Letters to the editor

Merger talks are a ‘rare opportunity’

As a township supervisor a major part of my job is to provide service to residents in a financially prudent manner. With declining revenue and increasing costs this becomes a greater and greater challenge.

In an effort to meet that challenge and because of the Davison area’s unparalleled intergovernmental cooperation, Davison City Manager Dale Martin and I have been exploring merging public services up to and including governance. Our rationale is to simply seek ways to do more with less.

Change can be scary but the alternative is status quo. I contend we are remiss if we fail to put our heads together and brainstorm all possibilities. The first thought in hard times is to hunker down and proclaim “the sky is falling” but true leaders step up and look for solutions.

Critics are common but ideas can be rare. The Davison community has always been a step ahead by working together for the betterment of all our residents. The time has come for all our leaders and residents to keep an open mind, get totally informed and be willing to learn in new and even uncomfortable ways. — Supervisor Kurt Soper, Davison Township

Merger talks are about community’s future

At the Jan. 25 City Council meeting, it was revealed to the general public for the first time that discussions related to exploring the concept of consolidation between the City and Township of Davison have been ongoing. The discussions have contemplated the consolidation of not only more services, but also the government. This could be a remarkable opportunity for this community.

The discussions have not necessarily been as secretive as indicated at the City Council meeting. In fact, at the City level, Mayor Fortner, Mayor Pro Tem Bishop, and Council members Matt Judd, David Martin, and Don Csutoras had all been made aware of the discussions. Additionally, at every discussion (all four), Ms. Sarah Fish of the The Davison INDEX has been included as an observer. The whole issue of consolidation can be politically contentious, so I believed it was critical to have an impartial observer document the discussions. The agreement I had with Ms. Fish was that she could not write about the story until the appropriate time and I could not talk with other media outlets about the story. I look forward to reading Ms. Fish’s documentation of the discussions.

So why is now not only the appropriate time to openly discuss the issue, but also the appropriate time to seriously consider the issue? The history of cooperation and collaboration in this community is extensive and successful. The fire department, the senior citizen center, Davison Community Enrichment and Recreation, and the district library are the most visible and significant area examples. Other examples include the pathways and trails, the Quad Unit meetings, economic development studies, and the new area recreation plan. Records at City Hall indicate that consolidation has been contemplated on several previous occasions.

Why is it time to at least consider the concept again? The State is aggressively urging communities to consolidate. The opportunity to be first would enable us to set the terms for consolidation should the concept be attractive. If another area achieves consolidation, the State may mandate terms that, while perhaps appropriate for that area, would not be practical for our area.

I believe, unlike some others in Davison, that the current economy presents a marvelous opportunity to change. I am not one to sit, wring my hands, and bemoan, “Oh my God, what are we to do?” Rather, let’s sit down, roll up our sleeves, and declare, “Oh my God, what CAN we do?” Why do we have to patiently wait, putting our community’s fate in the hands of others in Lansing and Washington, waiting for that manna from heaven to suddenly restore our economic vitality? Yesterday is gone, people. Get over it. The economy has shifted completely from the wonderfully lucrative manufacturing sector that fueled Genesee County. What’s next?

What if we found a way, through consolidation, to streamline government? What if taxes were able to be lowered? What if other financial benefits, most of which could be oriented to the residents rather than the government, could be developed either locally or with State assistance (since the State wishes to encourage consolidation)? It should be the residents that benefit most, not the government, if this concept is to be seriously considered. And even then, it will be the people themselves, not the governments, that make a final decision.

The preliminary discussions have drawn the interest of various individuals, agencies, and groups in Flint and in Lansing. The reason for this unprecedented attention is that we may be in a position to chart new and innovative paths of governance. The State’s taxing system is woefully broken, and it cannot continue to sustain itself. It must be changed. What if we had the opportunity to implement new policies and procedures and governance upon which other entities could draw? What if that boldness and innovation could transform this community into a more attractive location for new businesses or additional families to locate? The Davison Community Schools reputation for excellence adds even a greater benefit to the area and must be included as part of the discussions.

I believe that this is an opportunity to have a thorough discussion about the long-term outlook for the Davison community: not just the City, and not just the Township. All of us should consider what we want this community to be like for the next generations. If you have any comments or are interested in learning more, please contact me at dmartin@cityofdavison.org. I look forward to hearing from you. —Dale Martin, Davison City Manager

Celebrity server night was a success

What a fun-filled evening this past Tuesday during the Celebrity Server night at Archie's Restaurant benefiting Outreach East

And the competition was hot! Each team from Richfield Township, City of Davison and Davison Township worked hard in both effort and spirit! Balloons and flags for decorations. Team shirts for identification. It was awesome.

And the winner was — Outreach East and the families we can help during these tough times.

Outreach East would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out with such a great spirit! It was wonderful to watch the effort each team went to in an effort to “persuade” guests to sit in their area. And then the Tips from that section would be “credited” to that representative community.

Beyond the work the three communities put in to make this a success, it still came down to the patrons of Archie's who generously left tips to go towards Outreach East.

I must also give thanks to Archie's Restaurant for hosting this event once again. And a huge Thank You to the wait-staff of Archie's who not only worked hard giving up their tips but also for putting up with the various characters representing the Townships & City. Thank You all so very much!

Oh, yes, the team that gained the most tips was Davison Township!

Once again, THANK YOU to everyone who participated, dined and donated to Outreach East. - Jan Lebert, Outreach East

Farmers have a thankless job

The article on knee deep in sheep (in another Davison publication), Deb Caryl, a sheep farmer from Davison Township, says “I think Genesee County is really agriculturally ignorant.” We believe this statement is a poor choice of words against all the farmers of Genesee County. They are knowledgeable of their work to know what to do to earn a living. Their hours are hardly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weather is against them sometimes not knowing if they have to plant seeds a second time. They do 300 or more acres of corn and all kinds of grain , They take care of cattle and livestock of all kinds. The farmer is the worst gambler of all people if the truth is known. Thank God for all their work and keep them in good health.

If you’re doing so good pay the $6,000 — foot the bill yourself to the Genesee County Fair for the sheep shearing contest. Don’t be a beggar for someone else’s money to satisfy your pleasure. —

Lucille A. Blue, Richfield Township

Boulevard would be too costly for taxpayers

Week One: The city manager recommends the Davison City Council vote unanimous to spent $480,000 of Federal Road Maintenance and Construction Funds and $120,000 from the City Reserve Fund to construct a flower garden boulevard in the middle of Flint Street, thus reducing this already overloaded four-lane major feeder highway to the city from four lanes to three lanes.

At a following City Council meeting, the same city manager announced that the city Water and Sewer Funds are in dangerous financial condition, with increased taxes needed. The mayor announced things in the city are looking bleak and that the city must have a 15- 20 percent reduction of the “fat” in the city budget. The city manager agrees but with the comment it must be done in the most invisible way so taxpayers won’t notice the reduction in city services.

Finally, in a published letter to The Davison INDEX by C. Smith, he described me as “Old Phil” with horse and buggy ideas. As I read his letter, I consider his observation of me as being the only accuracy in the whole document. Sorry Smitty, you have got to do better and start by not being fearful of ashamed to use your complete name. I do, and so does the editor. Also, please be aware that I love flowers, trees and shrubs; it’s the $600,000 cost of growing them in the middle of Flint Street that Davison cannot afford.

In closing Smitty, you have no idea how much I am looking forward to attending the Davison Township Board meeting when you submit your proposal for a multi-million dollar boulevard extension to Oak Road. — Phillip Schneider, Richfield Township

Politicians need to think “out of the box”

In response to the letter in The Viewpoint by Tim Bishop. Our governmental leaders have a hard time thinking “out of the box” when it comes to fiscal matters. Our national debt is living proof of that, thankfully our local governments do a better job. Where I have a problem is when someone like Tim Bishop makes a statement concerning the lack of money that might come into the Davison City’s General Fund because of wages that didn’t belong in the water budget to begin with are transferred back to where they belong, into the general fund.

Govern-ments, all governments, are not self supportive and therefore depend on taxpayers for funding. When the taxpayers find their finances are reduced or extremely limited then government leaders must realize that these general funds might indeed also be cash strapped.

The obvious answer then is to adjust the general fund (i.e. spend less.) If anyone thinks a general fund is a fixed fund then they don’t understand the purpose of a general fund. The dollars allotted to these general funds are not a totally fix dollar amounts, there is some room for adjustment. These funds can and should be scaled down in tough times and to say that a general fund “will be hit hard by loss of state shared revenue, reduction in property taxes and a decline in revenues from various sources” should send up a red flag to the manager of this general fund that something needs to be done to find a better relationship between actual dollars available and dollars budgeted to be spent.

It’s time for our political representatives to start “thinking out of the box” and do as the taxpayers have to do, that is, live with what they have to work with. — Howard Johnson, Davison