Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 3

Metro THE STATE JOURNAL CAPITOL AFFAIRS MID-MICHIGAN Aug. 25, 1973 A-3 Haven for Car Makers To Bow to Assembly Line fey ixL vk go next. They were sure that the years had been good and that they had many good friends. There was a proclamation from the mayor, and though their names were spelled wrong a few times, it was appreciated. Mom Rambat, who still puts in six days a week, got a key to the city and applause from Mr.

Graves for her 49 years of "friendly service and hospitality." It was, says Julius, an education: "The people helped me learn some things and maybe I was of some help. I know I tried to make this place a home, and in turn, I've been very lucky in the people I've met. "MAYBE WE didn't make too much money but we certainly have prospered in the Family of Man. I'm thankful for that." Gail Niver, a Olds superintendent, sipped a beer on the next-to-last day, and echoed Rambat's feelings. "I've been coming here for 15 years so I'm probably just a newcomer but the 'feel' of the place was that you were just going into the living room to have a beer.

It just had that 'comfortable' atmosphere. "IT WAS just sort of your own place, no matter how many people were inside, and it will be missed. It is sad to see it go." It was busy Friday but the mood was sort of "waiting for the party" Saturday night. It will be a good party, filled not with regrets but memories of the good times. By JOHN MCALEENAN Staff Writer The patrons will tilt the last beer, gulp the last neat shot, juggle the pinball machines for the last time, shovel down the last morsel of macaroni and cheese The lights will be doused and the door shut sometime after 2 a.m.

Sunday on Milo's, a bar-restaurant that is almost as much of an institution in Lansing as the looming Oldsmobile plant. MILO'S, a home away from home since the 1920s, will be sorely missed and hard put to replace by company cafeterias, next-to-last day patrons say. Milo's is Julius and Delphine Rambat, a second generation family of Yugoslavian immigrants, who have managed in a few decades to win the hearts of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Olds workers who needed a listening post, maybe a beer on the tab, a couple of lunches until next payday but most of all Milo's is a place to get away from the jingle and jangle world of making automobiles. Its corner location at 804 Olds Ave. bows next week to make way for an assembly plant and the mood Friday afternoon was one of "let's drink to the good times and the good people JULIUS RAMBAT, who inherited the lunchroom-barber shop from his father in the early 1950s, was knee-deep in nostalgia Friday, and wondering along with is wife, Del, and mother Mary, where they would ft 4 Staff Phots by DAVE WEBB Mary Rambat (center) opened the lunchroom with her husband in the early 1920's.

Delphine and Julius have carried on. Suit Seeks to Block House, Senate Vote State Hits Pay Plan for NMU Prexy date, and Henry Dodge, Detroit, listed as an independent voter. "The commissioners represented only their partisan political parties and did not purport to represent the interests of competing political parties or independent voters," the complaint says. THE EIGHT commissioners, four from each party, were appointed by the Republican and Democratic state central committees, as required by Michigan's 1963 Constitution. The boundaries while tailoring legislative districts of approximately equal population.

The case is pending. THE LANSING attorney told newsmen earlier this year he was retained by Republican state senators who are attempting to overthrow the 1972 apportionment plan they regard as gerrymandered to elect more Democrats to the Michigan Senate. The Senate, last elected in 1970, is evenly divided, 19-19, between the two parties. suit asserts that selection process, based on appointment of commissioners by the two parties from geographical areas varying widely in population, violates citizens rights. Lansing attorney Ted Swift, who filed the complaint, said his clients will ask the federal court to disqualify the 1972 apportionment and direct the Legislature to draw a new districting plan for election of House and Senate members in 1974 and subsequent years.

The 1972 plan, under which tionment is invalid because it was drawn by an eight-member commission of Republicans and Democrats. Ferency, a Human Rights Party candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court last year and former state Democratic Party chairman, was joined in the complaint filed in U.S. district court in Detroit, by Barbara Halpert, Birmingham, a Human Rights candidate for the U.S. Senate; Dwight Johnson, Grand Rapids, American Independent Party congressional candi the present 110 house members were elected last fall, was drawn by Democratic members and adopted after the Michigan Supreme Court held it achieved the goal of equal population districting more closely than a rival Republican plan. Swift has also asked the State Supreme Court to withdraw its approval of the 1972 plan in view of this year's U.S.

Supreme Court decisions holding that states may reasonably observe existing governmental By WILLARD BAIRD Capitol Bureau Chief Xext year's election of state senators and representatives would be blocked if four Michigan- residents have their way. Zolton Ferency of East Lansing and three others have asked a federal court to halt the election because, they say, the apportionment of legislative districts was not representative of all voters. THEY CONTEND the appor Cities Under New Attack 6 oncm iHirnr iithimi mn1 Dean is unhappy at the attitude of the Model Cities representatives over the unsubstantiated funds. "IT IS indefensible that presumably mature adults, much less members of the Policy Board, should conduct these affairs (traveling on tax money without proving the expenses) in such an irresponsible manner," he said. "Indeed, this disregard seems to have assumed an air of contempt," Dean stated.

Dean quoted Smith, field engineer with the State Highway Department, as saying: "Since I do not request receipts for any breakfast less than $4 nor for any lunch less than $4.50 nor for any dinners less than $7, 1 do not have any receipts available." SMITH CONFIRMED that statement Friday and said it has been city policy not to require documentation with small amounts spent on meals and such. Dean said that's not true. According to Dean, there is an unwritten city policy not to arbitrarily deny a small claim not proven by a receipt, but that this is an exception rather than the rule. "IN ANY case, we are not going to allow someone to consistantly turn in the maximum amount they think they can get by with without receipts," he said. The largest amount owed CCI is $943.46 by CCI director Lawrence Wasson.

This is the remainder of $1,408 given to Wasson for 11 trips between August 1972 and February 1973. WASSON recently had a heart attack and is believed to be somewhere in the Detroit area and could not be reached for comment. has been cleared either by repayment or submission of receipts since May, Dennis Dean, a city fiscal officer assigned to Model Cities said. BUT SINCE $6,500 is still unaccounted for. Dean has cut off any more travel money for CCI and has threatened to take "more drastic measures" if the situation is not resolved.

Graves wants the city council to direct the city attorney to get a full accounting for the junket money and collect any money owed; halt all CCI expenditures; and dissolve the CCI project. Graves tossed the blame for the money problems at city demonstration agency program managers and the CCI itself. HE POINTEDLY absolves the city controller, James Dowsett, and his office for any responsibility. But Donald Hine, Model Cities deputy director, said the blame is clearly on Dowsett's shoulders because his office was contracted to be responsible for all money controls in the Model Cities program. Since over $230,000 has been paid the controller for accounting and auditing service since Sept.

1970, Model Cities feels it hasn't gotten it's money's worth and in fact tried to break Dowsett's contract but were turned down by the city council last April. HINE SAID Dowsett should have required receipts before replenishing the CCI coffers each month instead of letting the unsubstantiated funds build to $7,100 by May. Dean said the controller only received requests for reimbursements for lump sum amounts for travel and that the documentation stayed in the agency itself. By DAN POORMAN Staff Writer I Mayor Graves and Model Cities tangled again Friday when the mayor accused 37 Model Cities representatives of receiving and keeping $6,500 in unsubstantiated travel expenses. The 37 include Model Cities Policy Board and Task Force members, along with staff members given Citizen Congress Inc.

(CCI) funds for junkets to such cities as Indianapolis. Houston, Atlanta. Chicago, Gary, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Haddcnficld, N.J. THE MONEY was paid out by CCI, a Model Cities agency, that is supposed to provide Model Cities residents with civic training to encourage participation in civic af-fars. Basically, the CCI pays out stipends for persons attending meetings, pays their babysitting costs and cab fare when necessary and gives people money for out of town seminars and training sessions.

At least one person named disputes the Mayor's charge that he owes CCI any money because he says no documentation is needed for payments of small amounts, like breakfasts that cost less than $4. "YOU TELL Graves to go jump in the lake," William Smith said when told Graves said he wants proof of the $172 Smith got but turned in no receipts for. The money comes from junkets over a period of about one year with the problems arising mainly from people either not turning in any receipts or refusing to pay back unspent money from the cash advance they were given. Only about $600 of $7,100 of unaccounted for money By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer A deferred compensation plan for the president of Northern Michigan University at Marquette could cost state taxpayers more than $150,000 has been questioned by the auditor general's office. Northern's president, John X.

Jamrich, said Friday after release of an audit report on the university's finances that he signed an agreement in 1969 approving the compensation for himself. JAMRICH, WHOSE salary is $47,500 a year, said the plan was proposed by the NMU Board of Control because ''they (board members) wanted me to stay here (at the university)." The money would go to the 53-year-old Jamrich upon his retirement, either in a lump sum or in installments, depending on the circumstances under which his employment terminates, the audit report said. Auditor General Albert Lee also questioned expenditures on Jamrich's expense account, paid for out of state funds. FOR JAMRICH'S deferred payment plan, the Board of Control passed a resolution to appropriate $12,500 per year from 1969-70 through 1973-74 from the university's general fund and $15,000 per year thereafter until Jamrich is no longer president. ''Assuming that the president continues his employment until retirement at age 60," the auditor general said, "this agreement will cost the state $152,000 in addition to the regular retirement benefits." In addition to the deferred payment plan, 11 per cent of Jamrich's gross wages go toward regular retirement benefits.

Eleven per cent is the limit under state law. "I HAD no role in the decision of the board. It was their idea," Jamrich said of the deferred payment plan. "I did sign a formal agreement." Jamrich said that when he asked the board in 1969 why the plan had been proposed, "their answer was that they wanted me to stay here." The auditor general said the deferred payment plan should be discontinued. He contends it is part of retirement benefits and violates the 11 per cent limited by state law.

Jamrich disagrees and said the deferred payment plan is "completely separate" from retirement benefits. He said the 11 per cent limit, therefore, is not being violated. THE AUDIT report covering the period July 1970 through June 1973 also showed that: Expense account spending by Jamrich included $1,134 for household supplies, laundry' John Jamrich expenses, small appliance repairs and personal gifts. Expenditures of $1,276 were made for lease and insurance payments for the president's second car, which is in addition to the one provided Jamrich by the university. $4,500 IN undocumented payments were made to Jamrich from a discretionary fund, which was discontinued in October 1972.

$1,668 in undocumented expenses were made to Jamrich prior to December 1971. The auditor general recommended the Board of Control specify what types of expenditures should be authorized from the president's expense account. JAMRICH SAID he has "discontinued" use of a second car at state expense. He said that was a decision made "in discussions with the auditor general's staff." As for expenditures on household supplies, laundry and other items, Jamrich said. "If I have 200 people over at the house at a university function, then there may be laundering of table cloths and other expenses." A letter from board chairman Frederick Sabin of Marquette gives Jamrich "the widest possible latitude" in the use of expense accounts, as long as the spending is for university purposes.

"I AND the board members don't feel that a price tag can be placed upon the worth of a strong administrative leadership, but we know Dr. Jamrich has exhibited the highest quality of leadership possible in handling the affairs of an institution operating on a budget of $20 million," Sabin said in a prepared statement. "We believe it to be in tf highest interest of t-t taxpayers to see that such leadership- is continued at Northern, leadership that quarantees that tax monies will be utilized in the best and most efficient method possible," Sabin said. Airport Likes Being 'Fenced in' 832,000 Project to Prevent Lot of Gray Hairs and Ulcers By NORRIS INGELLS Staff Writer People who accidentally blunder out onto runways and taxiways cause a lot of gray hairs and ulcers among aviation officials. That's why $32,000 worth of fencing currently being installed at Capital City Airport is welcomed by the field's operators.

AIRPORT MANAGER Russell Brown recalls a case several years ago when a man drove his car out onto a taxiway at night. "This damn road don't go nowhere," he complained when apprehended. He was pretty red-faced when he found out he was on an airport taxiway. While some incidents are humorous, many are dangerous. BROWN SAID some motorcyclists purposely got out on a runway and had to quickly when an airliner landed.

CAPITAL CITY is a virtual game sanctuary, with deer, muskrats and foxes much in evidence. That attracts hunters, and Brown said he hopes the new fencing will keep them outside the operating areas of the field. Dogs frequently get out where they are in danger of or cause a danger to aircraft landing or taking off. Several years ago a collie took up residence at the field and developed the bad habit of chasing planes, snapping at their wheels, only inches away from whirling propellers. MANY ATTEMPTS to capture the animal failed, and it finally had to be shot.

The fencing is part of Capital City's program to meet new federal certification standards. Another phase will come in late fall or early winter when a second crash-fire truck and three more firemen are added. A third truck will be purchased in fiscal 1974-75. Another time a "very confused" man was apprehended hitchhiking at the west end of the field's main runway. He claimed he thought it was a superhighway but wondered why there was no auto traffic..