Life-long Addison Township resident Mark Smith was appointed Nov. 27 as a new member of the Addison Fire Board after the removal of former Chairman Phil Stackpoole.
Smith was unanimously selected by the township board to fill the vacant spot because he is ‘fresh blood,? according to Addison Twp. Supervisor Bob Koski.
‘I think he’s a good candidate to come in with a clean slate,? he said.
Smith is the founder and owner or Frontier Distribution in Oxford, which distributes pet food and supplies to specialty stores and feed stores in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His family has owned the Lakeville Inn restaurant at the corner of Rochester and Lakeville roads for the last 2? years.
Although he’s never served on any government bodies himself, Smith’s father, Lawrence, currently chairs Addison’s planning commission. He previously served as chairman of Zoning Board of Appeals.
Being an active member at Living Word Lutheran Church in Oakland Twp. has helped Smith learn how to better serve his church community.
He’s currently Chairman of the Board of Elders at his church and was on the St. John-Rochester Board of Education for nine years as a liaison for the Living Word.
‘It’s a great opportunity for me to take that one step further and serve the community,? he said of his new position. It’s important that ‘each of us somehow find a way to serve the government, the area that we live in.?
He believes his unbiased approach to the board will benefit the township greatly.
‘Sometimes, new ideas come from people…without any preconceived notions of what the issues are or what the solutions are,? he said. ‘You take the issue as it comes and that’s something I can bring to the board.?