For an editorial writer like me, Dorr Township Board Trustee John Tuinstra presents the gift that keeps on giving.
Anyone who has read Townbroadcast for a spell understands that I’ve taken pen against his behavior and decisions often for a long time since he was first seated in 2012. Tuinstra makes it easy by committing faux pas after faux pas. His first “sin” was unilaterally halting the demolition of the Graczyk property to make way for the park expansion, despite the project’s previous approval by the board as a whole.
Mr. Tuinstra is back and better than ever over the past month, prompting me to call him “Dorr’s Mr. Hypocrite.” His credentials are impeccable.
Mr. Tuinstra many times has expressed his deeply held belief in championing term limits for public figures. He has spoken out and voted against longtime local servants Bob Wagner, chairman of the Planning Commission; Robert Traxler, vice chairman of the Planning Commission; Larry Dolegowski, a member of the Planning Commission for more than 20 years, and veteran Zoning Board of Appeals member Ethel Visser, now retired.
He has always graced us with his reasoning that after a certain time officials must step aside and allow fresh blood to replace them. I have long suspected the real reason is his dislike of and opposition to the people under consideration.
In the State of Michigan, voters in 1992 voted to limit legislators to three, two-year terms and senators, governor, attorney general and secretary of state to two four-year terms.
Though it’s not illegal, Mr. Tuinstra earlier this spring decided to seek his third, four-year term on the Township Board, totally out of step with the guidelines set for state officials.
I call hypocrisy. But that’s not all.
In the April meeting of the Dorr Township Board, Mr. Tuinstra refused to mask up for safety and declared his opposition to public worries about COVID-19, insisting that only old people and those with other health issues are at risk of dying. Therefore, the people should resume their normal lives and get back to work because more than 90 percent will pull through.
This “logic” from a guy who boasts about his commitment to the Pro-Life cause, apparently willing to go to the mat for unborn fetuses, but not for the sick and elderly, whom he seems to believe are expendable.
Once again, I call hypocrisy.
The tragedy here is that Tuinstra and three other candidates are running unopposed for another four-year term on the Township Board this August and November. Perhaps it’s not a tragedy. Mr. Tuinsta likely will continue to give me plenty to write about.
Mr Editor,
You write nearly the same narrative over and over. Mr Tuinstra in my view owns YOU! You seem to be obsessed with this man. If he is dong a terrible job and is what you call a hypocrite I am sure the voter would see that he is voted out of office. I don’t see anyone stepping up and opposing this man. We have another fellow on this forum that writes about him and other board members that he continually criticizes (iirc calls it a circus) however this wise man name isn’t gong to be on the 2020 ballot………Easy to sit back throw stones and be critical. Friends if you don’t like what is happening step up and lead instead of the persistent bitching.
Cheers!!
Mr Wilkens
Due to health issues, I was not able to get all the necessary paper work needed to get on the ballot done on time. Believe it or not hard to get things in order after a major health issue.
Yes, they are operating this township like clowns in a circus.
Latest example… letting the county use your tax dollars to put dust control down the day after four inches of rain. No one in charge called to complain, residents did. Wait till late July or August and dust control should be put down, but the township doesn’t have the funds because no one monitors things like this. But one board member can take it upon himself to stop the improvements passed by the board.
Sir, since you seem to be well pleased with how the township has been running the last eight years, why have you not refuted my comments with facts proving me wrong. No, it is much easier to criticize me than showing facts proving me wrong.
Here’s a question for you. How was it after me working for the township for approximately eight-plus years, keeping their maintenance equipment running, at times fixing with baling wire, for a salary those who followed refused to work for. Even with $87,000 of new equipment.
How many other townships had a problem with board members placing hidden recording devices?
So yes, it is a circus and unless we can get a complete new board one or two new faces can not make the necessary changes.
Let’s see if this next four years our board can get a new township building so when you need to see the clerk, treasurer, supervisor, or assessor there is some privacy (additional room will relieve your worries about absentee ballots are secure). The clerk would have their own office.
Will the township try working with the state and county to come to a solution for the ramp at 142nd and US-131? They all know it’s not a safe situation currently.
Will they be a bit more in tune with the library so another problem doesn’t arise, even though the millage passed?
It doesn’t speak to highly for a government inanity when a citizen has to organize a special road committee to get millages past to get paved roads.
Since it looks like we will have the majority of the current members… since the pandemic lockdown there is a possible loss of a business or two, do we think the township may be talking with the DBA to try and attract businesses?
Is the township on track with their five- to ten-year plan?
Yes, there are many more questions the residents of Dorr Township should be asking. But unless you live on the roads that dust control was applied after four inches of rain, know the need for a larger township hall, be concerned about downtown Dorr being nothing but shuttered buildings
Then yes, a person like me might be labeled a persistent bitcher. I am comfortable with the title.
Mr. Tuinstra is living rent free in your head. Maybe you need to concentrate on others for a while. Mr. Tuinstra is making his own mistakes and maybe others will realize he should be voted out. The politicians in Wayland are never held to account for their actions, so maybe your attention should be focused elsewhere for a while?