Given the state of the economy, what are the budget priorities for the village?
Stumkat ? I’m sure number one is maintaining what we have and completing the services to serve our residents. It’s going to be tough, this is no question due to the fact of the economy. I think it’s going to take some strong leadership, some creative ideas to maintain what we have. We have budget cuts that could be available, but that’s our last resort. I’d like to go into each department and evaluate it because sometimes just the smallest procedures can save us money. Being in business, those are the things you look for first. Cuts are the last thing you want to do ? inevitable, sometimes it does happen. But those are things that I think we can hang on to: maintain the service for our residents.
Hobbs ? We have to watch our services. Being not on the council, I would have to say I’d have to research more because I’m not privy to some of the information they have. But I like the services we have and that’s what we need to watch.
Yee ? We need to maintain the quality of living that the residents are accustomed to. Since I’m not on the council yet, I’m not privy to a lot of the information that’s discussed in private sessions, but it’s very important to maintain the quality of living in this quaint community.
Toth ? All of our budget meetings are public. We have never discussed budget in private. Everything that is there can be read and is readily available right here on ONTV. But our department heads, Chief Narsh and Mike Olsen, have been doing conservative forecasts and planned ahead for several years. Chief Narsh has come to us with drug forfeiture money and many different ways to rearrange worker hours to get greater efficiency. I, myself, went to Oxford Bank and got a $2,000 donation to build a new play-scape at Swiss Village Park. We have been doing conservative forecasts for the four years that I’ve been on, and that’s thanks in part to Jan Adams, our treasurer, who has done a great job of estimating the lowest possible income we could get that next year and then budgeting within that so if we come above that, we’re all set. One thing that we did was to no eliminate services like the lifeguards at Green’s Park because we felt that it’s very important.
What would you propose to help revitalize the downtown area, helping it continue to thrive?
Hobbs ? They have a lot of good stuff going on right now. They had the Farmers Market. Anytime they need to, they can shut the streets off for other events. I’d just like to see the events just coming and maybe change them up now and then. We have our parades which are also good. I think the downtown is doing great right now with what they have. I’d like to see a variety of different events. That’s where I see the revitalization happening; that the township doesn’t let so much commercial building go on outside where they have too many strip malls and strangle our downtown. Our downtown is a jewel. It’s a meeting place for all of Orion Township and I’d like to see it remain that way. Change up the events every now and then, but I know new ideas will come along.
Yee ? We need to bring in businesses downtown. There’s a lot of empty store fronts We can bring in businesses such as an icecream store. There’s just so much ? I mean the Wagon Wheel is such an eye sore because it’s just sitting there. We need to fill in the empty store fronts. In an ideal world, to get everything rented out ? there’s your revenue right there.
Toth ? I think we need to make Lake Orion a destination for people to come to. Setting that aside, though, we’re actually doing pretty well considering the economic times. You look on the east side of Broadway, I don’t think there’s a single vacancy on any one of those buildings, and that’s a long stretch. But, some of the things I’ve looked at in the past, and proposed and researched, is the WiFi for downtown. I’ve looked into that three years ago. Now they’re starting to look into it. I liked the idea of a Christmas light competition for residents. Make Lake Orion a place for people to come to to see the light, they might stop in and have dinner or stop at Little Monsters and buy some Christmas gifts. I’ve thought about a snowman competition for the kids. Put that into the same thing, people drive around with a survey, say ‘that kid’s the best? ? awesome idea, or at least I think so. The steetscape project and the new roads that we’re doing, that’s going to be a boom for the town. That is going to make businesses move down here because we’ll have the newest streetscape in the area.
Stumkat ? I think one of my pet peeves is coming down to Lake Orion prior to living here was the park, the availability of parking. We have some great stores, some good activities and it appears parking is an issue. I know we’re hemmed in on a lot of different areas, but I’m one of those people ? it can be done. Somewhere along the line, we can make it happen. Once we have the parking in hand, that will enhance other businesses to want to come.
As a village resident and a registered voter in this area, why should I and my neighbors cast my vote in your favor?
Stumkat ? You hear a lot of people promise a lot of things. I’m one of the people that do things and get things done. I like a lot of Mike’s ideas and I know I’d be an asset. I like to get things done, I like to motivate people and I like to evaluate things. As a resident of Lake Orion, I love the city, I love the town, I love the lake. It’s a great place to live; I’ve never been more relaxed and I’m really happy to be here. I do want to maintain the status.
Hobbs ? I’m not a politician. I’m a better listener than I am a talker. I like the people who run the village. I believe that I can be a team player with the council. I’m not looking out for my own agenda, I just want to look out for the residents, the safety of the seniors, the children walking down the street. We have that and that’s what I want to see remain in our village. You can see a little child wakling down the street and you know he’s not going to be molested; seniors walking early in the morning and you know they’re not going to be knocked on the hip and something stolen from them. I want to maintain that piece that’s in our village, that’s what I would work for. Just to maintain our serenity and what we have in the village that we all enjoy.
Yee ? First of all, I’m a people person. Having come from a large family, I’ve learned to deal with different personality types, and like I said before, what works for one doesn’t work for another. I’m a people person and I get along with people and that’s important. I’m a person of integrity. If I say I’m going to do something, I will do it. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first person to admit I’m wrong. Like my brother said, don’t think that you know everything. If you don’t know something, admit you don’t know it and ask questions, get help, use your resources.
Toth ? If you watch council meetings, often times and even here tonight, you hear the problems that are going on. You hear how this isn’t a good idea or that’s not going to work. You don’t hear a lot of ‘well let’s do this instead? or ‘let’s go this direction instead.? You hear the problems and everyone looks to the manager or everyone looks to somebody else to find the solution. Whereas I’m the person who likes to find the problem and find the solution. Mr. Stumkat brought up an excellent point about the parking situation. A couple of years ago I saw that myself so I researched parking meters, found an excellent solution for us, went to the chief, discussed it with him and we both decided maybe now’s not the time for parking meters. Maybe it never will be. But I have the information. If the time comes along where parking meters are going to work for the village to help move people to the parking lots instead of on the street (the street’s still there, you just have to pay a little bit for it), that will bring in revenue to the village and move people into parking lots. That’s information I have, I’m ready to act on it if the time comes. That’s why you should vote for me.
Ranville ? Serving as public works director for 37 years and continuing on that point with five years on the council, my knowledge with the roads and the park and water system, and everything in general ? I know a little bit about police activities and inter-office workings. I feel I have, I know I have the qualities to make a difference in this community, keep spending down and provide top services for residents of the village. And also, working with the township and other communities. I’m also on the DDA design committee, cable commission and union church committee. So know who you’re voting for come September 15.
Closing statements
Toth ? I think I’ve given you as many reasons as I can for voting for me. More than that, I hope I’ve proved it over the last four years. If I haven’t, then don’t vote for me. If I haven’t done my job, then you shouldn’t vote for me and I shouldn’t be here. I like to think that I have done it, though, and I feel like that’s why you’re going to vote for me. The thing is, as much general information as I’ve been able to give tonight, I would like a chance to speak about individual situations. If you’d like, you can look me up. I’m in the phone book, the village offices have instructions to give our my email and my cell phone number. Look me up, I’d be more than happy to talk about individual problems, concerns, questions. Also, I like to collaborate with people on things. We’ve taken ideas in the Parks and Recreation Committee. We’ve moved forward with those from other people and made them happen into real ideas. And that’s really what I like to do. Thank you very much. I look forward to seeing you on Sept. 15.
Hobbs ? Answering these questions off the cuff was a rough thing. They were all good questions. The reason I’d like to be voted in is I’m a team player. I like the vllage the way it is, I want to preserve that. There’s not much more I can say but it’s your choice. My dad says don’t complain if you don’t vote. I’d just like to say come on out and vote Tuesday, Sept. 15. Let’s have a bigger turn out. The last election was about seven percent. Let’s try to make it a little bigger than that this time. We had 400 votes out of 2,700 people. Let’s see if we can do better this time around. This community is important to you, it’s important to me. You need to vote. Thank you.
Stumkat ? Vote for me. I’m a doer. I get things done. I’m a team player. And I persevere. Being in business for 30 years, you learn these things. I’ve been fortunate in life and that’s given me experience and many assets. In closing, in hard economic times, we need strong leadership. It takes a person with experience and creative ideas to guide us through these uncharted times. A person you can count on to make a fair decision. Your vote for me is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Yee ? I’d you to vote for me because I’m one of you. I’ve lived in the village for a total of eight years. I moved here 10 years ago and I lived in the township for about a year and a half. I moved back because I just love the village. I’m just a down-to-earth person. If you ask me anything, I’m an open book, which can be a problem because sometimes I will reveal things about myself that should have been kept quiet. My church is here in the community ? I attend Temple Baptist Church right on Beebe Street. I’m just a people person and I’d like to serve the community. I’m a great listener. Thank you.