September/October 2010 Emmet County Newsletter now available

This is the final week for free family movies in the pavilion 
at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga for the summer season.  Showing this week: 
Thursday, Sept. 2, “Furry Vengeance,” and Saturday, Sept. 4, “Dunston Checks In.”

Revenue Sharing Board distributes $342,000 to local projects

Police and fire protection, recreational opportunities and road and infrastructure improvements are among the priority projects recently awarded funding by the Local Revenue Sharing Board.
The board, which distributes funds collected from gambling profits at Odawa Casino in Petoskey, recently announced funding for 17 local projects, totaling $342,119.

Les Atchison, Emmet County Commissioner District 7 and LRSB chairman, said, “The awards granted from this PILT (Payment in lieu of taxes) are intended to primarily reduce the impact of the casino in our community.

“Funds for paving roads, sewer capacity improvement, fire and rescue, police protection and Gamblers’ Anonymous take high priority. We also are interested in assisting with free recreational opportunities, economic development, education and environmental issues.”
Click here for the projects awarded funding and the full article.

Emmet County launches new free fraud protection service for citizens

Imagine getting a call from a bank you never contacted to pay a $100,000 home loan you never sought. That’s just one of the innumerable results of property fraud, the fastest growing white-collar crime in the nation. According to the FBI, mortgage fraud investigations grew by 71 percent from 2008 to 2009 alone.

Emmet County has partnered with Dallas-based Tyler Technologies to introduce Fraud Guard, a free service for citizens to monitor property and other public records held by the county.

The program is now live on the county Web site, www.emmetcounty.org, as of Sept. 1, 2010.
“Fraud Guard enables us to deal with fraud proactively,” said Emmet County Register of Deeds Michele Stine.

For instructions on registering for Fraud Guard and the complete article, click here.

Record year for the 2010 County Fair!

New, exciting events, old favorites and beautiful weather helped the 2010 Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair set attendance and revenue records.

Agnes Shaw, Fair Manager, reports that paid gate attendance was up approximately 20 percent from 2009 figures. Gate admission was collected from Tuesday, Aug. 24, through Saturday, Aug. 28, which means that those who attended the sold-out Monster Truck Show and the Lipizzan Stallion Shows, plus those who visited on Monday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 29, were not counted in gate attendance figures.  To learn more, click here

Several camp sites closing at Pet-O-Se-Ga for the season

Loops D and E at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga will be closed after Monday, Sept. 6, for the season. The loops include campsite numbers 65-90.

The sites will be open again for camping next spring.

The remaining camp sites are open through the fall months, as are cabin rentals.

Call the camp at (231) 347-6536 for further information.

Jim Tamlyn remains District 1 winner

Following a recount of Primary Election ballots in three of six townships that comprise the 1^st District of Emmet County, James Tamlyn remains the winning candidate. His Republican competitor, Chuck Laughbaum, had requested the recount of the three townships:  Carp Lake, Cross Village and Wawatam. The recount took place the evening of August 26.  The results were:

90th District Court now accepting credit and debit option for fines and fees

Residents who wish to make payments to Emmet County 90th District Court using credit and debit cards may now do so through GovPayNet.

GovPayNet accepts major credit and debit cards for payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week on-site, online (www.govpaynow.com) or by phone, (888) 604-7888.

Cardholders can make payments on their own behalf or on behalf of friends or family. They need only have some basic information regarding the payment, including the 90th District Court's code for payment, which is PLC 6796.

Cardholders pay a fee to GovPayNet at the time of their transaction (3.5 percent Internet service fee, minimum of $3.50; phone service fee 5 %, minimum $5).

For more information about the payment program and a list of violations and fines handled by the District Court, click here.