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June 10, 2021 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER
BELLEVILLE - SUMPTER

Sumpter OKs tri-community redistricting resolution

Members of the Sumpter nate gerrymandering that grants had some computer issues in
Township Board of Trustees an advantage to whichever party ” joining the virtual meeting May
unanimously approved a resolu- may be in power when the dis- If we have the opportunity, 25.
tion to join with the City of tricts are drawn. “I agree with Tim,” she said.
Belleville and Van Buren Young said that the resolution we would like to stick together “I disagreed with becoming a
Township in support of tri-com- explains to the commissioners and have one common representative. charter. I never want Sumpter to
munity representation at the that Sumpter, Van Buren and become a charter township.”
state level. Belleville are “similar in nature LaPorte said he felt the reso-
Township attorney Rob Young and that the township officials lution would be a good thing for
suggested the Sumpter Board of would prefer to have one state Trustee Don LaPorte asked ship had been previously dis- Sumpter and for all three com-
Trustees join the other two com- representative and one state sen- Young if the township would be cussed and the he was strongly munities to bond together.
munities in approving a resolu- ator represent all three commu- at a disadvantage not being a against it Rush said recent election
tion to be forwarded to the state nities. charter township. “I feel it is taking the power of results across the board were
redistricting commission as state “If we have the opportunity, Young responded that he felt the people to control their own similar in all three communities.
voting districts are re-evaluated. we would like to stick together the current township structure destiny away,” he said. “In a “Standard state representa-
Young explained to the board and have one common represen- was “the last bastion of democra- charter township the board can tion would be good for the tri-
that the new commission had tative,” he said. cy in the country” and that he levy a tax up to a certain mill communities,” he said.
been approved by voters and Young told the board trustees felt there was no disadvantage in without voter approval. To me, The board members
was now tasked with fairly and during the study session prior to the resolution. that is taxation without repre- approved the resolution unani-
equitably establishing voting dis- the meeting that Sumpter is cur- His sentiments were shared sentation.” mously in the absence of
tricts for both state senators and rently in the same district for by Trustee Tim Rush who said His sentiments were echoed Township Clerk Esther Hurst
state representatives to elimi- state representation as Monroe. that becoming a charter town- by Trustee Peggy Morgan who and Treasurer James Clark.
Virtual meetings to continue

A recent outbreak of COVID-19 Rush said he, too, was comfort-
which shut down township hall for able with the virtual meetings.
more than a week has prompted During the regular meeting,
members of the Sumpter Board of when the item was discussed,
Trustees to continue virtual meet- Trustee Peggy Morgan, who had
ings until July 1. experienced technical difficulties
During the study session prior to in participating in the meeting, said
the regular meeting May 25, that she wanted to resume in-per-
Trustee Tim Rush asked the mem- son meetings.
bers of the board for their opinions “I don't know how you all feel,
regarding in-person or virtual meet- but our community center and sen-
ings considering the recent out- ior center are now open, people are
break at township hall. vaccinated and they can wear
“I'm sitting on the fence,” he masks if they choose. I think it is
said. “The governor says everything time to allow residents back into
is open, but I want to know how meetings. We do work for the resi-
everybody feels about it. I've had dents,” she said.
both shots although I know you can Bowman responded that his
still get the disease,” he said. opinion was “totally the opposite.
Township Supervisor Tim COVID shut the township hall down
Bowman said that he was not yet in last week,” he reminded Morgan. Green thumbs
favor of in person meetings. A motion to continue requiring Last week, members of the Rotary Club of Belleville gathered at the Victory Park Gazebo to
“We just had an outbreak in the masks and other OSHA pandemic weed the beds and plant flowers for the summer season. The Rotary Club, with funding
township that shut the whole show until July 1 when the issue will be from the Charles B. Cozadd Foundation, has recently updated and refurbished the gazebo
down,” he reminded the board revisited was approved by the with new steps, hand rails, roofing and more. Club President Debra Green, center, along
members. “I'd like to continue with members of the board in the with Rotarians and friends who helped with the planting, are all smiles after the planting and
the virtual meetings, but that is just absence of Clerk Esther Hurst and weeding session.
my opinion.” Treasurer James Clark.