Interviews are set for finalists to serve on the board for Kalamazoo's Foundation for Excellence. The proposal to repeal Michigan's Prevailing Wage Law will get more scrutiny. WMU men's basketball suffers its MAC loss of the season.
The board that oversees Kalamazoo's Foundation for Excellence is about to get bigger. The Kalamazoo Gazettesays city commissioners plan to publicly interview six finalists January 16th. They were chosen from 43 applications for at-large seats on the board. It's in charge of the privately funded foundation that supports tax cuts, anti-poverty efforts, and other programs. The board also includes city officials, neighborhood representatives, and community groups.
Portage School Board trustees will consider bids to build two big projects. The Kalamazoo Gazette says board members will consider contracts for the new Central Middle School and a new football stadium at Portage Central High School on January 22nd. The bids worth $37-million are slightly higher than earlier estimates. Money for the projects will come from $144-million in bonds approved by the district's voters in 2015.
The Michigan Bureau of Elections plans to continue examining signatures submitted for a proposal to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law. The Detroit Newsreports that an initial review of 535 signatures found 370 were valid. A spokesman for the Michigan Bureau of Elections says that’s more than is needed to avoid rejection, but fewer than the 373 needed to send the proposal to the Legislature. Organizers submitted 380-thosuand signatures, 252-thosuand-523 valid signatures are required to put the issue before lawmakers. The proposal would repeal the Michigan law that requires contractors to pay union level wages on government projects. If enough signatures are determined to be valid, lawmakers can approve the law, which does not require the governor’s signature, or put it on the statewide ballot.
In men’s basketball, Western Michigan lost at Toledo Tuesday night 84-61. It was the Broncos first loss in Mid-American Conference play after two wins. Thomas Wilder led Western with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Broncos will host Ball State Saturday afternoon.