04/27/2006

Sewer foes out for recall

Election Tuesday will decide fate of village council

by christine finger

cfinger@record-eagle.com

NORTHPORT — Opponents of a proposed municipal sewer want voters to oust the majority of Northports village council, but even a successful recall election might not flush the project.

Residents in the northern Leelanau County community will vote Tuesday whether to recall village president Michael Rogers Sr. and trustees William Brendel, Richard Burmeister, Steven Mattson, Fred Thomas, Stephen Wetherbee and Barbara VonVoigtlander.

The recall is the latest effort spearheaded by residents who oppose the sewer, a project that would require parcel connections in the village and neighboring areas of Leelanau Township.

Village resident John Kutilek, who's also a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit aimed at stopping the sewer project, filed the recall petitions. Each lists identical reasons, including failure to seek a public vote and lack of direct testing to prove an environmental need for the sewer.

The targeted council members placed identical language on the election ballot, defending their decisions regarding the sewer and stating they acted in the community's best interest.

Kutilek said his goal in initiating the recall was to stop the sewer project and get officials to devise a solution that better fits the community's needs.

"It's a single issue, really," he said. "It would put at least a moratorium on it, which is what we've been asking them to do."

Mattson said recalling council members wouldn't necessarily halt sewer development, depending on decisions made by any new council members. But he said a successful recall could cause delays.

"It certainly wouldn't be a good thing," he said.

County Clerk Michelle Crocker said if voters recall less than a quorum of council members, the remaining members would appoint replacements to serve until the next election.

If the recall leaves the council without a quorum, the county's election commission would appoint members to fill the quorum and then leave the rest of the appointments to the village council.

Village clerk Laura Weiss and treasurer Merilee Scripps are not targeted for recall. The village's hired administrative coordinator, Greg King, would also remain.

Burmeister predicted voters will retain the council.

"We have not done anything wrong, and I believe we've done everything that we need to do," he said. "I'm not worried."