PHONE
734-312-0627
Campaign Phone
734-312-0627
Number of years as resident
4
I have been an entrepreneur since 1990. I have worked in a variety of fields allowing me to learn and take those lessons to my next adventure. Currently, I am vice president of a national contracting firm in the construction industry. All of my experiences have taught me how to be a good fiduciary. Thus an important part of being a trustee. I am also serving on the Planning Commission and Local Roads Committee, which has allowed me to have insight into how our township operates.
My goals would start with continuing to improve the roads in my township through continued service on the local roads committee. I would like to collaborate with neighboring townships exchanging ideas and information. Another goal I have is tied to Trustee Lonnie Scott's efforts to increase cell service within the rural areas. As weather is increasingly erratic, we need to consider cellular emergency notifications that can work in concert with sirens. Additionally, I would like to continue working on the Planning Commission removing the permit processes that create a barrier for residents to improve the ways they enjoy and use their property.
There are always serious issues being faced in the township, life can change on a dime, as we all know. I look forward to working with a diverse group of trustees who are able to share viewpoints, collaborate, listen to residents and work through issues for the overall betterment of our township. I have been attending Board of Trustee meetings for over 2 years, serving on the Planning Commission and Local Roads Committee building relationships, learning and working on resolutions already on many issues faced in the township. I am ready on DAY ONE to roll up my sleeves and continue the work on a different level, as a Township Trustee. Thank you for your consideration.
Our greatest assets are the incredible rural character of this community. Between the people, farms, lakes and recreational open spaces, Dexter Township is a crown jewel in Washtenaw County. As the new Master Plan was developed, there are plans to increase agritourism. The Planning Commission on which I serve, has been working with local businesses to break down barriers that will help with increased economic developments.
PHONE
734-757-0995
Number of years as resident
42
MBA - Executive leadership; BS - Business Management; Lean Six Signa Green Belt Certification.
I am an enthusiastic leader with over 15 years combined military and operational leadership experience. I possess strong critical,
analytical, and lean problem-solving skills, with proven ability to reduce waste, simplify processes, and identify barriers to
success. Strong ability to build trust with co-workers, direct and indirect reports, to improve engagement and
empowerment, resulting in a motivated team and increased productivity.
I've always believed in leaving things better than they were found. Putting new eyes on issues brings in new ideas and perspectives to build on what a team has already built. My first goal is to get a good understanding of what has been accomplished over the last few years and evaluate what can be done to build on what the team has started. I have extensive experience doing more with less. Lean Six Sigma is a managerial approach that improves performance by eliminating resource waste and defects. With my experience and knowledge in this area I will be able to help the team see what is value added and what is not, helping the entire team to accomplish more.
Dexter Township is an amazing place to live. Looking at the big picture, there are very few if any earth shattering issues with the township. With that being said, there is a significant lack of trust between many of the residence and the township. To be successful in any endeavor there has to be trust, not only between the Township members, but also with the residence. To fill this gap I intend to be very transparent with the residence. Over communicating what is being done and why will be the first step in reconciling what has been lost over the last few years. If teams know they have each others best interest at heart, there is very little that can't be accomplished. Understanding what our tax dollars are being spent on and making sure the residence are in agreement with a direction, and understand the direction is the process I will use for any of the problems we face.
The township's greatest assets are the people. There are life long residence who have seen how much this area has changed and there are new residence who bring a new perspective. Our residence are currently an untapped resource. Leveraging their knowledge from their experiences, either living here forever, or newly settling down is what will allow our community to continue to thrive.
PHONE
269-365-5493
Campaign Phone
2693655493
Number of years as resident
9 years
My expertise/experience primarily lie in Early Childhood Development, Education, and Leadership Development. I have dedicated 30 years to a fulfilling career in education, relishing the opportunity to assist children and families in uncovering their incredible potential!
Recently, my focus has shifted towards lavender farming, nurturing a small business, and actively participating in my community. I have taken on roles in different boards, committees, and groups that contribute to the betterment of the community, our state, and the broader region.
Being a farmer/small business owner has given me valuable insights into how our government collaborates with these sectors. I have gained a deeper understanding of the state and local laws that regulate farming/small businesses. I am grateful for the learning opportunities along the way, and I believe that my budding expertise in these domains will enhance my role as a Trustee dedicated to supporting local businesses/farmers.
My aim is to listen to the pulse of Dexter and understand its residents’ needs and desires.
Collaborating with fellow board members, we will strive for a cohesive Dexter that prioritizes residents' interests.
I envision an active board engaging with the community to communicate with residents. It's essential to create an environment where people can openly discuss their wishes.
I firmly believe in the incredible community we live in, nestled in one of the most stunning regions. My dream is to witness a flourishing and united community that values both its people and the environment.
I believe the primary issue lies in the inadequate communication between the board and the public. The lack of willingness to find solutions to problems worsens the situation. Establishing transparency and open dialogue is essential for creating trust and a sense of community.
When individuals feel acknowledged and valued, they are more inclined to participate and assist in communal endeavors. Encouraging open communication can lead to collaborative problem-solving and a cohesive community.
I believe that investing in unnecessary projects and excessive consultations from external sources like lawyers is unjustified. Our focus should be on directing resources towards initiatives that directly support our community and promote growth. Let's make thoughtful choices that align with our values and goals, ensuring that each dollar spent contributes to a brighter future.
Our small town charm, rural beauty, stunning lakes, and family farms all mirror the care and generosity shown by the people in our community.
My aim is to be accessible for open dialogues, conduct research on how the Board can provide assistance, and continuously learn to stay updated on matters that can benefit our community.
Our public transit system, WAVE Bus, offers door-to-door services for homes and businesses across Western Washtenaw County. As the Treasurer of the WAVE board, I have insights on how to enhance our community through this service.
Our efforts include reducing fares for all riders, expanding service hours and coverage to neighboring counties, increasing the number of buses and staff, and improving our internal systems for user convenience.
While we already reside in a remarkable area, ensuring access to transportation for all residents can further enhance our community.
PHONE
248-240-9589
Campaign Phone
248-240-9589
Number of years as resident
19 years
My experience as a small business owner, allows me a background in budgets, operating within said budget and providing leadership to complete projects. I have been serving as a Trustee since 2020 and have spearheaded and created many new community engagement activities. From the general inbox (info@dextertownship.org) or the printed newsletter, and our monthly email updates, "in the loop". We are now able to communicate with over 40% of our households in email form. Additionally, Fall Clean-Up days, the Hudson Mills Metropark pass offer, broadband, addressing our waste water plant updates and environmental protections - all creations from viewing, listening and engaging with our residents. I am a worker and an implementer focused on our strategic plans four pillars: good governance, communication, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Should I win another term, I would like to continue the Single Hauler Trash project within our township, to determine its viability. This project may create savings for each household utilizing curbside trash services, improve our recycling capabilities and help reduce wear & tear on our roads. Added projects to complete: restoration of our cemeteries through volunteer assistance: creating a Waterways Group, with HRWC and interlocal agencies, to address the health of our lakes and rivers and working together for best educational practices.
Combining forces with Washtenaw County, Spectrum, MEC, Mercury we are making large headways to reach our goal of 100% broadband connection. I enjoy representing Dexter Twp residents and problem solving, sometimes we even have wins! Finally keep addressing communication. Monthly email updates, printed newsletters, coffee chats, hosting HOA meetings, all methods, but the work never stops - reaching out, listening and communicating, contact me.
Managing growth is a serious issue. Whether it is housing development, protecting/preserving our land, our environmental concerns or addressing our traffic patterns: growth continues within our township and in areas surrounding us: creating challenges to manage. The creation of our Farmland and Open Space Board was a first step, to protect land. With this process in place now we need to address our lakes and rivers. Working interlocally and in combination with Huron River Water Council we can address environmental concerns: PFAS, invasive weeds, education, monitoring programs and more. Another step in our work.
Finally, roads and traffic. This administration took action on improving our roads (thank you Karen Sikkenga for your lead). We actually are fixing the damn roads (as we say in Michigan). Now I feel traffic patterns need a long range plan, working interlocally with our surrounding communities to address these challenges.
Without a doubt, our residents! When we communicate our needs, we have talented and knowledgeable residents in our community that step into roles to assist. I believe we have over 100 people volunteering: whether it is moving the film, working on the cemetery restoration, community clean up events, supporting community engagement activities, election workers, serving on committees and boards such as Planning, Zoning, Multi Lakes Sewer Authority, Renewables, WAVE, Farmland & Open Space, Board of Review, Local Roads, Broadband, Compensation, CACA, or simply testing lake/river water, it really takes building community to help ensure all our successes. I invite you to participate in building our future and I thank you, (we thank you) for helping build the strong community we have to date.
Any questions you may have, please email votenolte@gmail.com. Thank you for taking time to review my candidacy.
PHONE
734-678-4814
Number of years as resident
11
I earned a BA in Women's Studies and a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan. This prepared me to be an instructor of Social Work at U of M, a clinical therapist, and to integrate social justice, community and environmental well-being, and the values of economic equality into all of my professional, political and volunteer activities. I am a community organizer and love to engage our local communiy in township decision-making, for example, my efforts to co- organize a committee to explore farmland and natural areas land preservation, eventually resulting in winning a bi-partisan millage to support an official land protection program and board in my first term in office. I am particularly interested in our continued work toward good environmental stewardship, including conservation of our waterways, thoughtful development, and diversity and inclusion efforts. I would like to continue serving and learning with our township residents.
My goals include:
-Maintaining excellent fiscal management and wise spending for residents needs
-Increasing community engagement
- Caring for natural areas and waterways through enhanced environmental stewardship
- Single-hauler trash to preserve our roads and environment
- Promoting agritourism in commercial development
- Ensuring broadband access for all
In the first four years, we engaged our community in the creation of a new Master Plan that highlights Dexter Township resident's priorities. With wise and thoughtful management of our limited resources we have accomplished so much toward these goals in the last four years. I will continue to promote spending that meets the needs of our residents using our Master Plan as a guide and promote wise financial management.
The natural areas, green and open spaces of our township have been facing the threat of too much subdivision development that is unaffordable to many people and where infrastructure to sustain the population is lacking. In my first term, I co-coordinated a successful farmland and open space preservation program, with millage support, that gives farmers options for the use of their lands through the sale of their development rights to the township to preserve the land for agricultural and nature-based uses, in perpetuity. I now sit as the BOT representative on that board and plan to continue my active support of this program. We also are grappling with the new large scale renewable energy state law, working on an ordinance that supports the intention of the law and enables some workable and local control from the township for renewable projects. Reducing environmental threats to our many beautiful lakes and waterways in Dexter Township is a major priority.
Dexter Township is at least partial home to the Pinkney Recreation area, Hudson Mills Metro Park, several nature preserves, fourteen lakes, the Huron River and many amazing hiking and biking trails. With our rolling hills and waterways, it is a naturally beautiful area for vacationing and recreation. With all this natural beauty comes our deep responsibility to protect our land and waterways from pollution and other environmental threats. I intend to promote policies of good environmental stewardship. We also have a strong farming history and community in Dexter Township, so I support efforts that enhance choices for farmer’s use and sale of their land through land preservation, encourage sustainable farming innovations, and ventures in agritourism that feature locally sourced food and farms.
PHONE
734-972-6591
Number of years as resident
8
I have served as a Trustee for Dexter Township for one term, culminating with service as the Supervisor since May 2023. My background is in operations, policy, and budget as a consultant for local government entities and public gardens. I have a master's degree in public administration with a focus on local government, policy, and budget. I am passionate about good government, especially local government. I believe local governments have the power to implement programs and policy that directly benefit the health, safety, and quality of life for residents - including Dexter Township!
Local Roads: I have been working on bringing all our local roads to "good" condition after many years of neglect. With the support of our Board of Trustees, I spearheaded a multi-year program that will culminate next year with the restoration of Madden and Quigley roads. Every single other local connector road in Dexter Township has already been restored under my leadership, and the local roads citizen committee I established has become a model for other townships.
Our board prioritizes public safety & infrastructure, and I will continue this effort next term including bringing our warning siren system into alignment with the County Sheriff's Department.
Environmental stewardship is top priority for me personally and for our board. This term, we focused on land preservation. Next term, we hope to take actions to preserve our precious waterways: the Huron River and its watershed.
We are under threat from increasingly severe weather events. To ensure that we are prepared to meet any future weather disasters head on, I initiated a $200K investment in Dexter Township's warning sirens. I am now working on an emergency preparedness plan for approval by the Board.
Threat of development is another challenge. We are addressing threat of development with master plan priorities around thoughtful development and controlling our traffic.
Local roads are a major challenge. Dexter Township has 25 miles of unpaved local connector roads (ie, non-neighborhood roads). Almost all the funding to maintain these roads must come from Township resources. To ensure that our roads remain in good condition in perpetuity, I created a "Capital Fund" and developed a 25-year capital maintenance plan. With these tools, the current BOT is setting aside funds every year to ensure that our roads and other infrastructure remain in good condition in perpetuity.
Our greatest asset is our wonderful community of committed residents, over 100 of whom are now volunteering for Dexter Township - serving on committees, helping maintain our historic cemeteries, collecting film plastic recycling, working on clean-up days and other events, and so much more.
The beautiful landscapes and waterways in Dexter Township, and the thousands of acres of parklands within our boundaries, are truly exceptional assets. We are preserving these assets now through our Farmland & Open Space Preservation program. Both our strategic plan and our master plan prioritize preservation of these assets. And, to ensure that our residents can all get out and enjoy these lands, the BOT initiatived a Metro Park pass program, providing residents free passes to Hudson Mills. If elected, we will continue to provide this great benefit to help our community thrive.
