New commissioner appointed

By Nancy Angellotti
Posted Thursday, July 3, 2008

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By Nancy Angellotti
VIEW Writer
LAPEER — There was only one item on the agenda at Monday night’s special meeting of the city commission: the vacant city commission seat. City commissioner Debbie Marquardt moved to appoint Catherine Bostick-Tullius to the position. Commissioner Daniel Farrington seconded the motion. The commission approved the appointment, with a lone dissent.

Commissioner A. Wayne Bennett explained that his no vote was not because he did not approve the appointment, but that he had issues with the procedure. He felt that since all of the candidates were qualified, the commission should have held a lottery. “Every one of the candidates was qualified, give them all a chance by lottery,” Bennett said. There were 10 candidates in the running, and most of them were in attendance at Monday’s meeting.

In moving to appoint Bostick-Tullius, Marquardt pointed out the candidate’s previous county commission experience, service on the zoning board of appeals, and her past chairmanship of Habitat for Humanity. Marquardt also observed that Bostick-Tullius, an attorney with her own practice, has her business in the city.

Marquardt lightheartedly said that the decision of the candidate and her husband to “really remodel” their home was a further demonstration of their investment in the city.

“It was a tough decision,” commissioner Farrington said. He noted that Bostick-Tullius would be a welcome addition to the commission. He urged the other candidates to seek other avenues to serve.
“There are many opportunities to get involved in the city,” he said. He specifically pointed out the zoning board of appeals and the planning commission as good boards with which to get involved.
“She brings an awful lot to this,” Mayor Bill Sprague said of Bostick-Tullius. He said that her legal mindset was a “valuable plus,” and something that was appreciated in her predecessor, Tim Turkelson. Sprague also pointed out that with a population that is more than 50 percent female, Lapeer is “woefully inadequate in having women in these leadership positions.”

Commissioner Farrington urged candidates to run for office in 2009. “It costs nothing to run,” he said. “Get your name on the ballot, and let the people decide.”

In November 2009, three seats on the commission will be up for grabs, including the one to which Bostwick-Tullius has just been appointed. “Jump in with both feet,” Bennett encouraged potential candidates.

Bostwick-Tullius was not the only person sworn in by City Clerk Donna Cronce during the meeting. In fact, the very first item the commission saw to was the swearing in of new police officer Steven Hinsberger.

Hinsberger was introduced by Police Chief Todd Alexander. He previously served with Metamora and Dryden Townships, and most recently with the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept. He is a 2005 Oakland graduate with a criminal justice degree. He graduated from Lapeer West in 2000. On hand to witness his swearing in were his proud parents, Pat and Clayton Hinsberger. The new police officer also was accompanied by his fiancee, Holly Marsh. Hinsberger is on the job as of July 1.

One last item of business came up during public comment. State representative candidate Paul St. Louis said he had some positive progress with the state on the M-24/I-69 development. St. Louis told the commissioners her has been in steady contact with the state, trying to persuade them to provide economic support for the project. He said Tom Young, of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. had indicated the state may be interested in helping with funding.

Mayor Sprague expressed his thanks to St. Louis for his dogged efforts with the state. “Paul took it to heart. He’s been bugging the state almost daily.” Sprague said that the city would be talking with the state, but was encouraged by St. Louis’s information. Despite all the ups and downs, it appears that the M-24/I-69 project will be back in motion soon with a new plan.