies sent to this address. We welcome questions and comments at the Contact Us page. Manage Subscriptions Unsubscribe All Help STAY CONNECTED: This was sent to dlyon@cityofclare.org using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Michigan Secretary of State 430 W. Allegan Street Lansing, MI

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