More Comments on January 14th, 2025 Township Board Meeting

 

This will be another long post because I have so many more thoughts about the board meeting and the voting, the characters. 

I want to lay out exactly how this vote process worked out and how all the board members voted.. I think it is important for the public to know how the members voted.

In the first round of voting they picked their top three candidates, some only had two candidates they voted for:  

- Brandell Adams voted for Roberta Placher , Eddie Fox, Jim Secord.

- Bruce Kuznicki voted for Eddie Fox and Roger Rozalez

- Roberta Placher voted for herself and Jim Secord

- Calvin Williams voted for Eddie Fox, Jim Secord and  Roger Rozalez

- Pat Nelson voted for Eddie Fox, Roberta Placher and Jim Secord

- Chad Evans voted for Eddie Fox, Roberta Placher and Roger Rozales

Vote totals for each person was Eddie - 5, Roberta - 4, Jim Secord - 4, Roger - 3

In the second round of voting they picked their top two candidates:

- Chad Evans voted for Roberta and Roger

- Pat Nelson voted for Eddie and Roberta

- Brandell Adams voted for Eddie and Roberta

- Calvin Williams voted for Eddie and Jim

- Roberta Placher voted for herself and Jim

- Bruce Kuznicki voted for Eddie and Roger

Vote totals for each person was Eddie - 4, Roberta - 4, Jim - 2, Roger - 2

In the third round of voting they picked their one top candidate:

- Calvin Williams - Eddie

- Bruce Kuznicki - Eddie

- Pat Nelson - Eddie

- Brandell Adams - Roberta

- Chad Evans - Roberta

- Roberta Placher - Roberta

The votes were now tied with 3 votes for each Roberta and Eddie.

  

When they start having a discussion about the votes now being tied is when Eddie Fox spoke up and said to give it to Roberta and that is when Calvin said he can't do that. 🙄 During this next public comment period is when the discussion came up that since Eddie got 5 votes in the first round of votes, when they were picking the top three candidates, that he should be given the position. 🙄🙄🙄🙄  Sometimes I just can't even comment, almost speechless here.

In the fourth round of voting they again picked their top one candidate: the votes remained the same

- Calvin Williams - Eddie

- Bruce Kuznicki - Eddie

- Pat Nelson - Eddie

- Brandell Adams - Roberta

- Chad Evans - Roberta

- Roberta Placher - Roberta

The votes were still tied with 3 votes for each Roberta and Eddie.

Because the votes are still tied Calvin goes back to the play that Eddie had 5 votes in the first round so he should get the position.  The discussion gets going to choose that option.  I am one that spoke up that they can't go by that logic because that was how many Eddie got when they were choosing their top 3 candidates.  Of course Jill snapped up that no it was when they voted for their top two candidates. When they voted for the top two candidate, Roberta and Eddie were tied at 4 votes a piece. Let me say again that when you don't know what you are talking about it is probably best to keep quiet.  It all went kind of down hill from here.  They stayed deadlocked on everything.  They talked about even going into a second set of interview questions. Roberta finally made the motion to just make Eddie Fox the new township clerk.  If Roberta had not done that we could possibly still be there a week later.

Some of these board members talked about how they made their decisions on the candidates.  Mostly it seemed to be based on how well the candidates interviewed.  That is good but should not be the only criteria for such an important decision. Any conman or serial killer could come in an perform outstanding in an interview.  Other factors like experience and training, years of service in your position, know and proven qualities like dedication and going above and beyond should also count.  

I was shocked when several board members actually voted for Roger Rozalez for the position of township clerk.  This is a very complicated and intensive, and important position in the township government.  This is a man that has spent years showing up at the board meetings being loud and argumentative, twisting facts, playing loose with the facts like he did at the recent DDA board meeting about the electrical work permit that he doesn't think he should have to get and then whining when the power  gets cut off.  At times I wondered if he might not even be in touch with the facts or reality.  I have often wondered if the only reason he came to meetings was to be an agitator because he enjoyed it?  When the township formed a citizen committee with residents where they could work with the township in meetings to address issues and find solutions to problems together.  Roger was one of the residents on this committee.  I talked with several others about how it was with him there and was told that they felt he was abrasive.  He wanted everything done his way and when that wasn't going to happen then he stormed out and quit.  

Does this sound like the kind of person you would want as the next township clerk?   Someone that doesn't think rules apply to him and then if he gets into one of his moods and throws his tantrums, he could just quit and walk out the day before an election?  It is mind blowing to me  that he could ever be in such an important position.  To me it is irresponsible on the part of any board member to even vote for someone with his qualities!  At the interview he sounded and behaved in a more intelligent and civilized manner that I have ever seen him but that wouldn't last. Actually if you listen closely to his answers you can start to see the true Roger sneaking out there.

Truthfully in my opinion, any board member that voted for Roger is not someone that I would trust to make the best decisions for our township, especially not critical decisions.

A few more things about the meeting and of course Rogers participation in it.  First off he mentioned, or more appropriately I would say he whined, on multiple occasions about Roberta Placher being able to vote for herself for the clerk position.  I have never heard anyone ramble on and on like Roger and say nothing. Yes Roger she has every right to vote for herself for the position, she has the right to abstain from voting.  No matter how many times you want to whine about it, you should not be able to bully, shame, or stop her or anyone else from doing what they have the right to do.

Secondly when the voting was tied between Roberta Placher and Eddie Fox, Roger spoke about what the board should consider in the voting besides just the interviews and qualifications, what he claims was the obvious will of the people, CHANGE!!  By change he meant to vote for Eddie, not Roberta. He claimed that the attendance at the township meetings and the school board meetings, and the election results were all Historical, Unprecedented, Never Seen Before!!  GMAFB 🤣  I had to speak up and correct him on this since he was wrong once again.  There were maybe 15 people in attendance, and that included the candidates, at this meeting BTW.   Over almost 11 years  now of attending meetings here I have seen the gym over at Atkins School packed for school board meetings.  I don't remember what the ruckus was even about, maybe a past superintendent, but it brought in an irate crowd and the gym was the only place that was large enough to hold that meeting.  I have seen school board meetings packed in the high school auditorium, multiple times.  Again only because there was a ruckus being stirred up.  I have seen school board and township meetings that were packed in smaller areas like the school library and other rooms, the old governmental building which had a decent size meeting room and this new building. And I have seen many meetings were there was either no one or just the regular residents that attend almost every meeting for the last 20  years. Any meetings  held lately don't hold a candle to what I have seen over the years. 

 

Now lets talk about that Change.  In the low turnout August primary only 2 board members out of 7 were voted out. The supervisor Augie and the treasurer Jimmy Secord.  They weren't crowded fields. We also have another newer board member, Bruce, but he didn't get in because of change, he is in because a long time board member retired and they went through the process to replace him and that is how he originally got on the board. He did get reelected in this past election.   

Of the 4 trustee seats up for election all 4 members kept their seats, with Roberta winning the largest vote total.  There may have been several people in the audience that want Roberta off the board and maybe even a board member or two, but it doesn't look like the voters wanted that change.  

Just because some people make claims doesn't make them true. The residents should do their own research and make their own decisions.  The board should listen to residents but also make their own informed decisions and not let the township be run from the loudest mouths in the cheap seats.  

Now if I was a board member two voices I would have listened to was Tracy Bennett, one of the women that keeps that office and this township functioning, and Tom Welsh the deputy township clerk.  They both got up and spoke in support of Roberta for the clerk position. I guess other voices or motives outweighed what they had to say.

There is one more issue I really want to address from the meeting.  It is a comment that was made by Jill Arndt concerning Roberta.  In one of her impassioned rants she was back to complaining about Roberta being trained by Lee Carpenter in the clerk duties.  Supposedly Lee said that Roberta was well trained in all the election responsibilities and was always right there working side by side with him or something along that line.  Well Miss Jill was loudly concerned about this if Roberta was also a candidate!!! I don't know exactly what the context of what Lee said because I was not there.  I also don't know exactly how and when Roberta was involved in elections, again because I was not involved, Neither was Jill.  No one asked Roberta about it. It was just Jill  there making implications about possible improprieties by Roberta. I don't know how Roberta felt about what Jill said but it pissed me off. I thought to myself "who in the F do you thing you are b**ch". In all these years I have never seen anything from Roberta that would make me think that she would do anything inappropriate in any way.  Jill doesn't know Roberta, hasn't been involved in our township affairs, so she would have no reason to make a remark like that. Jill with no knowledge of the facts, no knowledge of Roberta, was way out of line getting up and making a implication, almost bordering on accusation, like that.  Let me repeat again - if you don't know what is going on, best to just keep your mouth shut.  Maybe try educating yourself before you open your mouth.

I am including this meeting videos in this second post here too:

On the Agenda:

Adoption of Agenda begins at 0:44

Public Comments begin at 1:15

New Business - 

1. Township Clerk begins at 12:17

- Interviews start at 16:46

A second round of public comments begin at 1:12:43

Discussion and Voting for candidates begins at 1:13:32

A third round of public comment begins at 1:46:07

More discussion and continued voting begins around 2:03:25

My camera battery died at 2:10:08 into this meeting.  I switched to my phone to record the ending of the meeting which will be posted as a separate video. 

This is the continuation of the discussions and voting for the township clerk position.

Here is also the link to the original post I wrote about the meeting and it is more my opinion of it.

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting January 14th, 2025

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting January 14th, 2025

 

This meeting to elect a new township clerk is broken up into two videos.  

On the Agenda:
Adoption of Agenda begins at 0:44
Public Comments begin at 1:15
New Business - 
1. Township Clerk begins at 12:17
- Interviews start at 16:46
A second round of public comments begin at 1:12:43
Discussion and Voting for candidates begins at 1:13:32
A third round of public comment begins at 1:46:07
More discussion and continued voting begins around 2:03:25
My camera battery died at 2:10:08 into this meeting.  I switched to my phone to record the ending of the meeting which will be posted as a separate video. 

This is the continuation of the discussions and voting for the township clerk position.

This will be a long post. No filters.

So Eddie Fox was elected as the new township clerk.  I do not believe that this was the best choice. I do not believe that he is up to the task.  I have no personal complaints against Mr. Fox.  I have seen him for years at the township meetings.  He is always friendly and polite to others.  I may even go as far to say that he can be quite charming.  That is except for times when he comes and stirs the pot and is sometimes wrong in his facts. You will hear a resident speak to this during one of the public comment periods.  I could dig through all my past videos and find one or more instances of this and I think there may have been a meeting that was bad that I missed.  I think I heard about it from others.  I am hoping for the best from Mr. Fox and wish him well in his new position.

This next part some may consider a little off topic of the meeting, but I feel it is very relevant.

Next let me give my opinion on Jill Arndt.  I heard she is not even a current resident of Bridgeport?  She did grow up here I believe and attended school here.  I have seen her posting on social media for years, mainly on the Bridgeport High School Alumni page.  Now I am seeing that she is attending some meetings and posting about them.  I have never seen her at any township or school board meetings until quite recently.  I am glad that people are once again getting involved in meetings and have an interest in township affairs, though I believe it will fade again like it always does. My one concern is if she does not live here in Bridgeport, then she can not vote here in Bridgeport and thus really should have no say in matters that affect us residents. We are the ones that have to pay the consequences. She is free to offer her opinion but I feel she has taken it far beyond that.  She is not an employee of Bridgeport Township and if she does not live here then she can not serve on any board here.  All she can do is try to run the show from the cheap seats.

Now my impression from what I have seen on social media and heard is that Jill really seemed to not want Roberta Placher to get the township clerk position.  After what I saw at this meeting, I now firmly believe that she was trying to stop Roberta from getting that position.  She may claim that she has her "concerns" about the situation but I feel she was being a hypocrite.  She got up and spoke about how the board SHOULD NOT take into consideration if a candidate has the proper training and experience for the clerks position. I took that as meaning Roberta. WTH?  Roberta is the only one that has the required training and experience for that position.  Jill spoke online and a little at this meeting about a past meeting where there was quite a discussion I have heard about Lee Carpenter having trained Roberta for the past 4 years for the clerk position.  I guess Roberta felt that people there were implying that there was something shady and maybe even dishonest going on and it was implied towards Roberta.  I sadly did not attend that meeting.  If I had I would have finally lost my cool and there would have been quite a video to share.  Now at this meeting, I felt that Jill was very subtly doing just that.  You can listen to the comments and decide for yourselves, she pipes up throughout the entire meeting, not just during the public comment periods.   Another time in the meeting she said that if Roberta was elected clerk that the residents would feel that she had privilege and that was why she got the position. GMAFB!!  Maybe people that may have unknown ulterior motives might try to spin that BS, but I think that most of us residents would say that Roberta was the best qualified and obvious candidate to be elected. Another instance during this meeting that makes me believe Jill is a hypocrite was when another resident spoke about Eddie Fox being a pot stirrer and causing problems at past meetings.  Jill jumped up and was adamant that nothing that "may have" happened in the past should be considered unless it was verified. Maybe Jill if you had actually been involved in our community and meetings over the last 10 to 20 years, you would know the truth about what has gone on at the meetings.  You can go dig back though the years of my videos and maybe you will see.  Johnnie Come Lately. Maybe if you don't really know what has been going on here for years, then maybe it would be best to just keep your mouth shut.  I have many thoughts on Jill  but this will be my last comment here:

After watching for over two hours and definitely having the impression that she was trying to stop Roberta from getting that position, she then walked up to Roberta after the meeting and said that if Roberta wanted to run for the position in 2026, in her phony little voice, she said she would be right there supporting her.  It takes a lot to stun me into silence but Jill succeeded.  I may not have said anything but what I was thinking was "You phony little hypocritical B**ch, you have got some F'ing gall to come over and say that".

I was trying to give Jill the benefit of the doubt but now I am just like that B**ch needs to go get a hobby and leave us alone!!

Sorry I have at least one more comment on Jill.  Goes back to being a hypocrite. This involves Roger Rozalez who was also a candidate for the clerk position.  Since Jill has not attended our township meetings in the 10 years since I started going, maybe she doesn't know about Rogers behavior at past meetings and maybe hasn't heard about his behavior when he storms into the township offices.  I do know so let me clue you in.  Roger has been a fixture for years now at the meetings.  I will just mention two of his little episodes out of the many episodes.  Roger had the brush pickup contract for Bridgeport for several years, that is until he made a scene during one of the board meetings and tore up his contract.  Of course he did this just before the season was supposed to start so Bridgeport did not have time to put out for companies to bid for the contract and had to pay a higher price to hire the company that was available on short notice to accept the contract and perform the job.  Roger didn't screw over the township board or Augie, he really screwed the residents over.  I have heard from people that believe Roger did that intentionally.  And then I heard that he was trying to get residents riled up about how the township board was costing the residents by paying a higher price.  That's Roger!!!  Another incident happened just back in November at a DDA board meeting.  He got up and was carrying on how the township was harassing him or some nonsense, it involved the power being cut off to a property he is working on, bitching about the code enforcement employee and about Bridgeport even having a code enforcer, blah blah blah. He even turned around and spoke directly to my camera, directly to the Bridgeport residents, put on quite the show.  Then as soon as the code enforcement employee came into the meeting the board then asked him about Rogers accusations.  The employee explained that he had been trying to work with Roger and told him that he needed a permit to do the electrical work that he was doing.  If he didn't get the permit then the power would be shutoff to the property.  I guess that Roger didn't feel that he needed to abide by the rules like every other township resident?   He didn't get the permit, kept doing the work, and the township had the power shut off.  When this was explained at the meeting, Roger didn't get up and go into his big performance again, he didn't say a word.  He was caught and called out.  Maybe since Jill hasn't attended our meetings for the past years she isn't aware of his behavior?  Maybe she doesn't care?  Maybe she feels here that Roger's years of  bad behavior also should not be considered against him for a board position?  

So any misdeeds by Eddie Fox shouldn't be considered against him? Roger's years of bad behavior shouldn't be considered against him either?  BUT, Roberta being the most qualified and the only already trained person for the clerks position should NOT be considered in her favor?  That is some of the most half ass backwards asinine logic I have ever heard!!!  God help this township!

Now Roberta Placher.  I can't remember what year I first saw Roberta at the meetings.  I immediately liked her and thought to myself  "I think she is going to be good" and was excited to watch how things were going to work out with her.  Over the years I have watched her on the township board and the DDA board.  Every year I like her more and more.  Every year I am more impressed with her, more excited about her being here.  I often ask myself where does this woman get the energy to do everything that she does?  I don't even know everything that Roberta does for this township but I do know that besides serving on the two boards she also volunteers her time and energy to so many other things here like the Trunk or Treat events.  She just seems to be involved in everything good for our community.  She gives of herself out of her love for our community.  Her and her husband both care about and serve our community, selflessly, year after year. They seem to do this all quietly, behind the scenes, unpretentious.  They both are good people, the kind of people this community needs. I hope Roberta continues to serve our community for years to come.  Roberta is the kind of person that should be something like "Citizen of the Year".  One of the best that Bridgeport has!!

Jimmy Secord.  I miss him already!  Jimmy was a valuable member of our township board and I hope to see him back where he belongs someday.  Hopefully sooner than later!  I thought he did a good job in his interview for the clerk position.  Him and Roberta were my top two choices for the clerk position.  If Roberta had gotten the clerk position like she deserved then Jimmy could have run for the trustee position.  Then I could have had both of my favorites on the board.  Truthfully I would like to see Jimmy back as Treasurer where he belongs.

Brandell Adams.  I like him even though he is a Democrat 😉  I am glad that he is on our board and hope he stays for years to come!  And I will continue to split my ticket to vote for him in the general election!!  In local elections I don't vote for party, I vote for what and who is best for our township and Brandell is.  He is also another of the good people in this world, the kind that cares, that gives of himself for the good of others.  Maybe he should be given a "Citizen of the Year" award.  Actually he should probably get the Saginaw County Citizen of the Year award!

Chad Evans.  I don't know him well but I do like him.  I have high hopes for him. I hope he does well as our new Supervisor and does what is best for the residents of Bridgeport.  I hope he has the backbone that is needed for his position and the integrity that our township deserves.  I hope that Bridgeport residents will show their support for him.

Bruce K.  Sorry I don't remember how to spell his last name and don't care enough to bother looking it up.  I don't know him well but feel that he is wrong on everything I have seen and heard from him so far. 

Calvin Williams.  I always liked Calvin.  Thought he was a very nice gentleman, cared about our township and his position on the board.  He has usually been the quietest one on the board but seemed to be involved, engaged, and knowledgeable.  I haven't been to the meetings in like a year and when I was there for the last several times I was surprised.  Calvin seems a very different man now.  I actually was watching and listening to him at this last meeting and wondered if that old sci-fi movie "The Body Snatchers" had become a reality and they got him. 🤯  Maybe the demons from the Unholy Alliance have got him?  I won't be voting for him in the future.  When the vote seemed to be stuck at a tie between Roberta and Eddie Fox, Mr. Fox spoke up and said to just give the clerk position to Roberta and he would take or go for the trustee position.  Calvin Williams immediately said NO!  This is not the forum you can do that at or some such nonsense. WTF!  

When Roberta finally gave up and said to give the clerk position to Eddie Fox, those board members were willing to accept it then, including Calvin Williams.  So Eddie Fox couldn't bow out of the election and give the position to Roberta, but Roberta could bow out and give it to Eddie Fox?????

I won't even say what I really think about that B**L$H!T here.

Pat Nelson.  I have said all I am going to say about him.  For now at least.  He does not belong on the township board!!  Sadly I don't feel that he has the honor or integrity to step down.

Roger Rosalez.  He is a character and has been a fixture at the meetings for several years now.  He does grow on you in a weird way.  He does add entertainment value in a twisted way to the meetings.  Roger should never be in any position in our township government, EVER!!!!! But I knew that there were people on our board that would vote for Roger and I was right.  Sadly.

Now maybe Bruce isn't aware of the years of Rogers' bad behavior at the meetings, or maybe he is also just a hypocrite and doesn't really care if he is someone that should ever be on the board.  Maybe all he cares about is if getting Roger on would further some unknown goals people may have? 

Calvin Williams though has seen Rogers' behavior for years now, or at least I thought that he was engaged enough to be aware of it.  Maybe he is not engaged enough to realize that or maybe he also just really doesn't really care and they just want to further some goal?  He did vote for Roger Gonzalez, not Roger Rosalez, 😕😕😕😕 

What else is left to say?  You get what you vote for?  Unfortunately we all have to pay that price though.  I keep swearing I am just walking away from this township business, and especially now I really swear I will have nothing to do with this mess.  Will I come back?  I don't know.  If this goes back to being like the days before the recall, I may have to break down and show up.  When the new recalls start up in a year or so, just let me know and I will be there, with video camera and pen in hand!

You Deserve To Know The Truth

 

The Bridgeport residents deserve to know the truth about your public officials and it is your responsibility to seek it out.

I have struggled for years with talking about this and just ended up choosing not to.  What was the point?  The damage had already been done.  My word against theirs.  I had just had enough and wanted to just walk away.  I have felt guilty about keeping quiet about this.  Very guilty about my part in helping/allowing this to happen and in keeping quiet about it. 

What is that crazy woman talking about now you are probably wondering.  Here is what I am talking about:

Let's go back to 2015-2016, to the Bridgeport Spaulding School Board and a lawsuit brought by a resident against Martha Sageman and the school board.  I'm not sure how many of you remember that whole debacle, but I will provide my last post about the outcome of it all at the end of this post.  So local resident John Rhines brought the lawsuit against the school district.  During this process, in my opinion, based on what John Rhines told me personally, and text message exchanges, and from my observations, and participation in conversations, John Rhines became very close to school board member Pat Nelson.  At the time my mother (who attended all meetings with me and saw some of this also) and I laughingly referred to their friendship as a "Bromance".    Actually my late mother tried to raise the alarm with me about her being uncomfortable with the closeness of their relationship and the things that were going on.  Sadly I didn't listen to her.  A Bromance probably isn't the proper term for the closeness of their relationship, some people now might have the opinion that "Co-conspirators" is a better description.  I will leave that up to you to decide what your opinion is.

At first John Rhines was just "insinuating" to me that he was actually getting inside information from Pat Nelson.  Information about what was happening inside closed school board meetings, and meetings with their lawyers concerning the lawsuit.  At some point in this whole debacle it went from just insinuating that it was happening to outright saying it was.  Saying that Pat Nelson was telling him exactly what was happening in those school meetings and in meetings with the school district lawyers. At one point he told me that Pat Nelson was going to give him a copy of a document or documents either from the school district or from the lawyers?   I can't remember exactly what the document was supposed to be, just that it involved the lawsuit.  Of course John Rhines could not ever tell me exactly what he was being told by Pat Nelson or what the supposed document was, you know, because it was all "confidential".  This "working relationship" if that is what would be the appropriate description, between Pat Nelson and John Rhines supposedly went on the whole time of this lawsuit. So supposedly the school district that was being sued had a board member that was helping the person suing the school district?  According to John Rhines that is what happened.  From my observations of their interactions with each other and conversations with the two of them,  I believed it to be the truth.  John Rhines also told me that there was another school board member that on at least one occasion contacted him after a closed school meeting to tell him what transpired.  When I asked because I was shocked that that particular board member would also do this his reply was just that it really wasn't important information.  

I still have so many questions.  How many school board members knew what was going on between Pat Nelson and John Rhines concerning that lawsuit?  How many board members may have also helped John Rhines?  Did these people truly believe John Rhines accusations or did everyone have their own hidden agendas?  Pat Nelson was the Bridgeport Fire Department Chief during this time and suddenly retired as fire chief and just spent his time then on the school board.  I always wondered why he left the fire department?  I have a several questions now I keep asking myself about why he left the school board and now is on the township board.  I don't have just questions, I have some serious concerns about him being on the township board.  Based on what I believe about Pat Nelson then I hope you understand why I am concerned.  

I will say that I am not the only person that knows about what went on between Pat Nelson and John Rhines and the lawsuit, but I am probably the only person that will speak up and say it.

The Bridgeport residents deserve to know the truth.  They deserve to know and then decide if Pat Nelson is someone that they want on their township board, if he is someone they can trust.  You residents are demanding accountability and transparency, so go and ask for the truth!!!  They may say that I am crazy, that I am lying.  Maybe one will call the other a liar and say it never happened. You residents need to ask how many other people know.  I have always wondered if the reporter for the Birch Run/Bridgeport Herald knew what was going on?  He also seemed to become very close with John Rhines during their coverage of the accusations and lawsuit.  Did John Rhines also tell him the things he told me?

This is possibly the most important time ever for me to go back to covering all things involving the township government, but I am not going to.  I am just walking away.  The residents of this township need to demand answers and hold the township officials accountable.  

You can read the story of the dismissal of the lawsuit by the courts here:

Dismissal of John Rhine Lawsuit

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting November 6th, 2024

 On the Agenda:
Adoption of Agenda begins at 0:54
Approval of Minutes - October 1st, 2024 Regular Meeting begins at 1:17
Special Orders - 
1.  Public Hearing for 2025 General Fund Budget begins at 1:52
Public Comments begin at 2:32
Unfinished Business - 
1.  Resolution R24-20 General Fund Budget & Appropriation Act for FY2025 begins at 13:13
New Business - 
1.  2025 Fiscal Year Budgets begins at 19:18
2.  Resolution R24-21 Fort Road Trail Loop Development begins at 38:33
3.  Resolution R24-22 Police Protection Public Safety Resolution begins at 42:37
4.   Resolution R24-23 Healthcare Employer/Employee begins at 44:37
5.   Resolution R24-24 Mid Michigan Waste Authority Appointment Trustee & Alternate begins at 46:52
6.   Streetlight Assessment begins at 47:42
7.   Firearm Disposal begins at 48:25
8.   Brush Contract begins at 49:29
9.   MSHDA 3rd Party Administrator begins at 51:06
10.  123, Net Metro Act Permit Application begins at 1:06:51
Accounts Payable Checks 73078 through 73165  &641,182.10 begins at 1:07:48
Police Department Report begins at 1:08:24
Fire Department Report begins at 1:09:48
Manager's Report begins at  1:12:03
Board Member Comments begin at 1:14:57

I have been thinking long and hard about what I was going to say about this meeting and I still don't know so I guess we will find out as I type.  LOL :-)

First -  Once again Bridgeport residents don't surprise me.  Major increase of views of this video over the normal sad amount of views.  I would like to think it is because residents are interested in the meeting content.  But with years of experience here, I do believe it is just because there was some yelling and drama.  Drama always brings in views, kind of like vultures circling around a dead carcass.

Second - Lets talk about Roger, and Roger and the brush contract. Roger is a local fixture.  I have seen and heard some true nonsense come from him over the years, sadly some of the best hasn't been captured on video.  I could make money on those videos.  So on to the brush contract.  I believe it is every two years they put out the notice for bids for the contract to pickup the brush in our township.  This is a free service to the residents.  Roger had that contract multiple times in the past.  It was several years ago that Roger had won the contract again, but just 2 weeks I believe before the pickup service was supposed to start Roger did make a scene I heard in a board meeting and tore up the contract right there.  That left the township with no time to put out the request for bids from companies so the township had to hire whatever company could come in at the last minute and take over the service.  Of course the township had to pay a higher price for the service .  Then I believe that Roger was complaining about the township "costing the residents because of the higher price".  It wasn't the township that cost the residents, it was Roger because of the games he played.  He didn't screw the township board members, he screwed the residents.  Some people might suspect he did it all intentionally.  So for the 2025 pickup year the township put out the notice for bids for the service.  I got the notice in my email from the township, saw it on the website.  When I saw the notice I wondered "is Roger going to apply", 🙄.  Roger claims he was unaware of the bid notice and wanted to put in his bid at the last minute at the meeting.  They said the bids had already been opened and the decision made so he was too late.  The township verified that he did receive the email with the notice.  If Roger had won the contract 3 times in the past I would think he would be aware of the time frame that this process is done in.  As a business owner I would think keeping on top of these things would be your priority.  Just more drama.  In my view once you screw over a customer, that customer should never allow you back to possibly screw them over again. 

Third - The Great Lakes Discovery Center and the Fort Road Trail Loop.  They are separate items but they do tie together.  I have a lot to say but will probably leave most for later.  Lets start with the Discovery Center.  The township spent years working on a land swap with the federal government to swap the two sections of land between Fayette/Fort Rd and I-75.  The township owned the section that borders Fayette/Fort Rd.  The section behind the truck stop and Cracker Barrel was owned by a private citizen begore it was sold to the federal government.  The township swapped these two sections and now owned the section behind Cracker Barrel.  The purpose was supposed to be to build the Great Lakes Discovery Center there and it would be a part of the refuge.  I will never forget the DDA Board meeting when the paperwork was final and the presentation was made.  Sadly the township also announced at that meeting that the Great Lakes Discovery Center was off the table and that land would be set for sale for commercial property development.  It was a shocking day and I have never gotten over it.  Any moron knows that land is no good for commercial development, and to even try would damage the already damaged wetlands that are in these areas.  So now years later, that land is still sitting there and nothing is being done with it. Thankfully it hasn't been harmed any more than it already is.  So it is possible some investors want to come in and develop the Great Lakes Discovery Center.  That would be fantastic.  Will have to hear the details though because the devil is always in the details.  I trust No One especially when it comes to these sections of land. The former private owner of the township section went in and put in culverts and drainage ditches that damaged the land and wetlands.  That damage needs to be repaired on that section of land.  

Now onto the Fort Road Trail Loop.  But first we have to go back decades, back to when Bridgeport somehow got permission from the Army Corp of Engineers to dig that stupid canal along Fayette/Fort Road from the river to the once beautiful pond in Davis Park.  I believe it was around the same time period that the road needed repairs from flooding and when they did that they took out one of the two culverts that drained water from the other side of the road into the pond in Davis Park.  Anyone ever wonder why there are all those dead trees on the other side of the road?  Because after removing one culvert and the stupid canal, the flow of the river and the natural flow of water through the wetland area was changed, totally screwed up.  Those trees are dead from the flooding on the other side of the road and the pond is destroyed due the culvert and road work and the canal.  That pond never used to dry up and the fishing there and in the river was fantastic.  Not anymore.   Why does anyone think the big sandbar is forming in the river in front of the canal by the bridge?  Basically the river is trying to repair itself.  That manmade disaster of a canal is dry 11 months out of the year, the rest of the time it is flooded or just sitting there with a few inches of nasty stagnant water in it.  No one in Bridgeport wants to  repair the damage they caused by digging that stupid canal and other issues, no one cares about it.  Hey the Parks guy has his pretend island so that is all that is important.  It was never a island, it will never be a island.  It was a small finger of land that was between the once beautiful river and the once beautiful pond.  Davis Park Island, a total fantasy and a sad and destructive fantasy.  It breaks my heart every time I go there and look at the damage, it breaks my heart that no one cares and no one will ever repair the damage. It is such an ugly nasty mess now.  I am all for the Fort Road Trail Loop.  I have been walking that path myself for years and years, without a paved trail.  I just wish that they would first restore the land and river to its natural state and its natural beauty before they build the loop trail.  Maybe I can lead tours on their new path and point out all the damage and tell them tales of how beautiful it used to be years and years ago.

Final Thoughts -  

  I would like to say Thank You to Augie and Jimmy for their years of service to our township and for some years of memories, some good and some not so good, even though they really all turned out to be good, and an educating and fun experience for me.

  And to you residents that were posting online that Augie should not be allowed to even attend meetings in the future, I think one person even thought they should start a petition to stop him from being able to attend meetings in the future, Sorry but he will be attending meetings as is his right to do so, where as most of you can't ever be bothered to attend or really contribute anything to our community.

  The MSHDA grants.  I don't know much about it except it is grant money that will be available to repair Bridgeport resident's homes.  The process is just beginning.  When it is up and running then residents will be able to apply and if they meet the qualifications they will get the help.  Will share more information when it is available.  Keep and eye out on their township emails and website also for any updates.

  Maybe it would be better for one person to be doing the Parks and Recreation department job and a another person doing the DDA Coordinators job.  I guess it saves money having one person do both jobs but common sense says having two people for the two jobs might be more effective.  And probably less stressful for the people.

  

  

 

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting October 1st, 2024

On the Agenda:
Adoption of Agenda begins at 1:00
Approval of Minutes - September 3rd, 2024 Regular Meeting begins at 4:02
Discussion of rules for public comments begins at 4:37
Public Comments part 1 begins at 9:22
Special Orders - 
1.  Public Hearing for Fire Assessment Roll begins at 22:41
Public Comments part 2 begins at 48:32
2.  Set Public Hearing for 2025 General Fund Budget begins at 1:08:51
Unfinished Business - 
1. Resolution R21-19 Fire Assessment Roll begins at 1:09:40
New Business -
1. Iwen Tool Proclamation begins at 1:10:28
2. Township Property Bid Parcel 09-11-5-08-3464-000 begins at 1:12:42
3. Township Property Bid Parcels 09-11-5-04-2116-000, 09-11-5-04-2117-000,
09-11-5-04-2118-000, 09-11-5-04-2119-000, & 09-11-5-04-2120-000  begins at 1:13:51
4. Township Manager Position discussion begins at 1:15:46
5. Assessing Services begins at 1:21:28
Accounts Payable Checks 72962 through 73077  $421,519.30 begins at 1:23:01
Police Department Report begins at 1:25:30
Fire Department Report begins at 1:28:10
Manager's Report begins at 1:35:01
Board Member Comments begin at 1:41:33 

Since I am over one month late in posting this I will just comment on a few things.

  

First I would like to Thank Shawn Miller for speaking up on behalf of our firemen and the Fire Department.  She is the wife of one of our local firemen and I don't think anyone knows better than the firemen and their families what the job requires of and takes from the men brave enough to do the job!  And Thank You to all of our firemen and our police department!!

Second...  I wish more people like Shawn Miller spoke at our meetings.  People that are well informed, caring, articulate.  We do get some people that come and seem to truly care, they are passionate, want to make things better in our township, have good questions and want to understand things, are polite and civil.  I just wish we had more like that.  

After starting this project 10 years I am just tired of the endless drama and ignorance I see at our meetings. No I am not talking about our board members, I am talking about the residents.   We have our local regulars who seem to relish making a scene.  Maybe it is time to find another hobby?  Why would anyone come to a meeting to speak out and not actually have a clue what you are speaking about?  You have no idea how many times I have just stood there rolling my eyes and somewhat in a state of disbelief at what I see and hear. You have no idea how much self control it takes for me to not go off on the audience members when I witness your nonsense.  That is one of several reasons why I have been staying away, it just requires more self control than I think I have left.  Pray that I don't let my thoughts rip from behind my camera at some of you people.  An example:  Jesse Norman...  His attempt for an Oscar during the public comments just offended me.  Standing up there being obnoxious and loud, pounding your fists doesn't make you a big man, just makes you look like a fool, and accomplishes nothing.  

The public loves to demand that the board members and staff always behave with a certain decorum, but you think you can go in there and act like how ever you want and that the board has to sit there and take it.  They do not have to take your abuse and the public can be removed from the meetings.  I am always the first to say that government works for and answers to us, But, there is a way to work with and hold accountable government officials and ways not to do it.  We elect them to do the job and make the decisions for our township, but we do not micromanage their every move and every action.  

And lastly...  People are just praising how many people are showing up for the meetings and getting involved.  Sorry but it won't last.  I have watched this for many many years and it will peak and then wane.  That has always been one of my biggest frustrations with the residents of this township, they just won't get involved.  It will last for as long as people have something to go in and bitch about and then it will go back to the same small handful or two of residents who are regulars and get involved.  Then something else will come up and who ever will be leading the latest pitchfork brigade will get the public riled up, and that is easy to do when most of the time they are ill informed or not informed at all, and then the show will begin again. 

September 2024 Bridgeport Township Check Register

The check registers for the township are a matter of public record.  They have copies available at every township board meeting and I believe you can go to the township offices and request to see a copy.  I provide these copies here for any resident that is interested in being informed and can't make it to meetings or the offices.  You can learn a lot about how this township operates just from looking at the check register.  If you have questions about any items on there you can call the offices and someone will be more than happy to answer your questions.

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Bridgeport Musings: Dismissal Of John Rhines' Lawsuit Against Martha S...

Felt it was time to bump this post up:

Bridgeport Musings: Dismissal Of John Rhines' Lawsuit Against Martha S...: I suspect that most residents in Bridgeport have either been following this lawsuit or at least heard talk spread around Bridgeport about i...

Bridgeport Township Board Meeting May 2nd, 2023

On the Agenda:

Adoption of Agenda begins at 1:21

Approval of Minutes - April 4th, 2023 Regular Meeting begins at 1:44

Public Comments begin at 2:37

New Business:

1. Oath for New Police Officer begins at 39:55

Accounts Payable Checks 70990 through 71066 $249,133.42 begins at 43:57

Police Department Report begins at 44:29

Fire Department Report begins at 45:43

Manager's Report begins at 48:20

Comments by the Township Supervisor and Code Enforcement Report begins at 58:01

Board Member Comments begin at 1:09:32

First I would like to welcome our newest police officer Melonie Turner to our police department and township!!

Next item I want to mention is the new Code Enforcement Complaints report.  They have hired a full time code enforcement employee and have other members also working on this problem.  They are cracking down, but it does take time, sometimes a long time, to get these issues resolved.  Here is a copy of their first report:

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The last topic I want to comment on is an issue affecting the residents of Southfield Village.  First I want to say that the residents of Southfield Village are some of the more regular attendees at the township board meetings.  They seem to always support our township and work with the township leaders when there are issues.  I have always thought they are very nice people, the kind of neighbors I wish had!!  Poor me is stuck with stupid, psycho, or just plain old nasty neighbors, but those are stories for another day.

So the issue is that the Baptist Church here in Bridgeport bought an apartment complex that is located in the Southfield subdivision.  Their plans are to improve the building and house men in the complex that are going through the churches recovery program.  This will not be the same as a halfway house or rehab facility.  It sounds like a good program and probably has a better success rate than most programs.  The Southfield residents are understandably upset that this will be located in their residential neighborhood.

The first problem I thought with this was that the church should have approached the residents BEFORE purchasing this complex and explained what their plans were and to see if the residents would be receptive to it.  They are not required to do that, but I think it would have been a much better and more respectful way to do it instead of just barging ahead with their plans and tough luck to the neighbors if they don’t want it.

The pastor from the church did attend this board meeting along with two other men involved with this program.  The pastor and the housing director for the program did get up and speak about this plan.  They answered questions and tried to alleviate the residents concerns.   The two men accompanying the pastor struck me as very sincere and caring, towards the program and the residents with their concerns.  I was confused for a few minutes about the pastor, thought maybe he was a politician instead.  The pastor was asked several times if men being housed in this complex would be coming straight from jail or a prison.  Are they?  Who knows, because the pastor never answered that question, he danced around it like a true politician.  Being straightforward and honest is usually the best way to handle situations.

The last thing I want to say about this is that I was upset by the attitude and some of the responses coming from our township leaders towards the Southfield residents.  In the last nine years I have seen the nonsense that the leaders have had to deal with from residents here and I do understand their frustration, I just don’t feel that this situation and the residents’ concerns are nonsense or warranted that frustration.  You may think this recovery program is a good program, but it is not going in your neighborhood.  If you want to help this program with donations of money or your time, then do so, but don’t try to belittle the residents’ concerns about it in their neighborhood, or try to make them feel guilty for not wanting it.  You keep talking about “Community” but where and when was that shown to these residents?  Walk the talk before you condemn others.  Religion came into this discussion, maybe as it should have.  What are my religious views?  Most people don’t know because I keep them private.  I will say I am a Christian.  If you are a public leader and you want to serve with a Christian approach to situations, then great, this country needs more of that.  Leaders can inspire others by leading by example, let your words and actions shine through with Christian grace, charity, and forgiveness, but never use your faith and wield it like a weapon to beat down those that are not doing as you would wish them to.  I hope that the residents, church, and township can work this issue out for the best for all involved.

Lastly I would like to leave you all with a song I find quite moving.

April 2023 Bridgeport Township Check Register

The check registers for the township are a matter of public record.  They have copies available at every township board meeting and I believe you can go to the township offices and request to see a copy.  I provide these copies here for any resident that is interested in being informed and can't make it to meetings or the offices.  You can learn a lot about how this township operates just from looking at the check register.  If you have questions about any items on there you can call the offices and someone will be more than happy to answer your questions.

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February 2023 Bridgeport Township Check Register

The check registers for the township are a matter of public record.  They have copies available at every township board meeting and I believe you can go to the township offices and request to see a copy.  I provide these copies here for any resident that is interested in being informed and can't make it to meetings or the offices.  You can learn a lot about how this township operates just from looking at the check register.  If you have questions about any items on there you can call the offices and someone will be more than happy to answer your questions.

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