Bridgeport Musings

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

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

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

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.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

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.

Friday, November 8, 2024

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.

Click on each image to view a larger version:

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Wednesday, August 7, 2024

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...

Friday, May 5, 2023

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:

Page 1

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.