Election season is upon us! I’ve sent out a list of questions to all the candidates running for office in Peninsula Township, and I am publishing them here on the Gazette in the order they’re received.
The candidates are listed below. If there is a link on their name, you can click through and read their responses, or view all candidate responses here. If there is no link, that means I haven’t received their responses.
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
Supervisor: Kelly J. Clark (R), Maura Sanders (R)
Clerk: Rebecca W. Chown (D)
Treasurer: Katie M. Clark (R)
Trustee (4 positions available): Sheila Johnson (unaffiliated), Kate Jerman (R), Mark Luea (R), J.P. Milliken (R), David K. Sanger (R), Fred Swaffer Jr. (R), Julie Alexander (D), Warner Queeny (D), Armen B. Shanafelt (D), Isaiah S. Wunsch (D)
Read on for thoughts from Sheila Johnson, who is running for the position of Township Trustee.
About You
What is your name, party affiliation, and what Peninsula Township office are you running for?
My name is Sheila Johnson. I’m Non-Partisan, and I’m running for the position of Peninsula Township Trustee.
Why are you running for this position, and what qualifications do you bring to the role?
I’m running for this position because I don’t agree with how some issues have been handled by our current board. I feel I would bring honesty, common sense and transparency to the board. I am not a politician, I am a business person. I have a Bachelors in Accounting, and my husband and I own a commercial HVAC company that I have managed since 2005. I can balance a budget and make tough decisions. I will fight for the community that I am representing. We also purchased a farm on the Old Mission Peninsula last summer, so I have a unique perspective as a resident, business owner and (novice) farmer.
Have you served on any Peninsula Township committees or boards, and if so, which ones?
No.
How long have you lived on the Old Mission Peninsula?
I was a long-term renter from 2008 until we purchased our first home on the OMP in 2020.
What is your vision for Peninsula Township in 10, 20, 50 years? Do you support maintaining the rural character of the Old Mission Peninsula?
I support the rural character of the OMP, as do the majority of the residents. Growth is inevitable and things are going to change, but I would like to hold on to the rural characteristics that make the Old Mission Peninsula so special to all of us.
Do you support large scale developments such as “Peninsula Shores,” formerly known as “The 81 on East Bay”?
I do not support large scale developments; however, I believe that decision is up to the residents of the OMP. I know growth is inevitable and there will be more large scale developments in our future, but I will be cautious on approving such developments.
How will you ensure community transparency in Township finances, meetings and decisions?
I would like all meetings to be held during hours that community members can attend. I would like the meetings to be available via Zoom for those that can’t be there in person, and for the meeting minutes to be easily accessible.
How do you plan to make a difference on the Old Mission Peninsula? What are your top priorities?
My first priority is to try to get all the lawsuits settled. I would also like to find a way to support and promote farming.
Citizen Engagement
How can Peninsula Township encourage citizens to become more involved in Township issues, attend meetings, etc.?
The times and places of the meetings need to be more accessible to our residents. We should have monthly open meetings, in a casual atmosphere, so that citizens and board members can have real conversations.
Peninsula Township relies on volunteers to help with public services, such as well-maintained parks and serving on Township committees and boards. How can the Township increase this pool of volunteers?
Social media is a great way to let citizens know that we need volunteers, or maybe even a quarterly mailer with volunteer opportunities listed (if the budget allows for it).
Do you support holding periodic town hall meetings where citizens can have back-and-forth discussions with Township officials?
Yes.
Do you support an open-door policy at the Township where walk-in visits are allowed?
Yes.
Township Administration
The Township has experienced a high level of turnover in the Planning department during the past decade. How can the Township improve staff retention?
I would need to understand why before I could fix the problem. Exit interviews are always a great tool when trying to figure out high turnover rates.
Which parts of the Township budget do you believe could be cut or eliminated?
I think we need to look into all the legal fees.
Will you adhere to due process, or will you make decisions based on circumstances and relationships?
I will adhere to due process.
Do you support or oppose moving to a charter township and why?
I am against moving to a charter township. One reason is because of the immediate mill increase. We have a lot of residents on fixed incomes, and this could be detrimental to them.
Regarding hours at the Township office, do you support moving back to a five-day work week of seven-hour days, 9 to 5 or 8 to 4, with an hour off for lunch?
I am a proponent for flex schedules, but I am not against a standard schedule either. I would need to discuss this issue with the employees in the Township office before making a decision like that.
Would you support lowering application permit fees, dropping the cash requirement for escrow funds, and allowing a bond in lieu of cash at applicant’s choosing?
Yes.
Master Plan, Ordinance and Enforcement
How will you address residents/applicants who refuse to follow the ordinance? How will enforcement take place?
I would work with the resident before jumping to issuing a ticket or a lawsuit.
In areas where the Township’s operational budget is already strained, how can the Township address more resident complaints, allegations of non-compliance, and public nuisance issues?
Law enforcement can handle this, along with our ordinance enforcement officer.
Have you read the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, and do you understand the procedures for adopting a Master Plan and amending a zoning ordinance?
Yes.
Will you follow the zoning ordinance as written, or will you make exceptions where convenient?
I will follow the zoning ordinance.
What elements of the Master Plan do you feel are lacking most?
Vehicular traffic. Turn lanes and passing lanes will impact residents’ properties and wouldn’t be my first choice, but we will know more once the traffic studies are done. It’s definitely an area of concern for me.
Wineries and Winery Lawsuit
Had you been on the Township Board during the WOMP v Peninsula Township settlement discussions, how much Township money would you have given up to the wineries?
I wasn’t there and can’t answer that based on the information I have.
If Township insurance does not cover all the damages claimed by the wineries in the winery lawsuit, how do you feel about OMP residents having to personally pay for those damages?
From what our current board has said (at least my understanding), insurance will cover damages. If it doesn’t, then the residents will have no choice but to cover it. I am not in favor of this, but I don’t see an alternative. This wouldn’t be good for either side.
Regarding the Wineries:
- Should they be allowed to have unlimited weddings? This will be settled in the lawsuit.
- Should they be allowed to operate full-service restaurants? This will be settled in the lawsuit.
- Should they be allowed to be open until 2 a.m.? This will be settled in the lawsuit.
- Should they be required to support OMP farmers via collaborations and/or using locally-grown produce? They should be encouraged to support OMP farmers.
Overall, what are your thoughts on the winery lawsuit?
It needs to end, and we all need to move forward.
OMP Farmers
Do you support ordinances that help OMP farmers thrive, such as food processing kitchens, workshops, cooking classes, farm tours, larger roadside stands and more?
Yes.
How will you assist young farmers looking to start their business or sustain existing farms for young farmers?
I would love to provide mentors.
Do you believe in the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program? Do you believe that a PDR conservation easement should place limitations on the future commercial use of a property?
Yes, and yes.
Do you support an OMP farmer’s market and/or a local artists/artisan market?
Yes.
Taxes
In your view, what will Township governance look like if the AxMiTax ballot initiative passes?
It will impact our budget, and we will need to reassess.
Do you support a Parks Millage to maintain and improve Township parks?
Yes, but this is a ballot issue, and the voters should decide.
What are your thoughts on the Headlee Rollback?
I understand the basics of the Headlee Rollback, and I believe it can complicate balancing the budget.
Other Township Issues
Should there be a public vetting of candidates as to whether they are each in compliance with the Township?
Yes, if that’s what our residents want.
Do you think Bluff Road should be fixed and re-opened? How would you go about making that happen?
No. It is my understanding that there are multiple issues that caused the wash out, and the cost to fix it is not in the budget. I do believe a permanent turnaround needs to be discussed. As a resident on Bluff Road, the consensus I get from the other residents is that they don’t want it open. I am open for discussion on the pros and cons of reopening Bluff Road.
What is your opinion of short-term rentals on the OMP? Should they be allowed? Do you operate a short-term rental on the OMP?
In my opinion, short-term rentals are not a good fit for the OMP. No, I do not operate a short-term rental on the OMP.
What is your opinion on additional residential buildout on the OMP?
It’s inevitable, but it needs to be controlled. The continued PDR program is key for this issue.
How would you address the desire for more commercial activity by some residents and the lack of commercially-zoned property?
I am not in support of having a lot of additional commercial activity. If the residents want more commercially-zoned properties, then we should look into it further, but changing the zoning of properties needs to be done cautiously.
Do you support a non-motorized pathway similar to the TART Trail throughout the Old Mission Peninsula? How would you make that happen when a trail cannot cross farmland due to farming rules and regulations?
Yes, if that is what our residents want. But it would also need to be discussed with the landowners that the trail would cut through. The landowners should not be forced into this.
Should Peninsula Township seek collaboration with our regional partners such as the Michigan Department of Transportation, Grand Traverse County Road Commission, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)?
Yes.
Do you support the proposal of a new fire station to replace Fire Station #1 in Mapleton?
Yes, if that is what our residents want.
Would you support a new community center?
Yes, if that is what our residents want.
Final Thoughts
Any other comments you’d like to add?
I decided to run as an Independent so that I could represent our entire community, not just one side. I understand that my answers may not line up with every resident on the OMP, but everyone has a right to an opinion. Please feel free to respectfully agree or disagree with me. I am here to listen and to learn. If voted in as Trustee, I will do my best to represent the views of all the residents of the Old Mission Peninsula.
Also Read…
——————————–
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.
