Ortonville-The Brandon Senior Center has a new name? the Edna Burton Senior Center.
At a meeting on June 20, the board voted 5-2 to memorialize Burton, a township clerk for 22 years who died in January, by renaming the senior center she founded.
The new name is effective immediately, but nothing will be actually changed until a ceremony is held later this year, says clerk Jeannie McCreery.
McCreery, supervisor Ron Lapp, and trustees Bob DeWitt, Tom Stowell and Sandra Willett all voted for the name change, while treasurer Linda Owen and trustee Charlene Carlson voted against it.
‘I’m very pleased with the change,? said Lapp. ‘We looked at what Edna had done for the community. She had a lifelong commitment to serving the public. She continued her efforts after retirement and she set a great example of what a public servant can accomplish.?
Burton was hired as the township’s first full-time employee in 1966 and became clerk in 1970. She was known for getting whatever grant money was available for the township, including the grant in 1977 which established the senior center. Burton devoted much of her time to the center and the seniors, visiting everyday.
‘Edna was so involved with the center, cooking soup for the seniors and having coffee there with them every morning,? said McCreery, who added that Burton was still visiting everyday two weeks before her death. ‘She never considered herself a senior, she talked about ‘her? seniors. I think she would be very pleased with the (center’s) new name.?
In voting no on the new name, Carlson cited her concern that the board was setting a precedent.
‘There are many people in the township who have dedicated many civic hours to the community and are lifelong residents,? Carlson said. ‘I feel Edna did a wonderful job and is very well-respected, but it will set a precedent. They’ll want to name buildings after everyone. But it passed and we’ll live with it.?
Lapp disagreed with Carlson, saying the renaming was not done lightly or frivolously.
‘She was an outstanding member of the community,? he said. ‘I thought it was a fitting tribute. Edna was the driving force behind the senior center.?
A memorial garden and plaque at the senior center, located at 345 Ball St., is currently being planned to honor not only Burton, but others involved in creating, sustaining and growing the senior center.