The Bay City Commission in a special meeting this morning, voted 6-3 to override Mayor Charles Brunner's veto of the City Hall roof project. Brunner filed the veto on Tuesday, saying the nearly $1.5 million project to renovate the roof was too expensive given the city's budget crisis. The city faces a $1.6 million deficit for the 2010-2011 fiscal... Full story »

Local families still will be able to splash and dive at the Bay County Community Center pool this summer, but with a few changes. The pool was on the chopping block earlier this year as county officials looked at ways to cut costs as the county faces a looming financial crisis in 2011. But shuttering the pool — the... Full story »

After about four years as an accountant in the Bay County Drain Commissioner’s Office, Crystal Hebert is looking forward to branching out more in the county. Hebert, 41, began Wednesday as the county’s assistant finance officer. She is slated to become finance officer after several months of training, said Interim Finance Officer Timothy Quinn, who also is the county’s... Full story »

Bay City is throwing its hat in the ring to become a test site for Google's experimental fiber-optic network. Google rolled out a contest in February allowing cities and residents to nominate themselves to be part of Google Fiber — which Google claims can be 100 times faster than the Internet most Americans use now. Bay City, so far,... Full story »

Bay City Democrat Brian Elder, a candidate for the 96th District state House seat, says he supports legislation to help fund a Great Lakes Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We need to consolidate the convention and visitors bureaus from all three counties into one and fund the regional bureau through a surcharge on local hotel rooms that would be... Full story »

Bay City will have three Town Hall meeting starting later this month, that will include focus groups made up of city residents. The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. March 22 at St. Hyacinth's Field House, 1515 Cass Ave. The meeting will focus on the Bay City Police Department. The second meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. March... Full story »

Farwell Republican Tim Moore, who is term-limited in the Michigan House, may take a job as principal of Farwell Middle School. Moore has been offered the job and hopes to start Aug. 1, according to The Morning Sun. Moore had made a bid for Michigan Senate, but later interviewed for the school job, along with 42 other candidates, the... Full story »

The Bay Metropolitan Transportation Authority is receiving about $500,000 in federal stimulus funds to purchase a bus and make other improvements. Michigan officials say the Bay County agency, known as Bay Metro, will receive $500,125 for one bus, security improvements at a facility and operating assistance. Mike Stoner, Bay Metro general manager, said the money will be spent to... Full story »

Bids were opened earlier this week in Bay City’s plan to put a security counter up in the Accounts Receivable office at City Hall, 301 Center Ave. Four bids were received, ranging from $81,300 to $98,000 to install a security counter for more security for staff and privacy for customers paying bills at City Hall. The office was targeted... Full story »

While it’s a few weeks until local residents begin receiving U.S. Census forms in the mail, officials around Bay County are making a final push to make sure everyone is counted. On Wednesday, Bay City Mayor Charles Brunner and City Clerk Dana Muscott formed a committee tasked with finding ways to make sure citizens return their forms. The forms... Full story »

A public hearing to amend the Bay County Employee's Retirement System ordinance will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Commission Chambers of the Bay County Building, 515 Center. The purpose of the public hearing is to determine if the retirement board should increase the number of people on the board. Currently there are seven representatives, but recently Bay... Full story »

Bay County Commissioner Brian Elder will host his 7th Annual Stein Haus Party today from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Stein Haus, 1108 N. Water in downtown Bay City. Tickets prices begin at $20 and go to $50 and can be purchased at the door. Elder is a candidate for the 96th District State House seat. He faces Bay City... Full story »

U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, will host a public town hall meeting in Tawas City from 5:30-7 p.m. March 8. The meeting will be held in the Tawas Area High School cafeteria. The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions on a range of issues. Stupak also will provide an update on health care reform, job... Full story »

Bay City’s Finance and Policy Committee no longer will meet in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. On Monday, Commissioner Dennis Banaszak, 3rd Ward, brought forward a resolution to have the meetings — which are typically work sessions for the City Commission — in Room 306 at City Hall, 301 Washington. As part of his motion, the meetings can... Full story »

It was another tense discussion about the Bay City Fire Department on Monday night when Commissioner Larry Elliott, 9th Ward, brought forward a resolution to bring back a laid-off firefighter. Elliott's resolution, which instructed the City Manager to find the funding to re-hire a firefighter laid off in July, did not garner enough support to be placed on the... Full story »