Efforts to recall Supervisor David Wagner is growing.
Rae Luallen and Linda Donkerbrook, members of ‘Citizens Against Independence Township Waste,? handed out ‘Recall Wagner? fliers to residents paying their summer taxes at Township Hall.
‘His spending is out of control and the township cannot continue to beat down the residents and expect us to continue to give. The old adage is ‘you can’t get blood from a turnip,?? Luallen said. ‘Well we’re out of blood, the blood bank is empty, and the money bank is empty. Quit beating us down and do something to stimulate things here and improve things.?
Donkerbrook said it was about being ‘fair to the people who live here.?
‘They’ve (the residents) all taken cuts, they’ve lost their jobs, they’ve lost their health insurance and all they get is a giant building. People are coming out the first time they’ve been in it and they’re asking us why,” she said. “Why do they have all those TVs, why do they have all these computers that nobody is sitting at, why do they need all this room? It’s empty.? They’re upset because they’re paying for it and it’s not fair.?
One woman who wished to remain unnamed agreed.
‘Everyone else is pulling in their bill strings and watching their pennies, we’re trying to buy cars, but we can’t, trying to get the kids to school and it’s difficult to get the tuition at the state colleges,? she said. ‘All of the sudden we have the money for this (township hall). How much of the tax dollars that we’re spending went here??
Kim Viazanko also wanted a little more understanding from township officials.
‘It would be nice if some of our elected officials followed the example of (Detroit Mayor) Dave Bing to realize that all of us are suffering and struggling to make our tax payments, if nothing else to let alone feed our family,? she said. ‘They should definitely see what they can do to give back as well.?
One woman was upset because Wagner is not ‘following the rules.?
‘I’m tired of these guys going behind our backs and doing the things they’re doing and not letting the public know,? Virginia Ball said. ‘We need this cleaned up.?
Marvin Houston wants to know why the township doesn’t have the vision to build up the community.
‘Why is this township office not having the foresight that Rochester has, why are we keeping out these larger companies that need to come in here to build this community,? he asked. ‘We have all the property a person could ever want around here, but they want to keep it small town.?
Other residents are still upset concerning the township’s talk about trash hauling.
‘I think it’s kind of despicable for Dave Wagner to try and incorporate to take garbage and use one consolidated pickup company because then all that does is put more people out of work,? Mark Pierce said.
‘These guys, they all got jobs, they all got families to hold on too. I’m laid off. I haven’t worked in almost two years, so I know what these people would be going through if this happened. I think it’s just terrible.?
No matter the reasons, township residents have had it, at least that’s how Michael Powell, President of the group sees it.
‘This is just local people who have had enough of it,? he said. ‘It’s got nothing to do with any of us, we’re not affiliated with anybody that wants to run for this job, it’s just we’ve all had enough.?
Powell said it’s time for Wagner to either be recalled or for him to resign.
‘That’s what this is all about is getting people to realize there are better people that could be doing the job here and Dave Wagner is not doing the job that we voted for him to do,? he said. ‘He’s cost us enough money.?