Four applications already filed for open trustee slot

The White Lake Township Board of Trustees is now accepting applications to fill the vacant trustee position left on the township board by the appointment of Greg Baroni to the supervisor position.

All applications are due in the Clerk’s Office by noon on Monday, Feb. 14, according to Clerk Terry Lilley.

As of yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 1, the township had already received four applications, including one from Bill Pierson.

Pierson also applied and interviewed for the supervisor position and gained the support of Trustee Jay Brendel, Trustee Mike Powell, and Trustee Todd Birkle. However, after a deadlocked vote at a Monday, Jan. 24 township board meeting, Pierson withdrew his application for the supervisor post, stating he was still interested in any resultant vacant trustee position.

The board has 45 days from when the position became vacant to fill it through an appointment. If the board is unable to or chooses not to make a decision, it then must notify the state of Michigan and hold a special election for voters to decide who the trustee will be.

There has been a shuffling of seats on the board over the past five months. First, former Treasurer Beverly Spoor resigned in September and was replaced by Brendel. Baroni then filled Brendel’s trustee position.

With the election of former supervisor Mike Kowall to the state Senate in November, another vacancy needed to be filled.

All the board trustee terms expire on Dec. 31, 2012. Township trustees typically serve four-year terms. They currently earn $8,175 annually.