Atlas Twp.- When incumbent township supervisor Paul Amman lost the August 2010 primary election, as well as a November write-in bid to current Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones, his 14-year stint as a local official appeared to be over.
It wasn’t.
‘There’s no sour grapes,? said Amman, 72, who was appointed by a 3-1 vote on March 28 to complete the term of township trustee Scott Statson, who resigned earlier this year. ‘She (Jones) won the election fair and square, my job is to work for the township.?
Jones voted no. Trustee Barry June, Clerk Tere Onica and Treasurer Ann Marie Slagel voted for Amman.
Amman was selected during a special meeting over Rick Misek, John Sheerin, and Thomas Sanford after the board opened the position up to the community. A total of 12 candidates applied for the seat, which pays $5,618.04 per year.
‘It’s a community services thing,? said Amman. ‘I rasied my family here’it’s a way for me to give back to the township. The years I’ve spent working for the township as both a trustee and supervisor, I’ve done well for the township. When I left office in 2010 it was in good financial shape’I left it better than when I found it.?
‘Michigan is in trouble and it’s not going to get better soon.We need to look at ways to do with less, the money is not going to be there.?
Amman said that in the next year township residents will have to decide if they want the same level of police service as we do now. He suggests eliminating the current police millage and special assessment, which according to the 2010-11 budget is $90,478 short of the funds needed to cover contract costs for the Genesee County Sheriff Department.
Instead, Amman proposes collecting $200 per home and $75 for unimproved lots.
‘I estimate that 60 percent of the residents would see a decline in taxes,? he said. ‘The value of your home should have nothing to do with police protection.?
Trustee Barry June said he voted for Amman due to his experience.
‘We did not want to give the seat to someone new to the township,? said June. ‘Paul knows the system and knows people at the (Genesee) county level. There are some tough decisions to be made; it would add more pressure to break someone in as a trustee. The police will be on the ballot next year, he’s familiar with that. It’s the best bang for our buck. None of the candidates had ran for office last time, I’m looking for long term. I had to go with experience.?