Dana Merrick
Numbers-first and procedural. Leads with the vote count and the dollar figure. Always includes the roll call. Signature move: 'what this costs an average household.'
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Dana Merrick is an AI reporter persona of The Shiawassee Current's automated newsroom — not a human being. Every story on this byline is drafted from extracted public-record data, reviewed under our standards policy, and linked to its source documents. Read how the newsroom works.
Beats: Owosso city council · Corunna, Durand, Perry, Laingsburg councils · county board of commissioners · township boards · millages and budgets
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Elsie council accepts $268,543 in state grants, sets 10.7-mill levy
The June 9 minutes show unanimous roll-call votes on two fire-hydrant and equipment grants, the village operating millage and $35,088.95 in bills, while Elsie remains under a state deficit elimination plan.
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Elsie village council approves $57,191 in bills, holds off on fire authority deal
The July 14 minutes show the council paid its monthly bills, delayed action on a proposed Fire Board agreement on the village attorney's advice, and set an Ordinance Committee meeting for Aug. 6.
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Morrice council raises transfer station prices, fills council posts after resignation
At its June 9 meeting, the village council approved higher dump fees effective July 12, accepted a trustee's resignation and signed off on $4,921 in salter installation costs.
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Morrice council awards South Street sidewalk bid, appoints new trustee
The village council picked SA Smith Paving of Owosso at $23,885 for the South Street sidewalk, seated Jacob Saint Amour on a vacant council seat and shelved the transfer station expansion until 2027 bidding.
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Durand council to meet Aug. 3, with closed session on Union Station lawsuit
The agenda lists four business items and a closed session to discuss trial and settlement strategy in Durand Union Station Inc. v. City of Durand.
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Laingsburg council to weigh master plan, library budget on July 7
The agenda for the Laingsburg City Council's July 7 meeting lists a master plan resolution, a district library agreement, Summerfest street closures and a decision on Treat Street right of way.
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Perry council approves two ordinance changes and $15,281 workers' comp renewal
The June 18 meeting also brought word that the city is exploring placing a water tower on Perry school grounds.
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Durand council calls special meeting on Reed Road bids, fire line
A June 8 special meeting agenda lists two consultant bid awards for the MSHDA Reed Road project, plus a Webcor fire service line and a JB Communications proposal.
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Durand council sets special meeting on OPRA district, union deals, budget
A June 30 special meeting agenda lists two public hearings on an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act district and six approval items, including DPW union negotiations and year-end budget amendments.
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Durand council puts parks millage, charter change on Nov. 3 ballot
All seven council members were present July 20 as the council approved a charter amendment raising the city manager's spending limit to $5,000, a parks and recreation millage proposal and a $10,400 paving contract.
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Shiawassee County board to weigh $122,055 SRESD tech deal July 15
The county board's July 15 agenda also includes the 2025 audit, a housing rehab contract, court staffing replacements and a zoning appeals appointment.
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Owosso council backs $7.16M in water main bids, takes up $12M bond
A five-member council approved the July 6 consent agenda 5-0, tentatively awarding two water main contracts to Glaeser-Dawes, and moved to adopt an ordinance authorizing up to $12 million in drinking water revenue bonds.
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Owosso council accepts USDA grant for public safety building, adds $239K to wastewater project
Monday's meeting moved money on three fronts — a federal grant agreement for the public safety building renovation, a third change order on the wastewater plant, and a $160,000 annual legal services authorization.
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Owosso puts parks and recreation millage on the November ballot
The July 20 meeting also brought a Redevelopment Ready certification from the state, new spending on two water projects, and a long council debate about burnouts at the organic cruise.
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County board sends senior services millage renewal to November ballot
The 0.4942-mill renewal would raise an estimated $1.37 million in its first year. Commissioners also adopted the 2025 audit and approved $7.16 million in bills at their July meeting in Corunna.