One can make some educated guesses about what might happen in Salem Township if Heyl, Uherek, and Wallazy are not recalled.
Based on their conduct and actions from the events of the past two years, here’s what we may expect:
Chief Mark Hamilton will be fired, and replaced with a full-time fire department (that will bankrupt us), to be lead by one of their own, a retired member of the Canton Fire Dept and active in supporting Heyl, Uherek, and Wallazy. That has been the plan ever since they got rid of the Fire Administrative Board (FAB). There’s not much argument on this one.
With the new Heyl-appointed Fire Chief, many of the current Fire Fighters and Officers will probably leave. They simply will not be willing to put up any more with the vindictiveness of the Heyl Board. Do you think Heyl and company will forget Fire Fighters going door-to-door asking for your help? They're on "the List" and will pay for it.
The Heyl Board will now be justified to negotiate agreements with surrounding communities for fire and rescue services, adding to our response times - try holding your breathe for 15-20 minutes, could you wait that much longer for a rescue truck? Heyl and other board members have been in contact with Superior and Northfield Townships for that purpose which they have denied. Then in an Aug. 3, 2010 letter to the paper, the Northfield Township Supervisor states “I had been contacted by Salem Township Supervisor Bob Heyl…..the meeting that day was going to have discussion about the Fire Authority Board and that it was possible that they might have need for additional Mutual Aid in the event that some staff might leave….” So now the truth comes out.
The Post Office will be gone, everyone agrees on that one. It's just a matter of how many thousands of dollars they want to spend of our money to township attorneys to deny the residents a community post office. Hopefully a new Heyl-free group can rescind prior actions of the Board and resolve any issues - if it's not too late. Then the Salem Post Office can remain and continue to provide long-standing mail service to residents.
A major concern will be the future of the Urban Services District (USD). So much work has gone into a Development Agreement to establish guidelines for the use of sewer and water, they type of development that would be allowed, and to restrict all commercial development in the Township to this area. Now that this Agreement has been scuttled, who knows what will come out of any new partnership with the Developer. Will this be the beginning of another Canton Township where years later residents will wonder how could it happen here? I’ve lived through one of these transformations and I don’t want to go through it again.
Wrap-up - Final Thoughts
It’s too bad it’s come to this. Here we are in Salem Township, a place to live that was our dream when we first moved here. A place where we could have a home for our daughter’s horse Lil Sugar Reb, and where we could watch her and “Reb” practicing riding and jumps in the outdoor arena. To watch deer graze and frolic in the hayfield. The quiet and solitude of a summer evening interrupted by the sound of a train whistle in the distance. To wake up early in the morning to the sounds of cattle calling for their calves. Very little has changed in the 31 years I have lived here, it’s still a wonderful place to live.
Now I’m very concerned about our future - if we can't get local government "right" here, well, I guess we don't deserve to live here then. I don’t think any of us in the past has witnessed the kind of disgraceful conduct from this new group of politicians Heyl, Uherek, and Wallazy, except maybe at a national level. One of the three has an unlimited amount of money to “call the shots” as he wants, and the other two catering to him. Have you ever seen this kind of campaigning before, using colored flyers with doctored photos to try and show the worst of people they hate? That they can hire “consultants” to write their scripts and make campaign phone calls in their behalf? That they have their new Township Attorneys at their beck and call to support them in every way possible for the money they are getting paid?
I do know one thing, that I will have a clear conscious no matter what happens. That I have tried my best to bring the truth to the residents of Salem Township. Now it’s up to the residents to vote on what they believe is in the best interests of the Township. I can understand the confusion that may exist with all the personal door-to-door contacts, flyers, letters, and phone calls where each one is asking for your vote. Yes, I’m one of them, but there is so much at stake at this time. I am asking you to do the best for the future of this Township and vote YES to recall Heyl, Uherek, and Wallazy. And to vote NO to retain David Trent and Brien Witkowski.
Best Wishes,
Fred Roperti
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