Great Up North. An Alliance Or A Contrivance? Will $2,000 Really Make Tom O'Hare Go Away?

The May 5, 2014 Mullett Township Board Meeting was lightly attended and that was unfortunate because life-long Mullett Township resident Ervin Crawford, owner of ABC Rustics presented his vision of FRESH for Mullett. 

Erv presents concept plan for Block 5, an undeveloped public property at south entrance to Topinabee

The FRESH for Mullett acronym represents Free-Range-Eco-Sensible-Humans. He proposes a park development on Block 5 with a rustic, historical northern Michigan feel. Other ideas presented were incorporating circle tours of Topinabee to encourage trail users to spend some time in Topinabee. 

The TDA Crew including David Ogg, Mary Jan Miller, Mary O'Hare, and the self-professed visionary Tom O'Hare, on left with his lips pursed, critiques FRESH for Mullett.

Not one to just talk the talk, Erv and his wife Janice have already been very active this Spring picking up trash in several locations in Mullett Township including the TDA Park and Boy Scout Park. The TDA Park clean-up included removing 27 broken steel post remnants left in the ground by Mullett employees after the snow fence was repaired several times.  Cigarette butts were raked up in a pile where they had been discarded by the shop area of Mullett Township Hall.  Please say thanks when you see them.
  
Following Erv's presentation, Supervisor Gale enthusiastically volunteers herself and Treasurer Kathy Flory as the "Board" representatives on a new "Park Committee". 

Supervisor Gale introduces the Great Up North "initiative" to the public for the first time. She mumbles it was budgeted for in the 2014/15 budget; but where was it publicly discussed?  

A $2,000 per year, three year "agreement" between the GUN Alliance, which she thinks "Tom" is leading, and Mullett Township. Clerk Rachel Osborn asks what advertising agency will be used. 

Tom O'Hare, who seems to deny any involvement, offers his conjecture on how this $2,000 will be leveraged as part of the $43,000,000 Pure Michigan campaign and how the funds will probably be funneled through a non-profit front operated by the Cheboygan Economic Development Association.  Tom O'Hare clarifies that the Board is not signing any contract with him. He states he is not a Board member. 
 
 
The articles of incorporation for the Great Up North Marketing Alliance lists only Matthew J Friday as the agent and a Thomas O'Hare of PO Box 541, Topinbee as the sole "incorporator". Is Tom not involved??

In fact, there has not yet been a GUN Marketing Board appointed. Listen to Thomas O'Hare explain at 22:16 how a group of private entities, Cheboygan Economic Development Corporation; it's non-profit spin-off, the Cheboygan Community Foundation, and now the "Great Up North Marketing Alliance" will all do something with the taxpayer dollars gathered from elected representatives who should recognize this as the sham it is. 

This group's previous work included "branding" communities in Cheboygan County. After spending $50,000 and enriching a former member of the CEDC who developed "branded" websites, the websites were abandoned to the communities.

The Boy Scout Park restrooms are now forecast to be completed in late July. Several years late and at a projected $85,000 cost, more than 50% over the originally proposed $50,000 total budget.

Non-agenda items are introduced including Sutherland stairs repair, ownership of Sutherland street, and the item is again referred to legal counsel for an opinion. 

A motion is passed to cut down the last oak tree in Topinabee. Removal of this tree for an alleged safety hazard will only facilitate the TDA's efforts to pave the entire M-27 corridor in Topinabee.