By Bruce Rolfe
With September 26 being the first day absent voter ballots were available to issue to voters ahead of the November 5 General Election, the Climax Crescent will begin publishing articles profiling local contested races in the Crescent coverage area today.
Mandatory period of early voting in Michigan, including Climax Township, starts October 26. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day.
The Climax Crescent will be profiling the Climax Village Council president race first. Interim President David Miller will be running against Bill Lewis.
With candidate signs from both candidates displayed throughout the village, this race has generated a significant amount of interest.
The Crescent forwarded the same questions to both candidates. The candidates’ answers are published how they responded, except in some cases when grammar was corrected.
Climax Village Council President
David Miller
Question: How long have you lived in the Village of Climax?
Answer: I have lived in the Village five and a half years. My wife grew up on a farm in the area and graduated from Climax-Scotts High School.
Question: Any previous or current experience serving on any municipal board or council?
Answer: I have served on the Village of Climax Council for five years but have not held any prior elected office. I have served on various public and private boards.
Question: Why are you running for the position of Village Council President?
Answer: First, the Village is my home and I want the best for it. Second, no other trustworthy and capable candidate stepped forward. Third, the Council is a deliberative body that should learn everything it can about a question and only then make a decision. Blowing smoke and knee-jerk actions are not in the best interests of the residents. Fourth, I believe government should be open. I agreed to live-stream our meetings so that all the residents can see what’s going on. Neither the Township Board nor the Library Board allow such openness. Fifth, I reject the small-town tradition of the leadership using tax dollars to benefit favored residents at the exclusion of others. Sixth, everyone should get the same benefits and have the same responsibilities of living in the Village of Climax. This will also help keep taxes from climbing. Seventh, the Village lost 10.2% of its population between 2000 and 2020 partly because blight is unattractive and unhealthy. Crime always follows blight. I’ve worked hard to address these issues reasonably and equitably and the Village is safer and more attractive as a result. In the 1980s the Village Council adopted the Village Code which lays out minimum standards for the care and maintenance of properties within the Village. We don’t have to be rich to mow our grass or have our junk cars hauled off.
Question: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the Village Council President position you are running for?
Answer: I have knowledge of the law, candor, experience, vision, willing to investigate and learn the details of a problem, trust but verify at all times, and I will speak to people that disagree with me. I’ve created jobs for people and employed them over long periods of time. The Village Council not only manages the affairs of the Village but it also maintains employment and professional relationships with high quality people. We’d be worse off to have them leave because of careless treatment or because they don’t trust who they are working for or representing.
Question: What are some big issues the Village of Climax faces and what would be some of your suggestions to help correct these issues?
Answer: Financing the construction and maintenance of roads is the biggest issue facing the Village as far as cost goes. We are on our own since the Village, and not Kalamazoo County, is responsible for the maintenance of our roads. It cost roughly $200,000 to chip seal Main and Maple. The Road Committee Chairman and myself have engaged the Kalamazoo County Road Commission to try and find ways to reduce the wear on our main streets. My preferred measure is to limit vehicles to a specified number of axles on Main in order to test the idea. Main is being rutted from excessively heavy trucks. To repair that, the road will have to be milled and repaved, an extremely expensive proposition. There are bureaucratic hurdles that would have to be overcome but I remain optimistic.
Outside speeders blowing through our Village on Main and Maple is another big issue because it threatens the safety and peace of our residents, their children, and pets. Myself, Nick Ludwig, and Jim Cummings, on behalf of the Council, met and negotiated a contract with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department using COVID money to provide deputies to do traffic enforcement. But this service is available only when deputies volunteer which is hit or miss and they never seem to be in place when drivers are going to and from work. The Village has to find additional solutions and I have been researching what options we have to slow excessive speeding.
Communication is a major issue in Climax. Most people are too busy and too tired at the end of the day to go to Council meetings. Communication has always been a problem between the Council and the residents for which the Council works. It is one of my major concerns. Running for Village president has reinforced the idea that residents need truthful government, but that residents need to be truthful as well. No one is better off by being misled.
Another issue is the idea of opening the Village Office during posted hours each week. This idea has been kicked around for a couple of years. But, in the end, it doesn’t make sense. First, there’s been no real demand. Second, it would be an unnecessary expense because no services are provided to the public there. The Clerk pays the bills, keeps necessary records, and prepares minutes. The Treasurer prepares water bills and taxes. Both of them have “day jobs” and are not available to hold regular office hours. That means that someone new would have to be hired with little real benefit to the residents. Third, the phone numbers of the Council members and Village employees are listed on the website. I am happy to help, answer questions, or solve problems with just a phone call thus saving the expense of additional personnel.
Question: What are some changes you feel should be considered in the Village of Climax to make the Village a better place to live and work?
Answer: The four corners should be more pedestrian friendly. Raised crosswalks and modest pedestrian neck-downs that extend the curb out into the intersection (thus there less poetic term, curb extensions), contracting the amount of street space pedestrians have to cross. This would also tend to slow vehicles moving through the intersection and encourage drivers to stop.
Upgrading and expanding our security cameras in the area of the four corners and park will help to discourage crime and vandalism.
Improving the “Harvester Corner” to be more attractive rather than a sand lot covered by patchy weeds and grass.
Solving the flooding that occurs at the intersection of West Maple and Lovell.
Reconstructing the railroad crossing on North Main. The last bid from Canadian National was over $550,000.00. The Village would be required to pay over half that which is not in the stars. But we applied for a grant last year and have done so again this year. We should keep trying.
Bill Lewis
Question: How long have you lived in the Village of Climax?
Answer: I have lived in the Climax, Scotts area my entire life, with the last 48 years within the Village limits.
Question: Any previous or current experience serving on any municipal board or council?
Answer: I previously served on the Climax Village Council for many years. I served as the head of the water committee during the installation of the Village water system and as President pro tem during one of my terms on the Council. I served on the Library Board for the Lawrence Memorial Public Library, filling a slot as an appointed member to fill the end of an open term.
Question: Why are you running for the position of Village Council President?
Answer: I’m running for the President’s position because I feel that we need a more compassionate government that is open to the people and transparent to all the citizens that they represent.
Question: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the Village Council President position you are running for?
Answer: I believe that with my previous experience on the Board I can be a stabilizing factor in the community. One of the things I learned in the past Council experience is that listening to each other and learning from one another is a good thing to promote growth. This is a small community, and we are all neighbors of each other, those you do not know are just new friends to meet.
Question: What are some big issues the Village of Climax faces and what would be some of your suggestions to help correct those issues?
Answer: One of the biggest issues I see is that we do not have effective communication with the Village citizens. All citizens have the right to question their elected officials, it is their right as a citizen. Citizens should feel welcome in meetings, no matter who they are or even if they do not live in this community. One way to help this would be to have hours that the Village office is open to the public. Citizens should have the ability to get assistance with issues, like water billing, changing billing addresses, taxes, or any other issues. Voice mail and emails do not effectively give citizens personal representation or access to their elected officials.
Question: What are some changes you feel should be considered in the Village of Climax to help make the village a better place to live and work in?
Answer: This is a question that has plagued this community or Village for years. This is a mile square village with limited space. Growth of business would be a good thing but where can we grow?
We cannot make more parcels or space. That leads back to communication and the attempt to get people engaged in the community. I believe we need to attempt new things that bring people together, for the betterment of the community and that the village council should take a lead role in building working relationships with all organizations and people. We all need to talk to one another civilly, not in a negative way.
Other important dates leading up to the November 5 election. Information taken from the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds website
Secure drop boxes accessible 24 hours each day until 8 p.m. on election day were also put in place September 26.
October 21 is the deadline to register by mail or online and be eligible to vote for the November election.
In-person registration with a local clerk with proof of residency allowed between October 22, 2024 and election day.
Friday, October 25, 2024 until 5 p.m. is the deadline for electors to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot by mail.
Friday, October 25, 2024 until 5 p.m. is the deadline for electors who have returned their absent voter ballot to submit a written request in person to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot in the clerk’s office.
Friday, October 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. write-in candidates’ declaration of intent form due to respective filing official.
Saturday, October 26, 2024, begin mandatory period of early voting.
Monday, October 28, 2024, cities and townships with a population of at least 5,000 may begin processing and tabulating AV ballots.
Thursday, October 31, 2024 beginning of period when clerk must verify or reject AV ballot application or AV ballot return envelope by the end of the calendar day the application or envelope is received.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 4 p.m., deadline for an applicant to cure a signature deficiency on the application to receive an AV ballot by first class mail.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. deadline for electors who have lost their absentee ballot or not yet received their ballot in the mail to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot by mail.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. deadline to send an AV ballot to an applicant by first class mail.
Sunday, November 3, 2024 last day of early voting.
Monday, November 4, 2024 any city or township may begin processing and tabulating AV ballots.
Monday, November 4, 2024 at 4 p.m. deadline for electors who have lost their absentee ballot or not yet received their ballot in the mail to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot in the clerk’s office.
Monday, November 4, 2024 until 4 p.m. registered voter may apply for AV ballot in person at the clerk’s office
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. deadline for emergency absentee voting (Begins Friday at 5 p.m.).
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 8 p.m. Election day registrants may obtain and vote an absent voter ballot in person in clerk’s office or vote in person in the proper precinct.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. general election.
Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 9 a.m. deadline for Boards of County Canvassers to meet to canvass election.
Friday, November 8, 2024 until 5 p.m. deadline for voter to cure the signature on AV ballot return envelope, allowing an otherwise valid ballot to be accepted for tabulation.
Monday, November 11, 2024 deadline for a ballot submitted by a MOVE voter and postmarked on or before Election Day to be deemed timely received and counted.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 deadline for local clerk to deliver MOVE ballots received within 6 days of election day to the County Clerk.
Tuesday, November 24, 2024 Deadline for boards of county canvassers to complete canvass of November general election; county clerks forward results to the Secretary of State within 24 hours.
Monday, November 25, 2024 Deadline for Board of State Canvassers to meet to canvass November general election.
With September 26 being the first day absent voter ballots were available to issue to voters ahead of the November 5 General Election, the Climax Crescent will begin publishing articles profiling local contested races in the Crescent coverage area today.
Mandatory period of early voting in Michigan, including Climax Township, starts October 26. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on election day.
The Climax Crescent will be profiling the Climax Village Council president race first. Interim President David Miller will be running against Bill Lewis.
With candidate signs from both candidates displayed throughout the village, this race has generated a significant amount of interest.
The Crescent forwarded the same questions to both candidates. The candidates’ answers are published how they responded, except in some cases when grammar was corrected.
Climax Village Council President
David Miller
Question: How long have you lived in the Village of Climax?
Answer: I have lived in the Village five and a half years. My wife grew up on a farm in the area and graduated from Climax-Scotts High School.
Question: Any previous or current experience serving on any municipal board or council?
Answer: I have served on the Village of Climax Council for five years but have not held any prior elected office. I have served on various public and private boards.
Question: Why are you running for the position of Village Council President?
Answer: First, the Village is my home and I want the best for it. Second, no other trustworthy and capable candidate stepped forward. Third, the Council is a deliberative body that should learn everything it can about a question and only then make a decision. Blowing smoke and knee-jerk actions are not in the best interests of the residents. Fourth, I believe government should be open. I agreed to live-stream our meetings so that all the residents can see what’s going on. Neither the Township Board nor the Library Board allow such openness. Fifth, I reject the small-town tradition of the leadership using tax dollars to benefit favored residents at the exclusion of others. Sixth, everyone should get the same benefits and have the same responsibilities of living in the Village of Climax. This will also help keep taxes from climbing. Seventh, the Village lost 10.2% of its population between 2000 and 2020 partly because blight is unattractive and unhealthy. Crime always follows blight. I’ve worked hard to address these issues reasonably and equitably and the Village is safer and more attractive as a result. In the 1980s the Village Council adopted the Village Code which lays out minimum standards for the care and maintenance of properties within the Village. We don’t have to be rich to mow our grass or have our junk cars hauled off.
Question: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the Village Council President position you are running for?
Answer: I have knowledge of the law, candor, experience, vision, willing to investigate and learn the details of a problem, trust but verify at all times, and I will speak to people that disagree with me. I’ve created jobs for people and employed them over long periods of time. The Village Council not only manages the affairs of the Village but it also maintains employment and professional relationships with high quality people. We’d be worse off to have them leave because of careless treatment or because they don’t trust who they are working for or representing.
Question: What are some big issues the Village of Climax faces and what would be some of your suggestions to help correct these issues?
Answer: Financing the construction and maintenance of roads is the biggest issue facing the Village as far as cost goes. We are on our own since the Village, and not Kalamazoo County, is responsible for the maintenance of our roads. It cost roughly $200,000 to chip seal Main and Maple. The Road Committee Chairman and myself have engaged the Kalamazoo County Road Commission to try and find ways to reduce the wear on our main streets. My preferred measure is to limit vehicles to a specified number of axles on Main in order to test the idea. Main is being rutted from excessively heavy trucks. To repair that, the road will have to be milled and repaved, an extremely expensive proposition. There are bureaucratic hurdles that would have to be overcome but I remain optimistic.
Outside speeders blowing through our Village on Main and Maple is another big issue because it threatens the safety and peace of our residents, their children, and pets. Myself, Nick Ludwig, and Jim Cummings, on behalf of the Council, met and negotiated a contract with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department using COVID money to provide deputies to do traffic enforcement. But this service is available only when deputies volunteer which is hit or miss and they never seem to be in place when drivers are going to and from work. The Village has to find additional solutions and I have been researching what options we have to slow excessive speeding.
Communication is a major issue in Climax. Most people are too busy and too tired at the end of the day to go to Council meetings. Communication has always been a problem between the Council and the residents for which the Council works. It is one of my major concerns. Running for Village president has reinforced the idea that residents need truthful government, but that residents need to be truthful as well. No one is better off by being misled.
Another issue is the idea of opening the Village Office during posted hours each week. This idea has been kicked around for a couple of years. But, in the end, it doesn’t make sense. First, there’s been no real demand. Second, it would be an unnecessary expense because no services are provided to the public there. The Clerk pays the bills, keeps necessary records, and prepares minutes. The Treasurer prepares water bills and taxes. Both of them have “day jobs” and are not available to hold regular office hours. That means that someone new would have to be hired with little real benefit to the residents. Third, the phone numbers of the Council members and Village employees are listed on the website. I am happy to help, answer questions, or solve problems with just a phone call thus saving the expense of additional personnel.
Question: What are some changes you feel should be considered in the Village of Climax to make the Village a better place to live and work?
Answer: The four corners should be more pedestrian friendly. Raised crosswalks and modest pedestrian neck-downs that extend the curb out into the intersection (thus there less poetic term, curb extensions), contracting the amount of street space pedestrians have to cross. This would also tend to slow vehicles moving through the intersection and encourage drivers to stop.
Upgrading and expanding our security cameras in the area of the four corners and park will help to discourage crime and vandalism.
Improving the “Harvester Corner” to be more attractive rather than a sand lot covered by patchy weeds and grass.
Solving the flooding that occurs at the intersection of West Maple and Lovell.
Reconstructing the railroad crossing on North Main. The last bid from Canadian National was over $550,000.00. The Village would be required to pay over half that which is not in the stars. But we applied for a grant last year and have done so again this year. We should keep trying.
Bill Lewis
Question: How long have you lived in the Village of Climax?
Answer: I have lived in the Climax, Scotts area my entire life, with the last 48 years within the Village limits.
Question: Any previous or current experience serving on any municipal board or council?
Answer: I previously served on the Climax Village Council for many years. I served as the head of the water committee during the installation of the Village water system and as President pro tem during one of my terms on the Council. I served on the Library Board for the Lawrence Memorial Public Library, filling a slot as an appointed member to fill the end of an open term.
Question: Why are you running for the position of Village Council President?
Answer: I’m running for the President’s position because I feel that we need a more compassionate government that is open to the people and transparent to all the citizens that they represent.
Question: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the Village Council President position you are running for?
Answer: I believe that with my previous experience on the Board I can be a stabilizing factor in the community. One of the things I learned in the past Council experience is that listening to each other and learning from one another is a good thing to promote growth. This is a small community, and we are all neighbors of each other, those you do not know are just new friends to meet.
Question: What are some big issues the Village of Climax faces and what would be some of your suggestions to help correct those issues?
Answer: One of the biggest issues I see is that we do not have effective communication with the Village citizens. All citizens have the right to question their elected officials, it is their right as a citizen. Citizens should feel welcome in meetings, no matter who they are or even if they do not live in this community. One way to help this would be to have hours that the Village office is open to the public. Citizens should have the ability to get assistance with issues, like water billing, changing billing addresses, taxes, or any other issues. Voice mail and emails do not effectively give citizens personal representation or access to their elected officials.
Question: What are some changes you feel should be considered in the Village of Climax to help make the village a better place to live and work in?
Answer: This is a question that has plagued this community or Village for years. This is a mile square village with limited space. Growth of business would be a good thing but where can we grow?
We cannot make more parcels or space. That leads back to communication and the attempt to get people engaged in the community. I believe we need to attempt new things that bring people together, for the betterment of the community and that the village council should take a lead role in building working relationships with all organizations and people. We all need to talk to one another civilly, not in a negative way.
Other important dates leading up to the November 5 election. Information taken from the Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds website
Secure drop boxes accessible 24 hours each day until 8 p.m. on election day were also put in place September 26.
October 21 is the deadline to register by mail or online and be eligible to vote for the November election.
In-person registration with a local clerk with proof of residency allowed between October 22, 2024 and election day.
Friday, October 25, 2024 until 5 p.m. is the deadline for electors to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot by mail.
Friday, October 25, 2024 until 5 p.m. is the deadline for electors who have returned their absent voter ballot to submit a written request in person to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot in the clerk’s office.
Friday, October 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. write-in candidates’ declaration of intent form due to respective filing official.
Saturday, October 26, 2024, begin mandatory period of early voting.
Monday, October 28, 2024, cities and townships with a population of at least 5,000 may begin processing and tabulating AV ballots.
Thursday, October 31, 2024 beginning of period when clerk must verify or reject AV ballot application or AV ballot return envelope by the end of the calendar day the application or envelope is received.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 4 p.m., deadline for an applicant to cure a signature deficiency on the application to receive an AV ballot by first class mail.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. deadline for electors who have lost their absentee ballot or not yet received their ballot in the mail to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot by mail.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. deadline to send an AV ballot to an applicant by first class mail.
Sunday, November 3, 2024 last day of early voting.
Monday, November 4, 2024 any city or township may begin processing and tabulating AV ballots.
Monday, November 4, 2024 at 4 p.m. deadline for electors who have lost their absentee ballot or not yet received their ballot in the mail to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot in the clerk’s office.
Monday, November 4, 2024 until 4 p.m. registered voter may apply for AV ballot in person at the clerk’s office
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. deadline for emergency absentee voting (Begins Friday at 5 p.m.).
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 8 p.m. Election day registrants may obtain and vote an absent voter ballot in person in clerk’s office or vote in person in the proper precinct.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. general election.
Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 9 a.m. deadline for Boards of County Canvassers to meet to canvass election.
Friday, November 8, 2024 until 5 p.m. deadline for voter to cure the signature on AV ballot return envelope, allowing an otherwise valid ballot to be accepted for tabulation.
Monday, November 11, 2024 deadline for a ballot submitted by a MOVE voter and postmarked on or before Election Day to be deemed timely received and counted.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 deadline for local clerk to deliver MOVE ballots received within 6 days of election day to the County Clerk.
Tuesday, November 24, 2024 Deadline for boards of county canvassers to complete canvass of November general election; county clerks forward results to the Secretary of State within 24 hours.
Monday, November 25, 2024 Deadline for Board of State Canvassers to meet to canvass November general election.
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