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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
In
our democracy each person is as
important as his neighbor and his vote is
counted equaly. We are guaranteed
life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. We THINK that we elect officials as public servants, those who
will work diligently, intelligently
and morally to responsibly
carry out the actions necessary
for our health, education, protection and
quality of life.
Yet, today we citizens of
this state have seen our pleas for justice ignored by those PUBLIC SERVANTS”
we have elected. We have spoken loudly and clearly our opposition to a
storm/road run-off drain proposed for our Woodland Lake. We have contacted
senators, congressmen, both federal and state representatives, county
commissioners, township officials, road and drain commissioners as well as
E.P.A. and M.D.N.R. In response, we have been told they are "sorry"
- they don’t know what they can do ".
- it’s not their responsibility’ and
they’ll make "some” phone calls. The D.N.R. (Dept of NO results) has (1)
denied authority, (2) referred us to someone else. (3) told us we should be
concerned about cadmium, ethylene alcohol, and oil as well as salt, (4)
generally supported the drain. (We don’t elect the D.N.R.)
We have confronted the county
commissioners. They first disavowed any authority or responsibility. They
said the Road Commission was a separate entity! When we pointed out the fact
that they write their paychecks and did in fact actually appoint the three
member board of Road Commissioners they grudgingly passed a resolution” that
the Road Commission should "commit to responsive action in their handling of
this matter.’’ (How nice!)
We confronted the Road
Commissioners and their director Michael Craine. They opined that there
·is nothing they can do.” We were
told it would cost (1) $148,000.00, (2) $175,000 and now (3) Over 1 million
dollars to redirect this drain. We were told that no DNR permit was
required. Mr. Craine said they had inquired about one but the DNR told them
that none was required. I asked for copies of the application, DNR’s
response and all supporting documents. He said the drain commissioner, Mr.
Rudnicki (Elected official) had made the
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overwhelming public opinion,
and install an unwanted drain, that this constitutes Taxation Without
Representation!!!
This is NOT democracy in
action!! Irresponsible behavior such as this has incited revolutions,
sparked insurections and toppled empires.
When an ELECTED body such as
the county commissioners fail to heed the voice of their electors, then they
become a part of the problem. They are not "public servents” but
OPPRESSORS.
It is
time to clean house, to rid ourselves of the ‘good old boys”, special
interest puppets and just plain fools” that now presume
to
lead” us. Election day will soon be here.
And that is the day to use your vote to eliminate the incumbents that
care so little about our lake, our health or our quality of life. If I have
no other choice, I will write in Thomas Jefferson” or "George Washington” if
they are unapposed in the election. We must reassert our rights and reclaim
our government. No APPOINTED official should have the power to govern us.
The elected commisioners
that APPOINTED them are responsible.
If
we don’t demand results or vote them out of
office then we will be responsible.
By: John Arthur
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Thanks to the people ot
Woodland Lake and this board the Road and Drain Commissioners know they are
in a fight. They said they didn’t need a permit, but May 24th, ten days
after we began asking questions, Mr. Rudnicki filed with the DNR for a
permit to "dump the drain in this lake”. It was received in Lansing June
14th. On the 29th of July we were told the application would be sent to
Imlay City (our district) for processing. I sent the DNR a certified letter
stating we are adamently apposed to this permit and demanded a public
hearing.
The
Township offices are now involved in this and have asked for a meeting with
all parties concerned. We will get out fliers when dates are given for these
meetings. Other lakes with the
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