Editorial from the Mining Journal
James Reevs, publisher
Bud Sargent, managing editor
Bill Harris, news editor
Dave Schneider, city editor
Commission recall effort is appalling
over reaction
Where we stand
June 29, 2014
Mining Journal
Here we go again. The recall process is being used to try to oust three Marquette city commissioners over the boathouse flap.
Let us say right up front that we are not in favor of this type of recall. We didn't support the recall several years ago when city commissioners were turned away over the handling of the termination of a previous city attorney and we don't support this latest one.
We oppose this recall because, among other things, it is much too early in the process to even determine what may happen with the proposed building for boat storage in Founder's Landing for the rowing club, which is what prompted the recall effort.
It is our understanding that no definite plans have been approved at this time to build the boat storage house. The city commission has been listening to the public about the concern over the first location that was suggested for the building. It appears the commission will be more than happy to consider those concerns and, in turn, other recommended locations. We believe that a compromise can be reached that will satisfy all stakeholders.
We are happy that people in Marquette are paying close attention to keeping the lakeshore accessible to the public. One trip along hotel row in Traverse City will show you what can happen if private entities are allowed to buy all the lakefront property. There is a large part of the beach where you can't get on the lake without staying at one of the hotels that have been built on the lake.
The access to Lake Superior in front of the Hampton Inn in Marquette is a good example of allowing a business to locate close to the lake without restricting public access to the lake.
The current recall petition for three commissioners seems to be an over reaction. The reason they are being recalled may not even be relevant when a final decision is made about the location.
There also seems to be confusion over the language of the recall. Recall language says that commissioners Sarah Reynolds, Mike Coyne and Dave Campana "voted yes March 10 to allow the Upper Peninsula community Rowing club to construct a permanent club boathouse at Founders Landing." Mike Coyne said in a story in Friday's Mining Journal that the "March 10 vote was simply to authorize the city attorney to work to develop a lease and license agreement for the boathouse, not to actually build it as stated in the recall language."
Because of state law Coyne would be the only commissioner who's name could appear on the November ballot. The two other commissioners could not be placed on a recall ballot until May 2015.
We implore anyone who would consider signing a petition for recall of Mike Coyne to make sure they are clear on all the facts before they consider signing the petition.
A total of 1,396 signatures are needed to put the recall question before the voters. We believe that if all the facts are known, organizers will not find anywhere close to 1,396 people willing to sign the petitions.
Coyne has been an excellent representative for the city of Marquette as commissioner and previously as mayor of Marquette. We are lucky to have Coyne serving as a city commissioner because he is always willing to listen to both sides of an issue and then make an educated decision based on the facts put in front of him.
Coyne has said he has listened to community members concerned about the original proposed location for the boat house on Founder's Landing and is happy to discuss other alternative locations that may satisfy all involved.
We believe that if everyone takes a deep breath and waits until some more definite plans are given to us, there will be a workable solution that keeps everyone happy.
If a recall petition was successful in removing a quality commissioner like Mike Coyne, that would be a troubling statement for the future of the city of Marquette.
James Reevs, publisher
Bud Sargent, managing editor
Bill Harris, news editor
Dave Schneider, city editor
Commission recall effort is appalling
over reaction
Where we stand
June 29, 2014
Mining Journal
Here we go again. The recall process is being used to try to oust three Marquette city commissioners over the boathouse flap.
Let us say right up front that we are not in favor of this type of recall. We didn't support the recall several years ago when city commissioners were turned away over the handling of the termination of a previous city attorney and we don't support this latest one.
We oppose this recall because, among other things, it is much too early in the process to even determine what may happen with the proposed building for boat storage in Founder's Landing for the rowing club, which is what prompted the recall effort.
It is our understanding that no definite plans have been approved at this time to build the boat storage house. The city commission has been listening to the public about the concern over the first location that was suggested for the building. It appears the commission will be more than happy to consider those concerns and, in turn, other recommended locations. We believe that a compromise can be reached that will satisfy all stakeholders.
We are happy that people in Marquette are paying close attention to keeping the lakeshore accessible to the public. One trip along hotel row in Traverse City will show you what can happen if private entities are allowed to buy all the lakefront property. There is a large part of the beach where you can't get on the lake without staying at one of the hotels that have been built on the lake.
The access to Lake Superior in front of the Hampton Inn in Marquette is a good example of allowing a business to locate close to the lake without restricting public access to the lake.
The current recall petition for three commissioners seems to be an over reaction. The reason they are being recalled may not even be relevant when a final decision is made about the location.
There also seems to be confusion over the language of the recall. Recall language says that commissioners Sarah Reynolds, Mike Coyne and Dave Campana "voted yes March 10 to allow the Upper Peninsula community Rowing club to construct a permanent club boathouse at Founders Landing." Mike Coyne said in a story in Friday's Mining Journal that the "March 10 vote was simply to authorize the city attorney to work to develop a lease and license agreement for the boathouse, not to actually build it as stated in the recall language."
Because of state law Coyne would be the only commissioner who's name could appear on the November ballot. The two other commissioners could not be placed on a recall ballot until May 2015.
We implore anyone who would consider signing a petition for recall of Mike Coyne to make sure they are clear on all the facts before they consider signing the petition.
A total of 1,396 signatures are needed to put the recall question before the voters. We believe that if all the facts are known, organizers will not find anywhere close to 1,396 people willing to sign the petitions.
Coyne has been an excellent representative for the city of Marquette as commissioner and previously as mayor of Marquette. We are lucky to have Coyne serving as a city commissioner because he is always willing to listen to both sides of an issue and then make an educated decision based on the facts put in front of him.
Coyne has said he has listened to community members concerned about the original proposed location for the boat house on Founder's Landing and is happy to discuss other alternative locations that may satisfy all involved.
We believe that if everyone takes a deep breath and waits until some more definite plans are given to us, there will be a workable solution that keeps everyone happy.
If a recall petition was successful in removing a quality commissioner like Mike Coyne, that would be a troubling statement for the future of the city of Marquette.
Recall language for Marquette city commissioners denied
July 3, 2014
CHRISTIE BLECK - Journal Staff Writer ([email protected]) , Mining Journal
MARQUETTE - The Marquette County Election Commission voted 2-1 Wednesday to deny the recall language filed by Michael Neiger against Marquette city commissioners Mike Coyne, Dave Campana and Sarah Reynolds.
On June 24, Neiger filed the recall wording, which stated the three voted "yes" to allow the Upper Peninsula Community Rowing Club to construct a permanent club boathouse on the beach at Founders Landing.
The election commission ruled the recall language wasn't factual as the Marquette City Commission on March 10 voted 6-1 to direct the city attorney to work on a lease and license agreement with the club, not to specifically approve a boathouse.
Voting to deny the language were Probate Judge Cheryl Hill and Deputy County Clerk Linda Talsma. Voting for the language was county Treasurer Anne Giroux.
A local initiative, the Marquette Citizens for City Lakeshore Preservation, is conducting a petition drive for ordinances to prohibit private development on city-owned waterfront property and mandating public facilities, structures and buildings constructed on city-owned property east of Lakeshore Boulevard or Lake Street be for public use only, both in perpetuity.
"This is the public's beach, and the commissioners here are breaking the public's trust," Neiger said.
Neiger, who has been involved in the initiative, filed the recall language on his own behalf.
Neiger said after the ruling in an email, "While I would have liked to prevail before the county election commission, I am pleased the commission chose to protect the rights of the city commissioners and the voters with regard to the factual nature of the petition, or lack thereof.
"I will not be appealing the decision to circuit court as I will be out of the country working an old unsolved double homicide in the bush of the Arctic Ocean watershed for nearly two weeks."
Neiger said he filed the recall because of what he called a breach of the public trust by certain members of the commission.
"Years ago, after an arduous, lengthy planning process, the city entered into a contract with its citizens as to how the Founders Landing area was to be developed," he said. "And this contract set aside the beach area as the public's private area, with the remainder of the Landing designated for other development."
The city commission needs to honor that contract, Neiger said.
Marquette City Attorney Ronald Keefe said following the ruling, "We are pleased with the outcome and we think it's the right one."
Keefe said during the factual/clarity hearing, which took place in the probate courtroom at the Henry A. Skewis Courtroom Annex, there were factual problems with the recall language, noting the commission voted for a motion in March only to direct him to prepare a lease and license agreement.
"It wasn't to construct a permanent club boathouse on the beach, whatever that is, at Founders Landing," he said.
Keefe also pointed out the agreement hasn't yet been completed.
"So I think until this license is prepared, and this commission has considered it and decided, we don't know what this structure, if any, is going to look like, or who it's going to be owned by, whether it's going to be publicly owned or is a community boathouse, or how it's going to be designated," he said.
Campana and Reynolds both agreed the language was factually incorrect.
"We did not permit the building of the structure," Reynolds said.
Police Chief and Harbor Master Mike Angeli also reiterated no decision on the proposed facility has been made, as did Mayor Pro Tem Fred Stonehouse.
"That has to come back to the city commission for approval," Stonehouse said. "We have to look at it."
Coyne said he agreed with Keefe's comments, calling the recall effort "government by recall."
A new state law prohibits recalls of incumbents when they are in the last year of their term, which was the case with the other three commissioners who voted affirmatively in March on the boathouse issue: Mayor Robert Niemi, Commissioner Don Ryan and Stonehouse. Commissioner Sara Cambensy was the lone commissioner casting a negative vote.
According to the county clerk's office, only Coyne's name could have been placed on the November ballot. Reynolds and Campana still would have been their first year of office so the earliest their names could have been on a ballot would be May. A state law says a recall petition shall not be filed during the first and last year of each term of office.
Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.
July 3, 2014
CHRISTIE BLECK - Journal Staff Writer ([email protected]) , Mining Journal
MARQUETTE - The Marquette County Election Commission voted 2-1 Wednesday to deny the recall language filed by Michael Neiger against Marquette city commissioners Mike Coyne, Dave Campana and Sarah Reynolds.
On June 24, Neiger filed the recall wording, which stated the three voted "yes" to allow the Upper Peninsula Community Rowing Club to construct a permanent club boathouse on the beach at Founders Landing.
The election commission ruled the recall language wasn't factual as the Marquette City Commission on March 10 voted 6-1 to direct the city attorney to work on a lease and license agreement with the club, not to specifically approve a boathouse.
Voting to deny the language were Probate Judge Cheryl Hill and Deputy County Clerk Linda Talsma. Voting for the language was county Treasurer Anne Giroux.
A local initiative, the Marquette Citizens for City Lakeshore Preservation, is conducting a petition drive for ordinances to prohibit private development on city-owned waterfront property and mandating public facilities, structures and buildings constructed on city-owned property east of Lakeshore Boulevard or Lake Street be for public use only, both in perpetuity.
"This is the public's beach, and the commissioners here are breaking the public's trust," Neiger said.
Neiger, who has been involved in the initiative, filed the recall language on his own behalf.
Neiger said after the ruling in an email, "While I would have liked to prevail before the county election commission, I am pleased the commission chose to protect the rights of the city commissioners and the voters with regard to the factual nature of the petition, or lack thereof.
"I will not be appealing the decision to circuit court as I will be out of the country working an old unsolved double homicide in the bush of the Arctic Ocean watershed for nearly two weeks."
Neiger said he filed the recall because of what he called a breach of the public trust by certain members of the commission.
"Years ago, after an arduous, lengthy planning process, the city entered into a contract with its citizens as to how the Founders Landing area was to be developed," he said. "And this contract set aside the beach area as the public's private area, with the remainder of the Landing designated for other development."
The city commission needs to honor that contract, Neiger said.
Marquette City Attorney Ronald Keefe said following the ruling, "We are pleased with the outcome and we think it's the right one."
Keefe said during the factual/clarity hearing, which took place in the probate courtroom at the Henry A. Skewis Courtroom Annex, there were factual problems with the recall language, noting the commission voted for a motion in March only to direct him to prepare a lease and license agreement.
"It wasn't to construct a permanent club boathouse on the beach, whatever that is, at Founders Landing," he said.
Keefe also pointed out the agreement hasn't yet been completed.
"So I think until this license is prepared, and this commission has considered it and decided, we don't know what this structure, if any, is going to look like, or who it's going to be owned by, whether it's going to be publicly owned or is a community boathouse, or how it's going to be designated," he said.
Campana and Reynolds both agreed the language was factually incorrect.
"We did not permit the building of the structure," Reynolds said.
Police Chief and Harbor Master Mike Angeli also reiterated no decision on the proposed facility has been made, as did Mayor Pro Tem Fred Stonehouse.
"That has to come back to the city commission for approval," Stonehouse said. "We have to look at it."
Coyne said he agreed with Keefe's comments, calling the recall effort "government by recall."
A new state law prohibits recalls of incumbents when they are in the last year of their term, which was the case with the other three commissioners who voted affirmatively in March on the boathouse issue: Mayor Robert Niemi, Commissioner Don Ryan and Stonehouse. Commissioner Sara Cambensy was the lone commissioner casting a negative vote.
According to the county clerk's office, only Coyne's name could have been placed on the November ballot. Reynolds and Campana still would have been their first year of office so the earliest their names could have been on a ballot would be May. A state law says a recall petition shall not be filed during the first and last year of each term of office.
Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.
Boathouse ballot initiative ends after decision comes from commission meeting
July 5, 2014
By CHRISTIE BLECK - Journal Staff Writer ([email protected]) , Mining Journal
MARQUETTE - The steering team of the Marquette Citizens for City Lakeshore Preservation is withdrawing its initiatory ballot proposal following the actions by the Marquette City Commission at its meeting last Monday.
The MCCLP team had been conducting a petition drive for ordinances to be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot that would prohibit private development on city-owned waterfront property and mandate public facilities, structures and buildings constructed on city-owned property east of Lakeshore Boulevard or Lake Street be for public use only, both in perpetuity.
The initiative stemmed from the Upper Peninsula Community Rowing Club's proposal to build a boathouse at Founders Landing.
"If the city leadership is willing to rezone city-owned waterfront to accommodate a private club, our efforts are moot," said Rita Hodgins, an active member of the initiative, in an email.
The commission Monday listened to the recommendations of Marquette Police Chief and Harbor Master Mike Angeli regarding a boathouse just south of the Hampton Inn.
Angeli told the commission Monday he had been in discussions with the UPCRC to discuss alternatives to the original site.
"Eventually staff and the UPCRC agreed to move ahead with planning the boathouse at the Hampton site with limitations that we hoped were designed to address both city commission concerns and public concerns, knowing full well that I was not expecting to take care of everybody's concerns or every concern possible," Angeli said at the meeting.
Angeli also said the club would pay for the facility and fund ongoing legacy costs, although the city would own the building.
Angeli said he would seek an extension of the Conservation Recreation zoning to be consistent with zoning currently at Founders Landing.
On March 10, the commission voted 6-1 to direct the city attorney to prepare a license/lease agreement for the boathouse. MCCLP then launched a petition drive in late March asking the commission to withdraw its boathouse and hold public forums to assess the needs of all human-powered watercraft.
"After over 500 signatures were obtained including the signatures of nine former mayors, Commissioner (Don) Ryan indicated there was no need for more public input," Hodgins said. "There had been ample opportunity for the public to be involved.
"MCCLP did not agree with this and felt there had to be a way to allow the people of the city of Marquette to have their voices heard."
Petition-signing efforts for an initiatory ballot proposal began June 9, she said.
Hodgins said when "countless hours of volunteer time" had been spent toward development of a Master Plan and zoning ordinances developed after much public input and deliberation, the decision to rezone a valuable piece of city-owned lakeshore is not a small decision.
"It is huge," Hodgins said. "It appears that zoning ordinances have no teeth."
Hodgins thanked the people who signed the initiatory ballot proposal and Commissioner Sara Cambensy, who cast the lone "no" vote March 10.
Recall language for commissioners Mike Coyne, Dave Campana and Sarah Reynolds because of their March 10 votes was denied by the Marquette County Election Commission Wednesday. The language was brought forth by Mike Neiger, who had been involved in the ballot initiative but was acting on his own apart from the MCCLP.
Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is [email protected].
July 5, 2014
By CHRISTIE BLECK - Journal Staff Writer ([email protected]) , Mining Journal
MARQUETTE - The steering team of the Marquette Citizens for City Lakeshore Preservation is withdrawing its initiatory ballot proposal following the actions by the Marquette City Commission at its meeting last Monday.
The MCCLP team had been conducting a petition drive for ordinances to be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot that would prohibit private development on city-owned waterfront property and mandate public facilities, structures and buildings constructed on city-owned property east of Lakeshore Boulevard or Lake Street be for public use only, both in perpetuity.
The initiative stemmed from the Upper Peninsula Community Rowing Club's proposal to build a boathouse at Founders Landing.
"If the city leadership is willing to rezone city-owned waterfront to accommodate a private club, our efforts are moot," said Rita Hodgins, an active member of the initiative, in an email.
The commission Monday listened to the recommendations of Marquette Police Chief and Harbor Master Mike Angeli regarding a boathouse just south of the Hampton Inn.
Angeli told the commission Monday he had been in discussions with the UPCRC to discuss alternatives to the original site.
"Eventually staff and the UPCRC agreed to move ahead with planning the boathouse at the Hampton site with limitations that we hoped were designed to address both city commission concerns and public concerns, knowing full well that I was not expecting to take care of everybody's concerns or every concern possible," Angeli said at the meeting.
Angeli also said the club would pay for the facility and fund ongoing legacy costs, although the city would own the building.
Angeli said he would seek an extension of the Conservation Recreation zoning to be consistent with zoning currently at Founders Landing.
On March 10, the commission voted 6-1 to direct the city attorney to prepare a license/lease agreement for the boathouse. MCCLP then launched a petition drive in late March asking the commission to withdraw its boathouse and hold public forums to assess the needs of all human-powered watercraft.
"After over 500 signatures were obtained including the signatures of nine former mayors, Commissioner (Don) Ryan indicated there was no need for more public input," Hodgins said. "There had been ample opportunity for the public to be involved.
"MCCLP did not agree with this and felt there had to be a way to allow the people of the city of Marquette to have their voices heard."
Petition-signing efforts for an initiatory ballot proposal began June 9, she said.
Hodgins said when "countless hours of volunteer time" had been spent toward development of a Master Plan and zoning ordinances developed after much public input and deliberation, the decision to rezone a valuable piece of city-owned lakeshore is not a small decision.
"It is huge," Hodgins said. "It appears that zoning ordinances have no teeth."
Hodgins thanked the people who signed the initiatory ballot proposal and Commissioner Sara Cambensy, who cast the lone "no" vote March 10.
Recall language for commissioners Mike Coyne, Dave Campana and Sarah Reynolds because of their March 10 votes was denied by the Marquette County Election Commission Wednesday. The language was brought forth by Mike Neiger, who had been involved in the ballot initiative but was acting on his own apart from the MCCLP.
Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is [email protected].