The Springfield Township Board has asked three volunteers to attend lake improvement board meetings before being considered for official appointment to one of those boards.
The May 9 board meeting was the appointed time for trustees to consider candidates for the second township representative to the lake improvement boards for Big, Susin and Dixie lakes. After weeks of news reports and public notices, however, only three citizens submitted their names for consideration.
Judy Hensler volunteered to serve for Dixie Lake, Dale R. Ermshler volunteered for Big Lake, and William D. Champion offered his services to any lake board.
Hensler and Champion were at the meeting, but Supervisor Collin Walls said notice was insufficient to allow Ermshler to attend.
Officials expressed appreciation to each volunteer, but apparently felt they needed additional exposure to lake board operations before evaluating their ability to represent the township board.
‘I’m always concerned with property values,? said Hensler, a former real estate agent. ‘Property values are directly related to usability and aesthetics of Dixie Lake.?
Hensler voiced specific concern about the need for a long-range plan for the dam which serves the lake.
‘If something happened to the dam, Dixie Lake would go away,? she said. ‘Because it’s such a shallow lake, it needs tender loving care.?
In answer to questions from Clerk Nancy Strole, Hensler admitted she had not thought of lake board decisions as they impact residents beyond the lake area.
‘There are issues and decisions that can be made by a lake board that, like a pebble dropped in a pond, can have larger implications beyond the immediate needs of those who live on the lake,? Strole said.
Champion said he understood the principle.
‘Actions by the lake board need to be globally acceptable and not specific just to that body of water,? he said. ‘They have to be responsible actions.?
Treasurer Jamie Dubre, who agreed to be the temporary appointee to the Big Lake Board, said she was uncomfortable approving the appointment of Ermshler without him being present to answer questions.
Dubre also repeated concerns about the need for more guidance for lake boards. She suggested what others later called a ‘training period? for volunteers.
‘There is a lack of understanding of what their role and function is,? Dubre said. ‘It would give them a good opportunity to see how the lake board functions and what exactly would be required or expected of them as a township representative. We should do that before we make a decision.?
Trustee David Hopper, who is temporarily serving on the Dixie Lake board, said his short tenure has featured difficulty in urging that body to adopt an annual budget as required by law. While he is not enthusiastic about holding the extra post, he said he is willing.
‘The lake boards need direction,? Hopper said. ‘I could go either way. Do I want to do it? Honestly, no.?
‘I honestly don’t, either, but there’s a lot of money in those lake board accounts,? Dubre said, noting experience as treasurer in dealing with administration of lake board funds. ‘It seems like it’s been a put-out-fires situation for years.?
Trustee Dennis Vallad is serving on the Susin Lake board, and admitted more interest since he lives in their assessment district. He supported the training period concept.
‘The township board can serve as a coach to that [new] representative,? Vallad said.
Hensley took issue with the delay in appointing people willing to serve.
‘Did you not make a speech about how you did not want to be on the [lake] board because you had soccer meetings and you didn’t live on the lake and you weren’t interested?? Hensley said to Hopper, then speaking to the full board. ‘So now I’m confused as to why you want to keep someone on who said publicly they don’t want to do the job.?
Walls noted the board’s previous division as to whether one of the township’s two lake board representatives should be a township board member. Strole defended Hopper’s position.
‘He doesn’t want to, but we all recognize the need for him or another township board member to temporarily sit on the lake board.? Strole said.
The three volunteers were encouraged to attend as many lake board meetings (including those for other lakes) as possible, and the board agreed to consider full appointments in October.
Walls noted that the township board’s previous plan for staggered three-year terms may be revisited this fall, as well.