The Orion Township board candidates met for the final time last Thursday, as the North Area Citizens Conference hosted the final of three Candidate Forums.
The two previous events were last month. After a long campaign, the 14 candidates struggled to find too many new things to say.
Trustee Candidate John Steimel used his opening statement to reflect on his music interests over the years, drawing some laughs from a relatively packed Township Hall audience.
All but one of the board’s seven seats will be decided in the Aug. 5 primary election.
The event began with the seven trustee candidates, and their comments prompted moderator Jim Milford to note, ‘You’re a very impressive group. It’s going to be difficult to decide who to vote for.?
Topics for the trustees included thoughts on a landfill expansion and the cohesiveness of the current board, among other things.
‘My position on waste management is the same as it was 20 years ago,? said JoAnn Van Tassel, who, like every other candidate that was asked, said she received no campaign contributions from Eagle Valley. ‘I’m not in favor of seeing that landfill expanded.?
Her thoughts were echoed by many, including Ken Van Portfliet, who said he’d like to have a discussion with Auburn Hills about their landfill, which he said is frequently mistaken to be Orion’s.
‘I think our township needs to take a lead in North Oakland County in the recycling effort,? added Mark Crane. ‘We need to ask more of the waste haulers that bring waste into our community.?
Van Tassel added that the village has made strides on the recycling front, applauding the efforts of fellow candidate Michael Toth in that regard.
Toth said one of his main concerns is the ongoing situation with the township’s parks director.
‘I’m on the township parks & recreation committee and I have no idea what’s going on,? he said.
Van Portfliet added that he’d like to see what’s going on with the various pending lawsuits and encourage decisions be made to ‘stop the bleeding.?
Current trustees Steimel and Neal Porter both spoke to issues they have with some recent actions by the board.
‘We have done a couple of things here in Orion Township where we put the bid process before the public hearing,? Porter said. ‘That’s putting the cart before the horse.?
‘My first priority is to get the board back working together,? Steimel noted. ‘I think you need to have a good conversation with the whole community. We need to get more people involved.?
Crane also commented on the current board.
‘I’d like to see civility return to the township board,? he said. ‘Our citizens deserve that.?
Many candidates commented on money issues, with Van Portfliet saying that abiding the budget is extremely important and Van Tassel noting she’d be in favor of using excess general fund balance to refund taxpayers.
‘Tough times can separate us as a community, but they can also bring us together,? said Sandy Walker, adding that the voters can help by heading to the polls on Aug. 5.
During his closing remarks, Porter praised his fellow candidates for how they’ve handled the entire election process.
‘I’m proud of the fact that the trustee candidates are running a very clean campaign,? he said.
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Clerk
The trustees were followed by clerk candidates Justin Dunaskiss and Penny Shults.
Both have run relatively clean campaigns, but that changed a bit when Milford’s first question asked them to identify their differences.
‘Justin has said he grew up in the computer era,? Shults said. ‘While Justin was growing up in the computer era, I was working in it.?
Shults touted her experience in Township Hall, while Dunaskiss promised he’d ‘bring fresh ideas to the board.?
He commented on his work with a variety of government boards and in the community. Shults replied by saying she works with businesses and residents every day in the assessor’s office
‘I am passionate about people and I look forward to serving you,? she said.
Dunaskiss said his strong work ethic would carry over to the township.
‘I have very high standards for myself and I expect my department to live up to that,? he said. ‘I look forward to representing you accordingly.?
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Treasurer
Experience was a key word for both incumbent Alice Young and challenger Sandra Dyl.
Young talked about her 40 years in finance, certification as a CPA and four years on the township board.
‘I spend my life serving this community on my various committees and as treasurer,? she said.
Dyl noted that she spent two years on the township board. The current planning commission member, spoke to her experience on a variety of township issues.
‘I have a much broader base of experience than my opponent,? she said.
Dyl also voiced an opinion against any landfill expansion, with Young adding that she has an interest in seeing more recycling.
One question from the public on investments prompted Dyl to estimate that about 10-percent of the treasurer’s time should be spent on investment. Young didn’t offer a percentage figure, but said a ‘large amount? of her time is and should be spent on investments.
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Supervisor
Republicans Matthew Gibb and Dan Myslakowski are vying to face Democrat David Hodges in the Nov. 4 general election.
Topics ranged from the parks department to managerial styles.
Myslakowski fielded the obligatory landfill question and said he was against expansion, adding that he encouraged recycling while on the Keatington board.
‘It’s our earth, let’s save it,? he said.
On the parks issue, Myslakowksi said there are legal issues that need to be resolved.
‘There are some serious problems there,? he said.
Gibb responded by saying that the department, as currently structured without director Rock Blanchard, is working very well.
The candidates were asked how involved they would be in overseeing their department heads.
‘For the supervisor to micro-manage the various departments is a waste of time,? Hodges said. ‘That’s the job of the department heads.?
Gibb said micro-managing hasn’t been done at the township in a long time and department heads must be held more accountable.
On the future of the township, Gibb questioned the vision of the planners from Carlisle Wortman.
‘I’ve taken Mr. Wortman, our planning consultant, to the woodshed many times,? he said, adding it’s important for voters to pick the candidate with the track record they believe in.
‘The people that are elected have to remember that they serve the community,? Hodges noted. ‘We listen to you and nobody else.?