In My Opinion TOO MUCH BAGGAGE

In My Opinion Some Good, Some Bad , Some Progress, Some Bravery...

The January 11th AuTrain Township Board meeting showed some signs of progress as Supervisor Graves was successful in making citizen input a more integral part of the process. This seems to be a hard pill to swallow for some of the board members who are more accustomed to a process that caters to a closer circle of influence, themselves. Not all input was from the same perspective now with more participation. Disagreement in the audience took a bad turn however, when George Lucier threatened to use a baseball bat on another person.This type of behavior is inexcusable and criminal in nature.

George Lucier joins Will Rogers as appointed government officials in AuTrain Township who resort to violent behavior at public meetings.

Not all the excitement was negative though. During the meeting pocket alarms began chirping a cautionary note to the volunteer firemen and off they went to serve our community with Firechief Steinhoff leading the way.Thank you.

In My Opinion AuTrain Township Board meeting Jan 11, 7:00 pm

There is an AuTrain Township Board meeting Wednesday January 11, at 7:30 pm. I wish I could tell you what the agenda was but that is a well kept secret held by Clerk Mary Rogers. Rogers usually reveals what is on the agenda the day of the meeting. It would be nice if the taxpayers of AuTrain knew what was on the agenda at least a week before hand.I guess a tradition of illegal closed meetings, suppression of public input, and secret agendas is a hard habit to break. Why bother with some stupid reality TV show when you can have the real deal live. Plan on attending the meeting.

In My Opinion $18,000 of Taxpayer's Money defending NOT DOING THEIR JOB ....

On Feb 6, 2006 at 10:45 am, there is a hearing in Circuit Court before the Honorable Judge Stark to determine the validity of a Writ of Mandamus suite against Au Train Township Clerk Mary Rogers, her husband Will Rogers Zoning Administrator, Ellen Steinhoff Trustee, Ann Clapp Treasurer, and Gary Porter Zoning Board Chairman. A Writ of Mandamus is a written court order commanding an individual or individuals to perform their written responsibilities and duties, as elected officials in this case. A Board member made this statement to the people attending a township meeting; quote “we can do whatever we want”. Ignorance and defiance of the law has been observed and public input has been repressed. We, as taxpayers, are paying for their defense and to date they have expended $18,000.00 of our tax dollars so they can do whatever they want.

In My Opinion Some AuTrain History

March 2004: Gary Porter, Autrain Zoning Board Chairman, along with zoning board members Bob Nelson, Dale Bowen, Kurt Love, Rick Carr and (advisor) Supervisor George Lucier were trying to wrap up the new zoning ordinances for Au Train Township.
Bill Rantz , Alger County Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator has sent out ordinance violation notices to approximately 6 parties who are renting their homes to transient traffic (tourists) in the 16 mile lake area. Bill Rantz leaves office before following through, but Supervisor George Lucier becomes acting zoning administrator with no follow up.

June 2004: Trustee Dennis Gramm recommends hiring Mr. Will Rogers as zoning administrator/ enforcement officer with a salary of $750.00/ month. Will is the husband of Mary Rogers, AuTrain Township Clerk who also receives $750.00/month. George Lucier retains enforcement responsibility, but takes no action until August. Under heavy pressure the Board instructs Mr. Lucier to begin prosecution of AuTrain Township Trustee Dennis Gramm for illegally renting half of his home to transient traffic. Township Attorney Kirt Harmon selected Dennis Gramm because he presented the best case and Dennis Gramm vocally stated that he would continue to rent to transient traffic in a residential zone and he welcomed the opportunity to prove he was legal. He said quote “Bring it on”.

December 2004: Judy Graves became the new supervisor and at her first meeting Mary Rogers announced the prosecution of Dennis Gramm was dismissed. There was no motion to dismiss the case. ( Hmmm!) Open Meetings Act Violation? The excuse for dismissal was 3 former zoning administrators signed affidavits stating they allowed the rentals- a decision beyond their authority and the Board had allowed an unintentional 5-month lapse in zoning. The violation took place before the lapse in zoning. The lapse of zoning has since been dismissed as a determining factor.
A dog kennel with 30 dogs had also been developed in the 16 mile lake area contrary to the zoning ordinances of 1979 and the new zoning ordinances and has been found guilty of the noise ordinance 3 times – at the magistrate level, district court and in circuit court, but has been and is still operating with no action by the zoning administrator

January 2005:
Trustee Dennis Gramm made a formal request to be refunded his legal fees to the tune of $3,732.00. The Board, excluding Mr. Gramm, went into what was an illegal closed session to discuss the reimbursement and what the township attorney advised. Upon returning to the open meeting, Trustee Ellen Steinhoff made a motion to return the funds to Mr. Gramm and the motion passed with 1 descending vote from Supervisor Graves.

December 2005:
For ten months previous, after persistent inquiries and investigative letters, four (4) concurring opinions had been presented stating the refund of Mr. Gramm’s legal fees was an illegal expenditure of taxpayer funds by the Township Board.
The opinions were obtained from the Alger County Prosecuting Attorney Karen Bahrman, a Michigan Township Association Attorney Jim Porter, the Michigan State Attorney General’s Office, and the Michigan State Treasury Department- Cary Vaughn. The Board would not act on these opinions. These opinions were free except for the time it took the supervisor to gather material, make long distance calls and write exhaustive letters. The Board requested another opinion from Attorney William Smith of Kendicks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman and Greenlee, PC.of Marquette. Attorney Smith’s opinion was thorough, extensive, indisputable, but unnecessary and cost the taxpayers $900.00. Attorney Smith agreed the expenditure was illegal.
Mr. Gramm formally asked if each member of the Board if they wanted the money returned and their answers were positve.

In My Opinion The most important asset is.....

Everyone needs a plan,whether it's what you'll be doing during the day, week, year or life. Corporations need a plan, football teams need a plan, and racecar teams need a plan. AuTrain Township needs a strategic plan to help our township government to stay focused on the good of the entire community.We only have 142 square miles of land.Let's plan on building on our strengths like AuTrain Lake and Christmas and promote their commercial potential. Other strengths, such as our family neighborhoods and environment, help provide incentive for future generations to live here bringing prosperity to our community. A plan that preserves these assets is equally important. The most important asset of all is YOU! Go to the next township meeting and bring some positive ideas for a plan.I know your Township Supervisor will listen.

In My Opinion Thanks for returning AuTrain Taxpayer's Money.... (sort of)

After months and months,AuTrain Township Tru$tee Dennis Gramm finally said that he would return the illegally gotten $3,732.00 back to the Township. Hey, thanks Dennis(sort of). The Michigan Township Association thought you should return the money,our Alger County prosecuter thought the money was ill-gotten, the Michigan Attorney General advised that the $3,732.00 should have never been given to you. The Michigan State Treasurey Department thought you should not have been given the money.The independant lawyer, the Township Board hired for $900.00 , thought the money should be returned.
Tru$tee Gramm should repay the Township's $900.00 legal fees.Tru$tee Gramm should also stop illegally running a hotel in a single family AuTrain Township neighborhoodThe cartoons were published in the Munising News while Trustee Dennis Gramm held on to AuTrain Township taxpayer's money. Tru$tee Gramm has finally returned the money. Interest free loans for Tru$tee Gramm are a sign of what?