Beaver Island Michigan

OMG!! Best post EVER, Pirate! Can we vote for new state's name?
Michifish!! Then we could be Michifishies.

Hi John,
From the ones Iâ??ve talked to who hope for consolidation, what I sense is there were those who may have felt, for lack of better terms, a sense of urgency or need to get this done due to issues that were not getting done (no specifics) due to a lack of island unity blamed by two separate townships. One reported being saddened by â??hostilitiesâ?￾.

Loud and clear, yes; I would have done things differently. Elected officials must re-present (hence the term â??representativeâ?￾) the will of the people. Clearly, there were people who were not aware of the process in action. That said, I was told a petition to get consolidation on the ballot was available, requiring signatures from registered voters in both townships. From a legal standpoint, a few petition signatures may be all that was required since the state makes all the rules for boundary changes. Still, we have to move past how it happened. It happened, and the vote is 13 weeks away. We need to figure out whether one or two townships best serves the people. For me, this is very complicated. I am waiting for the fact on both sides. If I am muddying the waters, forgive me. Iâ??m wading my way through a lot of new territory.

Hi Kathe,
I hope you are right. From experience, I was estimating what could be well over $100,000 totaling for both townships all associated costs as mentioned, so I should have stated the â??six-figureâ?￾ estimate more clearly.

As I stated, I have not seen actual numbers, but it would be good to know or at least get an idea of what two sets of fees for such services cost. Even for smaller non-profits, I have never seen total fees as low as you claim. Either way, I think it is worth asking the question simply because a consolidation might reduce such expenses. It would be good to know by how much. I am guessing one of the strongest arguments for consolidation will be the cost savings of operating one vs. two townships.

For the record, I am wholly undecided on this vote, because the facts have not been made available on either side, so now I am also asking questions along with many others. In general, and as I have found and posted, consolidations commonly produce what was termed â??winners and losers,â?￾ and it is also claimed to be an expensive process. So, as stated, facts are needed to support both arguments. I am certain that the vote is important enough that voters are very well informed in order that they are not led by strong personalities, nepotism, etc., which is particularly true for the new people on the island. For us, there is a lot to learn in short amount of time.

Andy, As a former grant administrator, I do in fact, know what it costs for CPA services, audits, financial statements, and legal representation. When multiplying those costs by two (two separate townships), I can estimate that those costs would be in the six-figure range. Perhaps I'm wrong, but pro...

Jeez Louise! Great post, Pirate. I think it's funny!

Hi John and Carol, With no knowledge of the players or history of the township issues, and at the same time learning how a smallest and isolated community survives in a world system set up for huge government, populations, commerce, trade, etc., this township vote has taken on profound if not symbol...

One of the first principles of Lean Six Sigma management strategies is to increase productivity by eliminating unnecessary and repetitive processes and associated costs. Redundancy, by its very nature, is expensive. I begin this post with Lean Six Sigma because I had a conversation with another island resident who raised some very thoughtful considerations. The issue of the â??defense of taxpayersâ?￾ was raised, which led to necessarily thinking about the consolidation, and whether two townships are, in fact, in taxpayersâ?? best interests.

According to the Michigan Townships Association, â??Michiganâ??s system of local government is sometimes described as â??confusing,â?￾ â??overlapping,â?￾ and â??redundant,â?￾ but the existence of townships actually provides a degree of simplicity and cohesiveness that other, non-township states lack,â?￾ again leading to the topics of redundancy and consolidation.

Two townhall buildings with their maintenance and upkeep, double sets of multiple and mandatory insurance policies and premiums, two sets of paid trustees, two sets of monthly utility and communication bills (for each townhall building), two separate renewal fees, double sets of office equipment, supplies, computer systems, automobiles, etc., two boards overseeing many island services, two sets of elections, etc.; in other words, VERY expensive and annual redundancy. The question of whether this system is a best defense of taxpayers is more than legitimate.

I have heard many stories regarding townships using one against the other and passing the buck and blame on many issues and for many years. However, in my conversation with the resident, I was told of a hope for cohesion: â??A cohesive body of peopleâ?￾ to serve the needs of Beaver Island without a constant battle between boards, diverting attention, and causing anger in paradise. The logic of consolidation cannot be ignored, because 600 people cannot afford to operate two identical governing bodiesâ??particularly when dollars need to be spent, for example, making ferry travel for island residents and tourists reasonably affordable, which it is not, and which negatively impacts many peopleâ??s ability to travel or move to Beaver Island. Those people are the islandâ??s bread and butter. Equally, as a new resident, I have heard the negative impact of township fighting, which is at times cut-throat, but to what end?

For me, and only eight months in, I realize that both sides have reasonable points and concerns, but a division on an island of 600, many of which married with extended island families, from founding families, and with everyone having wonderful and thoughtful ideas for the islandâ??s future, it may be that residents themselves need consolidation in order that they can act in the best interest of the islandâ??s future. A township consolidation, if nothing else, will eliminate many â??â?¦unnecessary processes and associated costs,â?￾ as well as stop turf fights, power jockeying, and resentments between township residents. Therefore, the question must be asked: How many governments are necessary for eight people per square mile? Food for thought.

Thank you for tolerating all of this from a newbie. Clearly, I think/ponder through a keyboard. Also, many thanks to the one who called. Your thoughtful wisdom, insights, and experience added new dimensions and depth to my current understanding, and I am sincerely grateful.

Hi Carol, Regarding your bolded section, I believe I stated the same thing in paragraph three of my post prior to yours. I have, in fact, been posting facts from the State of Michigan, lawyers, academics, economists, and newspapers directly related to township consolidation. There are many people ex...

I asked several residents from both St. James and Peaine Townships if they thought there was a difference in people choosing to live in one township of the other. All respondents reported preferences for living in one township or the other, which many experts have also noted. St. James residents reported a preference to live close to the island businesses with quick-access shopping/banking/postal service, etc., to feel less isolated, to enjoy the tourist season events around the harbor, and to be closer to the school. Peaine Township residents said they preferred to live outside of the business district to enjoy nature, to have quiet, space and privacy during the tourist season, for quick access to several inland lakes, to have less property restrictions, less taxes, and for work opportunities on the south end of the island.

I also asked residents of both townships if, given the opportunity, they would move from their current township and relocate to the other. In all instances, respondents said they would not move from their current townships, indicating that both St. James and Peaine township residents identify with a somewhat different character or culture in their townships, which seems to validate many expert opinions of why individual townships are more responsive to their voters.

Having lived on the island for less than one year, it is difficult to navigate through island opinions and preferences, experts and research, and island politics/dramas (normal everywhere), and what is ultimately in the best interest of a unique community of co-dependent residents with the need for island development (good jobs for permanent residents), while retaining and protecting the natural resources and environment, peace, quiet, and unique and historic culture.

What I can report is what appears to be a somewhat widespread distrust of why the consolidation was seemingly forced upon voters and a belief that an ongoing power monopoly operates on the island, which may be a haves vs. have-notâ??s issue. We should consider that so far in history, the world has yet to change the â??wealth is powerâ?￾ paradigm, which remains a global norm.

Equally, I have found it difficult to find literature that claims actual or proven positive results for township consolidations except for one, where four townships were consolidated in northern Wisconsin and, after five years, saw cost reductions. What experts commonly recommend over consolidations for reducing costs and improving services in township governments are: 1) Shared services in both townships, 2) for individual townships to practice lean (sigma six) governmental management and fiscal/budgetary practices (I do not know whether Lean Sigma Six practices are utilized by St. James and Peaine Townshipsâ?? supervisors and managers.), and 3) that consolidation results in fewer township trustees who can then appoint (vs. elected) deputy supervisors and other boards and commissioners including their family members. Should one consolidated township board consist of only five or seven trustees, opportunity exists for an all-friends/family/social class monopoly, meaning that all and fair voter representation could be compromised. Nor are trustees obligated to post public job notices for which all islanders may wish to know and apply.

Being told by many people that such concerns currently exist on Beaver Island, reducing trustee numbers by consolidating townships may need further consideration. One resident suggested an off-island/impartial ethics committee to review the proceedings and decisions should the consolidation pass. I found this which was helpful: https://www.fsbrlaw.com/Resources/Towns ... ip-Law-Q-A

State notes from the State of Michigan Senate on government consolidations in Michigan--provided in 2010. Very interesting:

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/publ ... um10es.pdf

Hi John, It is interesting that in several other states bills have been introduced to force township consolidations--Indiana, for example--which is currently attempting to force neighboring townships to consolidate if either/or township has a population less than 1,200 residents. Equally, city, coun...

More current news on township consolidations. This one is interesting because many consolidations may be forced:

http://www.wfft.com/content/news/472529513.html

Great info in this document; pay attention to pages 101 through 116 on Michigan townships: https://books.google.com/books?id=UppFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&dq=incentivizing+township+consolidation+in+michigan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYzbq61I3ZAhXG3YMKHTQlA6EQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=incentiv...

Hi Bob, Your point is taken; I said that poorly. However, "The ACA directly incentivises employers to use part-time rather than full-time workers, and smaller businesses have the necessity of grasping at any competitive advantage they can get. Six years after its passage and almost three years ...

Kathe, Thank you for your kind comments, and I look forward to meeting you as well.