Editor’s note:Earlier this month, The Citizen e-mailed questions to candidates in Atlas, Brandon and Groveland townships.

Candidates were limited to 30 word responses. Key: Incumbent (I), Republican (R), Democrat (D), No party affiliation (NPA)

Ortonville Village Council 4 year term choose three

Name, age:

Karen Sleva, 66

Years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

24 years residency in village; two council meetings and two planning commission meetings in 2016.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree, Education; Master’s Degree, School Counseling

Occupation:

Retired Teacher/Public Servant for MDOC

Government-related experience:

I have twenty-four years’ experience as a teacher with sixteen of those spent working for the MDOC. I also campaigned against the proposed sewer system for Ortonville in 2015. (29 words)

Why are you running for office?

I want to represent the hard-working families and taxpayers living in Ortonville who paid 49.79130 mills in property taxes in 2015 to find ways to reduce property taxes.

What is your plan to improve the village’s economic condition?

We have to find ways to reduce property taxes to attract new families, new businesses, and new investors to Ortonville to increase our tax base.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

Sewers may be acceptable in certain areas, but only if the project is funded by grants, not special assessment levies. Otherwise, property owners must produce written proof of septic maintenance.

If elected what will be your top priority in office:

Explore additional ways to share or combine governmental services with Brandon Twp. to reduce property taxes. Examine Ortonville’s budget to find ways to reduce governmental spending and waste.

What do you envision for Ortonville in four years?

I see a more economically vibrant and thriving village because lower property taxes have attracted new families to the village, new business, and new investors.

*********

Name, age:

Bernard McHugh, 45

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

Homeowner in the village for 14 years. Attended three meetings.

Education:

Atherton High School graduate and some college. Enlisted in military after high school.

Occupation:

Filling technical, batch maker, plant safety coordinator.

Government-related experience:

Twelve years in Army.

Why are you running for office?

I see some issues in the village that will require some changes. I want to make a difference.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

Cut spending.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

We need to seek government grants to help upgrade village infrastructure.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Keep in check the unnecessary spending.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

Keep the village small and the small town friendly feel. Strive to work together.

*********

Name, age

: Courtney McClerren, 31 (I)

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in the last year:

I have lived in the village for 24 years, and I attended almost every village council meeting in the last year.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in History from Oakland University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Michigan

Occupation:

I am a stay-at-home mom for my two beautiful children, Autumn (3) and Aaron (10 months)

Government-related experience:

I have served on Village Council for the past 4 years, on the Planning Commission for 3+ years, and the Fire Authority for the past year. I also did my internship in the Township Clerk’s Office and have worked several elections.

Why are you running for office?

I love to serve the community and I am passionate about improving the community for future generations.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

I am currently supporting a capital improvement plan that the Planning Commission is working on, as well as improving our trails and our parks.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

There are several new businesses in the downtown district, which will help bring more money into the village, helping to build the downtown back up.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

My top priority while in office will be to maintain or improve our village roads, sidewalks and parks, with the hopes of adding new sidewalks throughout the village.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

I envision road, sidewalk, and park improvements as well as bigger community events to bring more revenue to the downtown area.

*********

Name, age:

Debbie Baker, 45 (I)

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in the last year:

Lived 19 years in Ortonville. Attended all but one village council meeting.

Education:

N/A

Occupation:

Deli worker and own my own cleaning business.

Government-related experience:

I’ve been on Village Council since 2010, DDA board member since 2006.

Why are you running for office?

I’m running for office because I love the village I live in and I want to make sure everyone who lives here loves it, too.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

I would like to keep improving Ortonville by getting the community involved in decisions and beautifying and keeping our downtown safe.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

Sewers were defeated last year, I will look for an affordable way to fix the water issues we have for the health and safety of our taxpayers and children in our community.

If elected what will be your top priority in office

? My top priority is to keep the village running smoothly for the community.

What do you envision for Ortonville in four years?

In 4 years I see the village as the quaint place people live to bring themselves and their children to visit.

*********

Name, age:

Dan Eschmann, 57 (I)

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

23 years in the village, way too many meetings to count, missed a few regular village council meetings.

Education:

Electronic Engineering

Occupation:

30 years with PPG Industries inc, currently Account manager

Government-related experience:

7 ½ years on village council

Why are you running for office?

I am running to represent the village residents and to make decisions that positively affect our village

What is your plan to help improve the village?

To continue with improvements on roads, sidewalks, blight enforcement.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

Before the village recommends anything, we need to gather good factual data on where failures are occurring. We cannot assume all systems are failing or all are good.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Improved roads, sidewalks, blight.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

I envision the following; a village that is managed very well for our residents, A village management that serves our residents well, continued excellent DPW services, clean well maintained street front with updated building fronts, roads and sidewalks.

*********

Name and age:

Mark Butzu, 64

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

28 years in the village. Approximately 6 meetings attended.

Education:

3+ years college, Florida State University

Occupation:

Sales

Government-related experience:

Previously Ortonville Planning Commission Vice-Chair for 15 years in the 90s-2005.

Why are you running for office?

I do not feel the voice of the village residents is being accurately represented.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

I would like to participate in the decisions made by the village council.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

I like to first qualify the accuracy and genuineness of the concerns and then participate in research for economical solutions.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Restoring trust between the village residents and the council.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

I think we could all raise our property values if we eliminate blight.

********

Name and age

: James Webb, 79

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

33 years in the village, I have not gone to any village council meetings.

Education:

High school graduate.

Occupation:

Retired after 22 years of service as a Waterford Township Police officer. 4 years in the Marine Corps.

Government-related experience:

Brandon Township trustee for four years alongside Supervisor Pat Alexander.

Why are you running for office?

I am a little upset with the council over the sewers. They were voted down and they are right back at it again. I want the people’s voices to be heard.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

The council is spending an enormous amount of money, they’re raking in money for meetings they are attending, which is absurd, the money could be spent to do other things in the village that need to be done.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

A lot of people don’t know septics need to be pumped every few years. If a septic system is pumped there is no better system. They need to know that.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Make the village council responsible to the citizens.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

We’re a nice little community, leave us alone. I like the little mom and pop store, anything else is absurd.

Name and age:

Ortonville Village Council partial term vote for one

Keith Dylus, 42 (I)

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

2.5 years, and 10 meetings

Education

: Associate Degree in Applied Technology

Occupation:

Senior Controls Project Engineer for ABB in Auburn Hills. I have over 20yrs experience as a Controls Engineer building robotic automation and handling multimillion dollar projects.

Government-related experience:

Less than 1 yr on Ortonville council.

Why are you running for office?

I enjoy being involved in my community and helping to make a difference.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

I do not have a specific agenda. I want to make sure our village government is making good decisions for the residents of Ortonville.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

There are quite a few ways to handle waste without having a Sewage treatment facility in Ortonville. More investigation would need to be done to find better alternatives.

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Making sure that the Village Council is making decisions with the village residents in mind.

What do you envision for the village in four years?

For our village government to make fiscally responsible decisions on behalf of our residents.

Ortonville Village Council President vote for one

Name, age:

Wayne M. Wills, 67 (I)

Number of years in the village and council meetings attended in last year:

39 years as a village resident. In the past 12 months I have presided over 11 regularly scheduled monthly council meetings, and several special council meetings as deemed necessary in order to conduct important village business. In addition, I have attended 12 monthly meetings as a member of the Ortonville Downtown Development Authority

Education:

I have a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in management & business economics

Occupation:

I have worked continuously in the insurance industry for over 43 years, as well as owning an insurance agency over much of this time.

Government-related experience:

I am currently serving in my 6th year (3-2 year terms) as village president & 6 years on the Ortonville Downtown Development Authority. I previously served: 4 years as trustee on the Brandon Schools board of education;4 years on the Brandon Fire Board and 10 years on the Ortonville Planning Commission.

Why are you running for office?

I am running to help make Ortonville the very best that it can be given the limited resources available via the current tax revenue & potential grant revenue available.

What is your plan to help improve the village?

I plan on encouraging new business opportunities….even without sewers and hiring a local resident as Village Clerk.

Village voters overwhelmingly defeated a sewer proposal last year. What do you see as options to bring infrastructure to the village or ensure the health and safety of residents?

Options to an otherwise expensive community waste water treatment system include encouraging additional smaller cooperative, semi-privately owned & funded business co-op, multi-user systems, as well as monitoring of privately owned residential septic systems

If elected, what will be your top priority in office?

I will research any options, & examine all ideas for improvement for village residents & business owners… and then present such options for our community’s evaluation

What do you envision for the village in four years?

　I envision further improved occupancy of downtown business space, improved road resurfacing, as well as an expanded sidewalk network.