As most residents, I thought I was doing my part by voting every four years, and assumed our elected officials were spending our taxpayer dollars in a prudent manner.

I regularly attend Rose Township board meetings that are held in the old township building on Franklin St.  In 2007, the township purchased an old church on nearby Mason St. and moved their offices there even though they continue using and maintaining the old building for public meetings.

The township paid $225,000 for the old church.  Approximately $200,000 was spent on renovations, and an occupancy permit was issued by the Rose Township building inspector that certified the building met all state and federal building codes.  Total cost for the building and renovations totaled approximately $425,000.

A complaint was filed with the State of Michigan over American Disability Act violations with the newly renovated township building.  The state has investigated the complaint and said the building is in violation of the ADA state and federal building codes. Because of this non-compliance, the township has secured an architectural firm to evaluate the building from floor to ceiling, providing cost estimates to make the building compliant with all state and federal building codes.  

How much more money do the taxpayers of Rose Township have to sink into a building which, in  today’s market, is already questionable?  

Due to public outcry from township residents, a five member fact finding panel (of which I am a member), has been selected.  This panel is investigating how these decisions were made, and how the township was granted an occupancy permit with all the building code violations that have been identified.  

Additionally, there are healthcare benefits being paid with taxpayer dollars to less-than part time officials.  Rose Township is currently developing their 2010-2011 budgets.  In this depressed economy and with the reduction in property values, it is in the best interest of the taxpayers to hold our officials fiscally responsible to spend taxpayer dollars in a prudent manner, eliminating all unnecessary expense.

I encourage all citizens to get involved with your local government and find out what is going on. I especially encourage Rose Township residents to attend our meetings, hear the results of our five member panel, and ask your own questions of our elected officials. Taxpayer accountability begins with local government and works its way to Washington. Become involved and find out where your money is being spent!

The next fact finding panel meeting will be held at 6 p.m on Thursday, April 8 at the old Rose Township offices on Franklin St.  The next regular monthly board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on April 14 in the same location.  Contact the Township Supervisor at (248) 634-7551 and demand regular updates on the building code issues with the current township office, the architectural audit, and cost estimates to make the current township office code compliant.


Robert Hauxwell
3100 Maureen
Davisburg, Michigan
(248) 634-4670

Kent Barnes, Superintendent fo...

This past Monday evening, at the regularly scheduled Holly Area School District’s Board of Education meeting, I made budget recommendations totaling $4,800,000.  One recommendation was that the Board of Education would take $1,000,000 from the district’s general fund to assist in the balancing of the budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

Yesterday and today, I received e-mails from concerned community members regarding my recommendations. Concerns ranged from “the district should do nothing” to “make an additional $1,000,000 worth of reductions”. Additional concerns ranged from “increasing student enrollment” to “increasing revenue”. Every response to my recommendations came from well meaning individuals, and I greatly appreciate their taking time to respond.

As I’ve been reading the articles about the problems regarding Holly’s water billing system, I’ve noticed that there are some bigger issues emerging than the billing or meter errors. There is an undercurrent that has allowed a relatively mundane problem turn into an administrative tidal wave, and I think it is centered on the culture of our government and how it fulfills its role in the community. 

Although the technical issues of the water billing situation are sure to be resolved, the village government should use this situation to examine itself and determine if it’s really serving the needs of its residents. What is the core mission and purpose of the village, and do the actions and approach they operate on advance this core purpose? I couldn’t easily find any mission statement or statement of values on the village Web site, but the mission is read at numerous meetings of public bodies: 

“The mission of the Holly Village Government is to enhance our community’s quality of life. Our organization strives for quality services, responsive action to citizen requests, and a cost-effective government. We promote citizen participation, proactive decision-making and environmental quality. Most importantly, we shall always serve the citizens of Holly. The Village of Holly will be a prestigious, historical village that is a green residential oasis from the City, and the center of commerce and activity for the region.”

Striving for quality services? Responsiveness to citizen requests? Cost-effective government? Serving the citizens of Holly? Problems emerge, often to no fault of an individual, but is it responsive or cost-effective to allow those problems to be unattended, potentially to balloon into a significant issue? That strikes at the heart of “quality.” If these billing and meter problems were deemed less important than the overall billing process (as has been stated), what does that say about government’s view of its own importance in the face of its water consumers? We already pay water rates well above the reasonable cost of consumption, and now brushing off a few incidental problems has resulted in the taxpayers paying further into an inefficient system. Is that, “serving the citizens of Holly?”

The fact is that Holly citizens are the customers of the government—although there is a necessary monopoly in the water utility market, there is competition from other municipalities who may offer better quality or more efficient services overall.  A business that does not treat every customer as if it’s their only customer will not likely be in business long. The customer may not always be right, but the business needs be responsible to the customer first. If this isn’t the case, then you only need to look at all the “for sale” signs around town as proof that people are not reluctant to go find other places that will serve their needs, including government services.

The village does not enjoy a large staff, but we are very fortunate that we have a staff that is full of dedicated, talented and hard-working employees. Our village employees need to be empowered to not just be a cog in the machine, but to be a member of the team. Every resident or employee concern or observation should not be taken as minor, unimportant or “someone else’s responsibility.” It should be important to everyone, and everyone’s responsibility—an opportunity to innovate, to make things better, to further achieve the village mission. I find it difficult to believe the creativity and talents of everyone in the government couldn’t have been harnessed to find a solution to the technical issues while minimizing disruption to the regular billing process, if that was indeed the case.

This all speaks to the culture of our government. A government interested in its mission, serving its residents, and being proactive and innovative throughout all levels would not face this scope of issues. There would be no need for columns like Janet Leslie’s “Check of Leaks” or the ongoing finger pointing as to who or what is responsible. Problems are solved not just because they are problems, but because they could affect one or all Holly citizens. Holly should use this situation to examine both how and why things are done and make whatever changes are needed in the government to “always serve the citizens of Holly.” Reinventing government starts from the top, the bottom, and the middle, but it has to start, otherwise there will be no more citizens to serve.

Ryan Bladzik
Village of Holly resident

Jesse Lambert

In 2011 alone, over six new businesses have chosen to settle in Holly. Rumor has it several more new businesses may be on the way. Consequently, Holly has been garnering a lot of attention across the state for more than just business growth.

The Northwest Oakland County Collaborative Task Force has been meeting cooperatively for well over six months. The effort was spearheaded by leaders within the area in order to foster communication and cooperation. These meetings have also helped Holly, Rose and Groveland assess their own operations.