The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Letters to the Editor
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2008
To the Editor: I am writing to Lyndon Township residents voting in the upcoming Aug. 5 primary. This election is not about property taxes or the township board members ability to raise or lower them. Taxes are allocated by operating charters of schools and community colleges, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for county taxes and the state mandates the State Education tax. Additional taxes for these institutions are voted millages. They must appear on a ballot and are approved or rejected by you, the voters.
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The Lyndon Township millage is under 1 mill and was the lowest operating millage in Washtenaw County at .7224 for 2007. The Headlee Amendment will reduce this millage again in 2008.
Mary Jane Maze
Lyndon Township Treasurer
To the Editor: Regarding the John Francis vs. Maryann Noah campaign for Lyndon Township supervisor.
I've been a resident of Lyndon Township for 25 years. During Noah's reign she has done everything in her power to block any advancement to the current century. She has blocked tornado sirens, cell towers, cable service, high speed internet, etc.
Interesting that during Noah's reign she has always banned signs lining the roads until this campaign. Now that she has an opponent it's OK for her to line the roads with campaign signs.
The point was made during the recall effort that Noah is no longer wanted to lead this township. Francis is the only answer to bring our community into the 21st century. He has the broad vision and a plan to move ahead.
Claudia Bahm
Lyndon Township
To the Editor: Maryann Noah, the incumbent Lyndon Township supervisor, has earned and well-deserves the support of the Lyndon Township electorate on Aug. 5.
She has dedicated herself to protecting and preserving the beauty of Lyndon Township while recognizing the need to confront practical challenges facing its' businesses and families, such as the need for high-speed (broadband) internet access - necessary not only as a matter of convenience, but also in order to maintain the marketability of the Lyndon Township lifestyle.
Throughout the past 12 years Maryann Noah has worked as townshipsupervisor to build solid, functioning relationships with leaders of thegreater Chelsea area and Washtenaw County.
Whether working as a member of the Multi-Lakes Sewer Authority, the Chelsea Fire Authority, on a variety of regional water, sewer and utility boards, or the Chelsea-Dexter planning team, Maryann Noah is a dedicated advocate for and guardian of LyndonTownship. Having had the opportunity to work with Maryann Noah through my efforts on the Zoning Board of Appeal, I enthusiastically support Maryann Noah's campaign for Township Supervisor and ask others to consider doing the same.
Susan V. Brown
Lyndon Township
To the Editor: One of my supporters for supervisor informed me on Sunday that some of my campaign signs are missing from the front yards around the township.
I checked and some signs are indeed missing from the spots where I was given permission to put them.
Those signs are important to me. They are a campaign tool to encourage folks to vote for me in the Aug. 5 primary. I don't want to lose more signs.
If these are the actions (supporters of Maryann Noah) condone, if this is the way you think you can win an election - then that speaks to your character. I am putting you on notice that I am running my campaign for supervisor of Lyndon Township with integrity, and I expect the same from you.
With or without my campaign signs, the residents of Lyndon Township will know the name Francis.
John Francis
Candidate for LyndonTownship supervisor
To the Editor: I support Maryann Noah for Lyndon Township Supervisor.
Janet and I have known Maryann since I was appointed Lima Township Supervisor in 1997. She was a significant help to me as I served Lima Township.
Maryann is dedicated and committed to the needs of Lyndon Township and our entire Chelsea region. She has the ability to investigate, understand, and address the continuously changing conditions that we face especially in the current challenging economic conditions.
Regional cooperation is extremely important especially in the areas of public safety (emergency medical, police, and fire services), roads, zoning, and planning. In 1999 she and I were two of the 10 signers of the Chelsea Area Fire Authority Articles of Incorporation. She continues to serve as chairperson of the CAFA Board and I served with her as an at-large board member for two years. We worked together on the Chelsea Area Planning Team, the Chelsea Area Traffic Committee, the Washtenaw Chief Elected Officials, and on formation of the Chelsea Area Construction Agency.
Two specific lesser known examples of Maryann's leadership come to mind.
First, Maryann organized a workshop presented locally by the Michigan Township Association entitled "How to Avoid Zoning Lawsuits." In that workshop we learned how to make our ordinances more defendable in court while fairly and reasonably serving our residents' needs and desires.
Second, Maryann led a challenge to the proposal when we heard that a new oil pipeline was being planned to run through our townships. As a result of her leadership the pipeline was co-located on an existing electric power right-of-way and did not create a new utility easement running through our resident's yards. The Michigan Public Service Commission noted that this was the first time that local units of government had challenged one of their petitions.
I have seen Maryann spend countless hours working effectively for us all. Recently a friend asked me what I thought about this primary election. My answer, I support our friend Maryann Noah for Lyndon Township supervisor.
Gary Adams
Former Lima townshipsupervisor.To the Editor: On Aug. 5 we have a chance to change directions in local politics in Lyndon Township. The primary will decide who will steer the township for the next four years.
The leadership should provide equal treatment for all residents in the township. Everyone should feel welcome and comfortable attending and speaking up at township meetings. The atmosphere should be collaborative and work toward solving problems and not adversarial and punitive.I live on a private road that was put in years before our current Private Road ordinances were enacted. We were encouraged to develop an association, and when we didn't, a punitive policy was enacted to make any private road without an association apply for a variance to obtain a building permit.
You have pay $500 for the variance application, put up $750 to pay for an engineer to survey the road and pay for any improvements at the discretion of the township. The same engineer is paid repeatedly rather than making a list of the recommended improvements for fire and emergency access and have each person do the top two on the list. The previous permit requestors were only asked to do improvements up to their property and the policy changed for me and I was asked to do improvements beyond my property.John Francis is running for Lyndon Township supervisor. I had the several opportunities to meet him in his role as township assessor in the 1980s and he was always approachable, respectful and handled the situation in a professional manner.
Over the years I have gotten to know him better and feel he will provide the type of leadership that will be fair, respectful and work with the citizens of Lyndon Township to solve problems. He feels that local government at this level should not be political but representative of the interest and concerns of the citizens of Lyndon Township.
I encourage everyone that has these same feelings make it a point to get out and vote, as this primary election will decide the position as there are no opposition in the fall.
Glenn R. Miller
Lyndon Twp.
To the Editor: For some time now the trustees of Lyndon Township Board have felt great frustration and grave concerns about the leadership of the township by Maryann Noah, supervisor. What we see is an atmosphere of disrespect and lack of consideration for the residents of our township.
There is a lack of open-mindedness, a lack of compromise and a lack fairness by the supervisor. Opposing view points, asking questions, voting "no" on motions is viewed upon with mistrust and negativity.
There is a policy in place to limit public input at board meetings. Lyndon Township Board minutes do not contain opinions of board members, comments made "for the record" are not allowed in the minutes.
Noah oversees and has final say on what is contained in the Board minutes before they are released. It is clear that the supervisor manipulates appointment to boards and authorities so that her personal agenda is met.
Lyndon Township is in the tight-fisted control of Maryann Noah and the best interests of the township are not being met. The decision-making process by the township board should be made with the best interests of the township residents in mind.
The reality is that the best interests of the public are secondary to the agenda of Noah. It is about power and control. In the bigger picture it is an erosion of democratic rights. What should be the norm - voices of all being heard and respected, after all this is grass-roots government.
Lyndon Township's leadership has strayed from what we all count on, and what we deserve.
Ignorance is bliss. But, as the trustees of Lyndon Township we want our residents to understand what is going in their local township government. We don't want it to be said that we didn't make an effort, before our terms of office end in November, to fully inform the constituents that we represent, to disclose issues that deeply concern us.
Lyndon Township Trustees LeeAnn Shanahan and Kathryn Francis
To the Editor: Once again we are nearing the political scheme of things, not only in our nation but our state, county and townships. There have been a lot of fireworks already fired in these contests as we are aware, and how much of it is true is anyone's guess.
More a case of political smog!
I am far more interested in hearing about what a person stands for. I am more concerned about their moral character. Do they have the drive to sincerely speak for us? Are we progressing as a county and township in the mainstream by our elected officials? Do they keep us informed? Are we progressing into the future?
I live in Lyndon Township and you have probably heard that our township supervisor is once again seeking another four year term. Mary Ann Noah has served us admirably for the last 12 years.
Mary Ann Noah has: Initiated the popular Fall Clean Up. Opened the offices at the Township hall for availability to residents. Developed a Web site. She insisted on training for all Planning Commissioners, Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Review members. Provides Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. availability of the Township Assessor. Offered informational seminars for Lyndon lake community residents. Open communications and coordination with neighboring governments. Ongoing and proactive in remediation of the Werkner/M-52 intersection. Characterizes Lyndon as a recreation and conservation township. Actively sought broadband access. Initiated the installation of water hydrants through out the Township to help ensure a rapid water supply for fire suppression. Stop the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for consultants used by the Township on behalf of developers. Establish a public utility corridor under the electric towers bisecting Lyndon. Challenged and won against the Michigan Public Service Commission establishing that Lyndon has the final authority for land use decisions. Challenged and won against the DNR when they attempted to violate Lyndon's zoning ordinance.
This is very impressive. Let me add that I am not necessarily playing on the Republican side. We have a mixed group in Lyndon Township. The Clerk, Linda Riley (Democrat), has served us honorably. I know of few people that could have done as well. She takes her job seriously and gives constantly in her duties. The same for our treasurer, Mary Jane Maze (Republican). She is an outstanding person in her duties and is uncontested in this election. I am proud of the cohesiveness of our current elected officials. They work as a team for our benefit.
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