The TDA-Business As Usual in Mullett Township

What did those east side Mullett Township residents who boycotted the April 7, 2015 Mullett Township Board held at the East Mullett Fire Hall miss? 

The road show version of the Topinabee Development Association, AKA the O’Hares, David Ogg, and the O’Hare relatives’ the Zaineas. Time stamps, 00:24, will re-direct you to the archived audio recording on youtube.

Public comment begins at 00:24 with a letter read by Francine Zainea. Erv Crawford continues comment at 3:05. At 8:30 Supervisor Gale takes Mr Crawford’s comments under advisement. Moses Zainea has his comments including the need for more lights for safety heard at 10:05. At 11:18 MaryAnne opens the floor to Tom, Tom O’Hare, who then admonishes the reporter to get the facts straight and calls comments made about the streetscape “preposterous”. 

At 16:00, with a “mm’mm” from Supervisor MaryAnne Gale, an unidentified speaker attempts to make a public comment. At 17:25, with a “STOP” from Supervisor MaryAnne Gale, this public comment is interrupted and stopped. Less than 1 minute and 30 seconds allowed if you disagree with the TDA "streetscape" plans. 

Supervisor MaryAnne Gale says “I’m going to interrupt you” because she wants to defend and support Tom O’Hare and his in-laws, the Zaineas. “They’ve had family in this area for over 100 years”. At 18:10, other attendees are allowed to interject their comments. That's OK if you are a TDA supporter. 

At 20:10, the Mullett Board is advised the present maintenance work, servicing restrooms, etc is costing an estimated $60 an hour as done by a private contractor.   

At 20:58, an indignant Topinabee Development Association President Mary O’Hare asks the infamous “Just curious, if Mr Muscott and Mr Crawford are residents of Mullett Township”? She knows the answer. Why sound ignorant by asking. 

After the two individuals reply, a little voice from a little man in the back says “Why don’t you stay out”.  At 21:43 the message from the TDA road show continues. 

Some genealogy would make us all more comfortable with these statements by TDA members meant to gain ownership of local issues with numbers like 100 years and six generations in Topinabee loosely bandied around. 

Personally, I don't think that your "roots" in a community, however deep, mean much. I'll recognize, protect, and nourish a young sapling before I worry about a dead tree that has deep roots. If Tom O'Hare's family has been involved in Topinabee for 100 years and six generations, they have certainly failed in their responsibilities to keep the village growing and vital. Did Tom and Mary belong to the Topinabee Athletic Club? Did they help out at the Big Chill? Did they put in or take out the public docks or help install the TAC swings. They did none of that and instead have worked to destroy all that made Topinabee a vital community.


Did they ever do anything other than tear down a historic cottage to build a McMansion and then with an ego that apparently has no boundary, hire a design firm to design the "Proposed Village Enhancement Master Plan" AKA "Topinabee Village". 

Over 100 years of family history in Cheboygan County? Sorry, that is the Muscott genealogy, and it goes deeper than 100 years. 

Index of Marriages in Cheboygan County

Volume II, 1887 - 1925

(LDS Microfilm No. 964409)

Transcribed by Pat Jahn

Hofacker

Frank L.

45

Muscott

Alice

36

693  85

Dec 21 1898

Alice, mother of my grandfather, Raymond H Muscott, had been left a young widow after her husband, farmer James Muscott of Tuscarora Township died as a result of a kick to the head by a horse. In 1898, in Cheboygan County, Frank Hofacker married my paternal grandfather's widowed mother, Alice Muscott. 

Where did Alice's son, Ray H Muscott, end up? All over Michigan as a telegrapher and station agent for the Michigan Central Railroad including some fleeting time in Topinabee. 

Northern Division—Volume 35 1918 Radio Telegraphers Union:
Bro. H. H. Allen, agent Topinabee, is back, feeling much better after his vacation, relieved by Bro. Muscott.

I'll leave Tom O'Hare to publicly prove his statement: "100 years and six generations in Topinabee". Annotate your statements with some verifiable sources. While we all wait for that, back to more Mullett Township monkey business...

Clerk Rachel Osborn begins reading public letters at 22:22. If you’re paying taxes on the east side, you can skip this as it is all about Topinabee. NEMCOG with no skin in the game endorses the TDA streetscape plan. 

At 23:57 a letter from Keith Hadden, owner of the Topinabee Hardware is read that is critical of the entire “streetscape plan”. He does not want his or his wife’s name used or associated with the plan. At 25:20, a letter from Jill Lutz critical of the plans is read. Additional letters parroting Tom O’Hare and the TDA dogma are publicly read…watch for Part 2 coming soon.

Part 2 

Mullett Clerk Rachel Osborn continues to read awesome letters parroting the TDA doctrine. Ending at 4:14, Supervisor MaryAnne Gale says “AWESOME”-hallelujah-praise the Tom-I added that. 

Mike English, Topinabee Fire Chief, gives report at 4:48 and John Parrot gives the East Side Fire Department report with mention of a Memorial that was held for a deceased volunteer. 

The Treasurer’s report is read by Supervisor MaryAnne Gale at 5:58 followed by Clerk Rachel Osborn’s expense report for the “just the month of March”. 

At 8:14, Supervisor MaryAnne Gale begins a marathon discussion of another un-needed policy-a rental agreement for the East Mullett Hall…..20 minutes later it is still going on. 

Part 3

The discussion of another of  Supervisor MaryAnne Gale un-needed and ignored after approved policies, a rental agreement policy for the East Mullett Fire Hall continues for another 10 minutes, well, actually 9 minutes and 55 seconds. 

At 9:57 Supervisor MaryAnne Gale starts the “approval” to install a streetlight for the newest TDA Board member, Bud Garlick of 558 Giauque Beach, Topinabee and 827 Wexford Blvd, Venice, Florida. 

How does that work, Clerk Rachel Osborn? The Mullett Board “freezes”, places a moratorium on the existing illegal “light district” agreeing to not add/remove or change anything until the existing surplus in the light fund is exhausted unless a TDA member wants a new light paid for by all? It was all out of order and while some individuals like that little voice from the back of the room can comment freely, others can’t. Sorry, my bad, there are again different rules for TDA members. 

Anyway, it must go something like this: Bud calls from Florida 941-496-8370; Rachel probably knows the number by heart. Hi Bud,… oh, you want a new streetlight? Yes, I can do that. Do you need anything else? OK, let me get that done for you. Let me have your email address just in case we need something in writing to prove you belong to the TDA. Sbgar21@gmail.com? OK, consider it done and you know we are always here to serve the TDA. 

That scenario is all conjecture, except for the addresses, email, and phone number. It must be pretty accurate though because Clerk Osborn stated previously that “Mr Garlick called from Florida and wanted to know if his light was installed yet?”. 

There are at least four issues here. Number one-The Board agreed to not add or remove any lights at this time. Number two-The requested location to install a light is a private road. Number three-Is Bud Garlick entitled to demand a streetlight be installed just because he is a TDA member. Number four-The resolution that Clerk Osborn attempted to get approved would give her the authority to “change” the existing contract with Consumers Energy without any limits. 

That “change” is not limited to one light. She would be able to add or remove lights on her whim. Tom and Mary O’Hare need one. Done. O’Hare in-laws Moe and Francine Zainea want a few more for “safety”. Done and done. The TDA wants to start adding more lights for the TDA Streetscape. Done, done, done until the needed “Streetscape” lights are all installed. 

The submission of the TDA parking lot/storm sewer plan to the Cheboygan County Capital Improvement Project list and raises for the election officers begins at 16:00. Board comments start at 19:45. Trustee Brown asks that the Board of Review minutes be placed on the Mullett Township blog. Supervisor MaryAnne Gale says I’ll do that. The “tab” is there now; where is the information?? Are we still waiting on Paul Chapoton to update the blog? 

There is then some discussion on Devereaux Lake road. There is no motion or resolution to do anything and the few minutes spent on road issues demonstrates that Supervisor MaryAnne Gale and Mullett Clerk Osborn place a much higher priority on implementing a $10 East Mullett Fire Hall rental fee or getting TDA Board Member Bud Garlick’s yard-light installed. 

Pay the bills.