THE FLINT JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 A3

STATE OF THE STATE

PANDEMIC: ECONOMY

Worker shortages

will likely last

for years

Whitmer calls for tax cuts,

school funding, unity

Continues from A1

Businesses got a preview of the labor squeeze in late

2019 as the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%. The Fed’s

regional survey for November that year reported a worker

shortage that “spanned most industries and skill levels.”

Even some giant companies able to oﬀer higher pay

can see looming limits.

“The foundation of the economy is labor,” Elon Musk

said in a video interview with The Wall Street Jour-

nal Dec. 6, explaining why Tesla is working ﬂat-out to

develop robots. “There are not enough people. I cannot

emphasize this enough.”

Along with health-care and social services, as

baby-boomers age, the BLS says leisure and hospital-

ity will be the fastest-growing employer in the coming

decade.

That means plenty more demand for workers such as

Xochitl Anguiano, a Mexican immigrant who’s now a

legal permanent resident and a hotel guest-room atten-

dant in Las Vegas.

But net migration ﬂows are falling along with domes-

tic birth rates. There’s a pandemic shortfall of almost

1 million work visas. Last month’s announcement by

the Department of Homeland Security of an additional

20,000 permits for seasonal guest-workers barely dents

that. And migration is entangled in politics, making it

hard to open the gates again.

What’s more, Anguiano’s family is symbolic of how

many of the children of immigrants are achieving higher

levels of education, meaning they’re unlikely to step into

their parents’ jobs.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks before recording her State of the State address at Detroit Diesel, 13400 W. Outer Drive

in Redford Township on Wednesday. Jacob Hamilton, MLive.com

As a member of Culinary Workers Union Local 226,

Anguiano enjoyed beneﬁts — from health care and pension

to legal assistance with immigration issues — that helped

her focus on family life and her children’s education.

Now, one of her daughters has a degree in biology

from the University of Nevada, and plans to take med-

ical-school entrance exams in March, while another is

ﬁnishing up a business degree at the same university.

Tight labor markets can boost productivity, as com-

panies work more eﬃciently and invest in better equip-

ment and software. The current squeeze has brought

advantages for workers, too. Those with just a high-

school degree enjoyed faster wage growth than other

groups last year, according to the Atlanta Fed.

Such conditions could prevail “for some time,” says

Nick Bunker, North America research director for the

Indeed Hiring Lab. “There’s slower population growth,

and we are just going to have fewer people in those

younger-age cohorts.”

Continues from A1

world that we have tools, we move fast, and we work

together. And Michigan is going to win.”

Whitmer urged Congress to fund legislation to bol- School — Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hanna St. Juli-

ster the supply of electric vehicle parts that are in high ana and Justin Shilling. The governor promoted a fund-

demand. The governor also proposed giving people raiser for victims of the tragedy.

who buy electric vehicles or at-home charging stations a

$2,500 rebate — which can be stacked on top of a $7,500 dents killed by COVID-19. The coronavirus has contin-

federal rebate. ued to aﬀect daily life throughout the state, from schools

Wednesday’s speech is the last of her ﬁrst term in oﬃce. to the workplace, hospitals and long-term care facili-

Republicans hope it’s her last. The governor is up for ties. Record-breaking outbreaks fueled by the infectious

reelection in November, and 11 candidates plan to com- omicron variant dashed hopes that the new year would

pete in the August Republican primary for a chance to run bring an end to the pandemic.

Whitmer opened her speech by honoring four teenag-

ers killed in a November 2021 shooting at Oxford High

Whitmer also recognized the 29,605 Michigan resi-

against her in the general election.

Whitmer acknowledged that Michigan residents are her administration is planning any new action to

struggling with rising inﬂation and an economy still held address the pandemic. Whitmer has largely avoided

The governor didn’t provide any details on whether

back by COVID-19.

pandemic mandates in the past year and called on local

The governor proposed repealing Michigan’s so-called school districts and governments to make their own

“pension tax” and increasing a tax credit for low-income choices.

working people from 6% to 20%, reversing tax reforms

created by her predecessor in 2011.

Whitmer temporarily paused in-person classes for

high schools earlier in the pandemic but has avoided

WASHINGTON

The Earned Income Tax Credit allows working people issuing orders as of late. The governor said she wants

to receive a portion of state taxes based on their income students to return to in-person instruction, but didn’t

and number of dependents. Increasing the tax refund to announce any plans to order schools that have gone vir-

20% would deliver an average tax refund of nearly $3,000 tual to do so.

Fed plans to raise rates to cool inﬂation

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will

“soon” be time to start raising interest rates, a key step

in reversing pandemic-era policies that have fueled hir-

ing and growth but also high inﬂation.

to more than 730,000 working people, according to the

governor’s oﬃce.

“I want to be crystal clear: Students belong in school,”

Whitmer said. “We know it’s where they learn best.

Whitmer plans to exempt public pensions and restore Remote learning is not as fulfilling or conducive to a

deductions for private retirement income. Restoring child’s growth.”

The Fed is expected to lift its benchmark short-term

rate from zero as soon as March, when it also plans

to phase out monthly bond purchases that have been

intended to anchor longer-term rates.

the tax exemptions would save 500,000 households an

Whitmer said she plans to introduce a school aid

average of $1,000 per year, according to the governor’s budget that marks the largest state education funding

oﬃce.

The governor also pledged to work with the Legislature

to lower the cap on insulin prices. She also touted a new ﬁxing the roads. Whitmer said decades of underfunding

investigation into drug companies launched by Michigan in infrastructure is over, thanks to the signing of a bipar-

increase in two decades, without raising taxes.

Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference that

these actions will help prevent high inﬂation from

becoming entrenched and that the central bank can

manage the process in a way that prolongs economic

growth and keeps unemployment low.

The governor also touted work on her signature issue

Attorney General Dana Nessel.

tisan federal infrastructure law last year. Michigan is set

“For years, drug companies have been jacking up insu- to receive $1.39 billion total this year, according to the

lin prices; The average price tripled from 2009 to 2019,” White House.

The central bank’s actions are sure to make a wide

range of borrowing — from mortgages and credit cards

to auto loans and corporate credit — costlier over time.

Those higher borrowing costs, in turn, could slow con-

sumer spending. AP

Whitmer said. “They reap billions on life-saving medicine

Whitmer said 900 bridges and 13,000 miles of road

because without serious competition, they name their have been repaired, rebuilt or rehabilitated during her

own price. That is unconscionable.”

ﬁrst term.

STATE OF THE STATE: RESPONSE

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Bureau of Professional Licensing

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

February 25, 2022

Republicans give speech mixed reviews

9:00 a.m.

Location: G. Mennen Williams Building Auditorium

525 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan

The hearing is held to receive public comments on the following administrative rules:

Continues from A1

Veterinary Medicine—General Rules (MOAHR #2021-57 LR)

“But this was a speech that reminded us that we endured, sidering rising inﬂation and the state’s current revenue

Authority: MCL 333.16145, 333.16215, 333.16287, and 333.18813, and

Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-1, and 2011-4, MCL

338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and 445.2030).

and that we made it through the other side of this.”

As Whitmer and legislative incumbents prepare for

surplus.

“We must carefully look at lowering taxes where fed-

a complicated election cycle this fall, reaching biparti- eral dollars have allowed for an injection of funding and

san consensus could be more of a challenge. But some of created an opportunity to provide relief,” Hall said.

Overview: The amendments to the rules clarify and revise the requirements for

providing a telehealth service, update examination and educational standards, and

clarify the requirements for licensure, licensure by endorsement, limited licensure,

and relicensure. The proposed rules also amend the licensure by endorsement rule

to add the requirements for a Canadian-licensed applicant and require an applicant

for licensure by endorsement or relicensure to disclose each license, registration,

or certiﬁcation in a health profession or specialty issued by any other jurisdiction

or entity and require the applicant to demonstrate that no disciplinary proceedings

are currently pending and that any prior sanction has been satisﬁed before being

licensed by endorsement or relicensed. The amendments also provide the standards

for supervision of a veterinary technician and limited licensee, establish the require-

ments for delegating a duty to and providing supervision of a veterinary student and

veterinary assistant, and clarify the licensee’s duties pertaining to an animal patient’s

medical records.

the governor’s main priorities moving into 2022 overlap

House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio

with the interests of legislative Republicans, and some Township, said with the ongoing workforce shortages

lawmakers said Wednesday there’s room for common caused by the pandemic, the earned income tax credit

ground.

is “one of the most reliable measures that you can take

One of Whitmer’s main proposals ﬂoated during the to encourage folks to return to the workforce, to help

speech was a repeal of Michigan’s so-called “pension tax” move folks up the career ladder and to encourage folks

and increasing a tax credit for low-income working peo- to work.”

ple from 6% to 20%, reversing tax reforms created by her

predecessor in 2011.

“That’s just what we need here in Michigan to continue

to grow our economy — it’s a tax cut that works,” she said.

During Whitmer’s speech, the governor also said she

The rules will take effect immediately upon ﬁling with the Secretary of State, unless

speciﬁed otherwise in the rules. Comments on the proposed rules may be presented

in person at the public hearing. Written comments will also be accepted from date

of publication until 5:00 p.m. on February 25, 2022, at the following address

or e-mail address:

The Earned Income Tax Credit allows working people

to receive a portion of state taxes based on their income wants students to return to in-person instruction, but

and number of dependents. Increasing the tax refund to didn’t announce any plans to order schools that have

20% would deliver an average tax refund of nearly $3,000 gone virtual to do so.

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Bureau of Professional Licensing– Boards and Committees Section

P.O. Box 30670

to over 730,000 working people, according to the gover-

nor’s oﬃce.

Whitmer temporarily paused in-person classes for

high schools earlier in the pandemic but has avoided

Lansing, MI 48909-8170

Attention: Departmental Specialist

Whitmer wants to exempt public pensions and restore issuing orders as of late.

Email: BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov

deductions for private retirement income. Restoring the

Rep. Graham Filler, R-DeWitt, said he appreciated

A copy of the proposed rules may be obtained by contacting Board Support at (517)

241-7500 or the email address noted above. Electronic copies also may be obtained

at the following link:

tax exemptions would save 500,000 households an aver- Whitmer’s support for in-person learning, but said the

age of $1,000 per year, according to the governor’s oﬃce. administration needs to take a stronger stance as some

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they were districts continue to use remote options.

Veterinary Medicine – General Rules

amenable to the idea of lowering taxes for seniors.

“It’s been an absolute battle ... not just here in Mich-

“I’ve always supported putting money back into the igan, but across the country, to keep schools open,” he

pockets of taxpayers,” Senate Appropriations Chair Jim said. “I want her to use that bully pulpit to tell schools

Stamas, R-Midland, said. “The focus is to ﬁnd a way to that at all costs, please be open. Because kids have just

responsibly provide relief, knowing that our current level taken it on the chin.”

https://ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us/Transaction/RFRTransaction?Trans-

actionID=1315

To allow for broad public attendance and participation, including for persons with dis-

abilities, members of the public may access this meeting by both web and phone and

provide either oral or written comments. Closed captioning will be provided, when

available. Members of the public who are speech or hearing impaired may also

attend and participate in this meeting by dialing 7-1-1 and using the Michigan Relay

service. More information about this service may be found at https://www.michigan.

gov/mpsc/0,9535,7-395-93308_93325_93425_94040_94041---,00.html.

of revenue is not sustainable with much being one-time

federal funding.”

Moss said he appreciated the governor’s acknowledg-

ment of the Oxford students who were killed during a

But House Tax Policy Committee Chair Matt Hall, school shooting late last year, but hoped that the next

R-Marshall, said he’s concerned by some of the gover- step would be to pursue bipartisan solutions that could

nor’s plans, including exploring an earned income tax address gun violence in schools and elsewhere.

People with disabilities requiring additional accommodations (such as materials in

alternative format) to participate in the meeting, or those that have questions should

credit. He said he’d prefer to see broader tax cuts that pro-

“We really need to talk about ways to mitigate gun vio-

contact the department at BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov.

10225619-01

vide relief to more Michigan residents, especially con- lence in and around our communities,” he said.

A14 SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

OTTAWA COUNTY

WEDDING

5 injured, 2 critically, in crash

on snow-covered road

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

ADA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

Five people, including two children, were hospitalized

Wednesday after two vehicles collided on Lake Michigan

Drive, police said.

A 6-year-old Montana girl was in critical condition at

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital while another passen-

ger, a 54-year-old Nunica woman, was in critical condi-

tion at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. Names

were not released.

The crash was reported at 9:08 a.m. on Lake Michigan

Drive between 96th Avenue and 104th Avenue in Ottawa

County’s Robinson Township. olice said a 33-year-old

woman from Troy, Montana, was driving west when she

lost control of her vehicle. It crossed the center line and

struck an oncoming vehicle, Ottawa County sheriﬀ’s Sgt.

Cal Keuning said.

The driver was taken to Butterworth Hospital, but

her condition was not immediately available. The other

driver, a 59-year-old Nunica man, was in stable condition

at Mercy Health Mercy Campus in Muskegon. His pas-

senger, a 3-year-old Zeeland boy, was in stable condition

at DeVos. All used proper restraints, police said. John

Agar, MLive.com

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Public Hearing before the Ada Township Planning

Commission will be held as follows:

DATE, TIME AND

LOCATION OF HEARING: Thursday, February 17, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Ada

Township Ofﬁces, 7330 Thornapple River Dr. SE,

Ada, MI

APPLICANT:

REQUEST:

VA Memorial Trust

Request for Special Use Permit to allow for the

construction of

a private cemetery with burial

area, committal shelter, mausoleum, and parking;

the existing dwelling and detached garage are

planned to be demolished

PROPERTY ADDRESS:

7300 Windy Hill Dr. SE

Emma and Lucas Cole

PERMANENT PARCEL NO.: 41-15-34-301-010

Application materials are on ﬁle at the Ada Township Hall, 7330 Thornapple River

Drive, SE, Ada, Michigan 49301, and may be examined during regular business

hours. Interested parties may appear and offer verbal or written comments at the

public hearing. Written comments will be received until the close of the public

hearing and may be addressed to the Township Clerk at Ada Township Ofﬁces,

PO Box 370, Ada, MI 49301, or delivered to the Planning Commission at the

public hearing.

Emma Laureen Cole, daughter of Laurie Mitchell, was united

in marriage with Lucas Cole, son of Philip and Lori Cole at 4p.m.

July 24 at The Little Red Barn of Nunica. Pastor Phil Severn offi-

ciated. Katelyn Ware of Warsaw, Indiana was the maid of honor.

Nathaniel Eerdmans was the best man. The bride is a graduate

of Grace College with a bachelors in Elementary Education.

She is a teacher for Kentwood Public Schools. The groom is a

graduate of Grand Rapids Community College and is preparing

his apprenticeship to become an electrician.

ADA TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS

IONIA COUNTY

Man, 77, dies in crash with semitruck

THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS

ASSESSMENT ROLL

WILL BE COMPLETED

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

A man was killed Monday morning in a crash with a

semitruck after he was unable to stop his car at an inter-

section, police say. Michigan State olice investigated the

fatal crash, which was reported at 11:43 a.m. Monday at

Jordan Lake Road and David Highway in Berlin Town-

ship, according to a tweet from MS .

The 77-year-old man, from Ionia County, was unable

to stop his Chevy Equinox at the intersection and was

struck by an eastbound semi, police said.

The roll lists the tentative assessments on all real and personal property within the

City of Grand Rapids for the year 2022. Assessments can be viewed online at

www.grandrapidsmi.gov.

Anyone who disagrees with the assessment on his or her property may state

objections by writing to: City Assessor, Room 340, City Hall, 300 Monroe Av-

enue NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. Such objections must be speciﬁc

and must be made in writing to the Assessor between February 7 and February

18, 2022. Property owners may appeal by email to assessorgr@grcity.us. All

appeals must be received in the Assessor’s Ofﬁce by 5 pm on February 18th.

There are no exceptions to this deadline.

He was transported to the hospital where he later died

from his injuries, police said. The semi driver was unin-

jured.

State troopers from MS ’s Lakeview ost were assisted

at the scene of the crash by Berlin-Orange Township Fire

Department, Life EMS and MS 6th District accident

reconstructionist. Melissa Frick, MLive.com

17th

After completion of the review and corrections to the assessment roll, the Assessor

shall sign and certify the roll and deliver said roll to the Board of Review.

Any person who has complained of an assessment in writing as described above

will be notiﬁed of the Assessor’s decision and be entitled to appeal to the Board

of Review which convenes March 8, 2022.

Showcase your Business

to Thousands of

Rockford Area Residents

Real Estate Factor

The estimated 2022 equalization factor for real property assessments in the City

of Grand Rapids will be as follows:

Commercial Property

Industrial Property

Residential Property

1.0000

WYOMING

“I’ve secured new

business year after

year” - Rockford

Expo Exhibitor

Personal Property Factor

The estimated 2022 equalization factor for personal property assessments in the

City of Grand Rapids is 1.0000.

4 ﬁre departments ﬁght overnight bla e

A resident was treated for smoke inhalation after a ﬁre

early Tuesday caused signiﬁcant damage to a house.

Wyoming police and ﬁreﬁghters responded about

2:30 a.m. and reported the house, on Canal Avenue SW

near 52nd Street, was “fully engulfed in ﬂames,” Lt. Brian

Look said. They determined everyone had gotten out of

the house.

Fireﬁghters from Grandville, Byron Township and

Georgetown Township responded with Wyoming ﬁre-

ﬁghters. It took several hours to put out the ﬁre, authori-

ties said.

Paula Jastifer

City Assessor

10212035-01

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Rockford High School • 9:00am-2:00pm

FREE Admission & FREE Parking!

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VARIANCE REQUEST

For more information or an application, contact:

Rockford Chamber of Commerce (616) 866-2000

www.rockfordmichamber.com

The house sustained signiﬁcant damage. The amount

of loss has not been determined.

A man who was inside was treated at a local hospital

for smoke inhalation.

DATE OF HEARING:

PLEASE TAKE OTICE that the Plainﬁeld Charter Township Zoning Board of Appeals

will hold a public hearing and meeting in the boardroom at Township Hall, 6161

Belmont Avenue E, Belmont Michigan 49306, on February 15, 2022 commencing

at 7:00 p.m. to receive comments from the public regarding the following application.

The cause is under investigation but the lieutenant

said there is no apparent safety concern for the public.

John Agar, MLive.com

APPLICANT:

yenhuis Properties Inc.

REQUEST:

The applicant is requesting a variance to conduct a mini-warehouse/self-storage

facility at 3669 Plainﬁeld Avenue E, where the special conditions for such facilities

require a 2-acre lot minimum and the subject parcel is on approximately 1.15 acres.

The applicant is requesting a 0.9-acre reduction in minimum lot size requirement of

Section 30.26 – Mini Warehouse or Self Storage.

OTTAWA COUNTY

SYNOPSIS OF REGULAR MEETING

Woman ﬂees police, causes 4-car crash

The Alpine Township Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Monday, January

17, 2022 in the Township Hall. Present were Supervisor Madura, Clerk Wahlﬁeld,

Treasurer Alt, and Trustees Cordes, Scheidel, Schweitzer, and M. Wahlﬁeld.

ote: The zoning of the parcel at the time of this application was C-2, Commercial

and has since been rezoned to MXU, Mixed-Use Commercial. The variance request

is from the zoning ordinance section applicable at the time of the initial application.

A 38-year-old Ionia woman was injured after police

said she ﬂed a traﬃc stop in an SUV, then caused a

four-vehicle crash.

The crash happened about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday.

An Ottawa County sheriﬀ’s deputy tried to stop an

SUV at Riley Street and West Shore Drive, police said, but

the driver ﬂed west on Riley Street. The deputy began a

pursuit, but quickly terminated the chase.

olice said the SUV then failed to stop for a red light at

Riley Street and 136th Avenue and caused the crash.

The SUV driver had minor injuries and was taken to a

local hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries

in the crash, police said.

olice said the SUV driver is awaiting arraignment for

charges related to the incident. John Tunison, MLive.com

The Agenda was approved. The Board approved the payment of vouchers.

No public comments were offered and Commission Reports were received.

LOCATION:

Addresses: 3669 Plainﬁeld Avenue E

Resolution #22-01 was approved to terminate from the farmland development

rights agreement (PA 116) a 2.25 acre parcel (excluding the public road right-of-

way) at the request of the property owner.

PERMANENT PARCEL NUMBERS: 41-10-32-476-004

The application materials are available for review at the Community Development

Department located in Township Hall, 6161 Belmont Avenue E, Belmont, Michigan,

49306 during regular business hours. Alternatively, the materials will be available for

review on the township’s website at www.plainﬁeldmi.org or by contacting Community

Development Department by email: communitydevelopment@plainﬁeldmi.org or

phone: 616-364-1190. Any interested party may submit written comments concerning

this request to the Community Development Department until the date and time of the

public hearing. The Township will provide necessary and reasonable auxiliary aids

and services at the meeting for individuals with disabilities upon adequate notice to

The 6 Mile sewer improvement project bid for work east of Alpine Avenue during

2022 was awarded to Dean’s Landscape and Excavating.

Land Matters was selected to obtain public sewer easements along a section of 4

Mile Road NW.

The topic of an incorporated (charter) versus a general law township was discussed

by the Board. The topic will on the February 2022 agenda.

the Township Clerk, in writing or by calling (616) 364-8466.

10225145-01

Construction updates were received about new Fire Station #1.

The Fire Chief provided the steps that will be used to hire new ﬁreﬁghters and the

Board approved the process which will begin as soon as possible.

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Bureau of Professional Licensing

No public comments were offered and Board Comments were received.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

February 25, 2022

The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 pm. Complete copies of the Minutes are

available at the ofﬁce of the Clerk.

NOTICE OF POSTING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE

9:00 a.m.

Location: G. Mennen Williams Building Auditorium

525 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan

The hearing is held to receive public comments on the following administrative rules:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Allendale Charter Township Zoning Text Amendment

Ordinance had its ﬁrst reading at a meeting of the Allendale Charter Township Board of

Trustees held on January 24, 2022.

Jean Wahlﬁeld, Alpine Township Clerk

Persons with special needs, as deﬁned in the American with Disabilities Act, should

contact the Township Clerk or call the Michigan Relay Center TDD #1-800-649-3777.

Veterinary Medicine—General Rules (MOAHR #2021-57 LR)

The Zoning Text Amendment Ordinance will amend the Zoning Ordinance of Allendale

Charter Township, Ottawa County, Michigan by amending Section 24.06H- Waste

Disposal Facilities; and by amending Section 24.06J- Building Appearance; and providing

for repeal and severability provisions; and the effective date of this ordinance; and is

scheduled for a second reading at the February 14, 2022, meeting of the Board of Trustees.

10226923-01