Hayes Township Sentinel

11/07/2024

Final results of the election: Bill Conklin-Supervisor, Kristin Baranski-clerk, Julie Collard-Treasurer, Matt Cunningham-Trustee, Doug Kuebler-Trustee.

11/06/2024

The people have spoken. Our job is still the same. We have to accept the people's verdict, but most of all, we have to remain active and interested in what our Township Board does. Get your information first hand. Don't sit on the sidelines and take someone else's word for what happens at the meetings.

11/04/2024

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR GIFT TO DEMOCRACY. You are the only one who can give it. Speak for hope and truth tomorrow. Re-elect Ron VanZee, Matt Cunningham, Julie Collard, Kristin Baranski, and Doug Kuebler, the roster who opened the books, warts and all left over from the previous administration, for the public in unprecedented fashion. This Board has protected the Township in court, resulting in dismissals in each case. This board has faithfully fielded and fulfilled hundreds of FOIA requests from LuAnne Kozma, in spite of her disrespect for and interference with the normal business of the Township. Clerk Baranski and Treasurer Collard have held Community Lunch and Coffee on the first Thursday of each month to bring residents together and get acquainted with each other. Both women have organized volunteers to maintain and stock the Township Food Pantry and the Little Library to assist those who are needing a bit of help with the necessities of life. This Board has gone the extra mile and has put the community, the whole community not just a privileged few, first. They do what's best for everybody and operate within the rule of law. If you re-elect them, they will continue to put the your rights and welfare above their own.

11/03/2024

Today is Sunday November 3, 2024. We still have no shred of evidence that the current Board of Trustees in Hayes Township has broken the law, acted unwisely on behalf of the residents of the Township, left any unclear budget items or totals uncorrected according to State auditing requirements, falsified grant applications, left any reasonable question unanswered, or violated the public trust. Let us be perfectly clear; Hayes Voters for Change, The Hennes, the Rudolphs, the Boals, Tim Boyko, the Simpsons and the challengers they support (Conklin, Ford, McCary, Willis) have done nothing but speak in shambling ambiguities and perverse falsehoods about the present board. Voters for Change has had ample opportunities to offer any hard evidence that they may have. Time is short. It's time to vote if you haven't already done so.
Please keep Ron VanZee (write in his name and darken the bubble next to the name) Matt Cunningham, Julie Collard, Kristin Baranski, and Doug Kuebler.

11/02/2024

Hayes Officials report a number of calls this week from residents saying that they feel intimidated about coming in to the Township Hall to vote. If you need a ride to the Hall to vote, or to drop off your ballot, please message the Sentinel on this website and we will provide a ride and/or an es**rt to the door of the hall. We will wait for you to vote and then take you home. Do not skip voting! If you do, we lose our democracy. We will give you a number to call if you message us or call the Township Hall.

11/02/2024

This resource details state and federal laws protecting against the intimidation of voters and election workers and the disruption of the voting process.

11/02/2024

Some items of note in this article regarding Michigan election law: Notice the obstruction of public officials (Township Clerk, Supervisor, or Treasurer) and those pertaining spreading false information about the status of a candidate's qualifications, and that of falsely representing a Township official.

This resource details state and federal laws protecting against the intimidation of voters and election workers and the disruption of the voting process.

11/02/2024

Another good read:

State laws require officials to certify results, and safeguards are in place should someone fail to fulfill that obligation.

11/02/2024

Here is another source to help you check on the disinformation spread in Hayes Township.

Election officials, internet companies, the federal government, and the public must act to defend the 2020 elections against digital disinformation attacks designed to suppress the vote.

11/01/2024

BREAKING: Kozma was correct about one thing, VanZee is not "on the ballot." The Sentinel apologizes for any misunderstanding. However Kozma, up to this writing, is wrong about the disqualification issue. Hayes officials received word yesterday, October 31, that not only does County Clerk Drost say VanZee is qualified as a write-in candidate, but so does Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson find him qualified. Secretary Benson cites Michigan law to say that it is obvious to prospective voters exactly what office VanZee is running as a write-in for. So the Sentinel should not have used the "on the ballot" language to describe the race. In turn Kozma has no business leading voters to believe that their write-in votes for VanZee will be wasted.
In fact the Sentinel is calling for an investigation into the activities of Hayes Voters for Change regarding voter intimidation and election interference. We are also making a public FOIA request for their membership list and their donation list.
Further, any voters feeling threatened by Kozma and her camera following them around need to tell her to stop photographing them going into a polling place, or coming and going from their home or work, and to call for law enforcement if she does not comply. This writer has personally experienced Kozma's intimidating and interruptive behavior both at public meetings with Township officials, and in the operation of my business. Please feel free to p.m. the Sentinel as well to report any experiences. Kozma and company need to be stopped. This is not Europe in1939, but the USA in 2024.

10/31/2024

The Sentinel received yesterday a copy of the letter sent to Hayes Township's Clerk, Kristin Baranski, from Charlevoix County Clerk Julia Drost, dated October 25, 2024 stating that Ron VanZee is in fact qualified to be on the November 5 2024 ballot as a write-in candidate for Hayes Township Supervisor. Clerk Drost outlines the requirements and states that VanZee, along with Kevin Willis and Sherry Baker-McCary have met them. LuAnne Kozma sent the Sentinel some confusing allegations about VanZee's candidacy and a copy of what seems to be VanZee's declaration sheet (nothing has been completely copied, simply portions of sheets of paper) and the copy does not support what she alleges. I have already voted and will be following closely to see if my vote gets counted for VanZee. For the rest of you, there is currently no evidence to support Kozma's continuing and increasing unrealistic accusations. Please vote on Tuesday and write in Ron VanZee for Hayes Township Supervisor. It is a vote for Truth, and it is a vote against a false, disgusting personal vendetta.

10/30/2024

Sources this morning tell the Sentinel that Hayes Voters for Change tried to get Ron VanZee thrown off the ballot for next week's November 5 election. They were not successful. More information to come as it trickles in and is verified.

10/29/2024

Here is a copy of the Party Platform that Bill Conklin and Neil Friske authored for Charlevoix County Republicans. Think long and hard about voting for a supervisor who would write such a platform.

Download PDF Charlevoix County Republican Party Platform Press Release Dated May 11, 2024 Whereas, The Republican Party is the party of We The People, Limited Government, Free Enterprise and Individual Freedoms of choice, as articulated by our Founding Fathers; therefore Candidates who file as a Rep...

10/29/2024

Julie Wheat wants to remind everyone that when you write in Ron VanZee's name on your ballot, that there is no space in VanZee. It needs to be correct on the ballot.

10/23/2024

I found this definition of stalking when I looked up the components of harassment in the in the Michigan Compiled Laws:
MCL - Section 750.411h
Download Section
Chapter 750

Act 328 of 1931

328-1931-LX

Previous Section
Next Section
THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 328 of 1931

750.411h Stalking; definitions; violation as misdemeanor; penalties; probation; conditions; evidence of continued conduct as rebuttable presumption; additional penalties.
Sec. 411h.

(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of 2 or more separate noncontinuous acts evidencing a continuity of purpose.
(b) "Dating relationship" means frequent, intimate associations primarily characterized by the expectation of affectional involvement. This term does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary fraternization between 2 individuals in a business or social context.
(c) "Emotional distress" means significant mental suffering or distress that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.
(d) "Harassment" means conduct directed toward a victim that includes, but is not limited to, repeated or continuing unconsented contact that would cause a reasonable individual to suffer emotional distress and that actually causes the victim to suffer emotional distress. Harassment does not include constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose.
(e) "Stalking" means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.
(f) "Unconsented contact" means any contact with another individual that is initiated or continued without that individual's consent or in disregard of that individual's expressed desire that the contact be avoided or discontinued. Unconsented contact includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(i) Following or appearing within the sight of that individual.
(ii) Approaching or confronting that individual in a public place or on private property.
(iii) Appearing at that individual's workplace or residence.
(iv) Entering onto or remaining on property owned, leased, or occupied by that individual.
(v) Contacting that individual by telephone.
(vi) Sending mail or electronic communications to that individual.
(vii) Placing an object on, or delivering an object to, property owned, leased, or occupied by that individual.
(g) "Victim" means an individual who is the target of a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment.
(2) An individual who engages in stalking is guilty of a crime as follows:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(b) If the victim was less than 18 years of age at any time during the individual's course of conduct and the individual is 5 or more years older than the victim, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.
(c) If the victim and the individual are spouses or former spouses, have or have had a dating relationship, have or have had a child in common, or are residents or former residents of the same household, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(3) The court may place an individual convicted of violating this section on probation for a term of not more than 5 years. If a term of probation is ordered, the court may, in addition to any other lawful condition of probation, order the defendant to do any of the following:
(a) Refrain from stalking any individual during the term of probation.
(b) Refrain from having any contact with the victim of the offense.
(c) Be evaluated to determine the need for psychiatric, psychological, or social counseling and if, determined appropriate by the court, to receive psychiatric, psychological, or social counseling at the individual's own expense.
(4) In a prosecution for a violation of this section, evidence that the defendant continued to engage in a course of conduct involving repeated unconsented contact with the victim after having been requested by the victim to discontinue the same or a different form of unconsented contact, and to refrain from any further unconsented contact with the victim, gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that the continuation of the course of conduct caused the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested.
(5) A criminal penalty provided for under this section may be imposed in addition to any penalty that may be imposed for any other criminal offense arising from the same conduct or for any contempt of court arising from the same conduct.



History: Add. 1992, Act 260, Eff. Jan. 1, 1993 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 65, Eff. Mar. 31, 1998 ;-- Am. 2023, Act 199, Eff. Feb. 13, 2024

10/23/2024

The following was posted on the Hayes Township Website yesterday afternoon. Township officials have received several complaints stating that the same person has been sitting in a parked car across from the fire barn taking pictures of who goes in and out of the Township Hall. Residents report feeling uncomfortable and intimidated going to the Hall for any business or for voting. Township officials and area law enforcement agencies are investigating these complaints and the Sentinel will keep you informed as this story develops. Meanwhile if you have any concerns, or complaints, please let your Township officials know about them and call 911. 911 serves as the central dispatch agency for Charlevoix County and does sort out emergency from non-emergency calls for local law enforcement. Please do not hesitate to report to them.

From the Hayes Township Website at Hayestownshipmi.gov :
Voter Intimidation Information
October 21, 2024

Hayes Township protects our voters!

We have received several calls regarding voters feeling unsafe to come to the township hall to drop their ballots off or vote in person.

All reports are taken very seriously,

and we have contacted the local authorities to report the issues that have been brought to our attention.

We have also reached out to the Michigan Election Safety Commission on this matter.

If you have any issue or concerns during your voting process, or feel unsafe or intimidated, please call 911 to report the incident.

A link to the US Election Assistance Commission is provided below:

https://www.eac.gov/voters/other-national-contact-information

If you believe you have you encountered misinformation or disinformation, voter intimidation, or voter fraud please use the contact information below in addition to reporting it your state or local election office.

10/19/2024

Winnie Boal asked some questions about the fire truck that the Hayes Township Board purchased upon Ron VanZee's recommendation.
1. How much was the fire truck: According to VanZee it was $8,020 for a certified, working pumper and work truck, capable of pumping 2,500 gal. per minute and has a larger capacity than the trucks owned by Charlevoix Township. The check was made out prior to the Board meeting but not cashed until afterwards. Ron VanZee used his personal credit card to guarantee the purchase at the time of the auction. He was going to buy it personally if the Township did not want it. I am grateful VanZee had the foresight to jump on this purchase. If I had known about this truck, I'd have bought it for the pumping power alone.
2. Ms. Boal also wanted to know why insurance would be cheaper for those living in Hayes Township with the fire truck in our barn. Insurance companies and municipalities are rated by the Insurance Service Organization for many things, one of which is how far away the nearest fire truck is. So with a fully operational pumper truck available in the Township, fire insurance rates will be proportionately lower for area residences. I do not know by how much. I'll be checking though. Imagine having that kind of pumping power available within minutes, and one that could pump out of the lake to a near-by home threatened with destruction.
Finally, I believe that the nuts and bolts of this decision to purchase happened at a public meeting with ample opportunity for anyone to ask the same questions I did. I heard nothing like that on the tape. I did hear however, LuAnne Kozma asking leading and insulting questions of Ron VanZee i.e. "Who drove the truck home?" and interrupting VanZee every time he tried to speak. This was not the Spanish Inquisition; it was a publicly held, perfectly legal decision-making process made at a regularly scheduled BOT meeting. Kozma's disrespect is becoming intolerable. Again, there has been no evidence presented by any of the Hayes Voters for Change to prove otherwise.

10/18/2024

Attorney William Conklin won the Republican primary over Ron VanZee in August for the position of Hayes Township Supervisor. VanZee is running as a write-in candidate in the November election this fall. I have yet to hear any specifics regarding what Conklin thinks VanZee did wrong, only generalized "good government" abstract cliches about what he will do when elected. Additionally, I have not seen Conklin at any Board meetings recently, or read any specific position statements by Conklin. I would invite Mr. Conklin to meet with me to talk about his particular reasons for running and would like to hear from him before the election. I do know that he had a hand in helping Neil Friske write the Charlevoix County Republican Platform. I'm not certain why it was necessary to create an additional platform when the Republican Party already had a platform. In general, all of the Hayes Voters for Change backed candidates have failed to provide any actual evidence that the current Board or Supervisor have committed any "illegal" acts. I would think that a serious candidate for Supervisor would be particularly interested in engaging those opposed to his election in order to have an informed policy debate. I'll let you know if Mr. Conklin decides to talk to me.
Stay tuned for the Firetruck Story next.