28
2011
Resident claims conflict of interest in work by officials
An article by Angela Niemi
Part of the large crowd at the White Lake Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 20 meeting attended as a result of an issue raised by White Lake resident Matt Sprader.
Apparently, the main point of contention involved work at a couple baseball fields being built in township parks.
Over the summer and fall, contractors combined Vetter Park’s two original fields into a single, irrigated baseball field.
A multi-purpose building was also built to serve as a storage area for people who use the ball field at the park. It will hold maintenance equipment and the sprinkler system controls.
The second ball field is going to be in park recently acquired by the township on White Lake Road near the Hidden Pines subdivision.
According to Jason Iacoangeli of the White Lake Planning Department, the property is nine acres and the township is now looking to develop that land into a neighborhood park complete with baseball fields, a playscape, and walking paths.
Sprader said his main issue involved the township Clerk Terry Lilley and Treasurer Jay Brendel working on the ball fields.
“They claim they can do it themselves for cheaper,” Sprader said. “The clerk should be doing the clerk’s job. The treasurer should be doing the treasurer’s job.”
Sprader also claimed it’s a conflict of interest because they are writing themselves checks.
However, both Brendel and Lilley maintain all work they have done on the parks has been purely volunteer on their own time, and they have not been paid.
Lilley said he and Brendel were donating their time to help get the projects completed before the winter so the fields would be usable by the spring.
Brendel said he worked at the parks during the night hauling millings that the township was able to acquire for free from the work being done on M-59.
“I saw it as an opportunity to get the millings at no cost which probably saved the township $50,000 to $60,000,” Brendel said. “So why not? I don’t mind donating my time here and there.”
Another issue was the company doing the construction at Hidden Pines and Vetter Park — B&B.
Some saw it as a conflict of interest since Brendel used to be a co-owner of the company.
However, Brendel said he sold his share in the business a month or two after he was appointed treasurer.
Another issue was the belief that the money used to build the diamonds was a misappropriation of parks and recreation millage funds. Some people thought the millage was only for the creation and maintenance of pathways and trails.
However, township officials maintain the language of the millage was more general and, therefore, covers the acquisition of park land and costs for improvements made in those parks.
Lilley said that if anybody wants to have a look at what has been done and paid for at the parks, all they have to do is come to the township because the information is all publicly available.
“There’s no reason for anyone to be surprised by what has been spent,” Lilley said. “There’s a list of bills in the agenda packet every month. So for any board member to say they didn’t know, it means they didn’t look at their stuff. We’re trying to save every dime that we can.
“I’m going to continue donating my time until both ball fields are complete and kids are playing on them. I’m donating my time. And people ask, ‘Why on earth would I do that?’ It’s because I want to do that. This is not the first time I’ve given time to the township. It’s what I do. I donate time to worthwhile projects.”
However, Sprader is not satisfied and feels there still remains much to be answered.
“It’s time people start showing up at the White Lake board meetings,” Sprader said. “If they show up, they’d be appalled.”
Related Posts
- White Lake time capsule will be buried in 2012
Waterford, White Lake earn award for IT service sharing
White Lake, Goodfellows team up to collect food for needy- Brown, Long win Huron Valley board seats
About the Author: Angela Niemi
7 Comments + Add Comment
Leave a comment
SCN E-Edition
Oakland Homes E-Edition
Tipoff Weekly
West Oakland Women’s Section
Sections
Sign up for our E-Edition
Loading...
“all work they have done on the parks has been purely volunteer on their own time, and they have not been paid”
“Brendel said he sold his share in the business a month or two after he was appointed treasurer.”
“the language of the millage was more general and, therefore, covers the acquisition of park land and costs for improvements made in those parks”
These “some people” and Sprader sure know how to bring up non-issues and make something out of nothing. Their time would be better spent focusing on actual problems rather than kicking up dust for no good reason.
@ AJ- do you really think Brendel sold his business? If so, why is he there every day? This is just a tip of the iceburg on what some of the board members are doing & hiding! Wake up White Lake!!
JB – It should be easy enough to find out, as who owns what businesses is a matter of public record.
Brendal not going by the books ? “Your Joshing ” This is the same guy who filled in wetlands on M59, with the material from the Great American Diner, IN THE DARK !
Does anyone in this township check anything ? where was the trash from the great american diner hauled off to ? NO WHERE ! When was the last time Jay Brendal did anything for free ? NEVER ! somebodys pocket is getting fatter… even if its a SHIRT POCKET ! ( DO THEY MAKE BELLY POCKETS ? )
Here’s a thought! Quit whining and complaining and go Volunteer!
1. THIS ARTICLE IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE AND COULD NOT COME AT A BETTER TIME! WITH ALL THE TURMOIL THAT IS GOING ON AROUND US IN OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES WITH POLICE LAYOFFS, FIREFIGHTER LAYOFFS, STORES HAVING TO CLOSE, CRIME RATES GOING UP, ETC., IF SOME RESIDENTS HAVE NOTHING MORE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEN HOW “ADDITIONAL FUNDS” ARE SPENT AND THE DECESION BETWEEN A BASEBALL FIELD AND MAINTENANCE OF PATHWAYS,I WOULD SAY HUGE THANK YOU IS DUE TO MR. LILLEY FOR AND MR. BRENDAL FOR DOING THIER JOBS, ALONG WITH THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SO THAT ANY RESIDENT WOULD BE PROUD TO LIVE IN AND FEEL SAFE IN WHITE LAKE!
2. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE “SOME PEOPLE” ARE REGARDING MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS! I THINK “SOME PEOPLE” EITHER DONT HAVE KIDS OR NEED TO TELL THEIR LAZY KIDS TO GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND PUT DOWN THE VIDEO GAME CONTROLLERS AND GO PLAY A GOOD GAME OF BASEBALL!
3. THANK YOU MR. LILLEY FOR DONATING YOUR TIME FOR THNIKING OF THE FAMILIES AND KIDS WHO WILL BE TO ENJOY THE PLAYSCAPES AND FIELDS.
4. ‘”YOUR TIME” IS TRULY FOR THE FAMILES OF WHITE LAKE. I DONT KNOW AN ELECTED OFFICIAL DEDICATED ENOUGH TO BE ON TIME TO BE OUR KIDS SANTA, WHEN A HOUR EARLIER YOUR BEST FRIEND PASSED AWAY IN YOUR ARMS!
AND LASTLY MY LITTLE GUY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT WHEN THE FIELDS OPEN UP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A COACH? SORRY BUT THE “CONFLICT OF INTEREST” THING DOES NOT GO OVER WELL WITH HIM!
I smell somthing awful on the board. If Mr Sprader is owed money from the TWP from over charging for sewer hook up, then I would be a worse thorn for the TWP board.Im really surprised that that state atty has not launched a full scale investagator.