(NR) LOCAL NEWS online at hometownlife.com A8 Hometown Weeklies | Thursday, February 23, 2012 ary 2011. The master plan for 2012-16 was approved unanimously with some amendments made to it that includ- ed adding some community historical items like the Bennett Arboretum and plan for the Northville Township-owned Seven Mile property. One big hope for the five-year plan is to increase the pathway connectivity in the communi- ty, which could include having a poten- tial bike/walking connection to Maybury Park. The public comments regarding the 2012-16 recreation master plan centered on increasing the pathway connections throughout the community. Resident Jerry Mittman said Maybury is one of the most popular destinations in the area, but for bicyclists and pedes- trians from Northville it’s difficult to get to without having to drive. He said making better use of what the commu- nity already has should be a priority. The Northville Township Board of Trustees also approved the plan and it was expected the Northville City Coun- cil would do the same at their meeting on Feb. 21. By Philip Allmen Staff Writer For now, the new Oak- land County Commission- er districts drawn last year will stand. An Ingham County Cir- cuit Court judge issued an opinion Feb. 15 that Public Act 280 of 2011, which reduces the num- ber of commissioners in Oakland County from 25 to 21 and turns redis- tricting duties to the Republican-controlled county commission, was unconstitutional. The redrawn maps were created last year by a 5-member that favored Democrats, 3- 2. Republicans chal- lenged the district maps last year, but the Michi- gan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court rejected the challenge. The Michigan state Legislature then passed the law, citing cost sav- ings to Oakland Coun- ty. Gov. Rick Snyder’s spokesperson said at the time it created great- er transparency to the redistricting process. The law only affects Oakland County. The reasons Judge William Col- lette based his opinion on three issues: * a need for a two- thirds majority vote for approval, because it dealt with a local matter; * limited time for coun- ty voters to request a judicial review of a new apportionment; and * a violation of the Headlee Amendment as it relates to unfunded mandate. “We are glad that Judge Collette saw the “Republican Power- grab Bill,” for what it was — an outrageous attempt by Republi- cans to change the law, just for Oakland Coun- ty, for Republican polit- ical gain,” stated Frank Houston, chairman of the Oakland County Apportionment Commis- sion, in a release. He was one of the plaintiffs in the case. “Judge Collette’s deci- sion allows candidates and voters to begin a conversation about how to move state and coun- ty forward instead of worrying about (Oak- land County Executive) Brooks Patterson’s try- ing to cheat democra- cy for personal politi- cal advantage,” Houston added. Challenge likely Oakland County Execu- tive L. Brooks Patterson said he expects Collette’s opinion won’t stand. “Ingham County Cir- cuit Court has a long record of ruling in favor of Democrats, only to be overturned by high- er courts,” he stated in a release. “This mat- ter will be settled in the Michigan Supreme Court.” If it were to stand, he said it can create major financial woes for the City of Detroit. The Leg- islature changed popula- tion-based funding stat- utes to benefit Detroit following major decreas- es in the last census. Those changes were not passed with a two-third majority, he said. “How can the law be one thing for Democrat- ic areas and something else for the rest of the state?,” he stated. No surprise Commissioner Bob Hoffman, R-Highland, said he wasn’t surprised at last week’s ruling, although he favors the law. “It would actually save taxpayers money,” he said. The timing of the law, isn’t surprising, either. Asked if partisan politics played a role the legisla- ture’s passing of the law, Hoffman said “I think that’s a fair assessment. It’s a lot about politics on both sides.” Commissioner Kathy Crawford, R-Novi, said the five-member com- mittee in place to redis- trict commission bound- aries promotes dissi- dence between the politi- cal parties. “When you have the chair of the Democrats and the chair of the Republicans on the com- mittee what do you think they are going to do?,” she said. “That is the way it is right now, they are going to be very par- tisan. “For someone who doesn’t think this isn’t partisan is very naïve.” She said she will wait to see what Collette’s final ruling will be, since last week’s news was his opinion on the case. The Republican caucus’ legal counsel explained the judge still want- ed to study it and there hasn’t been a final rul- ing yet, she said, not- ing she expects the issue to advance to the state Supreme Court. “I think it’s just a wait- and-see thing. I really don’t know what is going to happen with it.” Nathan Mueller contrib- uted to this report. County commission map will stand; Patterson vows appeal PLAN Continued from page A1 JOHN HEIDER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER AARP tax helper Teri Kuehn, left, assists Jane Smiley in filing her 2011 taxes on Feb. 16 at the Northville Community Senior Center. Seniors and low-income individuals can get assistance at the center on Thursdays for the next four weeks. Appoint- ments are recommended. Tax help