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Pleasant reflections on Wellington Township

Only a couple paved road surfaces — the rest are gravel — no traffic lights or street lights; instead, starlight and moonlight. There is no Main street, no Main Street businesses — no businesses at all.

But there are back roads — all that’s needed, providing you’re not in a tizzy to scurry off somewhere.

There was a time, long gone — on a typical evening with no traffic — you could cruise with a libation that, if consumed in moderation, cleared the mind and relieved the spleen.

Sipping and talking, moving and dreaming, singing and laughing, listening to the radio — if you could find a station — youthful tensions born of love-loss distractions all slipped away — hope was restored.

Remember?

Now, many years later, I’m back, sans libation, but the feelings are much the same. Though I’m not singing, pining, or listening to music through static — I’m laughing and talking — pleased to be in Wellington again.

I’m at a meeting of the Wellington Township Board of Trustees at the Township Hall. Ron Lucus is supervisor, Pamela Madsen, clerk, Grace Lumsden, treasurer, Karen Stevens and Justin Dziesinski, trustees.

Earlier, I had read a News report that the City of Alpena and the Charter Township of Alpena had collectively spent $2 million on attorney and consultant fees in their yet-to-be-resolved sewer and water dispute.

If I understood the report correctly, the parties are back where they started — less, of course, the $2 million.

All of which prompted me to return here in search of relief — not by dreaming while moving in starlight and moonlight — but by witnessing convivial governmental interaction.

Take the cemetery — Wellington doesn’t have one. Its residents use the Long Rapids Township Cemetery. Here’s what Long Rapids Cemetery regulation #22 has to say about that:

“Wellington Township residents shall be considered the same as Long Rapids Township residents in regards to the use of the Cemetery.”

Once you get a cemetery agreement down to that level of concurrence, lesser things go smoothly.

This cooperative approach is a recurring theme in Wellington Township. That, and the limitations inherent in its annual budget of only $88,700. From which sufficient funds must be allocated to maintain the mellowing effects of its back-road travel.

So, they cut 50/50 match deals with the Road Commission.

Wellington Township doesn’t maintain a fire department or an ambulance service. Trustee Dziesinski told me arrangements are made with those that do. Hillman Township Fire Department covers the western half of the township — Long Rapids Fire Department extinguishes any fires on the east side. Both departments staffed by volunteers.

The county sheriff and the Michigan State Police handle law enforcement.

There are no bars or churches.

You soon come to appreciate Wellington’s strategy — go along by getting along. As Trustee Stevens said — their primary approach is to talk nice to people.

Treasurer Lumsden elaborated: “If anyone gets upset with the board, we find the best approach is to smile at them.”

I asked when was the last time someone from the media, a newspaper, TV, or radio station, had attended a township meeting.

Supervisor Lucus, whose board tenure spans over 35 years, thought for a moment before replying: “I believe you’re the first one,” he said.

Wellington Township has enjoyed an enviable and singular approach to media relations.

All of which brings me to this: The City of Alpena and Alpena Township do not have a cemetery agreement. Such agreements are foundational. Absent one, it may have been folly to attempt a sewer and water accommodation.

Evergreen Cemetery was created in 1865. There have been more than 19,000 interments and inurnments over the ensuing 156 years, a good number of them Alpena Township residents.

The cost of operating Evergreen Cemetery exceeded its revenues by nearly $100,000 last year — a deficit that was wholly and solely absorbed by the City of Alpena.

After a cemetery agreement is reached, the two municipalities can then more confidently turn their attention to a sewer and water arrangement, the formation of which may best begin by asking this simple question:

What would Wellington Township do?

Doug Pugh’s “Vignettes” runs weekly on Saturdays. He can be reached at pughda@gmail.com.

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