Mullett Township Board of Trustee's Meeting-November 11, 2014
The entire room sat on the edge of their seats as CPA Richard Mahlmeister provided another exciting audit report of Mullett Township's finances. No need to sweat it. There is still money for the Topinabee Development Association to foolishly waste on hiring engineers, making plans for a utopian Topinabee Village full of concrete, asphalt parking lots, and skinny little trees.
The Topinabee Public Library reported a big turn-out for their Trunk or Treat Halloween event. The Mullett Township Library Board will meet on December 2nd at 6:45 to review and possibly approve a new Library Policy.
The Boy Scout restrooms, after almost half a decade in the planning and design stage are finally done. The expression should be well done after a reported total construction cost exceeding $46,000 plus at least another $5,470 to Wade-Trim for engineering and design costs.
Another no-bid contract was almost awarded to Supervisor MaryAnne Gale's favorite contractor. $6,700 to re-roof the Mullett Township Hall. One crony was too busy; so a quote from a second crony is described as seeking 2 quotes. The old roof was reportedly not done correctly. That shoots down the argument always used by the previous Board to award no-bid contracts. While awarding no-bid crony jobs, the Board used to say, "We've found the low bid does not do the best work". Who did the last roofing job on the hall that now leaks. High bid? Low bid? Crony?
As the Board has also ignored the needed Libary roof repair all year despite it being on the 2014/15 budget, it was decided both roofs will be allowed to deteriorate for another winter while other projects take priority. While the Mullett Board cannot fix the roofs they have responsibility for, Clerk Osborn has no problem authorizing $750 to remove a tree, this one on a county road right of way. Wasn't the discretionary "emergency" expenditures allowed each Board member only $500? Why has this been exceeded by $250 to remove a tree that the road Commission should have paid for? Clerk Osborn has again ignored Board approved motions and resolutions and done whatever she wants to do without any discipline or comment from the Board.
Clerk Osborn gives the "parking lot" progress report. You can't believe everything you hear. The truth is the TDA is again stroking and cajoling people who never visit Topinabee for letters of "support". If you think spending over $50,000 for a two-hole pit privy is extravagant, how much has the Mullett Township Board wasted following Tom O'Hare and the Topinabee Development Association's plan to re-build Topinabee? $100,000? $200,000? They'll say it has not cost anything. Not true!
Make your Board accountable for their waste. Wade-Trim was approved to receive $33,600 on August 5, 2013 for the Topinabee "Village Center" Street Scape Plan for the Conceptual Plan and design elements, preliminary Engineering and Landscape Architecture, Storm Sewer Design, Itemized Cost Estimating, Project meeting, and MDOT TAP Grant Application. That is one year's pay-out to one firm. The present "streetscape" Committee, always with the same cronies including Tom O'Hare, is working on a parking lot grant. That parking lot can't be covered by a MDOT TAP Grant, so the process that wastes your tax dollars continues with more money approved to pay for another MNRTF Grant application. This TDA green corridor/streetscape/parking lot fiasco has been going on for over 5 years. You do the math.
That is why your Mullett roads were not fixed, your blight ordinance was dropped, your public restrooms were a public health hazard, your side walks were not plowed, your docks not installed, your trashcans were left over-flowing, and your public buildings allow to deteriorate with roofs leaking. So much for Supervisor MaryAnne Gale's promise when newly elected to protect Mullett's assets.
While the Board and TDA seeks grants, Bob English resigned as Topinabee Fire Chief and interim Chief Mike English was appointed to the Chief's position. The Mullett Board, as dysfunctional as Congress, then proposes to change the chain of command of the Topinabee and East Mullett Fire Departments creating more turmoil. If the men volunteering and putting their lives on the line to fight fires worked as effectively as the Mullett Board, they would respond to structure fires with only wienies and marshmallows.
Supervisor MaryAnne Gale, saying she believes in "consistency", then fuels the fires demanding monthly reports from both departments. I guess that means consistency from other people as she cannot even maintain a consistent policy or actions within the same meeting. She insists the Board must seek competitive bids one minute and awards a no-bid contract the next. Supervisor Gale can only be described as consistently inconsistent.
Trustee John Brown comments that a Bill Elliot has asked about serving on the Tax Review Board. Supervisor Gale states she also spoke with Mr Elliot. Trustee Brown saw this individual as a possible alternate. Supervisor Gale states she wants to replace a sitting Board of Review member.
Supervisor Gale says they are a great Board of Review, but "We may need to make a change in at least one of the members", "you know", "just age and time and length of service, whatever". "I would like to discuss taking one of the members off". "I'm in charge of the Board of Review, so I have first hand experience of what happens". "The board of review is a very serious responsibility". "As time moves on, less knowledge happens over time in some cases".
Supervisor Gale then publicly admonishes Trustee Brown: " I would appreciate a call on the Board of Review being that I am responsible for it" ."You could call me, I have the responsibility for it". "I appreciate that you're all interested, but it's my job."
In truth, Supervisor Gale does not run the show. It is obviously a very unpleasant task to stand up to her, but she is not the President and she does not appoint Supreme Court Judges. Within her statutory duty, she acts a "Secretary" for the Board of Review. The entire Mullett Board appoints the Board of Review members and experience does count.
Supervisor Gale has shown an all too eager willingness to "FIRE" numerous Mullett employees. It's obvious to all who attend Board meetings that Supervisor Gale wishes she could "FIRE" fellow Board members who will not cave to her demands. She has not been so "consistent" in retaining "her" employees. That costs Mullett taxpayers every time there is a new employee hired.
