Nov 9, 2000
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ELECTION OF NEW MILAN BOARD SOLIDIFIES RAILYARD OPPOSITION By PERI STONE-PALMQUIST NEWS STAFF REPORTER MILAN TOWNSHIP - The township board had plenty of advice and challenges for its newly elected members as a chapter in its history closed Wednesday: Don't let good opportunities slip by and, most of all, work to unite the bitterly divided community. All but one member of the veteran township board will be replaced Nov. 20 with a slate of four candidates supported by the Milan Area Concerned Citizens. The group has adamantly opposed a General Motors auto distribution center proposed by the Ann Arbor Railroad Company for 1,000 acres of rural land on Cone Road and US-23. The election wins are another nail in the coffin for the proposed rail yard. I guess we got our message out, said Jim Hokenson, a member of the Concerned Citizens. But as far as he knows, they likely won't have to consider the railyard project. Although the company continued to pursue the Milan Township site after a referendum vote in February rejecting the rezoning, it let options on about 850 of the 1,000 acres expire Nov. 1. A GM spokesman has said they weren't completely deserting the Milan Township site but were primarily researching other locations, mostly because of the lack of support in the township. Robert Kanitz, the newly elected township supervisor, isn't convinced. They'll be back, he said. We're going to have to be very careful. Kanitz was the only Concerned Citizens-backed candidate who faced opposition Tuesday thanks to victories in the primary. The Republican candidate and life-long township resident who spoke out against the auto distribution project won with 471 votes. Democrat candidate Sharon Jaworski, who received 388 votes, has been the township treasurer for eight years but supported the controversial project. Both candidates attribute the election's outcome, at least partly, to the Concerned Citizens and their relentless focus on the project. Jaworski said the campaign focus was too narrow and overshadowed other important issues - like water and sewer service and land transfer agreements. She said she could have offered a lot to the township on these issues but they were never publicized. (Concerned Citizens) have not been able to address any other issues I have brought up, she said. Hokenson agreed that other issues were important but the railyard project received the kind of attention it deserved. The fire was burning very hot on that issue, he said. Although candidates' stances on the railyard project certainly were a factor when determining whom to back, Hokenson said, they also looked for people who would listen to the residents and be analytical. Now, Hokenson and others hope the new board will put such virtues to work. There's a huge division in this township, he said. I hope the new board reaches out and tries to connect people. Trustee Phil Bowerman, re-elected with 577 votes Tuesday, said he felt the new board's goal should be to bring the community back together. There's a communication gap, he said. Trustee Arthur Rock, a supporter of the railyard project who was defeated in the Democratic primary, had a different piece of advice. Don't let another good thing slip by, he said, adding that he hated to bring up a sore subject. But despite more than a year heated with railyard debates, the board spent several minutes Wednesday thanking each other for years of service. Some fought back tears. Supervisor John Bruckner, who has served on council for more than 10 years, and Emily Bowerman, clerk for 20 years, were singled out for recognition with a plaque. |
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