Q&A with Glen Arbor Township Supervisor candidates
Bob Hawley (Republican) vs Peter Van Nort (independent)
From staff reports
Glen Arbor Sun: Please name three top goals you’d like to accomplish as Township Supervisor
Bob Hawley: Goals change with circumstances but I would like Glen Arbor & Empire to continue the collaborative commitment to providing the highest level of emergency services to our citizens and visitors possible. I would like to see the Joe Vlack park situation resolved with no liability on our Township’s part. I would hope we could finalize the bike trail issue and I hope the next board continues to be fiscally conservative with our tax dollars.
Peter Van Nort: Move the township forward in a positive direction for all systems. Get the community involved in evaluations and deciding issues. Have the township board be the implementer of the citizens’ desires.
Glen Arbor Sun: What can the Township Board do to support economic development and jobs in Glen Arbor?
Hawley: Economic development and the resulting jobs in Glen Arbor can only take place within the constraints of our increasingly seasonal economy. More of our citizens are becoming snow birds and it is increasingly difficult to justify year round businesses. When I moved here Glen Arbor had a bank, a pharmacy, 2 year round service stations, a doctor, a dentist, and a lawyer. All are gone now — partly due to the lack of winter business. Glen Arbor has some limitations on business activity because of the lack of adequate soils for traditional wastewater treatment. There are new high tech methods of dealing with these limitations such as the system Tim Barr built to support Art’s Tavern. Ultimately however, Glen Arbor Township can only provide a supportive business environment through appropriate zoning, and existing infrastructure maintenance.
Peter Van Nort: Conduct a survey of developers to determine what is limiting development. Establish a committee to identify possible solutions for each limitation. Present solutions for their evaluation and input. Initiate the actions identified by this process.
Glen Arbor Sun: Anything the Board can do to help solve the problem of too little affordable housing here?
Hawley: Affordable housing in Glen Arbor is almost an oxymoron. Seasonal rentals are significantly more profitable than year round rentals and that is not going to change. Underlying land costs and the lack of municipal sewer and water eliminate any possible subsidies from MSHDA. Glen Arbor’s zoning ordinance makes second story residential uses possible in the business district but again, the lack of adequate wastewater treatment capacity makes that difficult.
Peter Van Nort: Conduct a survey with those individuals who have tried to provide affordable housing to determine what has prevented their action. Establish a committee to identify solutions to resolve the roadblocks and Initiate actions to remove them.
Glen Arbor Sun: Many area businesses struggled to find enough employees during the high tourism season — and some curtailed their hours, as a result? How can the Board help solve this riddle?
Hawley: The seasonal employee shortage is not unique to Glen Arbor. Many resort communities share the same problem. In places like Mackinac Island, Aspen, and Jackson Hole, employers routinely build the cost of employee housing into their business models. Our own Homestead Resort has solved its seasonal housing needs in much the same manner. Township government is not the answer but again we should make sure that we as a township are not creating additional barriers to possible solutions.
Peter Van Nort: Provide forums for discussions of the issues. I would collect data from our local businesses based on how this lack of employees impacted their business. We need to address what the businesses were dealing with to get employees. Based on this data the committee would start addressing possible ways to improve and be sure the issue is addressed and an action plan formulated.
Glen Arbor Sun: Any changes you’d like the Board to make with respect to local planning or zoning?
Hawley: Our Planning and Zoning ordinance is constantly under review. We are fortunate to have a broad representation of the community serving on the commission and they have consistently done a fine job of up-dating the ordinance to reflect the changing realities of our community.
Peter Van Nort: I am not aware of any needed changes regarding planning and zoning. However the board should be open to ideas and input from the community. There are still unresolved issues the board needs to address.
Glen Arbor Sun: Evaluate the Township Board’s leadership and decisions in the days and weeks after the Aug. 2, 2015 megastorm? What did it do well? Are there areas for local government improvement, should such a calamity strike again?
Hawley: Glen Arbor’s response to the August 2015 storm was excellent. Our fire and rescue services were as responsive as the physical limitations imposed by downed trees and power lines would allow. The Township Board’s decision to install the new generator enabled the township hall to serve as an emergency shelter and operational base for the many emergency crews that converged to get us back in business. The post storm effort to re-plant lost trees was appropriate and an example of what makes Glen Arbor such a great place to live.
Peter Van Nort: The township did admirably in dealing with the 8/2/15 mega storm. Their preparation before the storm by installing an emergency generator and setting up the town hall as a rescue center gave the community a place to go for food and emergency shelter. Obviously we can always improve. For the future we need to have an analysis of the actions taken in August 2015 and decide if we need to do more. Clearly our community stepped up and was charitable to those in need as well. The storm clearly brought out the generosity of our community.
Glen Arbor Sun: How would you describe the Township Board’s relationship with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore? Any changes you’d make there?
Hawley: I would like to see continued efforts to enhance and expand our relationship with the National Park. Our very identity and much of what makes us the jewel of the North is linked to the Park as well as the river and lakes that surround us. What is good for the Park is usually good for Glen Arbor and we must continue to cultivate that relationship as well as with the other entities with common interests. That group would include the Glen Lake Association, our neighboring townships – especially Empire and Kasson, the Leelanau County road commission, MDOT, the DNR, the Glen Arbor Chamber of Commerce and heritage trail group.
Peter Van Nort: The relationship with the National Park is cordial and moving towards cooperation. I would establish a regular meeting with the superintendent to build an ongoing dialogue of cooperation and understanding.
Glen Arbor Sun: How about the Board’s relationship with the Glen Lake Fire Department, which recently decided to unionize? Again, any change you’d make?
Hawley: Our Fire Department is one of the best equipped and professionally trained staffed in northern Michigan. The management of the department by Chief John Dodson with support of the emergency services advisory board is exemplary. The decision of the employees to unionize shouldn’t be considered a threat or an indication of any internal issues. Virtually every public employee in Leelanau County — Law enforcement, School teachers, county road commission employees, courthouse staff, etc are unionized and emergency responders are no different.
Peter Van Nort: The township board has an excellent GLFD. I don’t believe this is a change but I would establish a very aggressive open door policy.
Glen Arbor Sun: The current Township Board decided not to take a stand on the Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. What’s your position on this, and why?
Hawley: My personal position is the Line 5 should be shut down. The operator has already had a tragic spill in the Kalamazoo river and a similar event in the Mackinac straits would be an unmitigated disaster. However, the Glen Arbor Township Board’s recent decision not to take a public position was correct. Township government is about Glen Arbor Township and we have no standing in the pipeline issue. The state of Michigan and the federal government are the agencies that hopefully will see the wisdom in eliminating the threat posed by the pipeline — it is not a question of if but when a spill will occur.
Peter Van Nort: The township board represents the citizens and their views and should not take positions without their input.
Glen Arbor Sun: Previous Township Supervisor John Soderholm made his cell phone number available to the press and to the general public. Will you do the same?
Hawley: If I am elected as Glen Arbor’s next township supervisor, I will make both my cellphone number and personal e-mail available to all my constituents.
Peter Van Nort: Yes, my cellphone will be available to the press and the general public.
Glen Arbor Sun: How do you evaluate Soderholm’s performance as outgoing supervisor?
Hawley: John Soderholm, Bill Thompson and Kent Kelly have all decided to retire this year. All three should be honored for their commitment to the community and for serving for all the right reasons. I have never detected a personal agenda or a partisan leaning in any of the issues that they have dealt with over the last 16 years. Glen Arbor residents are fortunate to have been served by men with the integrity and honor they have exhibited.
Peter Van Nort: John Solderholm has done an excellent job. The township owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
Glen Arbor Sun: What’s your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Glen Arbor?
Hawley: My favorite spot in Glen Arbor is the deck at Boondock’s listening to Pat Niemisto, Norm Wheeler and Tom Fordyce perform.
Peter Van Nort: Hiking Pyramid Point and the sand bowl or biking the SBHT. We love it here!
