Dear editor:
Although the November election seems far off, Atlas Township residents need to seriously consider running for an office for Atlas Township NOW.
Since Sara Bachman left the township board, the village residents have not had a representative on the township board. Village residents pay as much in township taxes as township residents, so it is especially important that one or more members of the township board are village residents.
Applications to run for a public office in Atlas Township are available to be picked up at the Atlas Township hall. Applications require a minimum of three and maximum of 10 signatures of registered voters who support your desire to run for office. These applications should be filed with the township clerk by May 12 to ensure that your name appears on the ballot.
Township offices of supervisor, clerk, and treasurer are all part-time and have a salary, benefit and retirement package of over $30,000 a year. The clerk and treasurer each have deputies that help with their day-to-day duties. The two trustee positions require attendance at board meetings and have a salary, benefit and retirement package of over $5,000 a year. All of these positions are up for election this fall.
We apologize for not having exact salary and benefit figures, but when we called the township this morning to obtain the information, we were told we had to file a Freedom of Information Act request to find out what the township officials are paid.
The Michigan Township Association provides training classes for all newly appointed officials to prepare them for their duties, so a desire to help your community and fairly represent the residents is more important than past experience.
We plan to run for Atlas Township offices and want to encourage all residents, whatever their party, to consider submitting their applications.
Let’s give the voters of Atlas Township and the Village of Goodrich a real vote in how their township is run this November! Pick up an application to run for a township office today!
Shirley Kautman-Jones &
Susan Arnold, Atlas Township