Sunday, May 26, 2019

What's Happening?

What is new in Bridgeport and what have I been up to?  Just trying to stay out of trouble which has been a lifelong challenge.
If you don't see any new posts on this blog and wonder what is going on in Bridgeport, go check out my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/citizencarla/
I try to share any news or events from Bridgeport there and post photos of Bridgeport.

A window in time: remains of the former governmental center


Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting May 14th, 2019

On the agenda:
1. Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) 2012-20 Budget Resolution Adoption -
- Move to support or not support the SISD 2019-20 budget begins at 0:25
2. Building And Grounds/Finance Committee Report -
- Move to award the High School Roof project to Superior Services begins at 2:33
- Move to award the security cameras and door access projects to Honor Security Systems begins at 3:03
3. High School Auditorium Sound System -
- Move to approve Phase I of the high school auditorium sound system begins at 3:24
4. Consent Agenda begins at 4:30
5. Saginaw Intermediate School District Board Election Discussion And Appointment begins at 5:06 6. Section 3660-R - Bid Protest Policy Discussion And Adoption begins at 8:15
Board Member Comments begin at 9:56 © 2019 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved



The meeting tonight was held with a quorum so they could vote on the items on the agenda.  This meeting was originally scheduled for Monday the 13th but they didn't have a quorum so they just held it as an informational meeting.  There were several presentations of items on the agenda in the meeting on the 13th and you can view that here:
https://bridgeportmusings.blogspot.com/2019/05/bridgeport-spaulding-school-board.html

The board president Robert Lange did take time to explain each item they were voting on this evening and I am happy to report that they did vote to pass these items.
Like I said yesterday - Good Things Are Happening In Our District

 

Bridgeport Spaulding School Board Meeting May 13th, 2019

Good Things Happening In Our School District

On the agenda: 
They did not have a quorum so this was an informational meeting only. 
- Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD) 2019920 Budget Presentation And Resolution - Kevin Dobson, Director of Finance, SISD begins at 0:51 
- Building And Grounds/Finance Committee Report begins at 10:25 
- Discussion of proposed school security system improvements with Honor Security Systems begins at 11:43 
- High School Auditorium Sound System begins at 36:22 
- Board Member and Superintendent Comments begin at 45:08 
© 2019 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

**Note:  It has been about a year since I attended a school board meeting and I forgot how hard it can be to hear some of the comments and discussion even when you are standing in the room.  On the video, it is even harder to hear some of it.  Just turn your volume up.

There were more items that were to be discussed and multiple items that needed to be voted on but they couldn't because they didn't have a quorum.  They have scheduled another meeting for Tuesday evening the 14th to vote on and approve the necessary items.

The meeting started with a presentation by the Saginaw Intermediate School District of their proposed 2012-20 budget that was to be voted on by the school board.  I was hoping to find the proposed budget online to share but they don't have it on their website. 

I was impressed by the presentation by Ron and Mike Mayes of Honor Security Systems of the proposed security system for our school system. It sounds fantastic and I think our school system, and every school system, should have security like this. Our children deserve nothing less than the best.
You can check out their website:

Superintendent Whelton gave a update on the lighting and sound system for the high school auditorium. Sounds great and long overdue.  Maybe then can get the school board meetings miked up too, Hint Hint.

During the comment section at the end of meeting Superintendent Whelton gave updates on the snow day issue and a partnership with Nexteer Automotive for a program called Book Access For All that will have libraries in each classroom.  
The meeting is long but well worth listening to.



Saturday, May 11, 2019

History Of State Street Bridge And Other Bridges From 1847 To 1906

One reference I can find to a bridge being built at the site, or near the site, of the current State Street bridge is from the book History Of Bridgeport, Saginaw County, Michigan by T.J. Pollen first published in 1912, then reprinted by The Saginaw Genealogical Society in 1978:
     "By an act of the Supervisors of January 6, 1847, a bridge was ordered to be built at Bridgeport and a contract was made with Townsend North to build said bridge for $3,750, to be paid in state improvement lands.   These lands were set aside by the first state constitution and defined and specified by Michigan's first State Governor, Stevens T. Mason"..... "The bridge was located back of the gristmill  or near where the present iron bridge is.  It was accepted January 5, 1848 and Mr. North was given title to sections, 17, 18, 19 and 20 and part of section 30, in town 12 north, range 8 east.  All these lands were valued at $1.25 an acre."
Below are links to some old plat maps of downtown Bridgeport and Bridgeport Township.  The 1877 maps show no bridge in the State Street area, but there does appear to be one on Fayette St. and another on the Dixie Highway towards Birch Run.  It sounds like the bridge referenced in the History of Bridgeport may be the bridge on Dixie Hwy towards Frankenmuth / Birch Run?
From 1877:
Downtown Bridgeport - http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22866/Bridgeport/Saginaw+County+1877/Michigan/
Bridgeport Township - http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22865/Bridgeport+Township/Saginaw+County+1877/Michigan/

From 1896, which does now show a bridge at State Street. The bridge on Fayette St. does not appear any longer on this map. - http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1599801/Bridgeport+Township++Cass+Bridge/Saginaw+County+1896/Michigan/

On the Wikipedia page for the State Street Bridge they state "A series of bridges crossing the Cass River were constructed near what is now Bridgeport, starting in about 1841 with a crossing on the federal turnpike a few miles southeast. By the 1870s, a bridge was constructed about a half-mile south of the current location. In about 1886, a timber bridge was constructed at the current location and the road rerouted along the west side of the river to connect to the site of the previous bridge. However, by the turn of the century this timber bridge had deteriorated. In 1906, a portion of the bridge was destroyed by floating debris, and subsequent inspection revealed that the support pilings were rotted through. The township approved a bond issue, and later that year hired the Joliet Bridge and Iron Company to construct a new bridge"
This version of the history of bridges in Bridgeport does line up with the plat maps and more of the history from the T.J. Pollen book:
     "The village was first called "The Bend of the Cass", or "Cass Bend" owing to the angle of the river at this point, while the place now called "Cass Bridge" was the original Bridgeport, owing to the first bridge built there on the main trail from Flint." The Cass Bridge area was the area towards Frankenmuth / Birch Run by Riverview.  This area was referred to in the newspapers as "Cass Bridge" from the 1800's to the early 1900's.

On the 1916 plat maps for downtown Bridgeport and Bridgeport Township, the bridge at Fayette St. is no longer there.  I couldn't find any history on it to know when it disappeared and I can't remember when it was finally rebuilt.  The Fayette St. bridge has been there since I was a child but I know people older than me said that the State St. bridge was the only way to cross the river here in town.
Downtown Bridgeport
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22086/Bridgeport/Saginaw+County+1916/Michigan/
Bridgeport Township
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22085/Bridgeport+Township/Saginaw+County+1916/Michigan/

There was one other bridge in the township that showed up in the newspapers.  It was called the "Town Line Bridge" or the "Cass River Bridge" over Town Line Rd.  It was between Bridgeport and Spaulding Townships.  In 1885 the Saginaw News was calling the battle surrendering that bridge  "The Bridge War".  The bridge was built with the understanding that Bridgeport and Spaulding would share in the cost of building and the maintenance of the bridge.  By 1885 the bridge had fallen into disrepair and Spaulding was fighting to get Bridgeport to honor their financial commitment, saying that Bridgeport had not provided any funds for the bridge since it was first built.  It was a battle in the newspapers, the Board of Supervisors and possibly the courts.  Eventually it looks like Bridgeport and Spaulding were paying equal shares for the maintenance of the bridge.

Beginning Of The New Iron State Street Bridge In 1906

In The Saginaw Evening News from January 22, 1906 is a story about the unseasonably warm weather and storms, and the damage it caused to the State Street Bridge:
 ICE MOVED OUT OF CASS RIVER
BRIDGE PUT OUT OF COMMISSION - NOVELTY OF THUNDER STORM GIVEN IN JANUARY      
     "Early in the day reports were received from Frankenmuth and Bridgeport that the ice had all moved out of the Cass during the night, and the shove had so damaged the bridge at Bridgeport that it became necessary to close it in the interests of public safety.  There was also reported an immense volume of water in the river, which was hourly swelling and growing to flood proportions, so that colder weather was looked forward to with much anxiety."
The story told of severe thunder and lightening storms with temperatures in the 60's.  The ice was also broken up in the Saginaw River but could not move out because it was blocked by the ice in the Saginaw Bay.

There were more stories in The Saginaw Evening News on January 23, 1906 of the damage caused by the storms and ice movement.  Bridges were damaged or totally taken out in Saginaw and all through Saginaw County.  Houseboats on the Saginaw River were smashed to pieces.  The State Street Bridge here in Bridgeport was finished off now:
Bridgeport Bridge Gone 
     "Some time during the night a tree on its way down assisted the ice and knocked out the center span of the bridge over the Cass River at Bridgeport.  The structure was a frame one and had been condemned so the loss will not be great."

From The Saginaw Evening News of January 25, 1906:
TO HOLD MASS MEETING 
Bridgeport Will Take Up Question of Bridge at That Place Tonight.
     "A number of representative residents of Bridgeport were in the city Thursday morning in consultation with R.A. Raymond, resident agent for Joliet Bridge Company, as to details in connection with a proposition to build a new bridge across the Cass, to replace the wooden structure put out of commission by the high water which came with the early part of the week.  There is to be a mass meeting at Bridgeport Thursday night to consider the whole matter, and the township authorities are informing themselves as far as they possibly can in advance."

 From the Saginaw Courier Herald of February 20, 1906 is the petition made on January 29, 1906 to the Saginaw County Board of Supervisors: 
     "Gentlemen - Your petitioners, the township board of the township of Bridgeport and the highway commissioner of said township respectfully represent to your Honorable Board that in their opinion it is necessary to build a bridge in said township of Bridgeport over the Cass river on the line of highway, known as State street, where said highway crosses said river.  Said wooden bridge at said point has been damaged by high water and has been built for such a length of time that it has decayed and is rotten.  State street being one of the main thoroughfares of said township, it is absolutely necessary to rebuild the bridge at said point, and your petitioners believe that it is necessary to build an iron bridge, as it will  be cheaper in the long run for said township.  That pursuant to section 4131 of the compiled laws of the State of Michigan, 1897, the amount of money that can be raised is but one-half of one per cent of the assessed valuation of the real and personal estate of the township as it appears by the last assessment roll, which is $800.00?, which would only be $4,000 that could be raised for the purpose of building said bridge, and in the opinion of your petitioners said bridge at said point will cost between $7,000 and $9,000.  In the opinion of your petitioners it is necessary that your Honorable Body authorize the township of Bridgeport, by the vote of the electors of said township, to borrow or raise by tax upon said township a sum of money not exceeding $10,000 to build a bridge over the Cass river on the line of highway known as State street, where said highway crosses the river, pursuant to subdivision 15 of section 11 of Act No. 98 of the Public Acts of 1905 of the State of Michigan.  And your petitioners will every pray."
John Hummel, Supervisor
John Gatz, Justice
Ira E. Green, Justice
Bert G. Atherton, Clerk
Township Board of Bridgeport,
Silas Cook, Highway Commissioner 
The Saginaw County Board of Supervisors approved their request and granted them the right to borrow $8,000 that was to be repaid at the rate of $1,000 per year from 1908 through 1915.  The money was to be assessed and collected in the same manner as other taxes for the township.

Election results from Saginaw County in the Saginaw Courier Herald on April 3, 1906 for Bridgeport showed that the proposition for a new bridge passed by a majority of 110 votes.   

The New State Street Bridge Finally Opens

From the Saginaw Evening News of December 15, 1906 is this mention of the new iron bridge:
     "Hiram Green, the oldest settler in the township of Bridgeport (with the exception of L. Hodgman) has the honor of being the first to drive across the new span erected by the Joliet Bridge & Iron Co. across the Cass river at Bridgeport."

These two sites have some history and images of the State Street Bridge:





Friday, May 10, 2019

Angry Citizens Tear Up Switch At Bridgeport March 15th, 1909

ANGRY CITIZENS TEAR UP SWITCH AT BRIDGEPORT 
Saginaw & Flint Gang Put To Work Early Sunday Morning Laying Track.

BUT 200 FEET LAID WAS SOON RIPPED UP

Traction Engine and 200 Citizens Put End to Attempt to Put in Connecting Track - Injunction Issued by Judge William Glover Gage.
 
      Genuine excitement stirred the peaceful village of Bridgeport Sunday when the construction gang of the Saginaw and Flint railway attempted to build a short spur of track on the main street to form a "Y" permitting their cars to turn around at that point.  The citizens of the village couldn't see it that way and promptly turned out in force and aided by a big traction engine and a few teams proceeded to tear up the newly laid bit of track, hauling it out of the way.
     This procedure was by no means a quiet or peaceful one and the railroad employees did anything but stand by and witness the villagers raise havoc with their Sunday morning's work. Inventive minds brought to light almost every conceivable plan to block the incensed residents but their efforts were unavailing and as a result the proposed "spur" did not materialize.

Started Work Early
     The construction gang, gathered from all along the line and numbering about fifty or more men headed by W.S. Parker, engineer in charge, were hustled into Bridgeport as early as 6 o'clock Sunday morning.  With them were brought a carload of steel rails and another car of tools and ties.  Work was started without delay at digging up the middle of the road on State street leading past the Gramlich hotel.  There was no time lost and by 10 o'clock over 200 feet of track had been laid in the excavation made for grading purposes.  There remained about 30 feet to be completed when the villagers awoke to the fact that the railroad company was busy.

Villagers Turn Out Strong
     Herman Buckhardt, the township highway commissioner, was hurriedly brought to the scene and the first thing he did was to drive his horse and buggy between the main track and the end of the stretch of track that was being laid with view to preventing further operations and permitting the workmen to connect up the spur with the main track.  This had little effect as the construction gang worked on unheeded, laying track underneath the buggy.  An endeavor was made to pull the horse and buggy out of the way but here the villagers took a part and stood by 200 strong to prevent any such action.  Meanwhile a number of residents were getting up fire in Leonard Schreve's traction engine.  While steam was gotten up, the water tank wagon was hustled up and placed alongside the buggy.  Even this did not stop the construction work and things looked favorable to the railroaders.  However, just as the situation became critical and it appeared as if the construction gang would accomplish their purpose in spite of the opposition, the engine came steaming around the corner and from that time on things were in an exciting condition.

Traction Engine Tears Up Track
     Heeding not the railroad track, on came the engine.  A crowd of villagers headed by Commissioner Buckhardt fastened a chain around the rails and fastened the other end to the engine.  Never stopping nor losing headway, the engine kept on taking the track with it.  The railway employees threw ties in front of the engine wheels but this did not have any effect.  With a good head of steam on, the engine literally walked over everything in sight and no amount of material thrown under the wheels had more than a passing effect.  The track which was laid in pieces and taking about four hours for the job was torn up in one section, in less than 15 minutes.
     Not depending upon the one engine alone, another traction engine of Mr. Schreve's was being fired up and was ready to proceed to the assistance of the other engine, but the trouble was all over and a victory won for the Bridgeport citizens before the second engine was ready to engage in the fray.
     It was not necessary to resort to fistic encounters and an engagement of this sort was not resorted to.  If the affair had ended in this manner, it could have ended but in one way as the villagers outnumbered the railway people ten to one.

Railway Abandons Attempt 
     As soon as the trouble was fairly over Supervisor Fred Leidlein arrived and with Highway Commissioner Buckhardt, held a conference with the railroad people and it was decided to abandon any further effort to build the spur in opposition to the wishes of the village.  Consequently the railroad people began a survey of the ground on their own property some distance west and will install their track addition at this point.
     When the "tearing up" work was being instituted some of the railway employees stretched a trolley wire through the crowd and placed a sign on it reading "danger -- 4,000 volts", in reality there was no electricity through the wire at all and the crowd knew it.  Fearlessly Mr. Buckhardt grabbed hold of the wire and proceeded to yank it down.  This wire was later used to fasten the wheels of the engine to a nearby tree, but this also did not have any resistance, the wire parting before it produced the desired results for the railway people.
     When The News representative reached the scene things were still noticeable for their lively aspect.  The track which had been torn up was lying in a tangled mass at one side of the hotel and there were several hundred people standing around witnessing the construction gang filling in the part of the road they had torn up.  The steam engine was still on the scene and the water tank wagon still stood where it had served as a blockade.

Bad Location For Track
      "What we objected to" said Township Commissioner Herman Buckhardt to The News, "was the tearing up and spoiling of the street.  The placing of a spur there meant practically blocking one of the most traversed spots in the village.  The rails would be so situated that it would be dangerous for wagons to cross.  The railway people did not have any right to construct the spur on State street from Mackinaw to Genesee plank road because they haven't any franchise on that street nor can they get one.  They have a franchise from the beginning of their sidetrack at the intersection of Mackinaw and Genesee plank road to State street but they have no franchise to lay their tracks from that point to their car barns and power house, which they have done.  But we don't object to that as Mackinaw street is not traveled much at that point.  Their proposed spur would also spoil the triangular park and we couldn't stand for that."
     "We have been anticipating such a procedure as they attempted today for a week past, but they rather surprised us by coming in here on a Sunday with a gang of men.  They simply tried to get the best of us and we turned the tables, that's the whole thing."

Town Board Met 
     A meeting of the town board was immediately called to confer with the railroad officials.  General Manager Tabor, Isaac Applebaum and A.J. Groesbeck, who arrived at the scene about 2 o'clock from Detroit, taking their dinner at the hotel.
     A meeting however, was set for Monday morning when representatives  of the railroad company conferred with the town board and arranged for the granting of a franchise on the route laid out on the company's property which would cause the tracks to cross the Genesee avenue plank road to connect with the main line.  The town board is composed of William Morse, John Gatz, Fred Leidlein and B.G. Atherton.
Citizens Formed Guard
     Anticipating that the railroad company would attempt to repeat their effort to build the spur during the night, a guard was formed by volunteer citizens who remained at the hotel watching the scene throughout the entire night to prevent any such procedure.  The steam engine was also kept on hand with fire up in case it was needed to again tear up the tracks.

Secured Injunction
     Highway Commissioner Herman C. Buckhardt and the forces behind him in Bridgeport lost no time in dealing with the whole matter by injunction route.  Early in the afternoon of Sunday they communicated by phone with Emmett L. Beach and consulted with him as to a restraining injunction against the railway company.  Mr. Beach informed them that of course they could not hope to get an injunction of legal value until after Sunday had elapsed, but if they were determined upon that course he would at once prepare the bill and with consent of the court would present the same.  No sooner said than done, and by 12:30 am Monday morning the parties were all assembled at the Bancroft; the bill had been sworn to by the commissioner before Deputy Clerk Charles Stacey in his capacity as notary public, and by 3 o'clock these words had given the process legal standing and sanction:
     "Let an injunction issue as prayed for in said bill of complaint."
     This was signed by Circuit Court Judge William Glover Gage, and dated at Saginaw, March 15, 1909.
     Briefly the bill recites that Bridgeport has been a corporation for 40 years and that the highway commissioner  has full charge and control of all the public highways and streets in said township.  That the Saginaw & Flint electric railroad has a franchise for use of the Genesee plank road, has built a track and laid its ties and rails.  That is have been operating for three weeks to Flint and two years or more to Frankenmuth.  That on the morning of Sunday, March 14, said company began to lay a switch and tracks across State street at the intersection of Genesee, in the village of Bridgeport, a public highway and thoroughfare for 20 years or more.  That said company had no right to lay same, and that same had been removed by the commissioner.
     The bill charges further that the defending company took its action with the full knowledge that they had no rights or authority; that the street occupied is one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the village, and that tracks and switch were being laid to connect with the main line.  Therefore the injunction is asked restraining the company, its agents and servants from placing a switch and railway track at said State street in the village of Bridgeport.

Quiet Monday
     There was little excitement Monday at Bridgeport, although the residents could be seen gathered here and there talking over the affair of Sunday, but there was no further evidence of any trouble over the switch matter. The cars ran regularly as usual and there was little to indicate there had been any trouble.
     Monday afternoon the township board met in the town hall and it was expected that some of the officials of the company would be on hand for that meeting.
     As a result of the affair of Sunday a rumor was circulating that the company was going to abandon its power house at Bridgeport and operate the line from some other point.  In speaking of this matter Thomas S. Stockton of Flint, attorney for the road, said that as far as he knew it had no foundation and there was no intention of such a move.
     When asked if he had heard of it General Manager J.F. Collins of the Saginaw Valley Traction company, said he had received no intimation of such a move.
     The office of the company in this city was deserted all day Monday and no one in authority was in the city.
     Car No. 35, on which Supt. Arnold was expected to arrive Monday afternoon, came in without that official aboard, and the crew stated it had not seen Mr. Arnold during the day.  The car went out with a full compliment of passengers on schedule time.
     From the officers of the Saginaw Valley Traction company it was learned that 150 men came in over the Pere Marquette Saturday night and none of the Traction people knew anything of them, and their application to use the car company's barns were promptly refused and they were taken on to Bay City, where it was given out they were to work on a proposed Bay City-Port Huron line.  However, it was later said in Bay City that the men were intended for work on the Bridgeport line switch and got to Bay City through mistake.


 From The Saginaw Evening News  March 15, 1909

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Thursday's Random Musings

There is no Great Lakes Bay in our area, there is however the Saginaw Bay. Just Saying.

When you are an employee of or an official of Bridgeport Township or Bridgeport Spaulding School District and you say you support Bridgeport, but send your children to another school district, or are seen in public in your official position wearing the clothing of another school district -- Great way to show how much you truly support our township.

Funny when one person attacks another for the very same thing they themselves do.

Actions always speak louder than words.

Government, Education, or private industry functions best when the "old boy network" is dismantled and long forgotten.  Diversity of people and thought is what brings about the best results and the least corruption. No more "yes" men need apply.  Sadly the old boy network is still alive and thriving even in places like Bridgeport.  It has been a problem here for as long as I can remember and it obviously always will be.

Taking another for a fool usually will make a fool of you.

Ignoring the truth or ignoring the past doesn't make it go away, it just makes you delusional.

Your transgressions may not be seen by all, but they are always seen by the one who is Unseen. The truth in your heart and the words spoken in secret are always known by the one who is Unknowable.

An island is surrounded by water on all sides, not just 1 1/4 sides.  Just Saying.




Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Bridgeport Township DDA Meeting May 8th, 2019

Today's meeting was more of an informational meeting since they did not have a quorum present.  The most interesting information from the meeting was the announcement of a ribbon cutting event for the Cass River Trailhead on May 15th, 2019 at 12:00pm.  That is all the information I have about the event other than it sounds like it might be by invitation only?  There is no information on the township's website, on the parks & recreation Facebook page.  Nothing in the emails from the township.  I guess if it was open to the public they would put out information for the public.
** Update: Found the information in the Birch Run Herald this week! The ceremony will be held at the trailhead area by the historic bridge, 4422 Williamson Rd. The public is invited to the ceremony and luncheon.  You need to register by Monday, May 13th by calling the chamber office at (989) 624-9193.
They also discuss the problem with members not being present for the meetings and that there may be openings on the DDA board in the future.

On the agenda:
Public Comments begins at 2:37
New Business -
1. Beautification Committee Report begins at 4:06
2. Ribbon Cutting For Cass River Trailhead begins at 5:17
Old Business -
1. DDA By Laws begins at 6:25
DDA Coordinator Report begins at 7:06
DDA Member Comments begins at 9:10
© 2019 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

My Personal Feelings


Some people may think they know me but few really do.  The few who do know me know that I have a limit and once that line is crossed, it is over. Let me explain my feelings on a few things.


“Your Personal Feelings”.  I can’t believe you actually went there but you did and there was no mistaking what you meant and how you really feel. I don’t respond well to someone trying to be condescending to me or trying to belittle me or my feelings, to insult me.   And I sure as hell don’t respond well to manipulation or border line bullying.   I can’t believe you actually said a few things you said, but you did so let’s discuss them.   I guess let’s start at the beginning of it all.  

Restoring the historic bridge was a great thing to do.  It is the way that it was done, the way that the business owners were treated, the nasty things that were said and done about and to the business owners and residents of this township by the township officials that were wrong.  There are some things that will never be forgotten or forgiven.  You say that there were lies told about the township and maybe there were, I don’t know because I never heard them.  And yes there are always two sides to every story and I believe that there are some stories about that time in our history that have probably not been told.  I don’t think they would shine a good light on the township government.  There we are, back to every story having two sides.

I have overlooked and tried to put in the past a few things from the trouble in our township because I thought it was best, time to move forward for the good of the township.  It seems though that it is the township that wants to bring back the ugly past.  You say that you don’t want all this trouble to start back up, to start back up because of “my personal feelings”. My personal feelings and the feelings of every voter in our township that voted to recall those board members matter.  It is not me that will start that trouble back up, it is you.  You are the ones that hired him despite the voters first recalling him in 2011 and then voting no when he ran again in 2012.  Every board member that voted to hire Lee Carpenter now, every employee that approved of his hiring; it is your fault and yours alone if any trouble starts. 

How dare you try to put the blame on me if any trouble starts over your decision to bring back the past, your decision to slap the voters of this township in the face.  I don’t just have a right to criticize my local government when I feel they have acted wrongly, I have a responsibility to do so, and I will.

Every member of that old trustee board, and some employees of this township, were responsible for the trouble in the past, for the things that were done, the things that were said.  And no member of that board that was recalled should ever again be sitting on the board or anywhere near our township government. You may think highly of him and you all may be good buddies, but it is the voters that are the only ones who should have had a say in whether Lee Carpenter had the right to sit on the trustee board again.  As you snarkily said, he will be up for election in 2020, and yes we will see then what the voters think.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he does not win election then.  I also wouldn’t be surprised if a few other board members don’t win reelection then.  

And lastly, the “experience” excuse.  Save it for someone that buys it.  Someone that was recalled from the board does not have the kind of “experience” that our township needs or wants.

"To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."
The mistake elected officials make is thinking they rule over us, that they don't have to answer to us.  They are elected by the voters, and it is the voters who rule over them through the ballot box.




Bridgeport Township Board Meeting May 7th, 2019

I have no comments on the board meeting tonight.  It was short and to the point I guess. I do have a copy of the check registers they provide at the meeting but I don't post them here.  If any residents would like to have me post them, just leave a comment and I will do so.

On the agenda:
Special Orders -
1. RZ19-01 Rezone 6600 Junction 1st Reading begins at 2:41
Public Comments begin at 5:47
New Business -
1. R19-05 Emergency Services Mutual Agreement begins at 14:46
2. R19-06 MERS 457 Supplemental Retirement Program begins at 15:50
3. Southfield Pump Station Replacement begins at 17:19
4. ARCMAP GIS Software begins at 19:04
5. Township Cleaning Services begins at 21:44
6. Davis Park Pavilion Roofs begins at 23:27
7. Deputy Clerk Appointment begins at 25:00
8. Planning Commission By-Laws begins at 25:46
Accounts Payable Checks begins at 26:41
Board Member Comments begin at 27:35
© 2019 Carla Citizen All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Flashback 2015 to Lee Carpenter & Dream Fields

Bridgeport's new Township Clerk is Lee Carpenter who also owns Dream Fields landscaping business.  I am not sure when Bridgeport Township first hired Dream Fields to do some of their landscaping projects in our township but in 2015 there were complaints about the work, or lack thereof, being performed by Dream Fields.  It is first brought up in a slightly heated at times discussion during a Bridgeport Township DDA Board meeting of June 10th, 2015.  The discussion takes place during the Beautification Committee Update segment.  Video below is cued up to the discussion, just click the link.

Bridgeport Township DDA Board Meeting June 10th, 2015

There was more discussion about the landscaping contracts during the DDA Board meetings of July 8th, 2015, September 9th, 2015, October 14th, 2015.  I missed several of the DDA Board meetings over the next several months so I am not sure if they discussed the contracts or Dream Fields. During the February 24th, 2016  meeting of the DDA Board it was mentioned that Reliable Lawn and Landscape would be doing the landscaping for all the projects in Bridgeport done by the DDA Board.  Reliable had been doing some of the landscaping projects in the township for several years and the board was very happy with their work in the past.


2011 - Lee Carpenter is recalled from the Bridgeport Township Trustee board by the voters.
2012 - Lee Carpenter runs in election to regain his seat as Township Clerk but voters say NO!
2015/2016 - Bridgeport DDA Board no longer will be hiring Mr. Carpenter's business Dream Fields for landscaping services because they are unhappy with the work performed.
2019 - Members of the Bridgeport Township Trustee Board vote to hire Mr. Carpenter to fill the vacant position of Bridgeport Township Clerk based on his "experience".



 "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."