The state begins testing wells in Otsego for chemical contamination after residents raise concerns. Portage Schools and the district's teachers have a new three year contract. A Kalamazoo city parking lot is sold for a site that will include offices and apartments. Oaklawn Hospital's CEO will resign early next month.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) The Department of Environmental Quality is testing residential wells in the Otsego area for chemical contamination. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the DEQ is sampling 60 residential wells and another 12 monitoring wells for substances like PCBs, volatile organic compounds, pesticides and PFAS. The DEQ says it’s focusing on wells near former paper mills, landfills and dumping areas. Some Otsego residents say the area has an abnormally high rate of cancer and other diseases. They say they want to know if people are getting sick because of pollution.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) Portage Public Schools has a new three year contract with the district’s teachers. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the contract with the Portage Education Association increases the district’s starting salary five-percent. Teachers at the top of the pay scale will receive a one-percent raise. The agreement was approved by the Portage School Board Monday night.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) The city of Kalamazoo has sold a parking lot across the street from the Arcadia Festival site. The Kalamazoo Gazette says Catalyst Development is buying Lot 9 from the city for $714,000. The developer is planning a mixed-use seven story building on the site. It will include offices, apartments and parking for tenants and the public. Construction is expected to start next week and take about two years.
(Battle Creek Enquirer) Oaklawn Hospital’s CEO will step down early next month. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that Ginger Williams resignation will be effective August third. She has been with the hospital in Calhoun County for more than ten years, the last five as CEO. Current Chief Financial Officer Greg Beeg will serve as interim CEO. Oaklawn’s board of directors has not set a timeline for its search.
(WNMU) Officials are hoping to get help from the federal government, as cleanup continues in flood-damaged Houghton County in the Upper Peninsula. County Administrator Eric Forsberg says with total damage estimated at $100-million, he’s hoping FEMA will declare the region a disaster area and send money. But Forsberg says the county likely won’t get as much as it really needs. He says if the county is declared a disaster area FEMA will fund only 75 percent of that. Forsberg says it would be less if the government disagrees with damage estimates.