‘Contras’ just might take control of Dorr Twp. Board

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.

Jim Martin
Josh Otto

The Michigan presidential primary election is just a month away and only other issue will appear on the Dorr Township ballot, the library millage request.

And Dorr, as usual, promises to have the most interesting August primary election in these parts. The township has been home to a hotbed of contentious issues and personalities for about a decade now.

It is a virtual certainty that two positions on the Township Board will be filled by new people. That’s because I hear tell Treasurer Jim Martin and Trustee Josh Otto do not plan to seek re-election. Furthermore, Supervisor Jeff Miling has not announced his intentions.

This very clearly means that the Dorr “Contras” now have an opening to attempt to take control of the board. The Contras were born out of the failed attempt to recall Township Board members for their votes to approve a sewer system when 142nd Avenue was being resurfaced and repaved almost a decade ago.

Though the recall was turned back, two very prominent and vocal proponents, John Tuinstra and Patty Senneker, were elected to trustee seats. Both tried unsuccessfully to unseat Miling for the supervisor’s job in 2014 and Senneker stepped down from the board in 2016, replaced by another Contra, Terri Rios, who ran unopposed.

The current board lineup shows Miling, Dan Weber, Otto and Martin in one coalition and Clerk Debbie Sewers, Rios and Tuinstra in the other. With at least two slots opening this year, the pendulum could swing the other way.

John Tuinstra

Another wild card in this development is Tuinstra. Though he has voted against reappointing anyone with any experience on the Planning Commission because of his professed promotion of term limits, he will violate his own principles if he seeks a third four-year term.

Michigan law current forbids any state officials to seek office for more than eight years, which is what Tuinstra will have turned in at the end of this year. Of course, this doesn’t apply to local officials, but Tuinstra has invoked the process while voted against reappointments of Robert Traxler, Larry Dolegowski and Bob Wagner to the Planning Commission.

He so often says it’s time to give someone else a chance. Will he?

3 Comments

  1. Harry Smit

    It’s just possible they really do not want control. They may be very content to stay in the background asserting their influence.
    Let’s examine what had happened so far (of course, this is only my opinion).
    The previous administrations were very frugal in their spending. Knowing things were going to need to be improved and having some financial resources might lessen the burden on the township taxpayers.
    Let me state some examples as I see it.
    #1. It matters not how it happened, but the library renewal never got on the ballot in a timely manner. Than when it did, it wasn’t explained exactly what it was asking for when it did reach the ballot.
    There were many mistakes involving the library by the previous township boards (there was a chance to get annexing land for expansion, original design left no room for expansion (instead of adding all that fill made it a two-story building, not a glorified pole barn). We now have the group the Friends of Dorr Township Library. Here’s hoping they stay active and not just a “flash in the pan”
    #2. Need for a new maintenance building. Yes, with all the new equipment there is a need for a new facility (there was a chance to purchase a property next to the new park addition, but like previous boards no foresight…. or was it who owned the property?)
    #3. Need a new township Hall…the current facility is too small and causing difficulties discussing issues township residents may have. (example; with ballots in the area, try to discuss your opinion on what if the issue fails and possible uses of the building…)
    # 4. Expanding areas for Fire Department. Wayland EMS, township police officers.
    There are some other issue like roads, traffic lights, attracting business and industrial development, new housing, saving agriculture lands, etc.
    Does anyone really think they dare dip their toes in these areas? When it is so easy to sit back and just “stir the pot.”
    It is my opinion it will be a long road to fix what progressive insight (even with their mistakes) previous boards had in mind for the development of Dorr Township.

  2. John Wilkens

    Editor,

    I realize you are writing a “not fair and unbalanced” article. Why do you give the library board and director of Dorr Township a free pass? They certainly fit your definition of “Contras” or against. They represent themselves and not their constituents. We are entering yet another election for a possible millage sham job and you have no problem with these Contras. Try to be more fair and balanced and share the love.

    Cheers!!

    • Jim

      I love how you characterize the Dorr Library Board as self-serving and only representing themselves. You do know that even though they are elected, they are all volunteers, right? None of the board members are involved politically with the comings & goings of Dorr. They are totally unpaid, and only work towards the betterment of the library. Lord knows that they have made mistakes, and they would be the first to admit it. But these women aren’t contras, nor are they politically connected. They’re just doing their best for a cause they believe in.

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