Political Notes: Hot Times in No Man's Land

It is known locally as Lost Acres or No Man's Land, a tiny neighborhood of 13 households in Southfield Township near Detroit that because of an administrative fluke, comes under no government's jurisdiction for fire protection. The township has been providing the service with tax dollars from all residents, without compensating taxes from the households. On Tuesday, 15 of the area's 18 registered voters went to the polls to decide whether they should tax themselves to pay the township for its help. Seven ballots were invalidated because, contrary to state law, they were marked with checks instead of Xs. The remaining eight voters deadlocked 4 to 4 on paying for fire protection. The township will provide fire service until April under an existing agreement. After that, says Township Supervisor Theodore J. Sura, "it's up to them."