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.
