Unfortunately, I feel that I must weigh in on the dispute between the Oxford Leader Editor and Oxford Township Treasurer Joe Ferrari. I have experienced first-hand the way that our esteemed treasurer “serves” the taxpayers of this community.
My first concern ? Why doesn’t our treasurer give the taxpayers of this community an additional two-week period to pay their winter taxes without penalty?
The tax rolls are not due to the county until March 1, yet if you pay your taxes anytime beyond the Feb. 14 deadline, you are penalized to the full extent of the law.
In other communities, the board of trustees vote to not penalize the taxpayers unless they pay their taxes after the last business day of February.
To wave the penalty for two weeks would indeed show that Mr. Ferrari cares about his constituents and not about padding the coffers of the township.
Second concern: Like many in this community I am sure, there are years when I prefer to pay my property taxes on the last business day of December.
As with many in this community, I have no reason to go to the township offices on a regular basis.This year, I checked the Oxford Leader the week of Dec. 25 to see if the township holiday schedule was posted in a notice. Well, there wasn’t a special notice so, shame on me, I assumed that I could go to the offices on Dec. 31during regular business hours and pay my taxes.
Much to my chagrin, there was a note on the door stating that they were closed.
No public notice, no drop box for the tax bills.
The bank was closed (it was 3 pm) and the post office had closed at noon, which were the only two options available to the citizens of this community to be able to receive the tax benefit of paying the property taxes in 2002.
I went to the township offices on Jan. 2 to request that they accept my taxes as having been paid on Dec. 31. I was told that our treasurer was at the post office and wouldn’t return for 45 minutes or so. I left my telephone number and requested that he please call me.
Well, an hour or so later I did receive a call from a very condescending Mr. Ferrari and he stated emphatically that no, he would not accept payment as having been received in 2002.
No reason. Just plain no. I asked when he had given official notice to this community that the office would be closed on a regular business day ? and his reply was a year ago. Now as much as I enjoy our local paper, I do not keep issues for a year. When asked why there was no drop box and I received no reasonable response.
In my opinion, Mr. Ferrari seems to be confused as to his status in this community, he is not an employee, he is an elected official.
The Michigan Township Association’s annual seminar does not cost anywhere near what this master’s degree cost and it is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with his peers and experts from all over the state of Michigan. Instead of having the taxpayers of this community fund his personal growth and marketability in the private sector, I would recommend that he spend some time in a class or seminar on what it means to serve his constituents.
Gini Britton
Oxford

Dear Editor,
I have attended the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees meetings for many years. The normal procedure was and is for the public to participate in the deliberations. During the public hearing part, the public spoke first, and the commissioners commented and asked questions thereafter. Then the Commissioner’s part started. The process is reversed. On each subject, the Commissioners spoke and asked questions first and thereafter the Chair asked if there were any further questions and comments from the public on each subject.
During the Thursday, April 24 meeting, Commissioner George Black commanded forcefully that the public not be recognized at all. This violates the Public Meeting Act, as it is a dictatorial and undemocratic procedure, which deprives the public of their rightful input and commentary.
We had questions about the 432 unit condominium development on 56 acres. We wanted to know about snow removal, since the developers want to establish only private roads in order to keep the density as high as possible. (Private roads are much narrower than public roads.) We wanted to know about the estimated consumption of water, and where it will come from. The M-24 traffic problems, the inadequate sewer situation, and above all, the dropping of the ground water level, along with possible contamination, with which there have already been problems should be carefully examined. As we pointed out (during the public portion), the density of this development without underlying infrastructure is disastrous planning which should not be permitted.
Please let me know if the conduct of the future meetings of the Planning Commission will continue to deny the active and desirable participation of the public.
Henry H. Gleisner
Oxford Township

Last week I had the opportunity to travel with 26 teens from St. Daniel’s Catholic Church in Clarkston who took part in a Home Repair Mission in Jellico, Tennessee.
I was amazed to watch Andrea Galaviz, Lauren Smith, Dan Laliberte, Kelly Dougherty, Evan Dougherty, Anne Maxwell, John Maxwell, Sarah Napier, Garrett Phillips, Erin Hoffman, Kate Kohs, Cori Pinkos, Robert Gunderson, Nick Koenigsknecht, Ryan Stock, Lisa Wilke, Emma Misuzawa, Andrea Forst, Bill Petrusha, Nate Petrusha, Brian Arpke, Marie Timm, Kellie Giaier, Marina Dabrowski, Tony Cocciolone and Brad Rawe as they showed compassion, commitment and camaraderie as they roofed a home for an elderly woman, painted a family’s home and sided and painted for another family.
It was exciting to watch these teens give of themselves for four days and gain many life-long learning experiences along the way.
I also want to thank Bob Hadded, Youth Minister at St. Daniel’s, for his commitment to building assets in each and every one of the teens that attended the Home Repair Mission.
And finally, thanks to Mike Dougherty, Mary Pinkos, Denise Gunderson and Brian Stock for being such great mentors for the teens and myself on this trip. The value we have placed on these young people will carry them into the future. Continue to do the great work.
Maggie Maxwell
Clarkston

Politics, labels ignore problems
In reading CJ’s June 25column I find it amusing how often the word conservative is used interchangeably with the word Republican and the word liberal is used when referring to Democrats.
CJ was truly being conservative by reprinting a column from two years ago instead of wasting precious energy writing something new. With that conservation we should expect something truly brilliant this week unless he wants to prove how conservative he really is, but eventually the boss will catch on. Note to Publisher: CJ has a whole library of columns you already paid him for so why not save yourself some money? That would be purely conservative.
But even CJ is not a purist when it comes to being a conservative. He would vote for and have us spend money on things that are important to him, so wouldn’t that make him a hypocrite like the rest of us sinners?
Neither party corners the market on conservative or liberal spending when it comes to our money. Our current State Legislators are a majority of Republicans, but are by no means conservative. They are willing to spend just as much but want to take it from different sources and spend it on their pet causes.
If that wasn’t true they would have found another way to give businesses a tax break besides raising taxes on all State income earners and on senior pensions. They spread the burden not by cutting but by taking money from schools, local governments and our roads.
They defeated unions not because they were interested in doing something for the hard working people trying to make a living but because it was good for business.
When a business like that owned by a billionaire wants a new stadium they are more than willing to shift funds earmarked for education in Detroit to the pet project. Of course they will make up for that by shifting money from the rest of the school districts and telling us at the same time that they are interested in our children’s future.
Now comes the real dilemma, what to do about our roads. They know the answer but if they vote to raise our taxes it will look like they took the liberal way out.
I know let’s stall until elections and put a referendum on the ballot so it looks like the people voted to raise taxes and the Republicans can remain as the party of conservatives. That is much easier than doing the job we elected them for.
Now, they are home for the summer conserving their energy for next September when it is time to get back to work conserving our money in a new direction that is good for business.
Nationally, Republicans are for a ‘strong military? at all cost. That is why we all hear of horror stories about small parts and simple tools costing an outrageous amount of money when it involves military spending.
But it’s great for business!
Both parties are fighting over health care which was a Republican idea originally and since the Democrats have claimed it, now it is no good. Both parties are arguing over the cost of insurance when the real culprit of high health care cost is being ignored.
No one wants to tackle the high amount of fraud and over-charging that is costing us all dearly whether we have insurance or not.
Most folks who are covered by insurance don’t care because insurance will cover it so it looks like it’s not coming from their pockets. There is no political gain from going after the real problem.
Now the Republicans are fighting with themselves to see who can be the biggest conservative while the Democrats sit back and watch the circus.
Of course no one is really concerned about the common good or the value of compromise that this country was built on. They all need votes and they will do anything or say anything to get them. That is why they were willing to shut the government down at an ungodly daily cost just to prove who could get their head up their backside the furthest.
They knew in the end they would get back to funding the government because when it came down to affecting their constituents negatively, they would pay the price to save their jobs.
What we could do is trade in our conservative and liberal labels and look for common sense in our politicians. Politics is the only occupation where admitting you’re a politician is a bad thing.
Our state representative in his first campaign claimed he wasn’t a politician when in reality he studied political science in college and he ran for local and county political offices for years. So he qualifies well for the job because lying seems to be a positive quality in the occupation. Maybe we have too many unqualified people in office who really don’t know what they are doing but that seems to be the people we have been electing.
Gerald Podzikowski
Oxford

No to Skilling, community center
I agree with last week’s letter writer, R. Wagner, about what Oxford Schools is teaching our children with regard to China.
I would also like to know how the school board can extend Superintendent Dr. William Skilling’s contract without the voters having a say in it. If I had a choice to vote on it, he would be gone.
Most of the colleges do not even except the program Oxford Schools is teaching, so you have to go to a community college and take courses you should have been taught in the first place. This will be the last year my children attend Oxford Schools as I will be sending them elsewhere next fall.
In regards to the column C.J. Carnacchio wrote last week (‘Gazelles can’t vote on whether they’re eaten, but taxpapers can?), I would like to say very well said C.J.
I agree with you 100 percent.
They are also getting a ‘no? vote from me.
I have attended the meetings on the proposed Oxford community center.
I do not see how they think they will be saving money by doing this. Our neighbors to the south are running in the red on their community center. I do not believe they are going to get the revenue from memberships that they are expecting and if they do not, then we the taxpayers will paying for it.
Laurie Winter, Oxford
Editor’s Note: Superintendent contracts are something voted on by school boards, not the public. That’s part of the board’s job.

Ex-editor recalls the old days under Big Jim

My name is Linda Weld, and I’m writing from a log cabin in Alaska to roast my dear friend and wonderful mentor, Jim Sherman.
A long time ago, when I was only around 25-years-old, I decided to follow through on a lifelong dream. I had just graduated from Oakland University, and I drove over to Oxford the very next day and asked if I could get a job writing for one of the papers.
There were no openings in editorial, but there was a job working on the typesetter –a big state-of-the-art machine with a tiny little screen that only held about 15 letters, before they scrolled off into the distance.
The typesetter was right next to the window of Jim Sherman’s big, glass cage. My back faced him as I typed. Every so often I could feel him looming behind me, looking at us out on the floor.
The editor of The Oxford Leader back then had the air of a small-town lawyer. He was tall, and skinny, and smoked a lot, and raced around the office in a dark rumpled suit. About three days into my typesetting stint — in a huge uproar — the editor quit.
After his editor stormed out, Jim Sherman sauntered out of his cage, and said to me: “So you want to write, huh?”
And, that’s how I came to get the job as editor of The Oxford Leader.
And, how I got a chance to sit at a huge roll-top desk, and type out acres of stories on a little, black, antique Royal typewriter that dated back to around 1890, and that had keys that stuck when you poked them.
In many ways, Jim Sherman shaped my entire career.
My time with Jim was truly great. I got to work with a guy named Dick Krause — who edited The Lake Orion Review. Dick actually knew something about “being an editor” and was kind enough to show me how to take photos, and how to do pasteup.
I had not grown up in Michigan. I had grown up overseas. But I did love Oxford. And I especially liked Addison Township.
In Oxford, I loved the parades. They were so midwestern!
I impressed Dick Krause greatly right off the bat. I had arrived at a parade a little late. So I took a grand photo of the entire band marching AWAY from me. I called it, “There Goes The Parade!”
Dick thought this was brilliant. It was early in my career, and I remember Dick telling our boss — Jim — that I would really go far. And I recall Jim just shaking his head.
I enjoyed making the annual Gravel Edition of The Oxford Leader.
I went all over the gravel pits, interviewing workers, writing about gravel.
And climbing up into buildings to take photos. Of gravel piles. Of gravel workers sitting in doorways in tin hardhats, drinking coffee. Of gravel pits…
The Gravel Edition got so carried away, that I remember one that was over 50 pages long and chock full of fascinating information about Oxford — “Gravel Capital Of the World.”
That was the day when men were men. I got good at churning out stories about things that represented day-to-day life — and the men of Oakland County.
Stories about pig farms. Or Eber Baza and his giant pumpkin. I remember running a huge two-page spread on how gravel truck drivers decorated their trucks. One big picture story was titled: “Flashy, Classy. Air-Brushed Chassis.”
Jim was a great publisher. Though an unlikely one. He was self-educated, and boisterous. He wore ridiculous plaid golfing pants to work on his “golf days.” And, he had the temerity to tell me that — and listen up, as he was the “boss” — that I would only be allowed to wear skirts or dresses to work. On my very first day writing for him he informed me I would never be allowed to wear long pants at The Oxford Leader!
This was only the beginning of many, many “discussions” (unquote) that we had, about many, many things.
All I can say is that if you work for Jim Sherman today — and you are a woman — and you EVER wear a pair of long pants to work? well you owe something to me!
In the years since I left The Oxford Leader, I have continued in the heritage of small-town newspapers. I have published and run my own small newspaper, in the heartland of Alaska, called The Copper River Country Journal.
Currently, I run an Alaska visitor guide publication company. My husband and I print and distribute four travel guides, which reach half a million visitors every summer.
I am thoroughly grounded at The Leader, though. That’s where I got my start, and there is nobody more convinced that small-town journalism is important than I am.
I think of Jim Sherman often — and I am happy that we talk with each other on the phone several times a year.
I am quite sure we still probably don’t agree on anything.
Yet — my fondness for Jim, and my heartfelt appreciation of his support, his encouragement, his benign neglect, his outrageousness, and his genuine love of journalism and community has carried me a long way.
His big, shaggy head, and his befuddled look remain with me to this day.
You’re Roasted, Jim!
Love, and I truly mean it,
Linda Weld
Gakona, Alaska

Offended by anonymous letter in mailbox

On Jan. 27, I received in my mailbox an unsigned open letter on the topic of the Oxford school district’s plans to build a dormitory for international students.
Although the letter is mostly a source of amusement, due to the bad spelling, terrible punctuation, and poor grasp of the facts ? such as a fear that our schools might become a ‘government-run enterprise? ? the letter also displays incredible shortsightedness.
The author of the letter rails against Governor Rick Snyder’s plan to bring foreign investment to Michigan, as though this were a bad thing, and also against the possibility of more exchange students attending school in our district.
The export services like education is exactly the sort of thing Michigan needs as its economy evolves beyond its historical focus on manufacturing.
Many parents in the fast-growing Chinese middle class have the desire and resources to give their children an education overseas and it speaks only good of our district that there is a demand for its services. In a constantly globalizing and integrating world economy, improving the ties between our town and China (and Mexico, and Russia, etc.) is vitally important and a source of future business contacts.
As a proud American who came to this country as an immigrant, I am personally offended by the letter’s implication that it is a bad thing for Oxford to ‘be the central hub for foreign students and the student’s (sic) parents to end up.? When my wife and I moved back to Michigan several years ago, the main thing that brought us to this community was the school districts commitment to the IB (International Baccalaureate) program in general and K-12 Mandarin instruction in particular. To turn our back on the world and call it ‘American? is ignorance and lunacy.
Rory Molinari
Oxford

Resident grateful for Pearson, state reps. efforts to end Addison’s power outages

I have just read the Addison Township DTE article and wish to thank Bruce Pearson, Brad Jacobson and Jim Marleau for their efforts to obtain a resolution from DTE for the excessive electric service outages Addison Township continually endures.
I personally have had 26 outages in the past year and a half. When I contacted DTE on the outages, I asked what could be done, they said that they will be conducting a survey of the system and will inform me of the findings. I indicated when I spoke to DTE the system needed to have circuit isolation controls installed to stop the large area outages, they agreed. They never sent me a letter or communication on their findings or what will be done, that was in May of 2013. They informed me that because of the frequent outages I am eligible to receive a onetime $25 credit but I must request it. ‘HA- It costs over $6 per hour to run my generator.
It would be nice to see a law that directs utilities to be responsible for the actual fuel costs of running a generator for those times they fail to serve their customers. Because a cost borne by the consumer caused by the lack of appropriate action of the utility should not be. The utility may feel more pressure to act and correct the grid issues when it starts to cost them much more if they do not. As it stands right now a onetime $25 credit doesn’t make me whole, nor does it place a burden on DTE.
When tallying the dates and hours of the electricity outages we had during the past year and a half they come to a total of 318 hours that affected 32 days. Basically a month without continuous electric service! This is Totally unacceptable service in this age of smart meters, advanced technology and wireless communication.
Most disturbing and upsetting is the fact that there was a DTE plan to correct the grid 5 YEARS AGO but was denied due to cost! Why would an area be denied reliable electricity? There can be no reasonable answer for this decision, it has caused harm to the residents and businesses of Addison Township for the past five years; it is completely unacceptable putting lives at risk.
Hopefully DTE will correct the problem and in the future respond more expeditiously to the excessive outage areas (I am sure we are not alone) with long term fixes rather than patchwork.
It is the tireless efforts of Bruce Pearson that makes Addison township a great place to live. He has made frugal, smart decisions, generated good will and volunteerism and fought for what is right, fair and needed for the community. He is a true leader and example of good government, may we have more like him.
Ron Renaud
Addison Township

Dear Editor,
As a teacher of 24 years in the Clarkston Schools and VP of the CEA, I am in full support of the upcoming bond election. As an employee, former CCS parent, and citizen I followed the process that resulted in this decision.
I whole-heartedly trust the judgement of my leaders and I believe in their vision and thorough review of all possible options, that this is the best and most prudent strategy to move our school district further into the 21st century.
The timing may not be ideal, but often times if you wait for the right time, the window has shut on your opportunity.
The bond will provide needed building upgrades that will improve their safety and energy efficiency as well as update the schools for wireless internet access and provide the tools with which to learn the skills necessary to succeed in a global society. Granted, our buildings currently operate sufficiently and we do have access to technology, but in order to keep up with the rapidly changing world we are preparing our students for, these further changes and improvements are needed. And I think it’s safe to say the costs of these necessary upgrades will only continue to rise.
The citizens of our community are once again being asked to invest a bit more of their hard-earned money to their school district, but I have to believe this investment will pay off ten-fold in the long run.
This bond election is not only an investment in the future of the Clarkston Schools, but also the entire community. Real estate values and prospective home-buyers are greatly influenced by the quality of the local school district, so this bond is an investment in the future of all the citizens of Clarkston. I encourage you to consider this when you got to vote on May 8.
Paul Sabbag
Sashabaw Middle School teacher

Dear Editor,
The Clarkston Community Schools administration has stressed the May 8 bond proposal is what is best for the students and is supported by a solid plan, particularly in terms of the technology portion of the bond. I find two aspects of that argument particularly interesting.
First, when the administration introduced its 2011-2014 technology plan in May 2011, it indicated that $8.3 million would need to be funded through a bond. Between then and now that number has become $10.5 million. It is safe to assume this is not rounding. Second, as representatives from the administration have met with parents and other community members the plan continues to change.
Both these points are indicative of an administration that does not have a well-thought-out plan with sufficient detail to support the expenditures for which it is asking. The repeated circling back to amend the underlying documents points one to the conclusion that this is an initiative for which a number ($20 million) was selected followed by an exercise in document production the administration felt was sufficient to support that number.
It is the board’s and the administration’s responsibility to students, parents, teachers and the community to develop a vision, work through the detail to produce the strategies, objectives and tactics that will support the vision, then conduct the due diligence required to identify activities in which the district will be engaged and the resources that will be needed to meet the district’s objectives and achieve its vision. Anything less than a well-developed and executed plan is not in anyone’s best interests.
Let’s support the students? best interests in the broader context of what is also best for the parents, teachers, the community and the long term financial health of the district by voting ‘No? for this proposal.
Lawrence Matta
Independence Township

Dear Editor,
A special thanks goes out to the third graders at Independence Elementary School for furnishing all of the wonderful muffins for our Meals on Wheels and Seniors at the Center.
The seniors loved the muffins and the thoughtful notes from the children on each box. You made our day extra special.
It was a special experience to attend your Ninth Annual Serving Our Community Kid Style (S.O.C.K.S.) Day and being presented with the muffins.
Keep up the good work at your school. Thanks to Chris Turner and everyone involved in making it a success.
Barbara Rollin, coordinator
Ind. Twp. Senior Adult Activity Center

To Mr. John Roshek, organizer of the Aug. 2 Open Carry Picnic at Seymour Lake Park,
I cannot pretend I was not shocked when I read there was to be picnic at a public park and people were encouraged to bring their guns.
I do realize that many people who carry guns are good responsible people. I also realize that many are not.
How do you plan to have ‘only? the responsible people attend?
I did not see anything in the article about checking for legal license’s to carry these guns. Is someone there checking licence’s ?
Why is it necessary to hold this event at a park where unsuspecting families could show up with their children for a picnic.
I am sure not everyone would like their children to go to a park and see a bunch of people walking around carrying guns. Parents of teenagers have enough issues in everyday life without adding one more and a dangerous one at that.
You realize teenagers will be drawn to this event without their parents permission. This should be a parents personal decision when, how and if their children will be introduced to guns.
How do you plan to handle the young children watching you who probably think you are just ‘so cool? because you have a gun.
The younger children are not mature enough to realize the seriousness of this whole situation. When you hold something like this in a public place where children gather it is no longer able to be a responsible adult event.
I think educating people about guns is a good idea. Attempting this at a public place where most likely there will be ‘children of all ages ‘is not a fair nor responsible adult/parental decision. Hold this in an enclosed facility and open it to whoever would like to come. Better yet have it in one of your back yards. You could accomplish the same thing and possibly attract more people. This gives people the option to attend.
Please take into consideration the people who have a tragedy in their lives involving a gun. Let me give you a few examples. My friends father was hunting with his teenaged son when his bullet ricocheted, hit his son and killed him. My neighbor was held at gun point before falling to the ground, thankfully the man was subdued, someone in my own family died from a gun accident. Yes it would be helpful if all these people could learn that guns are not bad, but holding something like this out in the open ‘just because you can? is showing so little empathy for those who are still suffering. If you truly want to help people, hold some free classes for people to come to talk with you, listen to why they feel the way they do. Have a list of places they can go to take classes and learn about safety.
I believe the unsavory people who carry guns (and there are some) would be less likely to come to an event like this if it were in a contained building than if it were at a park.
You said in your article, and I quote, ‘I’m not looking to make any political statements, nothing of that sort. I am not looking to gain attention or cause panic. Its really about being able to protect myself and my family. I don’t consider myself a paranoid person. I have just lived long enough to know what the world is like.?
I’m not looking to make any political statements, nothing of that sort. Your first statement was to inform people that they don’t necessarily have to have a concealed pistol license to protect themselves. You also wanted people to know that they did not have to follow any rules that stated no guns allowed in public parks. Responsible gun owners already knew this, now everyone knows it. Not a good plan.
You are not out to gain attention or cause panic. What did you think this would do for every parent taking their young children to Seymour Lake park, make them feel safe that a bunch of people they do not know are going to be there carrying guns? I can tell you first hand you have gained a lot of negative attention and caused much panic in time when people are already stressed and struggling with the worries from our failing economy. No one needed this nor do they deserve it.
Its really about you being able to protect yourself and your family. If that is true why are you involving people who do not want to be involved. Protect your family however you choose and let others choose their own methods. If you have lived long enough to know what the world is like then you must know that not all people are responsible gun owners. You cannot guarantee that you will not attract a few ‘closet crazies? who wouldn’t chance coming to a public park alone, but would feel much safer in a group. It may even gain them some confidence so they will come back alone. Now that is a great thought, they can walk around the park and our children with their guns making us all feel so much safer.
I am certainly hoping you will reconsider this whole idea. We moved to Oxford because we felt it was a nice ‘home? community. People care about one another. They take into consideration how their actions affect their friends and neighbors. Caring about one another means respecting others opinions and fears. If you really want to be fair about this? Vote on whether to have it.
Dan & Susy Krans
Oxford residents

Dear editor,
Recently our organization distributed our bright red crepe paper poppies.
Due to the generosity of the Clarkston community, we were able to raise $5,000 so that we can assist veterans in need throughout the next year.
We’ll be providing food, clothing, and utilities, as well as support for our current service people. Thank you all for your generous donations!
We would also like to recognize Kroger in Springfield Township, Bueches in Ortonville, Independence Township and the City of the Village of Clarkston.
Thank you to the American Legion Post 63 and Sons of the the American Legion Squadron 63 for their assistance!
Amy Laboissonniere, President
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 63

Impact of recall bad for village
Dear Editor:
I would like to bring to the attention of the citizens of Goodrich that the goals of the recall are to evacuate the Village of Goodrich. Fredericks and Wartella want the citizens of Goodrich to pay Atlas Township taxes only, and have the township take over. I would like to show what effects this would have on the community.
The mill pond would be taken over by the City of Flint and it would be no more with only a creek going through our community. The roads would be taken over by the county and repairs in subdivisions would be non existent, only the main roads would be fixed. Our streets would have to wait to be snow plowed, because the main roads would be taken care of first, and we would be snow in many times during the winter. Our sanitary system would be taken over by Genesee County, and we would have no voice in its use. We would lose our village hall, where we have meeting and community functions at a very reasonable cost. We would lose our control of our village park. Streetlights would be turned off or have to be paid by the home- owners.We would not have village benches and flowers in our median areas. We would lose control of our ordinances ? grass cutting of our medians ‘car selling in our parking lots ? trucks parking in our vacant lots. We would lose control of planning of our community by not having zoning board.
This recall is really uncalled for, because the existing board has been doring a great job looking out for all of our interest, by doing a great managing job leading our community in the right direction. They have lowered our taxes by 30 percent five years ago, and have cut the budget to adapt to the lower tax base. I feel it is about time we not pay attention to the trouble makers in our community ( Diane Fredericks and Pattie Wartella) and do not sign the recall. The next time we have an election we should not vote for the trouble -maker. I am proud of our community. It is about time the we have a voted board that looks out for the good of Goodrich and not have the trouble maker trying to dismantle Goodrich. I would hope people, when asked to sign this petition, would see that it’s wrong and say no to it. We just voted this board into existence and we should leave it that way. I feel that they are doing a great job, with little or no compensation, but do the job because they care for Goodrich.
Norman Bass
Goodrich