You Are Not In Kansas-Careful What You Wish For Toto

I have always been an advocate of transparent and fiscally responsible government. Essential government services should be the sole beneficiary of our tax dollars. I moved back to northern Michigan, as many of us have been fortunate to do, after decades in other locales. I have seen good, bad, and just plain corrupt local government and all of these behaviors can sometimes co-exist within one town or county. I lived in Pinal County Arizona while the population increased by over 54% from 117,000 in 1990 to 179,000 residents in 2000. That was just the beginning and Pinal County’s population doubled again to more than 375,000 people by 2010.

Pinal County, AZ 1891 Courthouse

Pinal County’s three part-time County Supervisors, not nine County Commissioners, worked with other elected office holders and the county bureaucracy to chase the population increase with growing pains and a little corruption along the way. As recently as 2010, Pinal County, much like Cheboygan County, was still small town, small “g” governance. Delores “Dodie” Doolittle served as elected Treasurer after working in the building for years. Her husband Terry served in half a dozen positions eventually becoming County Manager. 

The state had indicted Terry Doolittle’s predecessor Stan Griffis for stealing more than $400,000 in county transportation funds resulting in a 3 1/2 year prison term. Stan was a good no-nonsense county manager who I knew personally. The courts proved Stan was more than a little crooked as he offered bigger fish than me a smooth road to large subdivision and development approvals. The funds went into special accounts that Stan personally tapped. The Doolittle’s and other elected officials and employees in Pinal have since been embroiled in other conflicts and controversies. People watching their local government asked questions or made allegations. Some concerns proved real and some were not.

Headquarters Bar-Maricopa, AZ

My small town Arizona was Maricopa. It was just a wide spot in the road in the early 1990’s with a single blinking caution light, a school, Post Office, two bars, and a few other locally owned businesses. We all participated in the boom as developers moved in. Open desert, cotton fields, and pecan orchards became new subdivisions, gated golf-course  communities, shopping, and health care services.  Maricopa incorporated as a city in 2003. Between 2000 and 2010, Maricopa’s population grew from 1,040 residents to 43,482, an increase of 4080%. 

Maricopa, AZ-Fastest Growing City in USA

The City of Cheboygan experienced an 8.1% population loss in the same decade. Local governments have little influence on economic booms or busts. The leaders, and it does take leaders, have to respond as populations wax or wane. They can let the belt out as the population and need grows; but must be able to suck their gut in and tighten the belt as tax resources and needs diminish.

We live far-far away from tornado alley, but occasionally, for a moment, I will regain consciousness at some too-long government meeting and think, did I just hear Dorothy say; “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore”. Cheboygan County is not Kansas but every year it does seem to move closer to the imaginary Land of Oz. I seldom see a county meeting where our elected officials do not reach their hand over a shoulder and pat themselves on the back while saying “good job”. They have often done nothing more than what the State of Michigan mandates. They are their own best fans. They are also the best fans of their employees. The county has some great employees and I will argue the employees’ case anytime, but “Good job“is a phrase perhaps used too freely. The malaise currently affecting Cheboygan County occurs when any elected board escapes to some fantasy world. Who is hiding behind the curtain in this River City Oz and can we face the reality of our failures and inadequacies?  

Almost 10 years after the 2008 recession, Cheboygan County, the City of Cheboygan, and many of our Township Boards have been living in Oz. They have labored on bike trails, Trail Towns, Trailheads, failed Streetscapes, failed business parks, a failed Master Plan, and more than 140 amendments to a failed zoning ordinance. 

When real world problems, a bankrupt non-profit community based hospital; or real world opportunities appear, a 250-employee multi-million dollar Meijers store, a Griswold Mountain, a Heritage Cove Farm, or a single proprietor dog grooming business; Cheboygan County was found unprepared to embrace any growth. There is no yellow brick road. We need to identify and prioritize our real world needs and move forward. 

****It's No Party, You Can Cry If YOU Want To****

It is always enjoyable to see people in small towns pull together for a cause. I have lived in small towns most of my life. I have known so many people that see a need and step-up to help before anyone asks for a hand. Caring people volunteering at churches, schools, service clubs or those just quietly helping family and friends are the backbone of our communities. They recognize a need and their real reward is in knowing they have helped people.

The recent Fall Fest in Cheboygan was a little different cause. It was great to see a large group of volunteers, many that we recognize as already making things happen, working together for the better part of a year to organize a wide range of events for one weekend. The diversity of activities must have challenged attendees to prioritize and ask; where do we go or what do we do next? Parties, celebrations, and special events are always gratifying to those who plan and organize them. When they are as successful as Cheboygan’s first annual Fall Festival, it is a source of pride while promoting the community. I congratulate all of the individuals who got creative, gave of their time, and pulled off a festival with events that far exceeded the rote mentality to just do something downtown and then have a beer tent.

If this first Fall Fest was Cheboygan’s pre-game tailgate party and award winning Cheerleading Team rolled into one, then our local governments must be the 0 and 16 home team we reluctantly support. There is no route to a winning season for Cheboygan when our local governments cannot provide the basic infrastructure business needs. Government is not fun and games. It is not parties and festivals. Many of these same local companies, sponsors, and individuals that successfully pulled off a winning Fall Fest weekend have lobbied, petitioned, and even pleaded to Inverness Township, the City of Cheboygan, and the Cheboygan County Commissioners to provide the public infrastructure that should be a priority for these local leaders.

I said leaders and the word reeks of sarcasm. The most basic of government responsibilities is government fulfilling the essential needs of the citizens who pay their salaries. It is as simple as the rule of business. Businesses must provide a satisfactory service to us, or we go somewhere else. As Inverness Supervisor Ron Neuman famously said, we are only part-time elected officials. Many of our young people are working two part-time jobs and earning less each year than these officials sitting at a board table for only 30 to 50 hours in an entire year while they do nothing. That has to change. I have moved when I disagreed with government. Our country’s founders moved across an ocean and then engineered an armed revolt to gain our freedom from King George. Our elected officials work for us or we can find new elected officials. If the Inverness Board cannot move to bring the infrastructure that a major development needs, move them out and move a more responsible body of Inverness Township elected officials in.

Recall season is now open. Officials serving a term of office for more than two Years: Recall petition shall not be filed during the first and last year of the term of office. MCL 168.951(1). An inability or refusal to reach a compromise deal on either a 425 Agreement or a Utility Service Agreement after more than two years is a good and valid reason for a recall. It has become an inexcusable delay when there have been so many options on the table. 

     ALPENA MEIJER SUPERCENTER

                                  April 30, 2015               270 Alpena Jobs

ALPENA, Mich. — A new Meijer 190,000-square-foot supercenter with gas station opened April 30, in Alpena. Meijer supercenters feature groceries, general merchandise, full-service pharmacy with drive-thru and lawn and garden center.

Meijer employs about 270 people at the new store. Initial job openings have been filled, but applications are being accepted in the store and online

About 200 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony, during which Meijer officials presented a $30,000 check to Alpena High School and a $25,000 check to the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Give these non-performers more spare time. Cast them out and vote someone in willing to serve the majority and best interest of Inverness Township. Several hundred thousand of dollars in new property taxes are already lost and the region has lost hundreds of jobs that may be gone forever. It’s your party and there is no reason to cry. Man up Inverness voters; start a recall petition. Some people are only motivated when the boss threatens to fire them. See if the Inverness Township Board will move forward as the heat of a recall petition and election nips at their heels.