HOLT, Mich. — Ingham County commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve a resolution opposing proposed routes for a major transmission line project that would cut through Burchfield Park in Holt.
Project developer ITC says the planned 50-mile transmission line between the Fowlerville and Grand Ledge areas would increase electrical capacity and help reduce long-term energy costs. However, county leaders and park advocates have raised concerns about the potential environmental and recreational impacts on Burchfield Park.
The final decision on the transmission line project will ultimately be made by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
The debate over local parks comes as Ingham County prepares for the August primary election, where voters will decide on a renewal of the county’s Parks and Trails millage. County officials are asking residents to renew the funding at the same rate previously approved in 2014 and renewed in 2020.
Supporters of the proposal continue to promote the millage ahead of the election. Friends of Lansing Regional Trails is scheduled to host an informational meeting on Thursday, July 16, at the Munson Community Room inside Playmakers in Okemos.
Meanwhile, concerns over development and energy use were also the focus of a rally Tuesday night at the Michigan State Capitol in downtown Lansing. Around 200 people attended the event, calling for a temporary moratorium on new data centers in Michigan.
The rally followed a Lansing City Council decision Monday night to schedule a public hearing next month on a proposed six-month moratorium on new data centers within the city.
At the state level, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders announced they have reached a framework agreement for Michigan’s 2027 fiscal year budget ahead of the July 1 deadline.
House Speaker Matt Hall said during a Tuesday news conference that the budget plan would avoid both tax increases and use of the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
“We’re not going to see any tax increases. We won’t see any raid of the Rainy Day Fund,” Hall said.
In campaign news, Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow released her first television advertisement of the election cycle ahead of the August primary election.
In the 30-second ad, McMorrow highlights issues including opposition to former President Donald Trump, immigration enforcement policies, artificial intelligence, and corporate political influence.
“We’re standing up to Trump, to ICE, to AI and big tech,” McMorrow says in the ad. “Refusing corporate PAC and AIPAC money to protect our rights and make the country work for the rest of us.”
In business news, Domino’s Pizza announced a leadership transition at its Ann Arbor headquarters. The company said Joe Jordan will become CEO in October, while current CEO Russell Weiner will transition to executive chairman. Longtime board member David Brandon is expected to retire at that time.
