School info

[Sour grapes]

Pirate...Shhhhh...you are going to be accused of hiding under/behind/inside Richies skirt. Damn Avatars. Now we all know where Richie is, in Cuba with you!.

[John Bolton]

Meadefamily
You keep putting words in my mouth.
I have never asked for any special privileges as a 94% er
In fact, I have been saying all along, like you stated... we have NO say, no vote on what is happening here on the Island .
The only vote we have now is to “Vote with our feet”
And the record shows that is exactly what has been happening. And it may well continue to happen until the island economy implodes. The local tax rate is a major concern to potential buyers. The real estate numbers don’t lie.
Me, personally, I’m in for the long haul. You’re a newbie. In about 30 more years, you too, can you say you’re in for the long haul.
In the meantime, I’m saying some stuff just flat needs to be addressed or there will be consequences .
IMHO:
You keep telling me to look at all the wonderful things going on island wise, well duh. Don’t bother. You are preaching to the choir...
I’m glad that you have found Beaver Island. I’m happy for you that you love it. I’m happy that you are able turn a blind eye to the problems and go all Pollyanna on it. Good for you.

But it does not in anyway make you more perceptive. It does not make you more understanding of the Island situation.
Cheerleading mentality leads to the sweeping under the rug of issues that are truly going to directly affect the future of the current student population and the full time residents more than anyone else.

It sounds to me by your description, as if you assume everyone who lives full time on the island is somehow “stranded” there.
The percentage of full time residents who were actually born on island vs. those that decided to come and be full time islanders might weaken the pillars of that steadfast opinion of why the full time folks are actually there and why they stay.
Additionally, if one were to take a survey of all the, “Native born islanders” who have LEFT the island, the premise may further erode.
Back in the 1950’s the island population was about 150, I’m told. No economy to speak of. When I arrived in the mid 1970’s , the island was just learning to gear up for a true tourist economy.
By the nineties, things were going great. Forecasts were nothing but, up, up, up.
That ended and the island taxpayers were stuck with the utility bill. Nobody’s fault. Things happen.
Since that time 30 years ago, things have got wonky.
The new projections were ignored and the small population of taxpayers ( full & part time) have had layer after layer of local taxes heaped on them to keep the party of 1995 going.
That is a simple explanation.

We are about to enter a new economic downturn and outlying areas, like Northern Michigan in general and Beaver Island, in particular, are possibly going to take a big hit.
We should prepare and discuss , not stick our heads in the proverbial island sand.

Your right, I do have a second home, off island, though I consider it less home than here on the Island.
If the current island policies create an implosion of
Beaver island as we know it, then it will be the full timers that suffer the most. I am lucky in that I have an alternative.

As far as Adam goes, he may be lewd and crude in your estimation, I understand, however, he speaks of facts and truth to power when it comes to Island fiscal policies.

I have been trying to crawl back into my troll cave. I will not post on this thread again, unless someone personally attacks me or puts words in my mouth. Attack my thinking all you like. But do not question my love for Beaver Island.

Except for Richie of course, “I hate him the worst...”

Enjoy your Summer.

[meadefamily]

John,

No Pollyanna here! My point is you lecture about choice...yet you forget you made a choice knowing the rules of taxation. No sense rehashing, we shall agree to disagree. Have a great night!

[hermit]

Taxes are ridiculous here. And when I went to school here there 53 kids. And it was the old school and most were nuns. Now why does there have to be so many employees for 50 kids?

[meadefamily]

Hermit,

We do have a huge property tax issue in Michigan, and not much to show for it. Based on 2020 tax rates across the USA Michigan is ranked 8th in the USA for high property taxes, with a tax rate of 1.62% yet Beaver Island is ranked lower in State of Michigan when comparing all Counties. . Fun fact...Hawaii is ranked 2nd lowest at .27%.

[JFPowers]

Thanks for the comments John, I am used to getting my ideas discounted on the island I unfortunately often focus too far down the road and try to come up with solutions to issues that are aways away on the horizon.......

Ten years ago while on the Medical center Board I advocated for Beaver Island to develop an accredited laboratory to allow for real time diagnosis of medical conditions. I went as far as to consult with an outside laboratory that would have guided the Rural health center through the process. I was told it was "too much work, to have one person meet the certification that was necessary to maintain the accrediation status of the laboratory". Just think how valuable this would be today if this was in place, we could have in 15 minutes test results to help the island deal with COVID, let alone rapid instant monitoring of organ failure, diabetes, anemia and other severe conditions. I have been on the island long enough to remember a time when the health center DID offer some instant laboratory results to patients.

Before that about 15 years ago as a member of the Beaver Island Boat Company Board I advocated for a faster boat, because the failure to do so in the fast paced society will lead to reduced ridership to the island because the pace of 21st century life is too fast. Again, I was told its impossible, too expensive and it had been tried before........in the 70's. Since then we have seen Boat Company ridership fall dramatically, and despite it all the state has been very willing when asked to fund keeping the ferry afloat. Plans for a larger freight ferry based on a very inaccurate paid for consultant report, have since been put on hold indefinetly.

Finally, as John Bolton projects the island (at least the islands private economy) is in at best a very stressed situation. Many that discount my points as John pointed out have little skin in the game. The island can exist on a predominantly publicly funded basis but it will continue to lose character and appeal if private enterprise is further damaged and seasonal property owners who pay the bulk of the tax burden are discounted.

My thoughts on education are not earth shattering and they will come about, it is only a matter of time. I thought one of the other ideas being floated around when the large school was built was that it COULD attract students from off the island, my comments are exactly that, focus on excellence in online education and perhaps it will reach that vision, albiet in a different manner that was set out years ago when so many tax dollars were allocated for its construction.

[hermit]

Socialism. Defining how much a guy should pay. Sickening

[jmedlin]

Nope,they’re all tough and strong until they need help. What is so deeply ironic also, is how red states are bigger takers of federal aid than blue states.

[hermit]

Social security is paid by workers. It’s not an entitlement. But I’m sure you think it is.

And to use some rich actor and divide how much he makes and actually state what he needs is pure ridiculous

And trashing Adam makes you look really bad.

Glad I never got to meet you and you’re not on the island anymore.

[hermit]

Suggest you do the same. I at least have enough respect to agree with Adam and not call him names. Which you seem to sling easily. Must be an angry person.

PS. I know what SS is. And how it’s funded. Big guy.

[Sour grapes]

Hermit you need to take a step back and read the thread! Adam was the one that started the name calling and personal attacks on Ken. Ken sums up Adams intentions well.

Question for you:

Suggest you do the same. I at least have enough respect to agree with Adam and not call him names. Which you seem to sling easily. Must be an angry person.

PS. I know what SS is. And how it’s funded. Big guy.

Agreeing with Adam is not having respect, it is having your head in the sand. Obviously you aren't an old timer like some and don't know the history of his bitterness. Ken we agree more than not and your love for the island is passionate. It is hard not to get angry when Adam "slings" his BS and attacks hard working citizens and our kids. Get over it Hermit, your buddy is Adam is an ass.

[Fish Camp]

https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factshee ... curity.htm

Workers pay in half, their employer pays in half.

[Sour grapes]

True unless you are self employed then you pay much more.

[Fish Camp]

If you are self-employed, then you are both the worker and the employer. The same amount goes in - the worker part and the employer part.

[hermit]

Been thinking about this. Want to jump start an economy? Especially here. It’s not hard.

Take Ken’s money. But some cheap lots in PSJ. Build a min square foot house. At cost. Advertise if someone off island comes and works on it. They get a cheap affordable house. Plenty of work. Then you get some of these people off Ken’s dole.

Problem is. This island and the min $200 per square foot they charge. Their would be so much of a rebellion.


Actually. And I am a licensed builder. Form a 501c Corp.

But no one here would go for it.