Local Government

Despite protests, recycling surcharge no problem in Dorr Twp.

July 30, 2015

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor. Dorr Township Trustee Patty Senneker and community activist Bernie Schumaker raised a ruckus a little more than a year ago about the local curbside recycling program. Both insisted a $25 surcharge was unfair in...

Fire district discussions planned for city, neighboring townships

July 20, 2015

The City of Wayland, Wayland Township, Yankee Springs Township and perhaps Hopkins and Leighton townships may be meeting sometime next month to further discuss the possibility of creating a fire district. City Manager Mike Selden said Monday night there were plans to have a joint meeting at the Wayland Township...

Throw the rascals Tuinstra and Senneker out in August 2016

July 2, 2015

The ACHTUNG: This is not a "fair and balanced" story. It is an editorial by the editor. The problems of gridlock and poisonous atmosphere at Dorr Township Board meetings lay squarely at the feet of Trustees John Tuinstra and Patty Senneker. I’ve said...

Ranger Rick: Wage equality campaigns are lots of nonsense

June 23, 2015

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep...

Make Plan Commission smaller, independent, better paid

June 6, 2015

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor. ‘Twas a year ago that I suggested in this very space that The Wayland City Planning Commission membership be reduced from nine to seven. ‘Twas six months ago that I came out strongly against...

Democracy Tree: Many local police now are armed to the teeth

May 28, 2015

Is your local government armed to the teeth? Many in Michigan are. A recent editorial in U.S. News & World Report cited the drama writer’s principle known as “Chekhov’s Gun” — if they have it, they must use it: “If you say in the first chapter that there is a...

Columns

Army Bob: Hard to believe, but Dorr government is a bargain

May 12, 2015

The election is over and most things went down in flames; the Michigan State Road Proposition 1 was massacred and no better use of the vote was ever made. No argument from me that the pork laden attempted robbery cried out to be defeated. In this column, I will discuss...

Bygone Days: A brief look at Wayland area’s past, Part 164

May 6, 2015

25 Years Ago — May 9, 1990 The Allegan County Board of Commissioners voted 12-1 to allow all 24 townships to decide whether they will apply a $25 per household fee for recycling services. A special committee formed to study the feasibility of a Gun lake village has determined the...

Don’t let Proposal 1 poison worthy local millage requests

May 1, 2015

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story, It is an editorial by the editor. A special election Tuesday, May 5, was hailed at first as a chance for local governments to pass sorely needed millage requests. Now it looks like the state-wide proposal to raise the Michigan...

Democracy Tree: State lawmakers allow toy guns to look real

April 22, 2015

by Amy Kerr Hardin Michigan’s legislature is poised to enact a bill that should be of grave concern for parents who, unlike GOP lawmakers, will immediately understand the true danger of this proposed law. Senate Bill 85 will make it difficult, if not impossible, for law enforcement to distinguish between...

Tag: Local Government