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Letter to the Editor

 

Elmer and Candyce Wolsfeld, Durand

3:25 pm

Independent Editor.

   In the last few weeks, we have read with interest the comments and statements from candidates running for Durand City Council. So many of the comments indicate that they do not have the basic understanding of how the city, the budget or charter work or what is legally permitted through grants and basic statutes.

   We are aware that a city council member actively recruited most of the candidates running for personal reasons. Most had never attended a council meeting until they decided to run, read the minutes or looked at the budget. If they have plans or are being prepped by a current council member, then hopefully they will hear the right information.

   One issue brought up by a couple of the challenging candidates was the residency requirement. If they had done any research they would have discovered that there are laws prohibiting this requirement in collective bargaining and challenges to this requirement have been upheld by the Michigan Supreme Court.

   Let’s discuss transparency. The city council meetings are open to everyone. The agenda is published prior to the meeting. Budgets are available to everyone and public comments are welcome. Having sat on city committees, I can assure you only one challenger has attended public input meetings… as a matter of fact, the council member encouraging them to run has not attended many.

   Let’s discuss the feud with Vernon Township sited by Mr. Hildebrand. Is he aware that an active committee has been meeting for over a year with Mr. Joe Borgeson to bring about development in the area? That “feud” has been over for ages. Mr. Borgeson spoke to the DDA and other groups and plenty of positive things are occurring.

   Let’s talk new business. There are very few unsold buildings in Durand business area. Prior to COVID, plans to open three new businesses on Saginaw Street were in full swing. Those plans were put on hold. There is now activity in the old First Merit building, and the old Booth store is being rented. The former INM has sold and a business will be coming in the next year or so. It is in the works. We have had 15 new businesses in the last five years. Jeff Brands used his connections to help bring Taco Bell in. The Lansing Road area has grown during the incumbents’ tenure. Two-hundred-plus jobs have been created.

   Let’s talk community involvement. Of the challengers, only a few have participated in community events. Mr. Hilderbrand told the End of Summer Cruise Committee, at the time of his separation from the city, that he was not doing another thing for the city (although the event is run by the Chamber) and resigned from the committee. We believe to build Durand you have to support Durand. Not one of the candidates volunteer, promote or attend downtown activities. Recently, council members Brands and Matajewski were honored nationally for their volunteer service to Durand. Every incumbent running attends and supports community activities, sits on various boards and contributes funds to local organizations. Mayor Doyle has been honored numerous times for her commitment to the city. Rich Folaron has given over 25 years to the city of Durand and continues to volunteer. Brian Boggs supports the community in numerous ways and actively volunteers for many activities.

   The challenging candidates have no experience. It is obvious they know little that has been going on in the city for the last five years. One of them didn’t know where the city of Durand was versus Vernon Township. One stated he wanted the current city manager fired, but has backed off from that statement. One claimed that an incumbent was running to appoint his wife to council. Not true.

   We anxiously awaited the candidates’ plans for change. We saw no concrete plans from any. We also did not see a response in one paper from Mr. Tullar.

   Being a city council member is more than making decisions on Monday night. It is more than attending a committee meeting. It is certainly not bad-mouthing your fellow members to try to influence and push your agenda. It is promoting the city, bringing about positive change; it is having knowledge of the workings of past and present councils and state laws. It is knowing Robert’s Rules of Order, and it is projecting a positive image representing the city. It is knowing the numbers, meeting with constituents in an informal setting; it is volunteering to help the community. It is bringing positive publicity to the city. The incumbents – Boggs, Brands, Doyle, Folaron and Matajewski – know that. We see nothing from the challenging candidates that indicate they do.

Elmer and Candyce Wolsfeld, Durand

Elmer and Candyce Wolsfeld, Durand was last modified: November 4th, 2020 by Karen Elford