It looks like taxpayers won’t be picking up the tab for six chrome shovels purchased for ceremonial purposes relating to the Polly Ann Trail.
Last week, Larry Obrecht, project manager for the trail’s surfacing and M-24 pedestrian bridge, withdrew his request to be reimbursed $1,439 for six ceremonial shovels he purchased in September 2005.
‘I guess this has become quite an issue,? Obrecht told the Polly Ann Trail Management Council. ‘It’s become a real sad state of affairs.?
According to Obrecht, he purchased the shovels using his own credit card and gave them to Roy Rewold, CEO of the Rochester-based Frank Rewold & Son, Inc., in exchange for using six of his ceremonial shovels at the August 2005 trail ground-breaking.
‘I have Roy’s shovels. That’s what we have. He has the new shovels. That was the agreement. That’s how we got the shovels,? Obrecht said back in January when the reimbursement request first came before the PATMC.
Since then, newspaper reports have spawned numerous complaints about the $1,439 shovels.
‘I know my phone has rung off the hook,? said Alice Young, who serves on the trail council and as Orion Township’s treasurer.
‘I think it’s a total waste of money,? said Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn, who attended last week’s trail meeting as a resident. ‘I think it should have been brought to this council for approval before they were purchased.?
‘I’m not for a nonelected official spending my money,? Dunn explained. ‘There’s no way I can get back at him. I can’t recall him. I can’t do anything.?
Given the criticism, Obrecht, who manages Oakland County Animal Control, decided to ‘simply withdraw? his request for repayment.
‘I’ve got about $20,000 invested (in the trail), I don’t think $1,500 is going to bankrupt me, he said. ‘If it’s going to be that kind of issue, I’ll simply donate the use of the shovels. Obviously, I’ll keep them.?
‘Anybody needs to rent a shovel, I got’em for $25 a piece,? Obrecht quipped.
PATMC Chairman Geno Mallia, Jr., who also serves as the Leonard Village president, expressed his displeasure with the criticism levied against Obrecht and the trail council.
‘I am embarrassed by some of the things that I hear from the papers and from the public-at-large about what a terrible person Mr. Obrecht is (and how) this council are a bunch of ogres ? we’re spending all these hard-earned tax dollars.?
‘It hurts me and it hurts a lot of people out there to hear the jabs and the stabs constantly at this council and what it stands for,? Mallia said.
Mallia noted how ‘since Day One? the Polly Ann Trail project has been driven by volunteer efforts and numerous private donations, all with the goal of creating a non-motorized trail through Addison, Oxford and Orion townships.
‘The whole council ? we have given and given and given,? Mallia said. ‘We are a trail group putting a trail together.?
‘This was never designed to be a political headache for anybody,? he said. ‘I think it’s a shame that we have to sit here and defend what this council has done. Defend ? that’s quite honestly all we have done in the last six months is defend what this volunteer effort has put forth.?
Mallia then proceeded to ‘apologize? to both the council and Obrecht for all the criticism they’ve received. ‘This is just a group of people that wanted and helped and worked hard to make this (trail) happen,? he said.
Oxford Village Councilman Dave Bailey, who attended the trail meeting as a resident, offered his services to help the trail council avoid any further controversy over shovels.
‘For future reference, I know how to take some ordinary black iron shovels and with a can of aluminum spray paint, I can make them look pretty shiny,? he said. ‘I’d be glad to do that if you need me to.?
In other trail news:
n Obrecht reported to the PATMC that the bridge and trail project ‘should be complete by the end of May.? He said the original April 15 deadline had to be extended due to the state’s request for a more costly, longer lasting paint treatment for the bridge’s ironwork.
Obrecht reiterated that he will not request additional funds from the trail council’s member communities to cover the new treatment’s higher cost.
‘I’m working on that additional funding and putting the money in place,? he said.