District 1 Leelanau County Commission candidates address housing, clean energy, broadband

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Photo: Tim McCalley (l) and Rick Robbins (r)

From staff reports

The Nov. 5 election will determine which party controls the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners (BOC), and which policies and initiatives they pursue next year. The Commission is currently deadlocked between three Democrats and three Republicans, with one seat vacant.

In District 1, which serves Elmwood Township in Leelanau’s southeastern corner, Republican Tim McCalley faces Rick Robbins, who is running as a Democrat after previously serving on the BOC as a Republican from 2020-2022. In his previous term, Robbins was the deciding swing vote—often siding with Democrats—on contentious issues including septic regulations and funding voter-approved early childhood services.

The Glen Arbor Sun reached out to all 14 candidates for the BOC and asked about their positions on issues or initiatives that are key to Leelanau County citizens: namely, affordable housing, renewable energy, broadband access and services for both seniors and families with young children. Our questions, and their responses are below. Today we’re featuring McCalley and Robbins, who are vying for the open District 1 seat.

1) What can the county government do to increase the availability of workforce or affordable housing? How would you work with townships or villages to educate them about zoning issues? Would you establish a housing commission that could attract state or federal dollars? Would you consider tax-exempt bonds, or a millage, to create more affordable housing?

2) Do you support the effort to secure grant money for solar panels at the county governmental center? What renewable energy or environmental initiatives should the board of commissioners pursue?

3) What are the next steps on bringing broadband to more Leelanau citizens?

4) Do you support early childhood services for young families? How can the board of commissioners support both early childhood services and senior services?

 

Tim McCalley (Republican)

Affordable housing: Elmwood Township does not need to be educated on zoning issues. They are currently undergoing a master plan update to address our community concerns. Our county does have a housing commission which I understand has only met a few times this year. Should their role be re-addressed? When I am elected to the board, we will do so. I do not see how bonds or millages will help relieve the tax burden nor make living in Leelanau County more affordable.

Clean energy: I do not support securing grant money for solar panels. These grants will not cover all the requirements that come with this grant and additional funding will be required to complete and for maintenance of these panels. The benefits do not justify raising your taxes. Also, why would this BOC want to destroy our beautiful park like setting of our government setting by installing an industrial electric generating plant? With the restart of Palisades nuclear plant, I suspect energy prices to decrease which will ease the cost of running the government center.

Broadband: I am still wrestling with why the BOC funded a private company which only serves part of Leelanau County.  How is this a capital improvement?  Creating an avenue for broadband competition which would benefit the whole county makes more sense to me.

Early childhood and senior services: The BOC is supporting both early childhood and senior services. As your commissioner, I will seek to ensure your tax dollars are used wisely and efficiently for these services.

 

Rick Robbins (Democrat—served on BOC as Republican, 2020-2022)

Affordable housing: It comes down to township zoning. We have to work with them. We have Brownfield, which is helping. I’m involved in that with Habitat for Humanity. When the average home for them to build is $284K, we have to assist them with Brownfield and stay on top of it with the township, and educate everyone about the need for it. You look at our County and look at our population, we’re approaching the senior level. We need service workers, we need children and young families to support our schools. Right now we’re doing the best we can. We’re gonna have to work with the townships on zoning and get housing in the right area. It’s a Catch-22. We have to see if we can get workforce housing for our service workers.

Clean energy: Yes I support it. I believe it’s our future. But we have to educate the public on how we spend our tax dollars to afford this. We need to include Cherryland, Consumers, and Wolverine. They have to be involved. We need to look at other options, too, like solar and wind. Look at all the options before we do anything.

Broadband: It’s my understanding, with that first go around, we covered the County except for Empire. We have to clean up that area. I’m for it. We need to find the funds, look for grants. It’s on the table. Needs to be cleaned up. We did a great job because of ARPA (American Rescue Plans) funds getting the majority of the County covered. But we need to get the western area covered.

Early childhood and senior services: I do support it. I was the one that brought the two sides together on the stalemate over funding the initial millage. It was 3 votes to 3 in September 2021 and neither side wanted to give. It was me who came up with the solution, and got a 7-0 vote. We need young families. They’re the future of our county. People are no longer fighting over (the issue). This was a millage passed by the people.