Saturday, October 25, 2008
News
Johnson hopes to oust Birchmeier as NL president
By MICHAEL PETERSON, Argus-Press Staff Writer
NEW LOTHROP - In the race for New Lothrop village president, one candidate is for keeping the status quo, while the other is hoping to bring change.
The election is between current village president Ken Birchmeier and local political newcomer Jerry Johnson.
Birchmeier has been the village president for the past eight years. He also served as a village trustee for four years.
He said he decided to run again because he likes the direction the village is going.
“I just want to keep the town up and keep people happy,” Birchmeier said.
He cited the village's new water filtration system, as one of the projects he and the board completed to improve the quality of life. Before then, the village did not have a filtration system.
“There was a lot of iron, rust and arsenic in the water,” Birchmeier said. “The residents all like their water now. Plus, they now don't have to use the water softeners in the house.”
He added that the council has also recently repaved about 20 blocks of street and built a new bridge.
Birchmeier is the owner of the New Lothrop Tavern. He also said he has served as a volunteer firefighter for 22 years.
There are no major changes he would like to see if re-elected, Birchmeier said.
“I've been president for the last eight years and look what we've done for the village,” Birchmeier said. “Right now, I feel we've got a great board and Downtown Development Association.”
Candidate Johnson was not as positive. He said he has been attending the majority of the village council meetings for the past 10 years, and he believes there are problems that need to be addressed.
“I just feel that the things (the council) are doing is completely wrong. There is no communication - if you ask them a question they might not tell you,” Johnson said. “A lot of decisions are made before they even go into the meeting.”
His major concern is that there is the lack of communication between the public and the village council.
“If I am elected, the meetings will be open to the public and everything that is done will be done in front of them,” Johnson said. “We will answer all their questions. And if we don't know the answer at that time, we will find the answer. No more secret agendas...We have nothing to hide. But for some reason, they don't ever want to give (information) to you.”
He added he would also like to see improvements to the police department.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done there; both in personnel and number of hours that are spent on patrol,” Johnson said. “We need hours for (the officers) to be here. If there is a ball game out here for the high school, they need to be here. But we don't need them patrolling at 7 a.m. on a Sunday.”
Another change he would like to see is for there to be village office hours.
Johnson worked for General Motors for 38 years, but retired about five years ago. He also served on the New Lothrop Board of Education for four years - one as a trustee and three as the treasurer.
He said he has lived in the area his entire life and he would love the opportunity to improve things.
“We've got some of the best schools out here,” Johnson said. “There is no reason why we shouldn't have the best village.”
The election is between current village president Ken Birchmeier and local political newcomer Jerry Johnson.
Birchmeier has been the village president for the past eight years. He also served as a village trustee for four years.
He said he decided to run again because he likes the direction the village is going.
“I just want to keep the town up and keep people happy,” Birchmeier said.
He cited the village's new water filtration system, as one of the projects he and the board completed to improve the quality of life. Before then, the village did not have a filtration system.
“There was a lot of iron, rust and arsenic in the water,” Birchmeier said. “The residents all like their water now. Plus, they now don't have to use the water softeners in the house.”
He added that the council has also recently repaved about 20 blocks of street and built a new bridge.
Birchmeier is the owner of the New Lothrop Tavern. He also said he has served as a volunteer firefighter for 22 years.
There are no major changes he would like to see if re-elected, Birchmeier said.
“I've been president for the last eight years and look what we've done for the village,” Birchmeier said. “Right now, I feel we've got a great board and Downtown Development Association.”
Candidate Johnson was not as positive. He said he has been attending the majority of the village council meetings for the past 10 years, and he believes there are problems that need to be addressed.
“I just feel that the things (the council) are doing is completely wrong. There is no communication - if you ask them a question they might not tell you,” Johnson said. “A lot of decisions are made before they even go into the meeting.”
His major concern is that there is the lack of communication between the public and the village council.
“If I am elected, the meetings will be open to the public and everything that is done will be done in front of them,” Johnson said. “We will answer all their questions. And if we don't know the answer at that time, we will find the answer. No more secret agendas...We have nothing to hide. But for some reason, they don't ever want to give (information) to you.”
He added he would also like to see improvements to the police department.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done there; both in personnel and number of hours that are spent on patrol,” Johnson said. “We need hours for (the officers) to be here. If there is a ball game out here for the high school, they need to be here. But we don't need them patrolling at 7 a.m. on a Sunday.”
Another change he would like to see is for there to be village office hours.
Johnson worked for General Motors for 38 years, but retired about five years ago. He also served on the New Lothrop Board of Education for four years - one as a trustee and three as the treasurer.
He said he has lived in the area his entire life and he would love the opportunity to improve things.
“We've got some of the best schools out here,” Johnson said. “There is no reason why we shouldn't have the best village.”