Fred Roperti's Reflections

Sunday Brunch

Enjoyed a lovely brunch at Fox Hills Golf Club Sunday morning. What a treasure Fox Hills is for Salem to have - along with owner-sisters  Kathy and Sandy. Even had a chat with Kathy while we were there. We also enjoyed the service provided by a very nice young lady, Chelsea.

I don't know how many Salem residents realize this, but because of the groundskeeping and conservation practices that Fox Hills initiated on their own, water entering their property leaves cleaner than it was when it entered. This is particularly impressive as golf courses have had a rather bad reputation as polluters (usually due to excess fertilizer run-off, and overly manicured expanses that add to fast run-off, which increases water temperature to unhealthy levels, and doesn't give contaiminets a chance to naturally absorb into the ground before immediately running into the stream).

Even if we as locals didn't know all this, Fox Hills has been recognized by the Audobon Society for their conservation efforts - the following is from the Fox Hills website, they said it better than I could...

Audubon Sanctuary Program

Fox Hills has been certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through Audubon International since 1996 and was the third course in Michigan to receive this achievement.  Certification was obtained by completing certification in the following categories; Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, Outreach and Education. Environmental Projects Successful environmental projects completed during the past 12 years include: Over 28 acres of turf have been converted to natural areas or native prairie grasses. Over 10 years of water testing 78 nest boxes for bluebirds, tree swallows, and nuthatches. Native tree and shrub plantings to reduce pesticides. Wetland plantings to improve water quality. Buffer Zones to reduce chemical and fertilizer runoff Installation of Bat Houses to biologically control insects. ¼ mile nature trail Nesting Boxes The nest box program generates over 150 desirable bird specialties such as bluebirds, tree swallows, and nuthatches which consume insects.  The nest box program helped fledge 109 bluebirds and 143 tree swallows. Wildlife A partial listing of wildlife sightings at Fox Hills includes a variety of birds such as herons, orioles, red tailed hawks, pheasants, woodpeckers and cedar wax wings.  In addition, other animals such as fox, mink, muskrats, rabbits, frogs and turtles are commonly seen. Over 100 species of wildlife/birds have been observed on our property.

Salem First or Politics First?

I can't stop thinking of why four Board Members, in a 2-hour Board meeting, would vote to replace our Attorney Firm, McLain and Winters, and actually hire a replacement without prior notice to the public and three board members - other than when it showed up as an Agenda item three days before the meeting.  Then to hire a new Attorney after a few presentations but without serious deliberation or public debate, without considering the potential serious consequences?  That is, they hired an attorney firm whose last action in Salem Township in 2001 was writing and submitting a "Consent Judgement" (you can view it here Salem prop judg) to the Court for approval of a 16-pump gas station, a fast food restaurant, a sit-down restaurant, and a Retail Shopping Center on Gotfredson Road near the M-14 interchange.  This action was recommended as the best course of action based on their expertise. As we know, the entire case was later dismissed by the court through our now former township attorney Doug Winters intervention, when he pointed out that the developer had not completed all available administrative remedies. That's just common sense whether you're an attorney or not.   Does this sound like a wise and prudent deliberation, or some kind of political pay back?  The four Board Members who pushed this motion through are Supervisor Robert Heyl, Treasurer Paul Uherek, and Trustees Marcia Van Fossen and Wayne Wallazy. 

 

Where else in the midst of highly developed communities could you find another Salem where we still have working dairy and horse farms, and hundreds of acres of open space for the growing of hay and corn, and produce farms growing sweet corn, tomatoes, and pumpkins instead of seeing sub-divisions or a "Retail Shopping Center"?  Where else would you find so many woodlands that give us peace and quiet and is Mother Nature's showplace for spring and fall colors?  Or the deer and their fawns coming out of the woods to graze in your back yard?   Where else would you find  wetlands where busy muskrats are building homes that the Egrets find to be a great place for sunning once the early morning mist slowly gives way to the warmth of the sun?  Where hawks make lazy circles in the sky?  Where we still do not have any strip malls, not even one gas station along with their traffic congestion?  

Would anyone ever think that this came about by accident?  We have been fortunate that during the time of extreme growth in surrounding areas that we had board members, and a Planning Commission that had a vision and dreams and took necessary action to keep those visions and dreams alive.  And even more fortunate that we had an attorney Doug Winters that shared those same dreams who showed us the way, the correct way, protected from outside interests who only had self-interests in mind.  An attorney that found for us another attorney John Whitman, from the Garan Lucow law firm, that was not intimidated by big name law firms and was instrumental in achieving a monumental decision against Gas Recovery Systems)  (GRS - they produce gas from our landfill) that will provide Salem with financial wealth and stability for at least the next 30 years. (you can view a copy of the check here Download GRS check).

I might have gotten on my soap box a bit, but I am passionate about Salem Township.  I'm grateful to all those that have helped to keep our quality of life as we know it today.  And the more people that can help keep this vision and dream alive, the better off we will all be.  I hope you will remember the names of the above four Board Members.

Sincerely,

Fred 

Election Results - November 2008

Salem Township Supervisor
Robert Heyl	2445	96.76%
Write-In	82	3.24%

Primary Election Results

Thank you for your support.

Fred

REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
Robert Heyl	755	56.85%
Fred Roperti	572	43.07%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP CLERK
Mary Cowmeadow	643	49.61%
David Trent	652	50.31%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Linda Hamilton	616	46.84%
Paul J. Uherek	698	53.08%
Write-In	1	0.08%
REP. PRIMARY SALEM TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Susan Bejin	612	13.64%
Bart Cann	457	10.18%
Dennis J. Draplin	507	11.30%
David C. Helm	274	6.11%
Dan Jenkinson	555	12.37%
Marcia T. Van Fossen	827	18.43%
Wayne W. Wallazy	662	14.75%
Brien Witkowski	587	13.08%
Write-In	6	0.13%

Candidate Night Answers

These are the questions asked at the Salem Area Historical Society Candidate Forum, my answers as well as an open and closing statement. Each candidate response was limited to 100 words. Please send me your questions through my email fred@fred-roperti.com or by leaving a comment on any post on this site.

 

Fred

 

Opening statement:

 

I’m asking for your support for another term as Township Supervisor. I’d like you to know from me why I am running again. Had there been a candidate that demonstrated an understanding of the issues, a willingness to learn the facts rather than just to attack, I would not be running. I love this township, I didn’t just build a house 29 years ago; this is where my heart lies. I’m concerned about the “changes” that are promised. That is why I’m running again; I’m working hard to win and to support the candidates I know will put Salem First. 

 

Closing Statement

 

As a young man in the 1950’s, I watched the many acres our family farmed in Livonia paved over at an alarming rate when some self-serving individuals got onto the Livonia township board. That’s right; Livonia was once a farming community, more rural than Salem is today. What’s left - the Roperti Turkey Farm - now sits on a 5-acre island in the midst of a sea of sprawl, a monument to “change” – change that benefited a few at the expense of the rest. I don't want that to happento Salem, and that’s why I’m asking for your support. 

South Lyon Herald - You Just Never Know, Continued!

Well, I appeared in a story on the front page of the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday, and on the front page of the South Lyon Herald on Thursday - along with a bystander, my daughter Gina.

Apparently some people, that have nothing better to do with their time but create conspiracy theories, decided that Salem Township Clerk David Trent went out in the street and started handing out ballots (which, sadly, is NOT the most absurd thing I've heard in this election). Do I need to say now that that's not true? But please, don't believe me - take a look for yourself...(click to view full size)

I'm wondering, when these people look under the bed do they see dust bunnies, or Russian spies?

In any case, the plot thickens....remember the story of Chicken Little? When Chicken Little gets hit on the head by a "ballot" falling out of the sky, it just ain't news until Chicken Little runs off and tells Henny Penny all about it. In our story, Henny Penny is the editor of a small town newspaper.

Well our little Henny Penny is so excited by this piece of "news" from Chicken Little that he rushes out and publishes a story on the front page reporting this fact: "one of those that received a ballot without submitting an application was Gina Roperti, the supervisor's daughter." Henny Penny forgot to mention that when he spoke to David Trent, that David told him that all the applications were right in his hand and running through the copy machine for Mr. Penny to pick up. Hmmm. But somehow, the story ran as fact anyway.

Do you think there'll be a retraction and apology on the front page next week?

Oddly, there was enough lead time on this story that Henny was able to spread the story to others, and quote their reaction. He contacted Turkey Lurkey with the State, and Goosey Loosey with the County, he was so excited just thinking about these ballots falling from the sky that he completely forgot about the facts... maybe when "Foxy Loxy" reminds Mr. Penny of how far afield he has roamed from his employer's Principles of Ethical Conduct, he'll think twice before printing known and unsubstantiated fantasies.

In light of what I just read reported as "news", I am amazed looking at these Principles of Ethical Conduct. The story was written with complete and utter disregard for his employer and his profession.  Mr. Penny smears me, my daughter, and David Trent, all while knowing what he is writing is not the truth, in an attempt to influence an election. FOR SHAME!

In the Detroit Free Press - You Just Never Know!

Last week I read an article in the Free Press about GM retirees having their retirement health care benefits reduced...I decided to write a note to the reporter- at about 2 am - about the comments that some GM salaried retirees had made.

To my surprise, Meghana Keshavan called me, came out to Salem, interviewed me, had me photographed and the story appeared - on the front page of the Freep, no less -  all in less than a week! You can the entire story below...

Murtle the Turtle, and her cohorts

I was driving from Northville into Salem on 8 Mile a few weeks ago– just at the Salem border I saw a car parked on the shoulder, and a few feet away an older gentleman and a young boy. They were both looking down and taking small steps. I saw a wetland in the background, and guessed correctly…they were sheparding a turtle to its destination.

 

A few weeks prior to that, I was driving down 5 Mile between Curtis and Currie Road, and saw a large pile of brush in the road. I moved over, and as I passed the “brush” I saw it move and suddenly realized that it was a turtle. I stopped the car and decided to help “Murtle” cross the road, only to find out that Murtle didn’t want any help, thank you very much! She/he swung around at me (turtles move surprisingly fast) and gave me a dirty look. As we eyeballed each other, I decided that Murtle’s reluctance to be helped wasn’t going to deter me.

I picked up and gave her/him a “helicopter” ride to the edge of the road that she was headed to, put her down and bid farewell. I went back later to make sure that she wasn’t back in the road, and she was long gone.

Interested to know more about our Michigan Tortugas (Spanish for “turtle”) and road crossings, I did a little Googling and found that it’s okay to help turtles out of the road when you make sure you assist them in the same direction that they were going. Need I say this?...if it’s a snapping turtle, you may want to think twice about your body parts – specifically keeping them well out of reach of some serious jaws. The state has also put up a “turtle fence” on US-31 to keep the Muskegon River turtles from finding themselves under the wheels of traffic. A hazard to motorists swerving to miss the turtles, this stretch of road was known as one of the deadliest for turtles in the nation. The fence doesn’t stop the turtles from getting to the other side of the marsh, just requires them to swim rather than walk.

Salem’s dirt roads are a blessing to the turtles of our area for several reasons. First, dirt roads are not as impervious as paved roads, so rain water that runs off the road travels slower and retains less heat. That makes a tremendous difference to aquatic habitat near roadways – water temperature artificially raised by runoff from paved roads can be devastating to all aquatic wildlife, not just turtles. This is why Salem is one of two communities that still have trout in its streams! To learn more about this, please visit the Johnson Creek Protection Group  – they have a great picture of a brown trout on the site.

I find it awe-inspiring to think about how we are connected with the earth and its creatures – living in Salem puts this connection right in our faces, if we just take the time to look and listen.

Watch out for those turtles – Fred

I Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself!

This past Saturday was the "traditional" Salem Saturday Night Sign Massacre. This time Linda Hamilton, incumbent Salem Treasurer, was targeted, and lost most of her signs. She placed a replacement order today - very vexing in terms of money and time lost. There's enough monetary loss that this is considered theft by law enforcement.

Oddly enough, a resident wrote me early Sunday morning - long before we knew about the missing signs - about finding a Hamilton sign at the New Hudson Wal-Mart. She picked it up, brought it home and has it in her yard. My daughter Gina wrote to the resident to ask her when she was at Wal-Mart, since Wal-Mart is known to have complete parking lot video coverage, something apparently our thief doesn't know.

Anyway - here is the reply from the resident....as I said, "I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF!" (I've edited for brevity and privacy, but every word is the resident's).

"I have the Wal Mart receipt in front of me.  I was there at -----.  I parked right next to the cart return area.  The sign was in that area.  It is in good shape because cars could not drive over it.  I thought it was strange to be there, far away from Salem Township.  I picked it up and threw it in the back of my car.  It is now on our front lawn.”

  

 

 Thanks to this resident, and all the good guys out there....Fred

 

PS - if we find the thief, would it be too much to have them wear a sign like this?