Joe Kramer appointed to open Wayland Council seat

Joe Kramer was selected Monday evening as the newest member of the Wayland City Council.

Kramer, who succeeds the resigned Tracy Bivins, will serve at least until the general election Nov. 6 and he an fellow applicant Abe Garcia have their names o0n the ballot. Jeff Salisbury, the other applicant, indicated he would serve on the council only until the November election.

All three candidates were interviewed an hour before the start of the regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Asserting that all three applicants were outstanding, Councilwoman Jennifer Antel said, “I feel like we can’t make a bad decision.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Councilwoman Lisa Banas, who said, “We had amazing candidates.”

Kramer, a Wayland High School graduate, is perhaps best known as an emergency medical technician with Wayland Area Emergency Medical Services and as being closely associated with the local Boy Scouting program. He also has had roles in supporting Wayland High School athletic programs.

Kramer received four of the five votes that were cast by paper ballot. Bivins was absent because she had stepped down and Tim Rose was not present.

Salisbury is a retired teacher and coach with the Wayland school system and was a member of the Wayland Board of Education for four years.

Garcia, a relative newcomer to the, has expressed interest in local city government since arriving and has served for more than two years on the Planning Commission.

So Kramer and Garcia will be among the candidates who will vie for three open seats. The others are held by Rose and John Sloan. Mayor Tim Bala’s two-year seat also is up for election.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the council:

• Was introduced to Don Wickstra, a dentist from Hamilton who is the “other Republican” seeking the 26th District State Senate seat. He is the least known of the three Republicans among Bob Genetski and Aric Nesbitt.

Noting the GOP has politically owned the House, the Senate and the Governor’s chair for the last eight consecutive years, he said he isn’t satisfied with the State Legislature’s performance, especially in roads.

Wickstra, who also is a Planning Commission member, charged the lawmakers with passing laws that are “more headline grabbing than problem solving” and maintained he would bring a fresh perspective to Lansing.

• Approved street closures and use of City of Wayland assets for the annual Main Street celebration July 20 and 21. Councilman Rick Mathis insisted on assurance that portable restrooms are available for the annual car show Saturday, July 21.

• Agreed to allow a public hearing on a variance application to take place at 7 p.m. Monday, July, 16, the regular starting time of the council meeting.

COVER PHOTO: New Wayland City Councilman Joe Kramer is interviewed by reporter Virginia Ransbottom of the Allegan County New & Gazette.