News & Notes - 7/13/23 Troy Times

Former Troy mayor passes away
The city of Troy is reacting to the death of former Mayor Matt Pryor.

Born in 1960, Pryor grew up in Troy and graduated from Troy High School in 1978. In 1982, he received his bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation from college, Pryor operated a landscape and construction company in Troy.

Pryor was elected to the Troy City Council in 1993 and served until 1999, including two years as mayor pro-tem. He was elected the seventh mayor of Troy and served from 2001 until 2004, when he was defeated in his reelection bid.

“He was very determined. ... He was very adamant about his ideas and would do anything to see them accomplished,” said former Mayor Jeanne Stine, who served as mayor while Pryor was on the council. “His family was an old Troy family.”

He passed away June 25. He is survived by his wife, Patti, whom he married in 2011; as well as his mother, Mary Lou; and siblings Timothy (Laura), Katie (Keith), Ben (Gina), Andy (Laurie), and Holly.

 

Distracted driving law now in effect
Drivers and law enforcement departments across Michigan are reacting to a new law that went into effect June 30 that prohibits using cellphones and other devices while driving.

According to a press release issued on behalf of Insurance Alliance of Michigan, data from the Michigan State Police showed that in 2021, more than 16,000 motor vehicle crashes involved a distracted driver, with 59 of those crashes resulting in a fatality.

The use of a mobile electronic device means using a mobile electronic device to do any task, such as sending or receiving a call; sending, receiving or reading a text message; viewing, recording or transmitting a video; and accessing, reading or posting to a social networking site. An exception is allowed if the driver is contacting emergency services. Michigan is now the 26th state to adopt a hands-free driving law.

According to the release from MDOT, texting while driving has been illegal in Michigan since 2010, but increasing the parameters of the law to prohibit the use of phones “without hands-free technology is expected to further improve safety for all road users, including passengers, pedestrians and road workers.”

“Everyone who spends time on our roadways has a story or a negative experience that involves a distracted driver. The latest legislation is another tool to help encourage safer driving habits and ultimately save lives,” Capt. Joshua Jones of the Troy Police Department said in an email. “Our officers have been briefed on the new law and will be out there helping educate the public on its importance. The more buyin we can get from drivers, of all age groups, the safer our roads will become. I like the simple message we put out on our social media: ‘Just Drive.’ Put the phone down, and just drive.”

 

Community Foundation selects new board chair
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Board of Trustees has elected David Provost as its new chairman of the board, succeeding James B. Nicholson, who will remain a trustee, through 2024.

Nicholson has served as board chair since 2014 and has been a trustee since 1994. Provost becomes the fifth chairman in the foundation’s 39-year history.    

“We are excited to work with David to move the Community Foundation forward,” President Richard DeVore said. “David’s wealth of knowledge in the community and financial spaces will serve us well as we chart our strategic plan to be a collaborative resource for the residents of southeast Michigan and our donor partners.”

Provost is the retired CEO of TCF Bank, having orchestrated its $6.9 billion sale to Huntington Bank in 2021. A longtime business leader, Provost has been on the Community Foundation Board of Trustees since 2011, serving on the executive and investment committees, the Legal Financial Network and the Detroit Area Dealers Association Fund Advisory Committee.

Nicholson, an esteemed civic leader and chairman of PVS Chemicals Inc. He has served as a trustee since 1994.

“Jim Nicholson embodies the spirit of someone giving their time, talent and treasure to support organizations serving our community,” DeVore said, noting that he helped grow the foundation to one of the top 25 community foundations in the country. “Jim’s steady leadership enabled the Board of Trustees and staff to positively impact our region. We are thankful he will continue to serve as a trustee.”

 

Authorities warn of debt collection scam
The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is alerting Michigan residents about a new scam in which fraudulent letters are directed to workers and businesses.

The letters attempt to collect an outstanding debt and are part of a scam that fraudulently identifies the sender as the State of Michigan, seeking to unlawfully collect a debt that is owed to the Unemployment Insurance Agency or the Michigan Department of Treasury, which functions as the state’s debt collection agency.

The recipients are threatened with seizure of their bank accounts, wages, business assets, cars, real estate, refunds and cash if past due debts are not paid. The letters use personal information that can be gleaned from internet records to make their sources sound legitimate and make the threats more likely to result in payment.

Workers and businesses should note that any legitimate letters from the Department of Treasury will be printed on Treasury Department letterhead and will also provide options for paying the debt, as well as outline taxpayer rights. Letters from the UIA will contain information about how to protest and appeal payment determinations. Letters from the treasury or the UIA will always include the names of departmental leadership at the top.   

Anyone with questions about their state debts should call the Treasury Collections Service Center at (517) 636-5265. Anyone with a consumer complaint or who believes they have been the victim of a scam can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team by calling (517) 335-7599.