Describe article as inaccurate

Dear Editor,

In response to the article and the person who submitted it in your newspaper Jan 15th 2025 edition stating “an accurate depiction of meeting” I have felt compelled to respond.

First, I would describe it as inaccurate as well as extremely insulting. At what point are tax paying residents having a different position considered a “Faction” – ugly and shameful, intimidating, control freaks, bullies etc. Residents expect and deserve accountability from elected officials. Since the writer brought up our clerk, I will address this first. Ms. Nolin stated publicly on the record before anyone ran for the position that she could not run for the office due to her full-time employment obligation Monday through Friday day shift. She ran anyway and is now the clerk. The position pays 30+K annually. Currently she is not available during what was for decades regular business hours. Ms. Nolin also appointed her husband as Deputy Clerk who also has a full-time day shift job and is equally not available. Mr. Nolin, who does not know the job, is also collecting pay from this township. The bottom line as it stands now is there is no face time with the clerk or the deputy clerk who in turn if available would have to call Ms. Nolin on the phone on how to help a resident. Are the residents not entitled to question that?

I want to mention that many of the residents that spoke up loudly at that meeting were in fact longtime residents who are tired of the status quo, and coming out to support our newly elected officials. They also questioned why the township now has a clerk that is not available at the same hours that have been in place for 30+ years or longer. As a tax paying resident, I have the right and the obligation to hold accountable the township and question how our money is spent. All the discussion at that meeting was not due to a write in candidate loosing. It is about Ms. Nolin misrepresenting herself to be available to fill that position just to keep the status quo. No one has an issue with Ms. Nolin being the clerk, she is a very nice person, and of course she was professional at the meeting as she should be as an elected official.

According to the State of Michigan, Goodland Township, “our great township,” is the third poorest in the state. You must ask yourself “why is that”? Being new residents to the township in the last 5 years, I know we pay astronomical property tax here, higher than some of our most expensive suburbs and we have no amenities (services) for that – not even a sheriff’s patrol unit. You would think that people would be happy bringing in new (residents) that have to pay such high property tax. Instead, we are demonized for getting involved and wanting to maintain the peacefulness and tranquility of this beautiful township.

According to the writer “the world is ever evolving.” Does that only apply if it evolves as you see it, with no room for other opinions, ideas or “new people.” I do not need to read about having freedom. I come from a long line of a military service family, from my Great…. Grandfather who fought in the American Revolution to my father, brothers, uncles all who served up to the present day. My husband, who spent decades in service and is now a Retired United States Air Force Veteran.

According to our previous Township Supervisor and board before 2022 they were lucky to get 3 – 4 people or, many times none to attend their meetings for years. The majority did not get involved, it is a fact. It was nice to see that number has changed over the last couple of years and even more since the election. While campaigning with my husband, many longtime residents who have been here for decades voiced their support and stated they were looking forward to a change. The “newer residents” as the writer had stated in Jan. 15th article unbeknownst to you, some are not that new which would not be apparent according to the article. In fact, before physically moving here, some have been paying for decades on property that they owned here and were contributing to the tax base already in Goodland Township.

In closing, following a very busy life, both of us in public service, my husband and I moved to our forever home for the beauty and peacefulness here in Goodland Township. Leaving the big city back-room politics, nepotism and all that comes with it behind, it appears that some of it has followed us here. In a word, disappointing. We have always been active in our previous community and we were looked upon by neighbors, city officials and others as leaders who are not afraid to hold official’s feet to the fire as it should be for every US citizen. To the writer of the article, I am addressing, it is a sad, appalling, and an untrue description of the residents involved and their intentions.

— Sharon Sklar
Goodland Township Resident