Politics & Government

UPDATE: May 3 Recount Finds One Vote for No Side

Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said one vote on the no side went uncounted because voter filled out ballot wrong.

The recount of the May 3 election in Ferndale is over. One no vote was found uncounted due to voter error, not election inspector error, Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said.

"The machine hadn't picked it up because it wasn't properly marked," Tallman said.

The yes vote from May 3 passes by 197 votes.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was very impressed," Grix said after the recount. "I didn't know how it worked, now I know."

Ferndale resident Robert Grix said he filed for a recount because the people he spoke with were all in favor of voting the millage down.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It seemed way closer than 198 votes," Grix said Sunday afternoon. "I thought it would never pass. I'm surprised it passed.

"To me, it is questionable. I was passing out signs, and people kept saying, 'I'll take one, I'll take one.' I ran out of signs."

Grix paid $180 out of his pocket for the recount, while the city has to pay $2,500, Tallman said. Grix said he wasn't sure about the $2,500 cost to the city. "I don't know, I don't know why it would cost so much," he said.

Tallman said in the four years she has been Ferndale's city clerk there hasn't been a recount. However, she has been involved in two others while working in Auburn Hills.

"My experience, a recount never turns over more than a few votes," Tallman said.

The recount took place at 9 a.m. Monday at the Oakland County Executive Building, at 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd. in Waterford. Tallman said it was completed by 11:45 a.m.

The millage raises the city's operating tax rate 3 mills (from 14.54 to 17.54) starting July 1 and up to an additional 2.45 mills (to the state maximum 20 mills) over the next four years. The millage would raise a resident's overall tax bill about 6 percent this July and about 5 percent over the next four years.

The millage is expected to bring in about $1.7 million in revenue the first year.

Ferndale had a projected shortfall of about $1.9 million in the general fund, which pays for police, fire and the general operation of city government. The Ferndale City Council said that without the extra tax revenue from the millage, the city would have to drastically cut police and fire services.

Ferndale finance director Jaynmarie Hubanks said that if the millage didn't pass, six firefighters, three police officers, two Department of Public Works employees and one courthouse worker would have to be laid off.

Several services, such as the , were expected to shut down if the millage didn't pass.

"This is part of the democratic process," Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter said of Grix's ability to file for a recount. "It's in his power to do it."

Sean House, co-chair of , the group that campaigned for a no vote, sent out a release calling for volunteers to help Grix oversee the recount. But House said isn't involved with Grix or the recount.

"It is what it is. I don't have anything to do with it," House said.

House wasn't convinced the recount would change the outcome of the election. "I don't think there was enough to warrant a recount," he said.

where they currently are for police, fire and City Hall.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here