Committee to Elect Ken Speicher

10/09/2020

If elected I will be requesting in writing to have the supervisor’s wages reduced by one half the 2018/2019 fiscal year budgeted salary for the township supervisor’s position, a period prior to the Township Board approving huge wage increase for fiscal year 20/21.

The Township does not hold an annual meeting of the electors of the township, and the electors did not get a voice in the wages adopted by the township board by a resolution this past spring when their wages were increase during a Crona19 virus “stay at home order” by the governor and were unable to circulate a petition to take the increase in wages to the vote of the residents of the township. It is my position that the public officials should not have taken wage increases when MCL 41.95 petition process could not have been accomplished, which violated the elector’s rights to petition the increases in public official’s wages.

I have attached a copy of the draft letter to reduce the supervisor wages to one half the value prior to the huge wage increases the township board members gave themselves during the Corona Virus Stay At Home Order.

Vote For Ken Speicher for Township Supervisor on November 3, 2020, and the supervisor's wages will be reduced more than one half the current rate. I want to serve the all the residents of Columbia Township and I want to work with the other board members to make Columbia Township a better place to live and I am putting more than half the supervisor's salary on the table to be able do things that serve the residents like a outdoor bathroom for at the baseball field, a soccer field, a tennis court, a basketball court , a walk / bike path from Kal Haven Trail through Grand Junction. I am hoping the other board member will join me with a reduction in salary to serve the residents of the township. I would like a comprehensive survey made by an outside organization to give the township direction as to what the residents of the township want with respect to future growth of the township. I would like to see reasonable solutions for issues facing the township, where we all can be neighbors and friends working together.

10/08/2020

Wouldn't it be great if you could trust Columbia Township government to use your hard-earned property tax dollars effectively rather than give themselves outrageous wage increases recently? $30,000 annual wage for Township Clerk Christy Case for part-time work!!! I figure thats about $50 / hour! No wonder Clerk Christy Case is seeking re-election! Do you agree?

10/04/2020

Columbia Township Property Owners pay a one mil for the County Library. The seven County Libraries are located where in the same location as Lawrence, Bangor, Bloomingdale, Decatur, Gobles, Paw Paw, and Covert High School who also have libraries. Things have changed a lot with the internet and I can see no reason for Columbia Township not provide public access to internet at their facilities for the property owners to access from the parking lots at any time of the day. With the amount of taxes we pay for libraries, the Property Owners should be able to have free wifi as if we were at the libraries who happen to provide free wifi. What do you think?

09/30/2020

IF ELECTED THE NEXT COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR
ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020, I WILL DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. I will sign a letter to the Township Board requesting the Supervisor’s wages be reduced by one half and attach a Resolution for the Board to approve such reduction. I will also ask those elected on November 3, 2020 to join with me in the reduction of their wages.

2. I will contact and meet with the other elected Columbia Township officials to discuss my commitment to work together in the best interests of the public and how we, as public officials, can put the past behind us and come together to serve the community first and foremost.

3. I will seek Public Input on items in which the residents of Columbia Township would like to have added to our community.

Paid for by the committee to Elect Ken Speicher for Township Supervisor's. Vote for Ken Speicher on November 3, 2020.

09/24/2020

09/06/2020

My employee's at JH Campbell joined in my campaign and placed one of my election yard signs in front of the entrance to JH Campbell where I was production supervisor for the last 7 years with Consumers Energy. We worked well as a team and our shift was the go to shift in getting things done on or before schedule.

09/03/2020

VOTERS OF COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP WE ENDORSE KEN SPEICHER!
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE for COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

We don’t usually get involved in political activities but the importance of this coming November 3, 2020 General Election to the future of Columbia Township makes it necessary that we now get involved.

Our Columbia Township government is out of control and in jeopardy of no longer working on behalf of the Township citizens. The Columbia Township Board spending habits and poor decisions have not been in the best interests of Township citizens.

As nearly life-long residents of Columbia Township, business proprietors in the Township and otherwise being employed within Columbia Township ( likely we are known to most everyone reading this endorsement ), we find it necessary to endorse someone with the leadership skills needed to stabilize Columbia Township government so that it works for all the citizens of the Township. That someone is Ken Speicher!

We have known Ken Speicher for some FORTY years – surely enough time for us to judge his integrity, character, good will, skills and abilities. Ken has been a good friend to us and to many individuals in the Township. He has always been willing to roll up his sleeves and help us and many others in the Township when we needed assistance. As Columbia Township Supervisor, Ken Speicher will make sure our local government functions well and works in the best interests of all Township citizens.

So that our community will continue to be a good place to reside and raise a family, we respectfully urge you to vote for Ken Speicher as the next Supervisor of Columbia Township on November 3, 2020.

Lonny Johnson and Chester Johnson

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ken Speicher
Columbia Township Supervisor 616-218-3761

08/31/2020

Why Ken Speicher over the other candidates for township supervisor?

PUBLIC SAFETY EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE: I have expertise and experience in community public safety services that will benefit the community. As a certified firefighter, and former Medical First Responder emergency medical technician (EMT). Over 8-years’ experience as a member of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Response Team, I have first-hand knowledge of industrial and government public safety best practices. This experience will be invaluable in planning and promoting Township public safety policies and services. My experience as Production Supervisor at JH Campbell Unit 1 and 2 Fossil Plant, duty included emergency manager, to protect personnel and equipment, with safety being the first priority. I was in a supervisory position throughout my career and I work well with others and believe in the team concept of getting things done. In an emergency situation you have those who run away and those who run towards the emergency. I run safely towards the emergency to protect personnel and equipment. Do an assessment and make an action plan to mediate the emergency. The action plan can be as simple as shutting a valve or initiating the sprinkler system or opening a breaker. My role as a Production Supervisor required me to know who was working inside and outside the plant and to provide them personnel and equipment protection while they were working. The role also required the knowledge and compliance of state and federal laws on emissions from the plant. Not everyone can say they managed the electrical generation of 720,000,000 watts of power onto the electrical grid. Both candidates I am running against probably never had an coal bunker on fire, employee heart attacks requiring CPR and AED, hazardous chemical spills, coal pipe fire, electrical fire, illegal entrance onto property, weapons on electric magnets, etc. During these events a person's morals and character are defined, you either run from the issue or you run to the issue. I do not know my competition, but I am sure they cannot say they dealt with the emergencies I have seen over my years in management. I have had employee issues, which I always handle professionally with respect and consideration to the employee. All the issues got resolved by simply discussing the issue and hearing the employee side. The Residents of the township will select a new supervisor. I would like you to select me, as I can make a difference in the way things are managed in the township. I learned to listen more than talk over the years. I will be there to listen to you and find some common ground to solve issues. I can get along with anyone and I can work with anyone. I do not look back, I look forward, as what is done is done and what is to come has not been written yet. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ken Speicher (616) 218-3761 – [email protected] and visit http:columbiatwpwatchdog.com

08/31/2020

ENDORSEMENT
I FULLY ENDORSE THE CANDIDACY OF KEN SPEICHER FOR COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR. I HAVE KNOWN KEN FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN HIM TO BE A TRUTHFUL, HONEST, RELIABLE AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED INDIVIDUAL. HE WILL BE A VALUED ADDITION TO COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT AS A TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR.

Reverend Dean Beckwith
Previous Columbia Township Supervisor

08/25/2020

Ken Speicher is seeking your vote for the November 3, 2020, general election. Ken wants to look at property assessments and ensure those believing their property is over assessed by more than what they will sell their property for, can get a fair and meaningful review with comparable properties showing the fair market value of your property. Everyone is entitled to see their property card which contains the information which is the basis for the assessment.