Dear Editor,
I would like to start by thanking Kevin Wille, Robert Therrien, Tyrone Beltramo, Cheryl Gault, and Dave King for the contributions they have made to our community. Some spoke out in The Citizen while others had their vote of a dissenting opinion silenced. We were as a township silenced by Ron Lapp when he, against our vote, steamrolled the park through.
On Aug. 9 dissent was again silenced when park funding was steamrolled forward. The Fantastic Four, Kathy Thurman, Jeannie McCreery, Bob Dewitt, and Tom Stowell (remember these names in 2012) voted to use the $75,000 matching DNR grant. They voted to not back out, to not take the hit, to not pay it back to the state. They did vote to spend approximately $110,000 of taxpayer funds to finish the park with a reported $250,000 deficit hanging over our heads. They did vote for all of the unknown costs of the park instead of paying back the grant, taking the hit for the prior administration. I would like to thank them for their courage and critical thinking.
My fellow citizens, we must wake up. I am guilty of being asleep for all too many years after my return from the Persian Gulf in September 1991. ‘We have given over to others our power and they have not done well,? stated Patti Smith. I voted for both Kathy Thurman and Jeannie McCreery. I confess to you that I am displeased with the outcome, which I will remember in 2012. I do call upon those of like mind to persuade Tyrone Beltramo, Cheryl Gault, and Dave King to stay on board. They are our vote of dissent and are deserving of our support. With the coming budget, volunteers will be needed in the township offices, senior center, and the costly township park. We should come together volunteering to help, but, lest we forget?..Remember who dug the hole that we will be in come election time 2012.
Michael A. Hamlett

P.S. Attend the ‘Truth In Taxation Meeting? 7:30 p.m., Sept. 20, 2010.