Author promotes change for Goodland Twp.

Dear Editor:

To the people of Goodland Township….

2024 is shaping up to be a heck of a year. But close to home it appears as if people don’t want change.

I do not want to insult anyone–so please don’t take it that way. For example: we have in our community certain newbies as it was put who want to change the township.

On the contrary, newbies moved to Goodland Township to keep farmland and country what it is. I mean, the township feeds America.

I don’t know about anyone else, but at least I know where that food comes from. The new people may not have graduated from Imlay City, but they are hard core locals. Michiganders like no other.

They owned businesses and raised families in the township for the past 25 plus years. Professional from all walks of life with degrees. What does one have to do to be from Goodland?

My husband served 26 plus years in the US military, between Active duty and National Guard. We have lived in several countries and multiple cities across the United States.

Now we reside in Goodland Township, for a reason–it’s rural. Are we not residents–does not my husband’s service to put his life on the line,pass good enough to be a resident?

According to some it doesn’t. Let’s briefly look at some of those people who think we’re not.

We have been informed that one running for supervisor wants to do business from a cell phone while he works 45-50 hours a week at his full time job as a road construction foreman.

Does that include drive time to and from, if not add more hours to his already hectic schedule. This same 53 year old individual stated at township meetings that was the reason he stepped down as the chairman of the planning commission position, no time. To add insult to injury, this same individual talks to township people as if he is on a road crew site. Ill-mannered at times.

Also this same individual wants to go back to the 2.5 acres rule for property build/owners. That may mean more tax revenue–also it means more problems. Trust me. Rural is rural for a reason.

Farmland is farmland for a reason. We are all for progress, but what is the cost? For crying out loud, Goodland Township does not have a contract with Lapeer County Sheriff for dedicated patrols.

Those patrols are dispatched from other dedicated areas. And why is that ?

Goodland Township also has an individual who has served as supervisor for fifty (50) plus years. Now, he wants to be trustee.

A good friend of mine, from Goodland Township put it this way—one knows the character of a man, on how he leaves his elected position. But this one does not want to leave, just change hats. Why ?
And not to leave out the married outsider. They are a resident–as per the play book of the string pullers. Only married into a family. Grew up outside of Goodland. But being floated as a old timer Goodland resident. Really.

I will close with this –my husband and I want farmland and rural to stay rural. Mike Eckardt (running for Goodland Twp. supervisor), and Mike Puzzuoli (running for Goodland trustee), have been in Goodland Township for decades.
They do not want to change what is. They want to keep it within the boundaries of Goodland Township, they will dedicate 100% of their time to the community–not via telephone.

Anyone who has said otherwise is wrong. Also if one votes in people they know, and want change, then what has changed ? We see this in Washington DC. Is that what we want in OUR township?

— Sharon Sklar
Goodland Township Resident