Goodland Twp. PC member feels “drug thru the mud”

Meeting attendance questioned by Supervisor

 

GOODLAND TWP. — There was another large crowd in attendance, this time for a special meeting of the township board Thursday night.

It was also another evening of confusion as to the reason for the special meeting, to which agenda was the actual one posted for public viewing and to what one board member wondered why so many items were on the agenda that could have waited until the next regular meeting.

There were two agendas floating around at the meeting, one that was posted on the door as required and a second one, with different items listed, that was made available just minutes before the meeting started.

Board member Julie Dockham questioned why the agenda listed on the door wasn’t being followed and she didn’t feel it was appropriate to have another agenda, other than what was posted.

She told the board she had recently attended training by the Michigan Township Association and it was her understanding the agenda posted was the one that had to be followed.

After the issue was discussed at length, the board moved on to perceived attendance issues with Planning Commission member Dan Steckly.

Supervisor Michael Eckardt said it is paramount those named to boards and commissions attend meetings as much as possible. Some of the township boards have by-laws that state repercussion for not attending, but not all, according to board members.

Eckardt listed numerous times over the past few years that Steckly had not attended meetings. Last year, according to Eckardt, Steckly made just one of five meetings. In 2023, he allegedly missed three of nine meetings.

“We’re not going to have that happen,” Eckardt told the board and audience. “If you’re appointed to a board, you gotta show up to meetings.”

Dockham told Eckardt, “It looks like you are singling Dan out. What about the others that have been appointed to boards and missed meetings?”

Clerk Amy Nolin supported Dockham, saying, “It feels like you are singling him out. I spoke with an attorney and basically, he said you can’t do much about it.”

The Supervisor said he intended to use this specific issue (with Steckly), “to set an example for others.”

During the discussion, Steckly stood at a microphone used for public comment listening to board members before commenting.

Supervisor Eckardt said it wasn’t his turn to speak yet, to which Steckly replied, “Excuse me, but you are talking about me. I have a right to speak.”

He added, “you say this isn’t about Dan, but yet, it’s the first thing talked about. You could have spoken with me personally. Yet, you decide to do this at a public meeting.”

Steckly has dealt with a plethora of issues, including caring for his aging parents and dealing with his own health matters.

“This is very upsetting to me. I was never told it was an issue. It saddens me a great deal. There was no need for a special meeting. Just before our last (PC) meeting, my father passed away after being sick for some time. I had open heart surgery a couple years back. My mom passed away after being sick too. I’ve had a lot going on. To call me out on this is just wrong. It’s been mishandled.”

Steckly said he felt he was owed an apology from Eckardt for being “drug through the mud.”

The supervisor said “I apologize” and Eckhardt accepted.

After the meeting, Steckly told the Tri-City Times, “This didn’t need to go this far. I was right in his office. He could have said, hey Dan, we have an issue and I could have explained. But, he chose to do this, in front of all these people. I enjoy being on the Planning Commission and serving the township.”

While a large portion of the meeting was spent with that issue, the board also spent considerable time discussing funding for the restoration of the Old School House.

Former Supervisor Ron Cischke told the board they will need close to $10,000 to complete the project. A fund raiser has brought in money for the work and the former board designated remaining ARPA funds to go towards finishing the project.

Treasurer Louis Parsch reminds everyone the balance of the ARPA funds was to be used for road work yet to be done, and then remaining dollars would be used for the restoration project.

“We have to get that approach done first,” Parsch stated. “We have no idea what it is really going to cost us. Once that’s done, then we’ll use the remaining for the schoolhouse.”

The board did approve having ceiling work done in the school, at a cost of $1,048.

However, they did not take action on another nearly $6,000 for painting and $4,800 for flooring. Further fund raising is being planned in the coming months.