Charter accusation false

In your last issue, Jim Tompkins accused me of violating the city charter in comments I made about the city engineer’s handling of 8th Street. Violating the charter in the way Mr. Tompkins accuses me of is a crime, and therefore not an accusation that should be thrown around casually, or falsely.

The charter prohibits elected officials from directing city staff (other than the manager) to do something. It also prohibits us from ordering the city manager to hire or fire someone. I did none of these things, and Mr. Tompkins knows that.

What I did was detail how the 8th Street project got designed contrary to the master plan. I did this after trying to resolve the matter internally. I’m not proud to have done this, but I believed it was necessary and now we’re hopefully on a path to improving the project. Hopefully this will also prevent a repeat of the situation.

I did not give up my 1st Amendment right to speak freely on city issues when I became mayor, and nothing in the charter requires me to do so. Quite the contrary.

Finally, Mr. Tompkins repeats a common misconception that the master plan is optional for the city to follow. The state planning statute does say the master plan is a guidance document for the zoning ordinance, which governs private development in the city.

But it also says the master plan is the controlling document when it comes to capital Projects – including streets – that the city builds. The planning statute requires the location, character, and extent of city capital projects to conform to the master plan. If we can ignore the rules on projects the city builds, what right do we have to make private property owners follow the rules when they build in the city?

Chris Bzdok • TC (Chris Bzdok is mayor of Traverse City.)

Violent situation

In response to the Gary Singer opinion on prisoners early out (3/1/10). He is no prison expert. There are too many violent offenders that are released early. If Singer was in with these bad boys he would be singing a different tune.

He states the crime he plead guilty to is irrelevant. It is very relevant to your stated opinion. You did not plead guilty to a violent crime. These violent offenders are not the type of prisoners that should be let out on the streets early and many of the prisoners that are slated to be let out are violent offenders.

The facts show that 50% of the felons released early return to prison within two years.

Also, keep in mind that most plea bargain their crime down to a lesser charge and plead guilty. That reduces their sentence before they do any jail time. Now, Granholm wants to let these prisoners out early giving them a double reduction to the minimum time they are to serve.

Prison reform is the answer to cost containment not early outs. They do no work. Get the financial problems in this state corrected.

Early outs take the wrong approach to cutting the states expenses. The counties will spend more money chasing these offenders all over again. The early out program is just a revolving door policy. Just ask any of the county prosecutors in this state and they will tell you. Ask a county sheriff. Ask the victims who have been beaten, robbed or attacked by these offenders. You will be shocked and Appalled that these offenders would even be considered for an early release.

A couple months ago a detective told me to protect my family, to arm up -- that they are coming. I did get my gun permit and I am waiting. I hope the people in charge come to their senses and I will never have to use my pistol except at the range.

Gordon Sudz • via email

Prison solution

Major respect to Gary Singer for his article on Michigan’s prison system. Back in the ’60s I ran a college level education program in Joliet/Stateville Penitentiary for four years.

While in prison an inmate could earn a GED, an Associate in Arts degree, and another 30 semester hours. An inmate could come into prison not being a high school graduate and be paroled, needing only one more year of college to earn a Bachelors degree. Added, the only cost to the State of Illinois was my salary as all books and tuition were covered by the profits from the inmate commissary.

I could provide a long list of ex-cons who went on to become leaders in fields like education, communication, law, and even acting in Hollywood and on T.V. Our streets and neighborhoods will be a lot safer if there are corrections in our correction institutions instead of them being warehouses.

Micheal M. Cromley • Afton


Tea Party convert

I would like to thank Mr. Tuttle for showing me the “Tea” (re: Spectator column, 2/22/10) I wasn’t really sure what the fuss was about, but after learning just how much the government is involved in our everyday lives makes me feel... well... deflated! Where are we headed? More government, more taxes, more control, less and less free will.

Tea Party, here I come!

Jim Peters • East Jordan

Island windmills?

I was reading about the plan to put windmill generators way out in Lake Michigan.. It seems to me that it would be cheaper To place the windmills on land, say an island, like the Manitou or Fox islands. Easier to erect and maintain, closer to shore, and in no one’s way.

There are windmills on the market that produce 400 watts of power that cost less than $1,000, and that can be mounted on the side of a house, or on rooftops like the old TV antennas. 400 watts is enough to run your TV all day or an electric heater. Don’t forget the tax deduction.

It’s too bad the state of Michigan doesn’t get involved in donating state land along the shore line for windmills. Like it or not, it’s coming.

Don Stockard • Manton

Biomass bummer

Biomass? What they really are is clear-cut power plants. We who depend on wood heat to survive will be bidding against every power company in the state. They’ll be buying five to 10 semi loads a day per plant year around.

As the available forests melt away the price of wood will hit the roof. Maybe that's the plan, to make wood scarce and expensive and you’ll be forced to use their gas, oil, and electricity to heat with or freeze.

At that point I bet they’ll magically convert those plants to coal, in the public's interest, of course.

Forests the world over are being leveled at an unprecedented rate. Trees, remember, are the things that make the oxygen that makes all life here possible. Cut enough and someday we all may be hauling around little oxygen bottles. Probably sold to us by these same power companies.

Stopping the biomass plants here is a start, but what we need is a statewide moratorium.

Because these forest-eating Frankensteins will send trucks wherever there is a tree left in the state.

Coal plants with scrubbers are almost pollution free. Nationally, 100 square miles of solar panels in our southwestern states would supply our whole country's energy needs. If it’s a choice between leveling our forests or building new dams, then build the dams. Lets roll people.

Keith Lints • TC

Fishy idea

Using discarded Christmas trees as fish habitat? That’s what Florida’s doing.

Aquatic Services and the Florida Fish, Wildlife Conservation Commission diverts a $1 fee from the sale of each fishing license to fund this joint project.

Here’s how it works in Florida: in a 1/4 acre area of a lake, Christmas trees are boated out, each base fastened to a cement block, and sunk. Algae grows on the trees and attracts fish, increasing the quantity of fish for sports fishermen while disposing of the trees in an environmentally friendly way that avoids landfill.

In Michigan we could simply truck them out on the ice. With spring melt, the trees will sink to the bottom.

Given that Michigan is known both for sports fishing and Christmas tree plantations, isn’t this something the DNR should evaluate?

Jackie Freeman • Suttons Bay

Correction

A recent article about energy auditors should have included Brian Johnson, owner of Applied Energy Solutions. His phone number is 231-313-6437