Topinabee-Mullett Township: Topinabee Development Assocation = Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, ...or their attire.

Public comment opens with Bill Matus speaking on “community concerns”. The man seemed confused and his comments are mostly unintelligible. He seemed to be talking about "Tom" cutting down trees and was confused about who he should direct his insults to: Carl, Tom, Earl, or Erv? Insults delivered by proxy are never effective. Too bad Tom and Mary O’Hare cannot stand up and voice their insults in public.

It has typically been Supervisor MaryAnne Gale who makes libelous remarks about attendees or comments made. This time the Mullett Township Board is all guilty of poor judgement allowing an individual to utter falsehoods for 8 minutes. He was then allowed to interject his remarks and argue with the next individual who attempted to address the board.

Do none of the five board members know enough to stop the nonsense?

Please click on time stamped links to redirect to youtube audio. At 1:35, the public comment returns to something that bears a resemblance to a government meeting. Dennis Jonski inquired about the progress if any, of the request to topcoat the Chapman, Sutherland, and Patterson streets that the residents have waited half a dozen years to see done. There were also questions on “Spirit Park” and LED streetlights. Cheboygan County Road Commission (CCRC) Manager, Brent Shank is introduced at 2:51. Mr Shank and the Board discuss Devereaux Lake Rd. Trustee Brown receives permission to speak at 7:33 and mentions that CCRC Board member Ken Paquet ran on a platform “more than” 6 years ago to fix Devereaux Lake Rd. After a protest rally, the prelim engineering plans were done and promises were made. Promises don’t fill potholes. CCRC Manager Brent Shank explains the MDOT and federal funding snafu’s. Crack sealing is approved for several local streets in Topinabee. Shank promises the Chapman, Sutherland, and Patterson streets will be top-coated in July. Is that 2015? The brining of gravel roads is approved at 22 cents a gallon. At 19:26, Mullett Township Supervisor MaryAnne Gale asks if there is anything else Mr Shank wants say about the CCRC annual report? No. At 19:56 Supervisor MaryAnne Gale reads prelim information on the approved DNR lease for Spirit Park. The strictly worded language places many restrictions on the development including approval from adjacent land owners. At 23:39 Trustee Brown asks for clarification on the agenda item: trimming/remove tree from Lea St and if they are on a county ROW. Starting at 24:41there are more letters from TDA read advocating removing trees and paving over Topinabee. At 24:46, a letter from MaryJan Miller, TDA member and current recreation committee member, advocated park development in the community. Three minutes and one second. At 28:04, a letter from Fudgie” Jim Earhart is read followed by a letter from Jill Lutz who had opposed the loss of trees but has now drank the TDA Kool-Aid and now supports the park project. At 31:01, Clerk Osborn opens discussion on renewing the Charter franchise. Trustee Brown asks if it is a revocable or irrevocable agreement.

Part 2

Supervisor MaryAnne Gale starts discussion on Woodruff St dock. Phil Welch says that new dock with discount would be $6975 and old dock might need $175 repair before being moved to Boy Scout Park. There is some discussion with Trustee Brown and CCRC Manager Brent Shank about the option of a fabricated skid dock based on DNR plans. Decision made to repair and install existing dock and investigate options for later replacement. 12:00 Treasurer’s report. At 13:28 Supervisor MaryAnne Gale asks if there is an expense report. Clerk Rachel Osborn says no. Mike English gives Topinabee Fire department report at 13:35. At 15:03, Supervisor MaryAnne Gale just “wants to make a comment” that there has not been a report from the East Mullett Fire Department. She states she and Trustee Dombroski had discussed having one administrator for both departments. That sounds like a loosely veiled threat. At 15:28, Mullett Township Civil Counsel starts discussion on township hall lease agreements. The draft agreements will be emailed to the Mullett Board later in the week. At 23:58, Mullett Township Civil Counsel educates the Mullett Board on the new FOIA laws that take effect July 1, 2015. He discusses the MTA based FOIA policy and procedures and the summary which are about almost the same length. Maximum of 10 cents per page for print. Requests can be requested on electronic media. A uniform billing process and charges for everyone. At 36:15, Mullett Township Civil Counsel advises that FOIA Coordinator is not a statutory duty. Supervisor Gale mentions at 37:30 that Clerk Osborn received additional compensation for FOIA Coordinator duties. Supervisor MaryAnne Gale asks about how labor charges can be defined. At 44:48 Trustee Brown asks about the timeline for implementation of the new FOIA policy. Mullett Township Civil Counsel is booked for next Board meeting. At 46:43, discussion starts on new streetlight district…..continues...

Part 3

Board discussion continues on light district. Mullett Township Civil Counsel plays devil’s advocate at 1:36 with an option, adopt the ordinance before the existing district runs out of money. Discussion ensues and the board will vote on a new district at next meeting. At 14:30, Supervisor MaryAnne Gale asks about how people can opt out of the lighting district. Is there any benefit to your property value? At 17:00 the question of an ordinance for dog fencing is asked by Supervisor MaryAnne Gale. Jim Haslock asks the Mullett Board to OK lot splits at 19:13. At 21:00, Trustee Dombroski asks are you combining these with platted lots? Haslock has problems hearing the question. 21:33, Haslock admits there were 2 parcels that P & Z denied permission to build pole barns. Haslock says his intent is residential homes. At 34:20 the Board does some needed work and approves soliciting bids for Township/Fire Hall roof replacement, as two separate bids, and the Library roof and gutters. Pay the bills with one held because Clerk Rachel Osborn allowed a contractor to work without proof of insurance or worker’s comp.

As often as not, the conversations before and after a meeting are more interesting than the meeting. Tom and Mary O'Hare were defending their improvements to Topinabee as a community driven initiative.

This plan says only Tom O'Hare-Prime Development and despite Mary O'Hare stating they do not always get what they want, the design still seems to be going to plan and Mullett Township residents and stakeholders continue to be excluded from comment.

The O'Hare's defended themselves as tree-savers and determined to save as many of the remaining trees as possible. Tom O'Hare then said the number of trees lost was fabricated. Here are the facts based on his favorite engineering firm, the one that Tom says "works for the come", Wade-Trim.

Tree inventory based on topo survey conducted by Wade-Trim Engineering. Removed from Topinabee Beach Park 2013.