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Black Ice	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Saturday, March 04, 2006 12:40 PM Awful quiet here lately...  are all you conspiracy theorists just home dreaming up another plot to "expose" or what?   Wanna' buy some chicken?!
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Sunday, March 05, 2006 12:10 AM Anyone know if the 14 Pt. plan of attack has been approved by the state? Am looking forward to seeing the plan and having it implemented. Anything has to be better than what the predecessors were doing. I would imagine Botto and Cadwell had to put a fair amount of time into this plan.  I'll be very happy to see the Twp. addressing these issues and working towards compliance.
VOR	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Sunday, March 05, 2006 9:40 AM No thank you. I have no wish to buy any of your chicken. Ever. Again.
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 7:27 PM Great Scott   We haven't heard from you in a long time and miss your unemotional, honest accounts of what's happening.  Did you go to the Feb. Torch Lake Township board meeting?  If so, what happened?  Is there any reason for hope that this board will get on track and start working toward fair and equitable taxation without preference to any particular families?  Please let us know how things look from your perspective.
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 11:13 AM Cooker, did you really think you'd get an intelligent reply? This forum has really deteriorated. May have to start a new strain and stick to issues, not personal vendettas! I agree, we could use some of Great Scott's wisdom! Where are you? JRussell has been quiet too. Since we have all received our new tax assessments and given our Twp's gross non-compliance in this area, can anyone tell me what determines if a property owner can legally claim the homestead exemption? If someone has researched this, let's get it out for all to read. I know I have questions and I would imagine others do too. Maybe we can all benefit. I am also wondering what the guidelines are for businesses being run on homestead parcels. Does, for example, a rental cabin exclude one from the homestead exemption? This may be such a grey area that people don't know what to claim.  Unless they are told that it's improperly exempted, they leave it alone. It does make a huge difference in the amount of taxes one pays. But we ALL should pay our fair share. Speaking of that, how about the Tribunal meeting, has that happened? I look forward to the outcome of that one! I am sure many are watching and waiting!
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:41 PM Bird's Eye,   I just heard something that I hope is not true but goes along with your concerns.  Is it possible that our supervisor took his father-in-law with him when he went to see the Houghton County Equalization Director about the 14-point review and NOT our township assessor?  How can he possibly justify this?  Maybe he plans to fire our assessor and replace his with a family member?  Good grief!
onewhocares	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 7:56 PM Birds Eye, So the rumor mongers  (or at least one of them) are at it again.  Why didn't you just call Mr. Cadwell and ask him who accompanied him and why?  Then, if it was pertinent, you could post it here. Of course, it's much easier to just post the rumor here (and you yourself admit it might not be true.) It's too bad the silence is broken, at least in part, with rumors.
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 9:25 PM Onewhocares, maybe you need to take a little time and slowly read the posts! I know occasionally glasses help me! No rumors were mentioned in my post. Birch Bark....not sure if you fiddled with the settings but I am finally finding that it takes less time to open your site. Thanks for whatever you did!
VOR	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 11:19 PM onewhocares, blackice and others: From reading these posts, one thing is clear: that even if these posts have gotten rather crude at times, there are definately two different sides, and one stands for fair taxation and the other stands for secretive money gathering. You can take a snide attitude about it and joke all you want to but I don’t think it will get you anywhere in the long run. Honesty is the best policy.
Find Out	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 8:49 AM Onewhocares,(p) Did you mean to address your post towards Cooker and not Birds Eye?
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 9:11 AM Onewhocares,   Since you purport to care, you should know that I'm not a monger and it wasn't a rumor.  IT'S A FACT.  If you don't believe it, go to the source and ask him directly.
JRussell	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 10:36 AM Onewhocares:   When you orignally began posting, I thought that you were going to honestly look into the issues discussed herein. However, it appears now that you have jumped on the hysterical, baseless, name-calling band wagon.   If you look back through the posts, there has been ZERO facts offered by the opposing opinion...only a lot of name-calling and hysteria.   There have not been ANY rumors spread by the folks trying to address the issues... fair taxes, illegal activities etc. There was, however, a mistake on my part which I admitted......I used a hypothetical example regarding the birthday party. Apparently some folks do not understand what a hypothetical example is..which is not surprising based upon some of the posts which contain words like "themselfs".   It was recently stated that this group is a "conspiracy". I really had to laugh at that comment. A conspiracy to make sure that people properly and fairly claim Homestead Exemptions?? A conspiracy to correct tax assessment errors?  A conspiracy to ensure that a Nonprofit organization follows State and Federal Law?  This sounds horrid to me. What a conspiracy!   What is very clear to me is that there are many back-slappers who would be more than happy to continue with doing things the old, dishonest and illegal way. There are few who will not settle for this. Luckily, there are laws and requirements to ensure that this happens and, no one does not have to attempt to resolve issues on these postings or through the current board.   After the events of last summer, I myself would not go to the Supervisor for answers.  He was quoted in the DMG stating his support for Mrs. Mugford one day, and the very next day was on the radio advertising for her recall. Clearly, he lacks leadership abilities which require one to have critical thinking skills, the ability to formulate an opinion based on fact, and the skill to implement a plan based upon one's opinion. I'm sure that after being quoted in the DMG The Supervisor was told what his opinion "should" have been. It is sad that an adult cannot come up with their own opinion and stand by it...it is even more regrettable that we've chosen someone who operates in this manner to lead our township out of this mess. If he cannot come up with an opinion regarding a fellow board member, with whom he worked directly, and stick by that opinion, how can he possibly provide a direction for TLT and why would one expect an honest straight forward answer from him?
onewhocares	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 3:05 PM VOR,    You are right, I should have adressed Cooker.  (His?her posting addressed Birdseye.   COOKER,    You started your posting with "I have just heard something I hope is not true.."  That indicated you did not know if it was true or not.  That's why I took it to me a rumor.  If you knew it was a fact then, why didn't you say so?    I am not hysterical and have not jumped on any bandwagon.  I am still One Who Cares--about fairness, in every sense of the word.
onewhocares	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 3:09 PM Birds Eye,      I apolgize for mistakenly saying you had posted a rumor.  You are right, I should have read more carefully.  I then would have known that what I referred to as a rumor was posted by Cooker in an item addressed to you. I am sincerely sorry and will read more carefully--several times, in the future.    One Who Cares
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 3:31 PM Onewhopretendsto care,   Good grief!  Where did you get the idea that I think you're "hysterical" or have "jumped on a bad wagon?"  What I first wrote about hearing was then confirmed to me and so, you see, when I first wrote about the Super taking his father-in-law instead of the assessor I wasn't sure.  Did that make it a rumor? Since it has been confirmed you don't need to fret about rumor mongering.   Here's another one to ponder (and it's been confirmed.)  Last fall our Lake Linden school reduced that time for our librarian so we no longer had one full time.  NOW they are eliminating the position altogether and will "staff" the library with aides.  I'm wondering what's next.....................maybe no superintendent.  May be not such a bad idea if he feels a library doesn't need a librarian.    We could have aides staff the superintendent's office.   Perhaps if ALL township residents paid their fair share of taxes we could afford both a librarian AND a superintendent.  Food for thought.
Enquirer	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2006 10:57 PM Here we go again....conjecture, rumor, jumping to conclusions.  I can't wait to see where THIS leads.
JRussell	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 7:09 AM Enquirer:   Specifically what was "conjecture, rumor or jumping to conclusions" within the statement that there is no longer going to be a librarian?   As to "here we go again" all facts discussed herein have been verified.  What facts do you question?  Please list specifics.   Apparently you are complacent and really do not care that the township suffers due to incorrect assessments, Homestead exemptions and the like.   Obviously, the schools cannot afford to lose $40K per year........unless you consider Supervisor Rheault to be guilty of "rumor, conjecture and jumping to conclusions"....that was HIS number.   If you believe this to be "conjecture"........call the library and get back to us. Please.   An intelligent person would check before making accusations such as yours, and I'm sure you are intelligent enough to realize this. I look forward to your post after checking into this.
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:21 AM Thanks JRussell.  Couldn't have said it as well myself.  Enquirer REACTED to my post instead of ACTING.  If she'd done the intelligent thing, she would've called the school board president (or Dannie) or the superintendent and gotten it directly from the source.
Enquirer	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:54 AM INcredible.    Immediately when some of you  are prompted to maybe think and do something other than anonymously 'wondering' about people bringing fathers-in-law with them, or questioning other authorities on a website in a clandestine manner, you go for the easy (though questionable) attack on someone's intelligence or initiative or caring.   All I'm hoping to get some of you to see is that you can't merely spin off on a website and get things done.  You must get involved directly and stop whining about 'few select families' or 'those in control' and actually work to address these things.    I'd be willing to bet that your township commissioners or school board members or fire department authorities or whomever else it's 'en vogue' to attempt to attack via this thread know none of your identities and probably have not been approached by an organized group of concerned individuals with actual action plans on how to address your concerns.  If they had, you would have access to meeting minutes to see how they acted (or reacted) to your suggestions.    "She"?  Except for someone calling me 'honey' or something like that, I've never said whether I was male or female.    See how rumors get started?    Attacks don't work, folks.  Negativity doesn't work.  Anonymous statements do not equal action.  That's all I'm saying.  As I've said repeatedly, there are more EFFECTIVE ways to get things done...and anything worth doing (and I'd say a $40K shortfall is worth it) takes time and effort.    This site would actually be a great 'check in' for people interested in making changes.  It would require, however, disclosure and trust.  I don't see a lot of that present in these postings.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:49 AM Mister Enquirer, you certainly are a master of obfuscation. I can't see where anyone attacked your intellegence or caring. As for initiative, why don't you lead the charge since you feel concerned. One point you attack is about a father in law being brought along. I think the main point was that Cadwell didn't bring the assessor along. He could bring aunts uncles and nieces as long as the assessor is included in the entourage. You like to make much of the anonymity of these postings and even used the word clandestine - I think you'd better look that one up in the dictionary. Where is it stated that the people posting here need do anything more than discuss the topics? The almost total lack of response from your side -other than name calling -is disappointing. If you could stick to the point and answer directly, this forum could become a constructive place for both sides.
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 12:04 PM OK Enquirer, you never address JRussell's facts, facts that are very disturbing. You must think it's OK for you to be taxed one way and for me to be taxed another. You must think it's OK that since you are friends with the former assessors, their favors were OK. You must think it's OK for certain people to decide they don't want to follow federal and state laws and just do things the way it's always been done. You must think its OK to cheat our schools out of much needed money or you'd understand why some of us keep harping on the tax inequities.   Honey, I'm here to tell you that some of these people you have put on a pedestal have really screwed up and now we have to find a way to dig out.  You need to take the "personal" out of this mess and look at the facts, figures, actions and inactions.  It's not about a certain family or certain people; it's about what's on paper, and what's not!!!  How do you know I don't have a plan of action? Do you think our Chief would have ever given that report at the meeting had this not been discussed on Keweenaw Now? We'll never know for sure and we can beat that one forever, but come on, we both know he never would have had he not felt some pressure, and I would guess primarily from this forum. I'd say holding the Chief (or any public figure) accountable is our duty as tax payers and as US citizens, its progress and yes, it is part of my "plan of action"!  I am in no way accepting credit for something that other people had previously tried unsuccessfully to get the Chief to do. But I'd say we made some progress with the discussions on this site! Now let me ask you this and PLEASE post your answer......Don't you just wonder a little bit WHY the Chief didn't do this a long time ago, why the books were held a secret,  illegally I might add. Doesn't that raise a question in your mind....it should?   Back to "Plan or Action"..... I'd say learning what I can about Michigan tax laws and the guidelines for Homestead Exemptions etc.is part of a plan.   I'd say looking into foundation laws and regulations is part of a plan.   I'd say going to meetings and offering words of encouragement along with concerns is part of a plan.   I'd say speaking out about the lies and hurt that the Coalition spread last summer because I wanted a fair, honest, knowledgeable, hard working, respectable and unbiased board is part of a plan.   Should I go on?   What's your "plan of action"? Is it to sit idly and accept the BJ word as gold? You have known about the $40K shortfall for a couple of years. What have YOU done about it?  What's your "plan of action" with regards to lost tax money, money that could go to educate your children, my grandchildren, the kids down the street and the up and coming kids? I know my property taxes are current and correctly taxed (well, sort of but that mistake was made by a former assessor, and I might add that it was not in my favor!).But you know, it really bothers me when others knowingly don't pay proper taxes. Answer this question... JRussell has really uncovered some startling and disturbing information.....what are your thoughts on the facts that he has presented?   Plan of Action.....I'd say I have one in place. What are you doing?
onewhocares	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 7:32 PM Hi Cooker,    I owe you an apology.  I am doubly embarassed because I have made the same kind of mistake twice in a short time (crediting or blaming a posting to the wrong person).  It was not you who  accused me of hysteria and band wagon.  I do apologize for saying it was you.  However, I still maintain that when you first wrote about the Super's father-in-law, it was a rumor.  You yourself say when you first wrote about it, you weren't sure.  The New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary of  the English Language   (Encyclopedic Edition) defines rumor as "an unauthenticated story or report put into circulation."  Now, it may have been confirmed (authenticated) since you first wrote it, but when you wrote it, it was a rumor.  By the way, how was it confirmed?    How does one know if he or she pays a fair share of taxes?  I think I do; of course, I have not gone to any official soursce and said I wanted to pay more, but then, who has?  Are you absolutely sure you pay your fair share?  I am not accusing you of not doing so; I don't even know who are are, and even if I did, I would have to do some research to see what taxes you pay.  I haven't even gotten around to doing research I had hoped to do.  It's hard to get to the courthouse.     I do not pretend to care. I really do care.  I have a deep appreciation for the area.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:09 PM Listen fellows, it is pretty obvious that the other side will spend a lot of time on any small thing they can catch us in, like a hypothetical statement or a supposed rumor, but they will never answer a direct question about what they did. So, the purpose of this site should be to keep addressing the lies and misdeeds of the other side so that the people who didn't know what was going on when they came around to get their signatures on their petition can see what they are in reality. They have cost the township $6000 in unnecessary elections, and the board that they have installed is using funds illegally to cover these costs and others and ultimately, they will have to raise money somehow through taxes or millage , which is ironic since that is what they told all those people who signed the petition was what the former board would do. What goes around comes around doesn't it?
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:13 PM onewhocares....how do I know I am paying my fair share of taxes?? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you call the assessor (I have spoken to a couple of ours over the years!!) and you ask that person intelligent questions!! Was I asking to pay more.....how dare you mock my statements? How about answering my questions directed to Enquirer?? You obviously read my last post.  It has been met with silence. What do you have to say? Do you really care? Hmmmmm.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:26 PM Look, they are not going to answer our questions because they can't defend what they have done. So, I think the purpose of this site should be to keep expressing what they have done wrong to those people who look in on this site who didn't realize what they were pulling, using their position in the community. First, the chief with the backing of his cronie, firemen, went to the township meetings and berated, insulted and harrangued the members ot the elected board - because his family had been challenged on their homested exemption on the cottages which they rent for $400 a week. People tried to get him to stop in this rather Naziistic behavior and were intimidated by his supporters. Then they went around and got unsuspecting people in the area to sign their petition for recall, which led to $6000 being spent and the removal of our elected board, so they could install their stooges in office, and now they are running up debt by misusing funds and talking about raising the garbage fees as the first shot across the bow. More later.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:32 PM In addition the rescue workers or their wives started a rumor that Marlene had pushed her husband down the basement stairs before calling 911. This is reprehensible and shows a sick hatred festering in the minds of some of them.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:37 PM The present board is a joke. It is made up completely of their relatives and cronies. They will rubberstamp anything the chief wants. Wake up people!
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:49 PM JRussell and downrighthonest have shown you how the chief - let me say Dan Sarezan so there is no mistake about who - took the fire department from being a lawful member of the community wit their monies handled properly by the township board, to being a private foundation with a secret bank account full of money people thought they were donating to fire and rescue, into an aqccount they deemed to be "their money" which they could spend as they wanted for this or for that.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:53 PM of their own choosing. Send the band to Disneyland, have a party at the Dreamland, etc.
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 10, 2006 9:56 PM And who knows what else they spend it on because it is "their money" and there is no disclosure in this secret organization. Except what they want you to know.
JRussell	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Saturday, March 11, 2006 7:51 AM Onewhocares: To clarify, I do not think your postings have been hysterical. That comment referenced the many postings from January and February from folks who had no interest in looking at issues but chose instead to point fingers and 'name-call" (and yes, many of those comments sounded like recess material).   The term "rumor mongers", however, appeared to be going in the direction of other posters and that is where the "jumping on the bandwagon" comment came from.   It seems to be a moot point to pick apart the rumor issue relative to the librarian. What is important is the issue .....a $40K/year shortage and now no librarian. If we really wanted to nit-pick, I would say that the original post, which was accused of being a rumor, stated "can anyone confirm". Therefore, it was not  "conjecture" as another poster stated. Additionally, my guess is that Cooker already knew hte answer, even though the original post was posed as a question........that's what lawyers do, you know. They only ask questions that they know the answer to.   The bottom line is........it is a moot point. The issue is that an important asset to the community went away. To ask questions about when did you know, to look up 'rumor' in the dictionary seems to me to be attempts to support the activities which drive this community into the ground.   And as to the issue of "how does one know if they pay a fair share of taxes"?  The discrepancies are so large that anybody can figure it out. You don't have to know beans about property values, taxation etc. If you don't have the time to go to the courthouse, ask for the summary of TLT properties, or ask the Supervisor....it is a well-documented fact.  Or read in the previous posts about the 75 cent property tax.  Additionally.........if someone has a business on their property, rents property etc they cannot claim Homestead expemption........and one cannot have more than  one Homestead.........and lastly.......... a "Homestead" has to be claimed by a person, not an entity.
downrighthonest	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Sunday, March 12, 2006 8:52 PM In my post of February 28 I made several statements designed to answer the weak-knee excuses that Danny publicly made in times goneby to justify the disasterous moves he, and he alone, has made to gain personal control of  Fire Dept. revenues; and I pointed out the disasterous results this has brought to our beautiful community.  I asked if he had the guts to return the Foundation Fire Department Funds to the legal bank account established for the Fire Dept by the Board over 20 years ago. All it takes is for his brother-in-law Lou Ambuehl , Treasurer, to cut the check, for Danny to countersign it and deliver it to the Twp Treasurer for deposit in the Fire Dept. checking account. End of statement.      Is he really a leader?  So far no action. And all you people out there - this is a positive a proposal to start the healing of this Township - don't all just sit there!  Weigh in with your comments!      For those of you who never attended Twp Meetings, here's more of the big picture.      At the Board Meeting in March of 05 when Murtagh was nominated to replace Aittama, the actual screaming and yelling and upsetting of two full water cups by Cadwell, a serving Trustee, was nothing less than vulgar - and he was backed 100% in the same manner by his buddy Danny, and his firemen and their wives  (including Cadwell's wife),who had packed the hall to see their annointed one - Cadwell - become the new Supervisor after he gave his letter of intent to the Clerk.      But instead of giving his letter to the Clerk before the meeting so that she could include it in the agenda, he had it in his pocket and in his rage at being caught off base, he whipped it out and threw it accross the table at the Clerk  Too little too late.  The motion on the floor had to be voted upon, and it was 3 to 1 for Murtagh.  And to illustrate the deviousness of the Bootjack Mafia, Todd Sarazin began to yell out repeatedly, "that's OK. Wait till September - Recall" (a recall could not legally begin on Murtagh until he had been in office six months.      When Sarazin saw four people who believed in the rule of law, Murtagh, Lanctot, Perreault and Mugsford sitting on the Board, he knew that he and his buddy Cadwell were out-voted  and their free-wheeling days were numbered - it was just a matter of time.  And so began the Recall of all four Board Members.      And, guess who organized the charge; guess whose signature was on all four Petitions submitted to the County Clerk to begin the process?  If you guessed Dan Sarazin,  - move to the head of the class!  And if you guess that the paper for those 300 pages of recall petition forms were printed on the Foundation copier & payed for by the  Foundation you guessed right again. When the money you gave to support the Fire Department is deposited in the legally established Fire Department account, then Danny & co. can't blow it this way,on Christmas & birthday parties, etc.and that is why they are blindly fighting against any such move;  the Clerk will exercise oversight of the spending by the Fire Dept.      But of course, if you remain silent, and if you continue to sit back and knit-pick, the big picture will remain as it is and you are all the losers.  The devious manipulators will continue to prosper.
downrighthonest	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Sunday, March 12, 2006 9:04 PM Hey guys & gals.  J russel spells it out pretty clear.  Its all about money, and cheating on your homesteading.   Why don't handsome, smooooooth politician Brian Cadwell sit down and go thru the files & pull out all the fony homesteadings and hand them to the bored of review so they can cancel them?  After all he's the guy that can tell the asessor what to do.  He's got the big hammer. Hell that would be 40 thou more in the school budget by the end of march.   ps  I kind of screwed up on my last post,  wording spelling & stuff. But i just got off the road and I was tired and mad after reeding the fony crap floating around on this site.
VOR	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Monday, March 13, 2006 8:23 AM I wish you people could calm down a bit. I begin to understand the history of it and understand why you get mad, but level heads get more done. You have made your case and there has been no rebuttal, so you have won. What exactly can be done by the board? Doesn't most of it have to be done by the state to rectify the inequities? And where exactly do these meetings take place and when, and is it handicap accessible? I would like to bring someone with me.
downrighthonest	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 1:26 AM VOR. You asked avery good question. The Twp. Offices are handicapped accessible up a ramp at the rear of the building. But, the Twp Board meets downstairs in what was the old Dance Hall. You get there by going down a narrow flight of stairs near the front door. In the event of FIRE there are three ways out: a) through the double wooden doors marked Fire Exit at the front of the hall, up a steep flight of stairs to another set of double wooden doors which open into the parking area at the rear of the building. This of course assumes that both sets of doors are unlocked, and that no vehicles are parked too close to the doors, and that the exit has been cleared of snow. If anyone trips in the panic to get up those stairs then we will have the Italian Hall disaster all over again; or b) up the narrow flight of stairs you came down, turn right through a single doorway, then left through a double set of wooden doors down a steep flight of stairs to the sidewalk, or turn sharp right and go down the short hallway through a single steel door & down the ramp. (In the panic, don't trip going up the stairs or get caught in the single doorway, or it's the Italian Hall disaster all over again); or c) through a single doorway at the back of the hall into the kitchen, turn right go past the furnace room up two steps through the single door into the Fire Hall, around the Fire Trucks and up a step through a single doorway (which swings inwards) into the parking area. If you aren't familiar with this exit, in your panic don't turn right into the furnace room, or trip up any of the steps, or push on the Pull Door or get tangled up with the Fire Trucks, or it's Italian Hall all over again. I assess the place as a fire trap. It might have met Fire Marshall specs fifty years ago, but not today. It's no place for a person with a walking problem. PS> The accoustics are terrible and wear layered clothing so you can switch back & forth from hot to cold
Wutzup	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 10:37 PM I wonder exactly how the foundation supplied the graduating class with an alcohol free party. Did one of their members step out of the shadows with a loaded rifle and blast holes in their beer keg? ; which sent some of the young women there into a traumatic state. And then tell them they had better not tell anybody about it because he knew who they all were and where they all lived. Is that how the foundation provided the senior class with an alcohol-free party???
Lynn Torkelson	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2006 2:26 PM As regular readers of the Keweenaw Viewpoints discussion board know, I live in Torch Lake Township myself, but only recently began to attend board meetings. Like most folks, I tend to focus more on my family and work than on township politics, but all the controversy brought home to me that I'd been somewhat neglecting my responsibilities as a citizen. In line with my resolve to do better, I attended the Torch Lake Township board meeting again last night. In contrast with raucous past meetings described by posters here, last night's board meeting was conducted in a thoroughly business-like manner, as have all the board meetings I've attended so far. Quite a few substantive matters were discussed and resolved, and I'll mention some of them later in this post. 14-Point Review First, however, I'm going to focus on the issue of Torch Lake Township's substantial non-compliance with the 14-point review. Brian Cadwell said in the February 15 board meeting that he would be discussing that issue in the March 15 meeting and, true to his word, he did so. He gave a status report as a regular agenda item during the meeting, and he answered questions about it in the public comments portion at the end of the meeting. Denise Lepisto also participated with Brian in explaining the situation. I'm going to summarize here, to the best of my ability, my understanding of what Brian and Denise explained last night. Let me emphasize, however, that I'm very far from being knowledgeable about this subject, so any inaccuracies in the following account result from my own ignorance, rather than from what Brian and Denise explained. If I've gotten anything wrong, I hope someone who knows better will correct me. Where Torch Lake Township Stands Now The bottom line is that the board has not yet gotten a response from the state, positive or negative, on whether or not the state will accept Torch Lake Township's plan to resolve the non-compliance. Brian has talked with members of the tax commission to move the process forward, but the state's decision is still under review. Brian mentioned that he knows of a township in a situation similar to ours that has not gotten a response from the state for two years. Members of the tax commission do understand that the obstacle facing the township is the high cost of bringing the township into compliance. The Cost of Bringing Torch Lake Township into Compliance Brian explained that the board's plan to bring TLT into compliance would avoid the expense of creating new tax maps for the township by using the tax maps already in use by Houghton County. Even so, the board received an estimate of $166,000 dollars to bring the township into compliance with the 14-point review. When you consider that the entire budget for the township next year is $241,000, it's clear how difficult it will be for TLT to find the money to resolve the problems. The $166,000 estimate breaks down to about $58 per parcel, Brian explained last night. Brian said that members of the state tax commission believe that the township could get the job done for $50 per parcel, but that would still be (according to my calculator) over $143,000. Gradual Fix Not Legal Denise explained that it is not legal for the township to do a partial reassessment of property of within a given classification during a single year. 84% of property in Torch Lake Township is classified as residential, and all of the residential properties must be reassessed within the same year. If the other 16% were deferred to another year, that still would require (again according to my calculator) an outlay of over $120,000 for bringing the residential properties into compliance. The Torch Lake Township's Plan to Achieve Compliance As I understand it from last night's meeting, TLT plans to put aside money each year until enough is available to hire a firm to bring the township into compliance within a single year. In that way, the township would be able to continue to provide the services we expect (perhaps with some belt-tightening to squeeze out money for the savings) while getting into a position to come into compliance at some point in the future. The state, therefore, has to decide whether or not the township can remain in substantial non-compliance with the 14-point review while the township gathers the money to fix the problems in some future year. While the township remains in non-compliance, of course, any tax inequities that exist now will remain. What If the State Does Not Accept the Plan? I asked Brian what would happen if the state rejected the township's plan, and he laid out in a straight-forward way what the township could face. The state could insist that the township come into compliance at once, and could withhold state revenue-sharing funds to pay for the work. As I understand it, that would remove about $70,000 per year from the township budget. Such an action would clearly make a major impact on the services provided by the township for a couple of years at least. Brian explained that maintaining accurate property assessments is one of only three functions that the township is required by law to perform. Providing services such as repairing roads is not required by law. Therefore, from the tax commission's viewpoint, all the money spent on such services is money that could (and, maybe, should) be spent on resolving the non-compliance issues instead. As an example, Brian said that he was asked if Torch Lake Township had put any money aside for road repairs. When he said that the township had $25,000 for that purpose, he was told that the township could choose to apply that money toward bringing the township into compliance with the 14-point review. On a personal note, I can report that I did not find Brian, nor any of the board members, to be evasive. Our township's substantial non-compliance with the 14-point review is a real problem, a serious problem. Neither Brian nor anyone on the board disputes that. The real question is how that problem will be fixed. In his remarks before adjournment, Brian said that he expects this to be a major issue for the months ahead. Other Torch Lake Matters As I mentioned earlier, many other matters were addressed by the board last night. Here is a short summary: The board has been hard at work on the next budget. The new garbage truck will cost $111,000 ($15,000 under the original estimate), of which 72% will come from TLT. Spring cleanup will be May 24-26 this year. Because scrap metal is valuable now, the township will pay nothing for this service and even appliances with coolant (e.g., refrigerators) will be accepted. The only charge will be $2.50 per tire if you have any to get rid of. Pickup will be curbside in Hubbell, and in Bootjack and Point Mills special drop-off areas will be identified. Errors made when the original 911 data was collected caused two slow notifications to the first responders this past month, one in a life-threatening situation. The errors are being corrected. The Bootjack spring chicken dinner will be on April 8. To conclude this report, let me say that -- while I obviously cannot speak about events I haven't witnessed -- I have seen no reason why folks in Torch Lake Township should hesitate to participate in township meetings, nor should anyone shrink from bringing concerns that he or she has directly to the board, to Brian Cadwell, or to Dan Sarazin. All the questions I've asked (even the most stupid ones!) have been answered patiently, and in a friendly, direct way. Lynn Torkelson
VOR	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2006 7:22 PM Lynn, I read your report with interest and was struck immediately by The fact that if $166,000 is needed to rectify the inequities of taxation in the township that the $25,000 set aside for road repair is a very insignificant amount toward that purpose. Then later on you breeze past the fact that a new garbage truck will cost $111,000. Now there's a hefty sum and if combined with the road money it is enough to re-evaluate all the residential properties in one year. It seems obvious then, that the township should not be buying a new garbage truck when we are not in compliance with state law and that is a major priority.
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:44 AM VOR and others,   Why is it that you always try to find the negative in anything that is presented to you? Lynn gave you a positive report on the TLT board doing their best to find avenues to bring the township into compliance, and you go straight to the negative side of it. As I understand, TLT does not have to pay $111,000 for the new garbage truck, that is just how much it costs. TLT has to pay 72% of $111,000, which is actually $79,920. Lynn will have to clarify this for me, but that's how I'm reading it. Even so, I don't know where you learned your math skills, but $111,000 plus $25,000 does not equal $166,000, unless you are going to be so generous as to donate the difference from your own pocket?   Maybe you should give the new board a chance and let them prove that they are going to do a good job for this township instead of beating them into the ground all the time. So far, things seem to be a lot more calm and collected than when the other board was ruling. You can't argue with that...though I'm sure you'll try.
Lynn Torkelson	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Friday, March 17, 2006 1:40 PM VOR and GoBackToCanada, As I understand it, the Torch Lake garbage truck is shared with Schoolcraft Township to the north, and the costs are shared between the two townships 72%-28%. As GoBackToCanada pointed out, the $111,000 figure would be divided between the two townships based on that ratio. Again let me emphasize that I'm not an expert on these matters (to say the least), and would prefer to have someone who knows these things posting correct information here. Until that happens, though, I'll do the best I can. The Garbage Truck Looking over the Torch Lake Township Treasurer's Report that I picked up at the community center, I see several accounts under the heading GARBAGE ACCOUNTS. I believe that money comes from the garbage fees that are collected each year with our taxes, and is managed totally separately from the tax revenues. It appears that part of the garbage collection money is saved each year to make sure that funds are available to replace the garbage truck when it wears out, and that the savings are kept in interest-producing CDs. To me, that seems to be the appropriate way of managing our garbage collection service. Even if someone considered it wise to divert the money saved up over the years for a new garbage truck, I doubt that it would be legal to do so. State Revenue Distributions Looking over the TLT 2006-2007 proposed budget I got at the board meeting Wednesday night, I see that the revenue sharing funds from the state are actually $125,000, rather than the $70,000 amount I gave in my last post. (The $70,000 amount is the current tax revenue the township receives -- see, I warned you all that I'm far from an expert on this stuff!) Budget For Resolving Non-Compliance Looking at the expense side of the TLT 2006-2007 proposed budget, I see the following item: Reassess/Tax Map       8,000 In the Budget Notes section, there is the following explanatory note: 2) $8,000 is shown for reassessment. I propose that we set aside funds each year and begin a reassessment of the township as soon as it is feasible. Per our discussions, when the TL Senior Center sells, the bulk of those proceeds will go into the reassessment fund. Also, I am identifying other township properties which may be marketable. I propose that we earmark funds from any such sale for this reassessment fund. The proposed budget document is not very long, and perhaps I can post it completely this weekend. Those figures show exactly what would be affected by the elimination of the state revenue-sharing money. Lynn Torkelson
VOR	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Friday, March 17, 2006 2:25 PM Gobacktocanada Your mother should have taught you better manners. I sought to find a "positive" way of TLT becoming in compliance with the law and not allowing people perhaps such as yourself to continue to sluff their tax share off on the rest of us for x numbers of years hense until the board can save up $125,000 (approx) that Lynn stated as the sum needed to reassess the residential properties in one year. If the meetings are calm now, I am sure it is because the people who made all the disruption are now in control of the board.
downrighthonest	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Friday, March 17, 2006 5:52 PM VOR   Your last line says it all!   Between Cadwell & his rubber stamp Board, and his master Danny and his  secret Foundation, they have already made several moves which both people knew were illegal.   BB will find out what its all about dealing with the likes of GBTC and the rest of  Sarazin's lock-step troopers.   They are all firm believers that you mustn't confuse them with logic or the legal nicities of matters, because their minds are already made up.
cooker	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 5:24 PM l learned a new word last night; SHEEPLE.  Those are people who follow blindly without question, without verifying the intents of the leader, without thinking.  Is it possible that Dannie's followers are Sheeple?  They have followed his bidding for a long time.  It seems to fit the job description.
Lynn Torkelson	Torch Lake Township Budget Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 7:17 PM For those interested in the Torch Lake discussion, I scanned the proposed budget and saved it here: Torch Lake Township Proposed Budget 2006-2007 (PDF) I'm also posting the link at the top of this discussion so it will be easier to find when posts build up over the month. Lynn Torkelson
Wutzup	Torch Lake Township Board Meeting Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 7:20 PM Cooker, if you are really asking for opinions, I have to say yes and no. Not all are such sheeple in the fire department and as an example, here's one of the ways Danny tells his lies: he will say in public that the fire department voted unanimously for something or against something - but what he doesn't say is that not everyone voted. What happens is he presents something for a vote and says all in favor, and some of the more sheeply ones blat aye, then he says motion is passed! No, he doesn't ask if anyone is against the motion. Cute, huh?
downrighthonest	Torch Lake Township Budget Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 11:38 PM Birch Bark        Thank you for your contribution to the betterment of the community by establishing this public comment site. And, thank you for the update on the TLT Board meeting. Since nothing is recorded on tape any more, any diff- erance of opinion over the record of minutes which are subsequently published become a "he said - she said" sort of thing.          You mentioned the cost of the new garbage truck would be about $111,000, of which TLT would pay 72%, or $79,920, and Schoolcraft Twp would pay 285, or $31,080. Seems reasonable since the agreed to tipping feebut is 72/28 but, as you will learn in the matter of politics everyone is looking after their own skins. Let me explain.          The fair rate of payment agreed to between the two TWPs many years ago was 80/20 ratio based on the weight of garbage delivered to the Houghton County Tipple.  When Lanctot became TLT Clerk, she reviewed this ratio and found that as the population in the Twps changed, the garbage ratio had changed to 78/20, and that this figure had been constant for many years. Obviously,at 80% TLTwp was paying in excess of its fair share.          After a prolonged fight within the Garbage Committee, in 2001 Schoolcraft Twp agreed to a new contract at the 72/28 ratio. Torch Lake costs were reduced 8%.  A small but significant gain achieved by our Clerk, but at what cost to her?          Lanctot went on to discuss this agreement with professionals in the garbage collection business and they advised that while this was a fair agreement for the Tipple Fee, the 72/28 was not a fair division when it came to operating costs which  should be based on  the original cost of the garbage truck, fuel, maintenace and repair costs, insurance, employees' wages, benefits, insurances, etc.  These costs were to be based on mileage and manhours required to collect garbage in each Twp.          The proposal by Lanctot to adjust the operational costsbased on these criteria met great opposition from Schoolcraft committee members (of course). Schoolcraft had a good thing going for them & Lanctot was about to screw it all up. As a result of numerous manhour and mileage checks of the routes by Twp Board members, Garbage Committee members, and truck crews, all of which were reasonably close, (but nothing that Schoolcraft would agree upon), the fairest firgure that Lanctot could arrive at was 55% for Torch Lake , 45% for Schoolcraft. Then Lanctot exited the political scene. (Much to the relief of the Schoolcraft people, I'm sure!)          Based on "Operational Costs" Torch Lake Twp's share of costs for the new truck would be $61,050 ($18,870 less) and Schoolcraft Twp's share would be 49,950 ($18,870 more)          So, here's fertile ground for Cadwell & his Board to save TLTwp $18,870 on the purchase of a new Garbage Truck and it's on-going operation.  Treasurer Zircher, are you listening?            Birch Bark - you might want to open another site and take book on what Cadwell will do with this one!!
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Budget Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 2:16 PM Hey, has anyone else had trouble getting on this site today?  I kept getting error messages and then it took forever to download. Wonder what's up with that? downrighthonest...thanks for your garbage truck update. I remember Peggy working on that. Thanks for reminding other posters of some of the good things our past board members had accomplished! There are a lot. Amazing how all of this works and how hard work can be lost with the changing of the guards.  I was afraid that was going to happen with the road issues that Mugford and others had worked so long and hard on.  At a meeting last fall, Mugford gave an update on the roads during public comment. It was so obvious that no one on the board, even Cadwell, had a clue what was going on or where the Twp. was with regards to these road requests. We ALL benefit from good roads, no matter what side of the fence you live on! That was an eye-opener for me. I hope other things haven't slipped through the cracks.  Glad to see that BC at least had the mind to keep Mugford on the road committee. Maybe he's finding his fight to get a whole new board with no experience isn't as wonderful as originally thought....or was told it would be! There is a huge learning curve with this type of board....and I am not talking just months. Maybe that is in part why the meetings are so quiet....as the new board gets their feet wet and gains confidence through knowledge, we'll see more things "discussed" and it may even get heated at times. That's not necessarily a bad thing, if backed with reasoning and facts.
Lynn Torkelson	Torch Lake Township Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 3:08 PM birds eye and all,   Last night our server provider in California switched us to a new (supposedly more powerful) server. All the work was to be done in the middle of the night, but it took a lot longer than they had thought it would. Sorry for the inconvenience.   Today I've posted a link to the paper Chief Dan Sarazin read at the February 15, 2006 board meeting. Although it contains some scanning errors, I didn't want to wait any longer for a cleaner version. Note that the letter combination 'tj' scanned as '~', even though the original paper does not contain that error. History of the Bootjack Fire & Rescue Foundation I hope the document answers many of the questions raised by posters in this discussion.   Lynn Torkelson
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 3:23 PM Thanks Birch Bark. I figured there was an explanation! And again, thanks for all the time you are putting into this site. Having more concrete doc's and more people looking into issues will only help our Twp. The more we know the more we grow! Have you talked to Botto about the plan submitted to address the 14 Pt. Review? I haven't seen the plan yet but I would imagine he would know how much we really will get done and in what time-frame. He and BC must have figured that into their plan. I believe the BOR meets this week.  If anyone hears any news on that, please post it. We all benefit from these issues being addressed.
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 9:50 AM Birch Bark, Thanks for posting both the proposed budget and chief Dannie's report.  Very informational and helpful. You are doing us a real service.  In regard to chief's report, did you check any of his assertions with the accused (Marlene and Peggy?).  I plan to do that as it seems only fair and the educated way to approach a subject.  During and after the recent recall in the township it was interesting to see how many people signed the petitions without ever talking to any of the people being recalled nor attending a single board meeting.  Unbelievable.  On what did they base their signing?  Hearsay and pressure.  This was true of our superintendant of schools (would he fire a teacher on hearsay?), owner of the IGA stores, and owner of a local car dealership.  These are substantiated facts and not conjecture or rumor.  Facts.   Thank you again for trying to inform our taxpayers.  Keep your eyes and ears open and look at all sides of every issue.
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 11:57 AM Finally had time to read the attachments from Birch Bark............ Thank goodness we had Peggy and Marlene on the Board for those years.
Lynn Torkelson	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 1:18 PM Cooker,   With his report on the History of the Bootjack Fire & Rescue Foundation, Dan Sarazin submitted a binder full of supporting documentation. The documentation is available for public inspection at the Hubbell Community Building. I should have mentioned that in my earlier post. Lynn Torkelson
Wutzup	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 6:56 PM Cooker - you forgot the owner of the supervalu on your list. Also the daughters of the chief who actually live in Wisconsin but remain registered to vote from his home. Whether their signatures on the petition were actually their own or someone else wrote their names in, is anybody's good guess.
Wutzup	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 7:00 PM I don't mind driving to Houghton to buy my groceries at Econo. It may give some of those signers some late moment enlightenment.
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 7:15 PM Wutzup,   Didn't know about the daughters in Wisconsin.  How can anyone let the CHIEF get away with that blatant abuse of the law? I didn't forget Louie but knew he had attended at least one board meeting (at which he starred.)
Wutzup	Torch Lake Township Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 7:50 PM Cooker -It's not illegal if they are still registered to vote from daddy's home, but usually after you have lived a few months in another state, they kinda want you to register the car and get a license in the state. When you get a new license, that's when you get signed up to vote in the new state.
Wutzup	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 8:39 AM My point was there were many instances on the recall petitons where the same hand writing wrote in more than one name, so one may wonder if daughters living in Wisconsin actually physically wrote their own signatures or not.
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 11:01 AM Apparently you people aren't privy to the fact that, if you are going to school in another state, which Dan's daughter was doing in WI, you don't have to register to vote there until you officially move there and are out of school. You people are grasping at straws. A lot of kids write like their parents, or similar, and I'm sure you haven't actually even seen the documents, you are just speculating, as always. Give it up, you lost, you're bitter, move on with life. Things are straightning out now WITHOUT your help. Not that you were any help to begin with, just a hindrance to productivity.
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 12:02 PM GoBackto Canada,   Shame on you.  I thought you were above such tactics but your very choice of a name for yourself suggests otherwise.  Were you at (or are you that person)  the township board meeting a couple years ago in the BJ firehall when Mrs. Rheault became enraged with Mr. Murtagh and screamed at him, "Go back where you came from you Canuck!"  I had to look up that term but I knew it was meant in an unkind manner.  Turns out the definition fits many, many people in the Lake Linden area and they are PROUD of their French Canadian heritage.  I wonder if people like you would want all of us (and you and the Rheault's) to go back where we were from because I suspect that not many of us are Native Americans.  Name calling like that has no place in our free country.  Maybe you remember the same woman calling the township board the Gestapo (or was it Nazis?) at a meeting in the Hubbell hall.  If Dannie's daughter is indeed a student in another state you could've explained that to us in a less inflammatory manner or did you mean to inflame and not inform?  Let's try to work at a higher level and look for solutions.
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 12:43 PM Shame on me for what? What "tactics" did I have in informing you of why Dan's daughter has the right to vote in our township? For your information, I am also of French Canadian background, the reasoning behind my name is obvious, and that's why you have your panties in a knot. The people I want to "Go Back To Canada" did the U.P. a disservice by showing up here in the first place. They are Andrew and Marilyn Murtagh as you well know, and I suspect they regularly view AND post on this site, so it was a little message of my distate for them. The inject their venom into our community and slink back into the corner to see what the outcome may be. Have you seen much of them since he was shamed in the public forum? Didn't think so. They finally realized they were over their heads in the political realm...why can't you?
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 1:44 PM GoBackToCanada...you out-did yourself with that last post. Disgusting, I don't care which side of the fence you live on.  I sure hope you went to church after pushing the "submit" button. Take note Birch Bark! This is what many of us have seen for years. Either you're with them or you are not even close, and they are so tactful in letting you know where you stand with their "group"! What a disgrace.
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 3:48 PM OK folks, I have mulled over several thoughts for a while. Like it or not….here they are! Lynn, have you heard of a “snow job”? I have a feeling while fishing, you were caught hook, line and sinker! I am with Cooker(?), be sure to look in front, behind and I might add sideways with this group. Way back I mentioned that this tension or whatever you want to call it didn’t just start this summer. There is a history there. I am not surprised that the Chief has reeled you in. Your interest, while honest and real, is just what he needed.  I have seen many of his speeches and he is very convincing. Of course he has doc’s to go along with his story about the Foundation. He’s had how many years to finally get that in order? But Birch Bark, it is what’s not written, it is what’s between the lines, what has been yelled out at meetings, it’s how they get what they want at all costs that isn’t in the paper. Trust me; there are definitely two sides to this story. I highly suggest you get a hold of the old Twp. meeting tapes and listen to some of them. I am sure many of us can give you suggestions as to some of the meetings worth listening to. The one Cooker referred to earlier would be a classic one and not only did the woman sound ridiculous, others in this group were also in prime form. You'd be surprised. Which brings me to another point. If you go back and listen to some of these meetings, the one thing that strikes me is that while Marlene and Peggy definitely argued with the Super and others in the audience (many times speaking out of order), they didn’t always vote the same way (as in always agreeing with each other) and with so many issues, they backed up their opinions or views with LAWS, with advice from the Twp. lawyer, with advice from people at the State level. What on earth was SO bad about that? That’s what I expect from our board. It’s not the BJ law; we have to follow state and federal law. Which brings me to another point……in the Chief’s speech, he implied that Marlene would have control of the money. This is another example of how swiftly this man twists things into fitting his story.  Marlene was only one of a board comprised of five voting members. Not one individual member had total control over any account, nor do they today.  What the Chief implied is disgusting. He knows full-well that although Marlene was the treasurer, she wasn’t the one solely in charge of determining what the money could be used for and when they could have it. But that’s what he lead us to believe. Am I picking apart his song and dance? Maybe but with this situation, there is no room for white lies or implications. The Chief is very sly when it comes to what he says. I have experienced that first hand.  You may not, but I have. Again Birch Bark, this is something many of us have seen and put up with for years.  He has you right where he wants you but remember, there are two sides to this story and his speech left out some key factors in this Foundation’s history. I can't blame you for being taken in, they are very very good at grabbing those they want but man, can they beat you up and toss you out too!!! That's apparent from a recent poster! Sad. As far as Peggy goes, I guess the Foundation really owes her a Thank You. I didn’t realize that she was the one that called and found out how the group could be organized, and legally exist and control all their money from the “hard work of the devoted fundraising from fire department and auxiliary”, “we handle more money than most departments combined”, “ we raise more fundraising funds than any other department” etc. etc.  How many times was that repeated?  I don’t think anywhere, even in this forum has anyone ever said this group doesn’t work hard or that all the money that they raised isn’t appreciated. Give me a break. Sad that this man would lead one to believe that. I imagine there was a round of applause and lots of pats on the back after his performance at the February meeting. Again, he takes something and twists it around to fit his “woe is me” story line. I’m sorry Birch Bark, just be careful, very. They’ve gotcha right where they want ya! Yes, the dept. and the Chief himself (I am seeing more and more of a huge ego here so I want to include him personally…not to offend any of the other hard working volunteers) do a lot of good things, a lot. And yes, their hard work and dedication has enabled the BJ Fire Dept. to grow and become a huge presence but it shouldn't be at the expense of our own township well-being. I feel it has and that bothers me.
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 5:32 PM GoBacktoCanada, Panties?  PANTIES?  That's the way 3rd grade girls talk.  However, if it pleases you to discuss my lingerie, go right ahead.  However, your words about Mr.and Mrs. Murtagh were cruel.  You could well have started something you can't finish.  If you haven't seen Mr. and Mrs. Murtagh around, perhaps you should think about where you've been going.  They may not be at Dreamland but they surely are at CHURCH, the grocery store, hardware, etc.  I know because I see and greet them there.  Try it.  You might lose some of your spite, jealousy, venom, whatever it is that you are cherishing in your thinking.  Hatred hurts the hater more than the person she is directing at.  Think about it.   While I think of it, many posts back you (or one of your gang) said that Mr. Murtaugh wanted to be on the township board only so he could have his road black topped.  I've learned that our new treasurer also lives in Rabbit Bay.  Do you think that that's why she wanted to be on the board or do you reserve such nonsense only for those you want to go back to Candada?  Incidentally, do you want ALL Canadians to return there or are you going to pick just certain ones?
downrighthonest	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 9:34 PM Go Back to Canada   It is obvious to anyone who has read your drivel that as the posts bring the spotlight of truth ever closer to the convolusions of Danny Boy, & his front man Cadwell, over their secret organization that hands out money favors to his brother, sister, & inlaws., let alone the illegal homesteading etc. you become more desparate.  Keep on digging - you obviously have the mental capacity for digging holes.  Shame!  Shame! Don't dare got to the Fourth of July parade!.
JRussell	Torch Lake Township Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 10:44 PM GBTC- Was the public meeting to which you refer (that Supervisor M was "publicly shamed") the same meeting that  the fire department was outside hooting, hollering and jumping up and down, whilst the Fire "Chief" stood cross-armed snickering at the boys making fools of themselves? Yes, I did hear about this and before you can call it "rumor" I heard the same story from more than one reliable person.   I will say it again......there are MANY new people in the UP and without them  YOU probably would not be there. Have you forgotten what the economy was like in the early 70's? Maybe you are too young, or maybe you didn't live in the area..but those who were there will not forget. None of us like change, but without the "new" folks the area would have remained an economical disaster zone.   Attacks on anyone's heritage, race, color or sex only demonstrate the ignorance of the attacker...and nothing more.   Lastly, I will say that if it were true that Supervisor M only wanted his road paved, it seems to me that he's an intelligent enough fellow to figure out that if he crossed Danny it would never happen. Therefore, if that were his motivation, he would have never addressed tax issues, illegal homesteading, or looked into the Fire Dept. It only takes a small amount of logic to figure this out.   If you really are concerned about standards of behavior, my suggestion is to look at the Chief. The most recent example is evident in his State of the BJFD address.......... where in that document does it say the funds raised were from the generous donors of the community? It doesn't. The entire document is presented from the "our money" and "we worked hard for it" attitude, instead of being grateful and thankful to the donors.......the folks who EARNED the money.   His lengthy document is trumped by the fact that he stood crossed armed and said "we're a "private" (sic) organization "and we don't have to open the books. Nope, we won't tell you who's on the Board etc etc. THAT is a matter of PUBLIC RECORD......and it was ILLEGAL and in my estimation immoral. Publishing the financial information now is nice, but he had NO right to respond otherwise earlier. Addtionally, he states the documents are available on-line...he still is required by IRS code to provide anyone who asks for a hardcopy. They do not have to get the documents off of the internet...or perhaps he'd like to break that rule as well.
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 10:45 AM Cooker,   Funny you mention it. I think it's an interesting fact that many people probably aren't aware of...the reason I won't be greeting the Murtagh's at church is because they were asked to leave the church I go to by our priest. Fr. Olson of St. Joe's in Lake Linden, who isn't there anymore, but was there during this whole turmoil with the township board, asked the Murtagh's to leave the parish because of the backhanded behavior they were displaying. I won't be greeting them at the grocery either, because I choose to support local store owners, and they boycott Louie's Supervalue because of his politics too. So, if they weren't the ever-elusive couple that they are, maybe we would see more of them. Seems to me that they're hiding because they know they're disliked in this community because of their filthy mouths and dirty deeds.   As I said before, and apparently you choose to ignore my explanations or you wouldn't keep brining it up. NO, I am not directing my tag name at the Canadian population in general, just the Murtagh's. Read my earlier post, you'll see my explanation clearly. I told you that I am French Canadian also. Am I telling myself to go back to Canada....no. I would like the Murtagh's to pack their crap up, go live by their daughter's, and leave the rest of us to live in peace without haveing to see their nasty faces again. End of story. Any more questions?
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:09 AM Another tantalizing tidbit for you...one more reason that the Murtagh's don't shop at Louie's is that back in the early 80's, Andy was thrown out of there for lewd conduct. He came up behind an employee and grabbed her breasts. Right in public, like she should enjoy it or something. He thinks he's God's gift to women...ask most of the population of Rabbit Bay...they've been on the receiving end of his advances. Still think he's so innocent?
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 12:05 PM GBTC, I hope you have documentation handy because you are treading on very thin ice.  Did your mother ever wash your mouth out with soap?  If so, it didn't work.  Dannie should be ashamed to have you for a spokeswoman.  You have no substance to add to any of the discussions and can only sling dirt and snide remarks (remember my underwear?).  Why don't you go outside and enjoy our beautiful township and its many benefits?  This morning would be a good day to start.
GoBackToCanada	Torch Lake Township Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 1:11 PM Why should I have to provide documentation, when no none else on this site who slings mud at Danny or any other board member provides any real proof either? If you want proof that Mr. Murtagh is a breast-grabber, ask him yourself. If he's the devout Catholic he appears to be, he won't deny his past indiscretion. You insist on talking to me like I'm a two year old, like I have no basis to what I'm saying and that someone should be washing my mouth out with soap. You also refer to me as she all the time, like you think you know who I am. Well, I believe you are sadly mistaken as to my identity...I think you'd be surprised to know who I was.
Lynn Torkelson	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 1:49 PM Posters! Each of us is responsible for the statements we make, whether we make them in church, at the corner bar, or in anonymous posts on the Internet. Even though I do not know who posts here, legal authorities have the means to trace the source of any Internet posting. I'd hate to see any of you get into legal trouble because of the statements you make in this discussion. I strongly encourage everyone to focus on solving the problems our community faces today rather than rehashing old grievances. Lynn Torkelson
cooker	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 2:41 PM Excellent advice, Birch Bark.  If GBTC looks at her last two posts I think she'll see where she has gone astray and may be held accountable.  She may be in over her head.  Hope she can swim (and defend herself.)
birds eye	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 3:04 PM Good point Birch Bark, we need to get back on track. So why doesn't GBTC ever comment on the $40,000 (fact) in lost funds to our school? Why doesn't the poster ever comment on the fact that the Foundation papers weren't turned over as per federal law (wouldn't you think even they would question that?). And why doesn't this poster ever reply to the fact that many in our Twp. are not using the homestead exemption properly (easily verified at the court house but even without making that trip, we all know some are abusing that tax law). Fact, one Torch Lake waterfront parcel has taxes of $.75, as in 75 cents!  That’s an atrocity but is met with silence.  It appears that these very serious issues don’t concern many of these community posters. All of the above can be proven if one so wishes.......! If we can stick to the issues and depersonalize this, we’ll all be better off. Why, GBTC, are you so quiet on the facts that you say no one presents? They're right there, right here, right where they've always been, just open your eyes. All of the above can and have been substantiated. What's your reply to that? Why not try to contribute something on an adult and productive level. I'm not interested in your little tid bits of hatred. I do have to address something else....GBTC does not speak for the community as a whole when he/she tells someone to go back to a different country. I don't know what lead you to believe that you are the spokes-person for the area, you certainly don't represent my feelings on these individuals. I would no more tell them I wish them to be gone than I would you.  You may not like that Mr. M. was able to present facts, knew the redbook better than most, and knows how to get factual information (such as telling the Twp. about the $40,000 the Lake Linden Schools missed out on). Mr. M. backed up what he said when it came to policy and law. As I have said with the other ousted board members, why is it so bad that a community member (or Board member) wants our Twp. to follow the law? Seems like anyone that tries that route is booted out. To me, Birch Bark, that says a lot. Maybe the delivery of info at times has been less than professional but as you can see from some posts, that was the case on both sides. We need to step back and look at the meat, the real issues. I don’t think many of us are interested in the personal stories. I have no idea about all the gobbley goop that GBTC is posting. For me, it’s about many of the “issues” that have been brought up, that affect all of us in this Twp. What do I want, and every one of us should expect and should receive?? CLEAN politics and EQUALITY for all of us, across theTwp. We have a ways to go to get to that point.
Black Ice	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 3:25 PM Downrighthonest, Wutzup and the rest of you rumor-mongering, cousin-loving, self righteous pinheads...   Get a life!!!!   The sky is falling, the sky is falling...  wah, wah, wah!!!   Please...     Brian Cadwell, Smoooth AND handsome????   Why yes, he is...
JRussell	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:50 PM BlackIce- I guess Supervisor Rheault is also included in the aforementioned name-calling you dished out. It was he who identified the $40,000 Per YEAR shortage due to incorrect and illegal Homestead claims.   You do not address issues and show no concern for them and, instead, stoop to ridiculous name-calling, which is a sign of not being able to address issues straight-on.   I might remind you that if you go back and read the posts, you will find that virtually all posts which address tax issues, Fire and Rescue errors etc are written in an intelligent manner and are from obviously well-read folks. On the other hand, those who name-call and seem to be oblivious to serious issues within our township speak in words such as "themselfs" and "everybody no's it". There is, my friend, an evident difference in both the written word as well as the approach to conveying those words and ultimately the logic behind the point.   You are an excellent example, however, of those who support the activities such as hidden financial records, tax records stored in a cow barn etc. And "m sure the peanut gallery is snickering at your post. I find it better to stick to issues.   What do you think about the Homestead errors? Are you concerned that there will no longer be a librarian, but that many residents are illegally claiming exemptions? What do you think about these things?
downrighthonest	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:57 PM JRussell          Now you are getting down to the nitty-gritty.          What has Cadwell done to deny the illegal homesteading and to collect the outstanding 40,000 for the School Board?           The Board of Review is the organization the took away the unsubstantiated homesteading of Sarazins, Joe Beveridge, Rheault Trust, etc. several years ago.  As a consequence,  under state law they had to refund the  year of denial and the previous three years, and now have to pay 18% more taxes on that property to the School Board.  This is why I challenge Danny Sarazins right to sit as a School Board member because he is the official rep for the Sarazin Trust. (Where have I heard that word "Trust"before?)  (They have all entered into legal manouvers to try and get this denial struck down, or to rearrange their deeds so that they can still claim Homesteading )          There are many more out there in the same boat and they are hoping that Cadwell will look the other way, just like the Rheault regime did, which it appears he is doing now.  Remember, even though TLTwp has a hired assessor, the Supervisor, under law, still has the last say on all assessment matters.
JRussell	Torch Lake Township Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 7:01 AM GBTC- I find your latest postings a very poor reflection on yourself.   If your “accusations” held any truth, one would think that this would have been the subject of your very FIRST post as they are very serious.  Additionally, if it were widely known as true, the Coalition would have used this information to the hilt last summer.   Instead, you wait and drop this “tidbit” in a clear intention to hurt and with no intention to address such a serious issue. Therefore, you lose all credibility in my mind.   Additionally, it is quite amazing and statistically improbable that a community this size has a wife who pushes her husband down the stairs and a Supervisor who behaves in the manner that you describe.   All small towns have rumor mills. This one, however, takes the cake. Simple logic would tell a well-reasoning mind that these are baseless stories.  If the wife had pushed the husband down the stairs…why didn’t he ever come out and say it afterward?   I would bet that the folks who believe and discuss this dribble also read Supermarket Tabloids and are convinced that the aliens have landed.   If I had known such information has you claim, I would consider such to be a serious offense and would have addressed it in the correct manner and forum…not waiting for the “so there” attitude of a teenage girl. Your claim has zero credibility based upon the manner in which you make your claims.     What do YOU think about Homestead claims? Are you not concerned? Don't you think the students could use the $40K/YEAR they are due? I'd hope they grow up and read real news...not the Enquirer and Star...and address real issues, like taxation and following State and Federal Law.
Black Ice	Keweenaw Viewpoints Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 12:43 PM I DO care about a lot of things.  I care about equal representation for all. I care about the political process we have in place in America being adhered to.  I care about everybody paying their fair share of taxes when they are due.  What I do NOT care about are people who will try to find the evil or bad intent in EVERYTHING around them, people who willfully and knowingly cast aspersions on other's character and that of their family members, who resort to half-truths, rumors and innuendo to try to sway others to share their distorted perceptions.  I do NOT care for it when THEY snicker and congratulate one another because someone with a differing opinion doesn't spell something correctly, like that confirms their own intellectual superiority and "correctness".   Is what I posted earlier an attack on them or "name-calling"?  Well, yes it was...  and for that trangression I owe an apology.  To compare you noble, crusading, "do-gooders" to pinheads was truly an insult to pinheads everywhere!
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 12:50 PM Ahhhhh, silence once again. For those that are new to the BJ politics, I think it's becoming pretty clear why some of us won't turn our backs on this. What was the name the Coalition used for their recall platform last summer? It would be rather interesting to dissect that name and then compare its "members" and the voters that signed the recall petitions to those cheating our Twp. out of tax dollars!! I would say there are a few hypocrites??!!  And remember, those recall petitions you all signed, that show support of a group that used less than honest techniques to oust our elected board members, are a matter of public record!  I was surprised that some of you didn’t do your homework before signing…..at least give the people you wanted to fire a chance to answer any of your questions. You didn’t, you just followed.  I wonder what you “followers” will think when you find out who’s been cheating your school and your Twp. out of much needed money!
birds eye	Torch Lake Township Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 1:03 PM black ice....good, I'm glad you care. So what are you doing about it? Talking the talk is easy, demanding it be done takes....well, you know what. How about it, are you in? Are you going to sit back and talk the talk or are you going to walk the walk?
cooker	Torch Lake Township Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 3:16 PM BirdsEye, Did you notice the last sentence of Black Ice's post?  He didn't change what he said/thought except to make it worse.  He said people who oppose the recall group are worse than PinHeads.  I wonder how he describes himself.   A few posts back someone asked HOW one could comment on the signatures on the recall petitions.  That was a no-brainer because there are Xeroxed copies available from many residents.  It's public knowledge.  It's easy to see how one person may well have signed others' names.  The availability of the petitions is a FACT.