Two years later, the Village of Holly is still facing some monumental challenges: our water and sewer rates are still absurdly high, economic development has barely grinded along; we’ve cut services and still have painful choices on the horizon. Several Village of Holly Council Members have made it clear that they aren’t interested in receiving feedback from residents, or at least feedback that is online, and that’s apparent in dumbfounding outcomes like denying former Council Member Sandra Klevin’s resignation or the circuses surrounding personnel issues in the Village Administration.

I long have said that I while I always gave it consideration, I wasn’t terribly interested in running for Village Council. I feel that a community needs smart, talented engaged people on both sides of the board tables, if for nothing else to do what government can’t or shouldn’t do, and to keep our elected officials honest. Being a public official can lead to great accomplishments, but it can also tie one’s hands on others.

But one conversation I had with Council Member Jason Hughes sunk in. I asked him, “Why are you running for Village President?” His response was simple, as are most of the wisest thoughts in life: “If I don’t run, who will?”

Who will? That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? The million dollar question. Residents, including myself, often decry our public officials for dumb-headed decisions and all of the political games that are played in small towns. Trust in politicians is understandably low at all levels of government. But if we keep recycling the same people for office, how will we get anything than we’ve already seen?

That’s a scary prospect.

Despite my reluctance to jump out of the cheap seats and into the fray, I’ve decided to run for a seat on the Village Council. If I don’t, who will? In the end, it’s the voters who decide who they want representing them, but if the people who have the know-how and the motivation to do things differently don’t step up and toss their hat in the ring, what other options do we have?

When politicians use the word “change,” it’s often empty rhetoric, but if we really do want change, then we need to make it happen ourselves and together, and we need to take responsibility for not only what happens in our houses and at our dinner tables, but in our community as well. But this isn’t a campaign speech—I’ll save that for more appropriate venues.

So where does that leave The Rail? Although the word “ethics” is sometimes treated as foreign word lost in translation in Holly, being a “fox in the hen house” is neither preferable nor admirable when it comes to media and government. There must be a separation from the fourth estate to preserve the integrity of both. It’s already enough of a challenge in Holly to wear as many hats as many of our engaged volunteers and servants do and keep those hats from overlapping hairs. To try and wear both the hat of the critical media as well as ask for the trust of the people as a public servant is not only disingenuous, it’s ethically impossible.

As such, the only right and ethical decision is to suspend publication of The Rail while I’m seeking or serving in public office. In this case, I can’t have my cake and eat it too.

The Rail will remain online for Holly residents to view the archives—a form of community memory that might paint a more complete picture of some of the candidates who are running. Depending on the outcome of the election in November, The Rail might fire up its boilers again, but we’ll cross those tracks when we get there.

I hope our readers will continue to keep up on current affairs in our local media sources, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have put a spotlight on some of the highs and lows of our community. As a result of this election, numerous positions on community boards and commissions may open up—I also hope that the idea of “new blood” will flow through those arteries as well.

Since my penchant for whimsical analogies has been satisfied, I’ll close on a cliché: as Ghandi said, we must be the change we want to see in the world.

There…I think I’ve batted the cycle.

Thanks everyone, and GET OUT AND VOTE in November!

Please detail your previous political experience: 

Rose Township Planning Commission
Holly Township Treasurer
Holly Township Board member

Educational background:

Holly Area Schools K-12
Central Michigan University, B.S. in Education  Masters studies, incomplete.

Please summarize highlights of your professional career:

Assistant Manager, Farmer Jacks supermarket
Teacher, Portage Lake Range Community Schools
Assistant Manager, Pelkie Cooperative Society
Owner/Operator, Freeman’s Inc. Freeman’s Supermarket and Garden Center
Treasurer, Holly Township 

Please detail your volunteer or community involvement activities, especially noting any significant outcomes or results your involvement has achieved:

Previous; Holly Kiwanis, Rose Township Planning Commission, Holly Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Chairman of Holly Area Economic Development Corp.

Current; Board Member and Treasurer for Holly Area Youth Assistance, Holly Township Treasurer and Board Member, Member of the Northwest Oakland County Collaborative Task Force.

Evaluate the performance of the office you seek and explain why you’re qualified to lead it:

Teacher
Independent business owner for 23 years.  (17 million dollars in gross annual sales)
Holly Township Treasurer for almost 4 years
The voters will evaluate my job performance on August 7, 2012

Please state your perspectives on the following issues, and offer some specific ideas, initiatives or actions you would personally undertake in regards to these issues:

Economic development
Holly Township is primarily a residential community.  As a result, homeowners shoulder most of the tax burden.  I will continue to encourage and support commercial and light industrial development in those areas that are already zoned for that type of growth.  This will expand the tax base, control tax increases for home owners, and create local employment.  My experience as a former business owner best qualifies me to be successful on behalf of the taxpayers.

 Sharing municipal services
I will continue to serve on the Northwest Oakland County Collaborative Task Force.  I support cooperation and collaboration for services with other local governments, but it has to make sense and create an economical savings for Holly Township taxpayers.

 Public engagement/outreach
Since being elected in 2008, I have continually worked toward having a professional and cooperative relationship with all other governmental units.  We have upgraded the Township web site and continually update the information on a weekly basis.  I am here to serve the public.

Please detail one change or accomplishment you would like to see occur in Holly Township by the end of your potential four-year term:
I would like to see a person or business purchase the Holly Township Hall for its historical value.  The Township offices could then move to a more economical building, saving the taxpayers money.

MARK C. FREEMAN
13327 FAGAN RD.
HOLLY, MI 48442
248 245-9909

Please detail your previous political experience:
I have been a Holly Township Park Commissioner for more than 10 years ago for Holly Township.

Educational background:
I graduated from Pontiac Central High School in 1978. Associate Degree from Oakland Community College, with a concentration in Business.

Please summarize highlights of your professional career:
I was employed at JL Hudson/Macys for 25 years, in many areas including Sales, Receiving, and Department Management. I am currently employed by the Boy Scouts of America in the Scout Shop handling most areas of operation. I was a Summer Camp Director for the Girl Scouts managing a staff of 36. For 5 years I worked for Jabil Circuit Co., handling shipping and receiving, was instrumental in their expansion to St. Petersburg Florida where I worked and trained new employees for 2 years. My late husband and I also owned and operated the Community Voice Newspaper from 1999 to 2005. 

Please detail your volunteer or community involvement activities, especially noting any significant outcomes or results your involvement has achieved:
For 3 years I was the Neighborhood Chair for the Holly Girl Scouts, with double digit increases in membership each year, and was a Girl Scout Co- Leader for Troop 991 for 7 years .I helped start Cub Scout Pack 220 and worked with them for 6 years. I have been a committee member of Boy Scout Troop 43 for 6 years .I started Venture Crew 43 and worked with them for 5 years. As publisher the Community Voice I assisted the Holly Chamber of Commerce with fundraising. The paper also sponsored a group for the Reunion with a Cause. I have volunteered in many capacities, for countless Carry Nation and Dickens Festivals. With many others I have helped with the Holly Senior All Night Party, successfully keeping seniors safe on graduation night.      

Evaluate the performance of the office you seek and explain why you’re qualified to lead it:
The Clerk has many responsibilities. The Clerk is there to assist and serve the people of Holly Township, and is the first line of customer service. I have completed extensive training in both leadership and service through work, school and scouting.  

Please state your perspectives on the following issues, and offer some specific ideas, initiatives or actions you would personally undertake in regards to these issues:

Economic development:
That is very difficult because much of our Township is surrounded by Park Land. I would do grant research to try and bring in new growth. Continuing to work with our Park Commission to communicate the services they offer will help highlight the outdoor opportunities of Holly Township, which may attract both visitors and investors. We must also be vigilant to keep costs And taxes low, so that potential residents and investors will not be inhibited from locating here.

Sharing municipal services:
I think that it is a good idea, and plan to be open minded regarding working cooperatively with the village on shared services concepts.

Public engagement/outreach
I would like to propose that a welcome center be added to the offices, for civic groups and organizations to be showcased, as well as to provide information on events and services.

Please detail one change or accomplishment you would like to see occur in Holly Township by the end of your potential four-year term:
I would like to change the hours of operation, be open some late nights, weekends and during downtown events, to better serve the residents of Holly. But most of all I want the residents and visitors of Holly to feel welcomed and know that their best interests are being met.

Please detail your previous political experience:
During my campaign for Summerfield Township Supervisor, the voters elected me to the position over my opponent (the previous township supervisor), by a two to one margin, serving two consecutive terms.  I also attended the Michigan Townships Association Supervisor training.

Educational background:
1977 High School Graduate, Oakland Community College-Business/English Courses, Michigan College of Beauty-Nail Technician-Currently licensed by the State of Michigan in good standing, State of Michigan Bonded Notary Public.

Please summarize highlights of your professional career:
Selected as Supervisor of the new specialized billing unit at Ameritech Advertising Services, developed to hasten all advertising adjustments.  Responsibilities included:  development of methods and procedures, training and coaching on internal billing system, and daily review and processing of completed claims.

Two time winner of the prestigious President’s MVP award.

Established two successful hair, nail, and tannings salons which are currently in operation.

Please detail your volunteer or community involvement activities, especially noting any significant outcomes or results your involvement has achieved:
Elected President of the Harrison Chamber of Commerce, serving six consecutive terms.  Attended all chamber sponsored events, as representative of the organization.  Chairperson for the Frostbite Open Golf Outing, one of the chambers largest winter fundraising events  Also, organized and directed the 4^th of July parade, demolition derby, 50/50 ticket salespeople, and fireworks for the community.

Evaluate the performance of the office you seek and explain why you’re qualified to lead it:
The treasurer’s office collects taxes, makes investments, and manages the various township funds, and reconciles with the county.  The treasurer’s primary responsibility is to do these things accurately and honestly.  As a business owner who does my own accounting, and having supervised a specialized billing unit for Ameritech, I am familiar with the processes involved.  In addition, as a representative of the residents, I understand that I am also their advocate, and not their adversary.

Please state your perspectives on the following issues, and offer some specific ideas, initiatives or actions you would personally undertake in regards to these issues:               

Economic development
I favor selling excess township owned properties, to get them back on the tax roll.  I would also take inventory of the undeveloped properties, and determine if any can be converted for commercial or residential use.

Sharing municipal services
In my opinion, it makes no sense to pay full price twice (Township and Village) , for services that could be shared.  Police, fire, ambulance, facilities, and administration are all areas that should be reviewed for potential financial efficiencies.

Public engagement/outreach
A simple way to engage the public, is to increase attendance at our regular meetings.  In my experience, when meetings are comfortable events, where people feel their input is respected, the word will spread and attendance will increase.  This increases communication between the board and the residents.

Please detail one change or accomplishment you would like to see occur in Holly Township by the end of your potential four-year term:

Four years from now, I would like to see Holly Township property values higher, and taxes lower, as a result of economic development and shared services.

Please detail your previous political experience:
13 Years Holly Township Clerk and Building Department Supervisor; Holly Township Zoning Administrator for the last 3 years.

Educational background:
Extensive Technical Training, Licensed Residential Builder for over 20 years and Certified Master Municipal Clerk

Please summarize highlights of your professional career:
Significant Achievements during my terms as Clerk have been:

• Saved the township $255,000.00 of unnecessary planned costs of moving the meeting room.
• Implemented the township website and email
• Applied for the Environmental Infrastructure Grant making $66,000.00 of improvements to North Holly Rd.
• Performed Mid-Decade Census in the outer Township making the Township eligible for and additional $135,000.oo in State Revenue Sharing
• Cemetery entrance, landscaping and fencing improvements to Oakhill Cemetery using Grant Funding
• Implemented numerous computer hardware, financial software upgrades and new phone/voice mail system.
• Remodeling of Township Offices including new carpet and basement record storage system.
•  ADA Doors for the Library and  Township Hall
• Installation of the first 2 Sirens in the township
• Designed new township website
• Initiated the townships recycling center

Please detail your volunteer or community involvement activities, especially noting any significant outcomes or results your involvement has achieved:

• North Oakland County Authority Board Member, Finance Committee member and Board Secretary
• Zoning Board of Appeals Member
• Village of Holly Wellhead Committee at startup helping to implement the plan, goals, objectives, management and educational strategies and mission.
• Christmas in Action Board and volunteer; management of Christmas in Action website

Evaluate the performance of the office you seek and explain why you’re qualified to lead it:
Along with the duties of day-to-day operations and resident services, the Clerk is charged with the custody and maintenance of all Township records, including official documents; official minutes, contracts, policies and procedures, resolutions, ordinances. The Clerk is responsible for all accounting functions including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, etc. for the Township Board of Trustees, Library and Parks Departments. The Clerk is responsible for legal publications, licenses and permits, elections and the maintenance of voter registration records.

In addition to the statutory duties I am the Building Department Supervisor, Planning and Zoning Administrator and Freedom of Information Officer.  I am in charge of administration of the Oakhill Cemetery Department, Community Development Block Grant, township website, purchasing, employee benefits, liability and workers compensation insurance, pension, human resource issues, computer systems and software maintenance, office equipment/supplies, building maintenance, subdivision street lighting, township audits, and preparation of the packets of information for the Township Board meetings.

I am the most qualified candidate to lead the Clerk’s office/department because of my experience as Holly Township Clerk for the last 13 years as well as my previous experience as a business owner and technical administrator. I am a certified Master Municipal Clerk that has made significant contributions to the township over and above my duties required as the Clerk.

I have made it my duty to serve with integrity, honesty and with the best interest of Holly Township, its residents and businesses.  From the day I arrived in Holly Township I fell in love the community and made a conscience effort to beautify the area.  With the love and support of my family I have successfully upgraded and updated six residential properties and newly built one commercial property in the downtown corridor.

Please state your perspectives on the following issues, and offer some specific ideas, initiatives or actions you would personally undertake in regards to these issues:        

Economic development
There are so many facets to Economic Development it is difficult to summarize all that should and could go into this focus.  As Holly Township Clerk I will continue to concentrate on decreasing operating costs, the saving of surplus tax dollars and research of grants as I have done throughout my career as Clerk, which have allowed for Holly Township to take part in many exciting opportunities.

Sharing municipal services
I believe that sharing services is one of the most important ways to reduce the tax burden and the offset of operating cost increases. However, it is also one of the most difficult challenges as well.   It is important that we look for ways to implement a plan that will aid in overcoming the obstacles that challenge governments during this process, which will insure successful and effective shared services while keeping community identities they hold close to their hearts.

Public engagement/outreach
When I first became the Clerk of Holly Township it was very evident to me, with a technical background, Holly Township was in great need of communication upgrades and it was then that I set out to create the Holly Township website.  Since its creation the residents of Holly Township are able to access a multitude of information on any number of topics; contact information, email, taxes, assessments, minutes, meetings, departments, etc.  But for those that aren’t so tech savvy I will continue to make myself available to the residents at any requested time both during and after business hours; not all residents are able to visit our historic Township Hall during posted hours, therefore I have always made myself available after hours to attend to their concerns. In regards to face-to-face outreach, I will continue my involvement in community programs and volunteering with organizations in the community.

Please detail one change or accomplishment you would like to see occur in Holly Township by the end of your potential four-year term:
I want to help lead our community in the most effective manner, tacking the economic challenges that arise and be a part of the solutions that will make Holly a better place to live, work and play.

In the past several years, the nation, state and especially our local community have been hit hard by a recession and stagnant economy that has forced many residents to move, and many more to tighten up their budgets and belt straps. No one likes their taxes increased, especially in this economic climate.

The sinking fund millage, however, is one expense that the Holly community needs to find a way to fund.

Usually, when taxes and tax increases are proposed, the arguments against them center around whether the “government” needs that money, what it will be used for, and if it will be used efficiently (or in other words, can other money be found to pay for it through cuts or changes). A common refrain is that, “regular Joes have had to tighten their budgets with less income, so the government (or schools) should too.”

That’s a very valid argument, except that after years of increasingly painful budget cuts, there’s not much more to cut that won’t drastically affect the high quality of education in Holly Area Schools. Staff has been downsized to nearly the bottom limit; faculty has been reduced at the cost of larger class sizes and loss of programs. The schools have become as lean and green as possible.

Schools can’t just go out and find other sources of revenue—they are at the mercy of the aloof State Legislature on foundation allowance funding and cannot propose millages for operating expenses due to Proposal A. Their only options for additional revenue are capital fund millages (for new buildings or facilities, for example) or sinking funds for maintenance to physical plants.

If Holly’s sinking fund millage doesn’t pass, the Holly Area Schools will need to find revenue for those necessary repairs to roofs, parking lots, safe and engaging playground equipment, heating and air conditioning somewhere else. The schools can’t just let those things go. And without the sinking fund, then those funds will likely need to come from the money that funds our academic programs.

A leaky roof makes learning difficult. A leaky roof repaired by having to cut programs or lay off teachers makes learning impossible.

Moreover, the Holly community should have the utmost faith and trust in the Board of Education and Superintendent Kent Barnes when they tell us that this sinking fund is necessary. Mr. Barnes has spent the past several months bombarding the community with facts—not sales pitches, not marketing, not spin, but facts. He’s answered both legitimate questions as well as addressed his favorite cliché of “rumors, gossip and innuendo.”

Moreover, the sinking fund proposal doesn’t even cover half of the anticipated expenses that the school district needs—only the most critical and important, a sign of both understanding of the districts shareholders as well as frugal management.

Despite those increasing budget cuts, Holly has been able to maintain itself as one of the top school districts in the county. Our test scores are on par with some of the more affluent districts, which is more significant when you consider that the socio-economic demographics of the Holly community are far lower than areas like Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham (far more than 50% of our children qualify for free or reduced lunch due to their relationship with poverty guidelines, which is a universally accepted indicator of potential academic challenges and achievement). Property values and student head counts have plummeted, yet our students remain at a top level.

Holly Area Schools is our community’s crown jewel—our largest employer, the Village’s largest water customer, and the exemplar of an organization that still achieves despite tough challenges. As members of the Holly community, it rests on us all, whether we have children in the schools or not, to ensure that this institution and resource continues to be a strong block in Holly’s foundation.

Vote yes and approve the Holly Area Schools sinking fund millage proposal on August 7.

Every organization, whether it be a school district, a business or a non-profit, undergoes changes in leadership. The right balance of turnover is necessary—too much change and the organization cannot find the stability to grow and achieve; too little turnover and the organization is in danger of becoming stagnant or path-dependent. So after more than a decade of leadership, Mr. Barnes’s departure opens the door for the right kind of change.

But, boy do I feel sorry for his successor.

It’s not that the new Superintendent has big shoes to fill; we shouldn’t be seeking a clone of Mr. Barnes, a carbon copy in a different suit or a simple replacement for him. New ideas, new approaches may serve to ignite a new flame of progress for the schools.

But whoever the successor is, they are going to need some of the same skills that Mr. Barnes masterfully used within the Holly community and allowed him to weather some tough storms and overcome some mighty challenges.

Mr. Barnes’s greatest attribute was his involvement within the community outside of the schools. He didn’t just manage the affairs within his domain of education, he was an avid volunteer and leader, lending his perspective, as well as effort, to many community efforts. This wasn’t completely altruistic, of course, as the savvy Mr. Barnes knew that he could best advance the message and the needs of the schools, rallying support and squashing rumors, by coming out of the proverbial ivory tower.

Hand in hand with this is the need for patient diplomacy. In the face of rising water rates (which hit the schools particularly hard as the community’s largest individual water and sewer customer) and the current Village President who fails to see the importance of our schools to our community, Mr. Barnes regularly stood for the interests of our children while never approaching an adversarial or contrary level. Part of this came from the knowledge that regardless of what our politicians did, he had the community’s well-earned support.

With his slow-paced, radio-quality voice, he regularly communicated with the stakeholders in the community, being as thorough and patient as a kindergarten teacher without ever being condescending. He didn’t mince words, but he also didn’t spin—he laid it out as it was, threw the wrench in the rumor mill regularly, and made sure that Holly knew exactly what was going on with our schools.

And most of all, while the job of Superintendent is naturally rife with politics, Mr. Barnes knew how to sidestep those landmines and when to say yes or no. If it helped the schools, and helped the community, the answer was always a no-brainer “yes.” If money was involved, then it wasn’t necessarily no (even with the schools’ budget woes); the answer was a smooth, “we’ll have to look at it.” And if nothing else, look at it, he did as he gave his word. When someone lobbed a grenade at him, he skillfully dodged them with a sly, knowing grin.

Many in the community would probably like to see Mr. Barnes remain as Superintendent, but the only constant in the universe is change. He will leave the school district in good hands—the ship will certainly be better than he found it, and it’s still sailing even through some rough seas. It’s a near certainty that Holly won’t notice the lack of Kent Barnes in community affairs—he’s not the kind of person to grow invisible while tending to African orchids in a secluded retirement. Free from the duties of administering a school district, there is little doubt he will lend his leadership and common sense to other areas of need in the community in a much greater way.

Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Barnes, and thank you for your service and commitment to Holly and its children. And leave a big binder of cliff notes for your successor—they’re going to need it.

Obviously, George Washington and his leadership of the Continental Army, the Constitutional Convention and the first eight years of our nation is a major figure in that heritage. While Washington wasn’t the philosopher and writer to the magnitude of many of his compatriots like James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, he contributed to one of the most important, and most disregarded, treatises on the new nation: his Farewell Address.

Washington intended to retire after his first term in 1792 and with the help of Madison began drafting a farewell essay, but the strife between the Federalists and the Republicans was growing and both Alexander Hamilton and Jefferson convinced him to provide his leadership for another term. Unconvinced a second time, he and Hamilton completed the draft of the farewell address (demonstrating the rarest of “bipartisan” efforts not seen since), which was published in September of 1796.

In his address, he praised the progress of the new nation, but also admonished its citizens and leaders of two great dangers, among other topics. Washington saw the conflict that had embroiled Europe for more than 500 years, and which was reaching another fever point. He warned America that positive foreign relations were necessary, but to remain neutral and not take sides lest the new nation be pulled into the conflicts with disastrous results, or allow unhealthy meddling in our own affairs.

His other key admonition was on the home front, warning of the dangers of factionalism and sectionalism, namely north vs. south and Federalists vs. Republicans. Specifically, he warned of the dangers of political parties and the negative influence they can exert. They distract from promoting the common good, and serve more to divide than they do provide checks and balances on the government.

Obviously, his words weren’t heeded, as our nation has been partisan ever since and hyper-partisan in recent years. And while partisan politics don’t typically leech down to the local level in communities like Holly, a new movement in the 2012 election cycle is pushing our community down a parallel road.

Recent issues have caused a great deal of public stir and controversy with the Holly Township Board of Trustees, led by Holly’s county commissioner Robert Hoffman and some of his supporters. One result of this has been the emergence of a group of candidates for Holly Township office who are striving to unseat the sitting officials, and to that end are campaigning and fundraising as a group—Progress for Holly Township is their nascent Facebook page.

No public official should ever run for reelection unopposed, no matter how quality of a job they may be doing. There is always room for questioning and criticism, and our democracy depends on the opportunity for choice in our elections. In as much, these candidates who are challenging the incumbents should be admired for their willingness to serve and likewise attended to for their perspectives and potential approaches to governance.

However, the fact that these challengers (with one incumbent, Trustee Janet Leslie) have banded together under a common banner against the seated incumbents (perceived as a group themselves) with the aim of replacing the board en masse and with Mr. Hoffman, a Highland Township resident, as the de facto machine boss, is particularly troubling for the state of our local affairs.

This, in essence, is a political party, the very source of division and discord that President Washington warned about at a national level. And introducing a touch of irony, Mr. Hoffman, Ms. Leslie, and Township Supervisor candidate George Kullis are some of the most ardent supporters of Patriot Week and the writings, values and principles the celebration stands for. Even more notable in its irony is Mr. Kullis’s admiration for President Washington, evidenced by the exquisite collection of Washington memorabilia he owns and his keen interest in Holly’s Washington Club.

When we go down the road of local political parties, it creates an “us vs. them” atmosphere, with the losing group waiting in the tall grass for the next election, or lobbing wrenches into the gears of progress for no other purpose than to better position themselves. Paraphrasing Washington, the power of groups may enable more accomplishment, but that power can also be used to halt progress just the same, dividing instead of unifying. These fights distract our officials, and the public, from opportunities and pressing issues at hand, just as we’ve seen over the past several months—minutiae twisted and spun into sticky webs, with the venomous spider of regression and inertia waiting on the edges.

America will never get off the road of national partisan politics, but that doesn’t mean it has to creep down to our communities. Local officials, whether they run for partisan or non-partisan office, should all be on the same page—that of serving our citizens and promoting the common good in the ways they best see fit, not what some minority cabal agrees to in a smoky back room. Our local leaders should be chosen based on whose ideas are most feasible, who can best work or best agree (especially with others of differing viewpoints), person by person and race by race, and not simply what group one is affiliated with or who can raise the most campaign money.

If the parting words and thoughts of President Washington are heeded, then the winning candidates in our elections will be chosen on their qualifications and our confidence in their abilities, and in doing so, Holly will be the living embodiment of the values Patriot Week espouses. There’s no better argument for the importance of Patriot Week than that.

In balancing the Village’s budget for 2012-2013, the Village Council had to make some difficult decisions. So difficult, in fact, that they were virtually in a no-win situation. But in the end, the pain was distributed and the Village is ready to move into the financial new year.

What the council, and Mr. Miller, does now is of more importance than the task of balancing the budget. While Oakland County is beginning to see a spark of light in its economy, it’s anticipated that Holly will be facing continued budget constraints next year and for the foreseeable future. Unless something proactive is done, it’s a certainty that the Village will be facing more dire choices and fewer options.

One option the Village Council is pursuing is a public safety millage to provide more dedicated revenue for the police and fire departments. This is certainly a viable option, and gives Village residents the opportunity to choose whether they want to reach deeper into their depleted pockets to fund their public safety institutions.

There’s just one problem—the Holly Area Schools is also advancing a 10 year sinking fund millage to the voters, to fund school maintenance and other ongoing costs.

Mr. Miller, however, doesn’t seem to care that there might be competing millage proposals on the ballot, and that could result in voters having to choose which millage to fund if they can’t afford both. While voters can always say “no” to either ballot, in our economically depressed area, the risk of the sinking fund millage failing due to the alternative choice of the Village’s millage could be disastrous for Holly.

What Mr. Miller doesn’t get is that the Village is not an island—its success is symbiotic with the success of Holly Township and with Holly Area Schools. Businesses and residents alike circle around this nebulous, vague term called “quality of life”, which encompasses everything from parks and recreation, home and neighborhood quality, public safety, citizen engagement, and significantly, the quality of the schools.

In today’s commuter world, one only needs to look at the freeways in the morning and evening to see that people will live in the communities that suit their quality of life. For families, that means living where the schools will provide their children quality educations, even if that means they have to drive down to the suburbs or city to work. People simply don’t live where they work and commute their children out of the way to and from school.

Holly Area Schools has managed to excel in achievement despite crippling budget and financial woes. But there has to be a limit to what they can do before education suffers—there’s always a limit. Should the sinking fund millage fail, Holly Area Schools will be forced to pay for the routine maintenance of its facilities out of funds that could be used for academic programs. Sinking funds, as Superintendent Kent Barnes has reminded the community, cannot be used for things like technology. However, the converse is sadly true—technology funds can go to pay for a condenser or roof, if need be.

A good roof won’t improve children’s test scores, but a bad roof can certainly hinder them.

Since assuming his throne two years ago, Mr. Miller has fought against nearly every pro-business, pro-development initiative that’s come through the Village Chambers. He argued against permitting liquor sales on Sundays and holidays until he eventually flip-flopped on his vote. He decried the very expensive Adaptive Reuse Study regarding the Village offices and prospective restaurants, barking that “Holly is no Birmingham, nor do we want to be” (who’s “we”??). His stalling and dodging led the Shared Services task force to go defunct without even taking the first steps toward greater financial efficiency in the community.

As a member of the Main Street Holly Downtown Development Authority, he advocated a community brand of a “town that time forgot,” a backwards and economically crippling approach taken by another Oakland County community that they sensibly shelved for a modern, progressive position. The driving force for that change: that young families want their children to grow up in modern, forward thinking communities, even with all of the benefits of a small-town lifestyle.

For Mr. Miller to advocate for a public safety millage, one that could damage the viability and success of Holly’s largest employer, largest water customer and shining beacon of success in the community, and spend the last two years not doing a thing to stimulate true economic development, that reeks of a “tax and spend” government, something that’s very incongruous with a self-proclaimed “lifelong Republican.”

If the community feels strongly enough about a public safety millage, then the community should have it placed on the ballot through a petition drive, with the weight of direct democracy behind it. But if Mr. Miller decides to champion a millage through the Council at the potential expense and total disregard of Holly Area Schools, biting the hand that feeds us, then we can only hope that voters approve both millage questions, in spite of the horrible policy it infers, and then also cast votes for a Village President who’s going to do more than just try to tax and babble his way toward financial ruin.

First, I totally support the Holly Police Department and Holly Fire Department.  I always have.  They have a difficult and dangerous job.  So I don’t want anyone getting the notion that I don’t support them.  On the surface, saving police jobs is a good idea.

I am also a rabid defender of freedom of speech and of all our rights.  Most people in town know that, and they know that I don’t mince words.  More importantly, I always put my name on what I write, support or attack.  It goes to credibility.

The Village of Holly is in a bad financial situation.  Everyone knows this and there are no easy solutions.  It sickened me when the school administration announced they might have to lay off 28 teachers.   But in their case, it is the failure of the State of Michigan to live up to their end of the bargain to finance public schools.

Villages, cities, counties, townships are all in the same boat.  Property valuations have plummeted and remain low, causing a severe shortage of funding for governments.  Income taxes have fallen off, further aggravating the problem.

These facts are well-known.  If you want to save police jobs in Holly, then go out and bring in several thousand good paying jobs.  Add on to your home to increase the property value and your tax payments. Go out and recruit new residents to fill the foreclosed, vacant homes. That is the cure—money talks.  If you can’t do that, then you are in a bad position.  There may be parts of America where the economy is coming back, but Michigan is not quite on that list.

I don’t want to see layoffs.  Who does?  No one.  But if you don’t have the money, then what are you going to do?  Keep everyone on and reduce salaries and benefits?  Hope that things improve soon?  Improvement soon is not likely to happen.  Holly doesn’t have a sugar daddy or sugar mama.

The Holly Fire Department is already on a very strict budget.  So are the schools.

I hope that the hidden leaders of this “savior” movement live in Holly.  If you don’t live in Holly, that puts you in an interesting position.  My wife and I live here, we spend our money here, we pay taxes here, and we vote.

Several years ago the Village of Holly passed a 3 mill assessment for three years for the police department.  It has long since expired.  How did it get passed?  (Those in the “savior” movement should pay close attention.)  It passed because everyone was above board.  Even political opponents worked for the cause.  We went door to door.  Everyone knew right up front what it was about, who was involved, and why it came about.

You haven’t done this.  Your Facebook page is an example of this failure.  I realize you don’t want to identify yourself because you fear you might lose your job.  That is a potential reality, but not knowing who you are puts you on the opposite side of the fence of many Holly people who vote.  When we passed the millage we didn’t attack any group or any leaders.

I know that you might be banking on fear as an ally in this fight.  I know someone will bring up the crime issue.  People might fear that crime will run rampant if we have less police personnel.  That’s a reality too, but you have to have the means to provide the protection. I wouldn’t play that card, because it has a hollow ring to it.

Come out of hiding and embrace the community if you want our support.  Don’t hide in shadows and take potshots.  Politicians and community members might return the favor.  I love a good political fight, but I am not going to jump on it if it doesn’t have the right approach.  I recommend that others take a critical view of what the “savior” movement is really about.

Show us in realistic ways how we can avoid this mess.  Give us reasonable alternatives.