02/21/2026
Hello everyone,
I would like to make the following announcement. Please read this post in its entirety.
There has been an active recall on our Treasurer, Heidi Pitt. For full transparency I will let you know that my wife is actively involved in this recall attempt, however, I have tried to stay out of this as a sitting board member – see # 1 below. Now, one of Treasurer Pitt’s supporters are using the EXACT same language in an attempt to recall me (for voting against paying the Firefighters-which I haven’t done) and similar language in an attempt to recall the other 3 Lee Township Board members. Supervisor Kruger’s, Clerk Dawson’s, and Trustee Reiber’s recall language is for voting FOR paying the Firefighters. This proves that this is a retaliatory action as all of these petitions were presented by Donald Robinson and are arguing against themselves. One for voting against Firefighters payroll (which, as I stated, I didn’t do) and three for voting for Firefighters payroll. I’m not sure what Don Robinson’s real motivation is, other than retaliation. I am asking Don if he wants us to pay the Firefighters or not. Don, do you realize what happens if we don’t pay our Firefighters? We lose our fire department and then we have to wait longer for service from other jurisdictions. If this happens, most, if not all, of Lee Townships home owners’ insurance will increase due to being further away from a responding Fire Department, and medical aid would be impacted negatively.
I would like to make the following points:
1 – I have tried to stay out of this, but that is no longer possible.
2 – The language that was used is the same language that was approved for our Treasurer. Please see attached picture of the recall petition. I would like to point out that I don’t believe I have ever voted against payroll. I did vote against the budget for reasons other than the Firefighters pay. Once the budget was passed, I have NOT voted against payroll as is being claimed. This is a lie and is entirely retaliatory as this language was approved against our Treasurer, so there isn’t any reason for this language not to be approved against me, even though it is 100% false. It is a spiteful, retaliation against the Board members who don’t agree with our Treasurer.
3 – The trouble started when we were discussing our proposed ordinances back at the end of 2024. Treasurer Pitt was adamantly opposed to lowering the acreage requirements from a 5-acre minimum to no minimum requirements (as has historically been the case). This was changed somewhere around 2015-2019. I don’t recall the exact date. There was never a problem of having too many animals on parcels in the past. I had horses on my property previously (I have 2 acres) and had the code enforcement officer stop out. We talked, and at the time, there were no acreage requirements. He was interested in the fencing we were using so he could get some for his animals. Treasurer Pitt said to my face on two different occasions that “This will not pass. I won’t let it. I will do whatever it takes to prevent this from passing.” I didn’t know tearing the township apart for her opinion would be part of her plan. Treasurer Pitt claims I wanted to change this for my family’s own benefit, so I could put horses on my property again. I would like to point out, that if my wife wants to bring her pony and/or donkeys’ home, there isn’t anything that Lee Township can do. My wife has a prescription from her primary care physician to have them here to help her due to her disabilities. Therefore, the proposed ordinance change would NOT be self-serving as we already have legal standing to have them here. If we do bring them home and there is any grief from the township, it will end up in court. I would also like to point out that this would give freedoms back to over 50% of the parcels in Lee Township.
4 – When we first suggested getting an outside auditing firm to help get the books cleared up, Treasurer Pitt was adamantly opposed to doing so. We tried, as a board, for many months to get the books reconciled and caught up. We weren’t able to do so. We finally agreed to hire The Rehman Group to help get this done. Treasurer Pitt voted against this. She also threw a fit when we called them a CPA firm. She wanted them referred to as “an accounting firm.” The only reason to do this was to denigrate the firm’s credibility as they are, in actual fact, a CPA firm (and more). Also, The Rehman Group has been working on this for 2 months and still are not finished. This is not something that we could have accomplished in-house if it has taken them this long and still aren’t done.
5 – Treasurer Pitt has routinely created a hostile work environment towards multiple people. Treasurer Pitt has driven several Grant Committee members to resign due to her hostility towards the Grant Committee. She had also led the drive to remove our former Fire Chief by creating a hostile work environment in the Fire Department. I have reached out to former Chief Daryl Amrozowicz and apologized to him for the way his resignation was handled. In addition, we have received complaints from multiple employees. You can see some of these letters, that were properly FOIA’d, at www.recalltreasurerpitt.com
6 – One Saturday, when I was at the dump, a resident was upset that they had to get a blower for their outdoor wood stove. Treasurer Pitt did not direct them to me, the Board appointed Township Code Authority Rep, or the Township Code Authority. She stated that she didn’t think it was necessary and that she would call the State to find out what the code required. Whether she did or not, I don’t know, but I would trust the Inspectors who are Licensed. This is one more case of Treasurer Pitt thinking she knows everything, and can do everyone’s job.
7 – During the June 2025 Board meeting, my wife was assaulted by Elaine Garner. This is on video. I called the police. They declined to prosecute, so my wife tried to get a PPO. Treasurer Pitt went to court and testified on behalf of the assailant (Elaine Garner), not on behalf of the victim (my wife). I want to point out that Judge Beale was VERY clear that this was an assault and he issued a severe warning to Ms. Garner to stay away from my wife and if he ever saw her in his courtroom again, it wouldn’t go well for her. This is all a matter of public record and transcriptions are available from the courthouse. The false narrative being spread around is that it was “just 2 or 3 sheets of paper.” It wasn’t just paper. Elaine’s fist made contact with my wife’s shoulder. Due to this assault, I contacted Supervisor Kruger and requested a special meeting to discuss having security at future meetings. This is why we are having the Police at our meetings. This is a direct cost to the Township due to Elaine Garner, whom Heidi supported and testified on Ms. Garner’s behalf.
8 – Treasurer Pitt was out of town at the above-mentioned special meeting. After the meeting several of us stood around and talked for awhile (no Township business was discussed and it is perfectly legal). Treasurer Pitt allowed Al Anger access to her computer screen to take pictures from our security cameras. Mr. Anger then went to the Police and requested that everyone in the picture be prosecuted for violating the Open Meetings Act. I believe that this was done purely in retaliation for me not allowing my wife to be assaulted and calling out Elaine Garner for this assault. No FOIA was ever sent in for these photos, so Treasurer Pitt violated the approved FOIA policy of Lee Township. Our attorney also stated that this could be a major violation of privacy. This issue isn’t over, as we also have one individual named in the picture and in the police report who is considering filing a lawsuit against Lee Township. If this comes about, this will be more taxpayer money spent directly due to Treasurer Pitt’s actions. This report can also be found at www.recalltreasurerpitt.com
9 – Ron Berry, our former Code Enforcement Officer was demeaned via an email (available at www.recalltreasurerpitt.com) as being “A part time DPW at Best” and that he needs to “stay in his lane.” She also stated she was in charge while Mark Pitt (her husband and DPW Foreman) was out of town. There was no vote for her to be in charge while Mark Pitt was out of town. This was another attempt by Treasurer Pitt to usurp power that isn’t hers.
10 – Some of Treasurer Pitt’s supporters have stated that “Board Members need to control their spouses.” One point I would like to say is that I am married and my wife is my partner. I don’t “control” her. This isn’t the 1800’s. Also, even if I wanted to, and could, “control” my spouse, please see reason # 7 why I wouldn’t. My wife was assaulted by Elaine Garner; do you think I am not going to support my wife’s efforts?
11 – The Lee Township Board passed a resolution requiring volunteers to sign waivers if they want to volunteer. Treasurer Pitt has repeatedly refused to have people sign them (and it’s OK if people don’t want to sign), but then Treasurer Pitt continues to allow them to volunteer at the Dump/Refuse and Recycle Center. A volunteer form was requested to be done by our insurance company and the Township Attorney. Treasurer Pitt refuses to enforce this properly passed resolution.
12 – Treasurer Pitt has continuously refused to attend team building and training. Any time someone recommends that she needs training, she gets very upset. When we were going through our last audit, the auditors stated that they felt that both Clerk Dawson and Treasurer Pitt would benefit from further training. Clerk Dawson was very willing to, and has, done additional training. Treasurer Pitt sent a very scathing email stating not to put her in the same “category” as Clerk Dawson who has never had a real accounting job for corporations or small businesses (Treasurer Pitt’s words-not mine). In my opinion, it was quite a nasty email. Feel free to FOIA this email. I cannot release it without a FOIA.
13 – Treasurer Pitt joined the Midland County Township Officers Association (MCTOA) as a representative of Lee Township without approval or discussion with the rest of the Board. If you are representing Lee Township on another Board, in my opinion, that needs to be approved by the Lee Township Board of Trustees. When I asked her about this, she stated that it was “in the email.” The only thing in the email was showing her as the Treasurer for the MCTOA, so this was already a done deal. Nowhere was there approval for her to represent Lee Township as a member of the MCTOA Board. This is yet another time Treasurer Pitt has done as she pleases and not through the appropriate channels.
14 – Treasurer Pitt told me on two separate occasions that she felt that she should get the $5,000 that the County reimburses Lee Township to help offset the costs of the summer tax collection. That is to help offset our costs, not to go into the pocket of our Treasurer.
15 – For a year, 4 board members took jabs, insults, innuendos, etc. and tried to remain polite. When we had enough and started fighting back and trying to hold Treasurer Pitt accountable, all of a sudden, the narrative changed to “everybody is picking on Heidi.” That is not the case, we were trying to regain balance on the board and hold Treasurer Pitt accountable. It appears it is fine for Treasurer Pitt to pick on the other 4 board members, but when we try to defend ourselves, then we are picking on her. Hypocrisy at its finest.
16 – At the January 2026 Board Meeting, all 5 Board members agreed to go to the Michigan Township Association Annual Conference as a Team Building event. Treasurer Pitt originally said she wouldn’t go, then got shamed into saying she would go by residents in attendance. Approximately a week later Treasurer Pitt backed out. A few days ago, I found out she was telling others that I wasn’t going. I am going, as I promised the residents. I made alternate plans for payment and attendance, but Treasurer Pitt made the assumption I wasn’t going and was, again, spreading mis-information. If she wanted to be fair and transparent, she should have reached out to me before spreading things that aren’t true based on faulty assumptions. The township that I am the Assessor for is paying my way. I will be there both as a Trustee for Lee Township and the Assessor for the other township. No, I haven’t advertised that I have been assessing because I was concerned that a small faction of people would create a problem for that Township. Yes, the other township is aware of the strife in our township and we have had many conversations about it. They are happy with me and I have just received a 2-year extension on my contract with them. This is very different than Treasurer Pitt joining the MCTOA, as there, she is representing Lee Township. As an Assessor, I am not. It is another job, no different than any other non-Lee Township position.
This is just a sampling of the issues directly related to Treasurer Pitt. No board member is perfect, we have all made mistakes (my biggest mistake is supporting Mrs. Pitt to be Treasurer), however all the major problems revolve, at least partially, around our Treasurer. Therefore, I am announcing that I will be running against Treasurer Pitt for the position of Treasurer in the recall. In regards to point 12 - I have the required qualifications. I have a Bachelors in Accounting from Northwood here in Midland. I have 30 years in the accounting profession, including being the Controller at several different companies. I currently work for a multi-national corporation in the Finance Department. I have already spoken with my boss, and she is fully on board with me running against our Treasurer in this recall. I have also reached out to, and have gotten commitments from, 2 other Township Treasurers and one other Treasurer for a non-profit organization who have committed to helping ease any transition from Treasurer Pitt to myself if the Township decides that they have had enough and agree that Lee Township needs a change for the better. I also hold several professional licenses in the Financial Field, so I feel I am more qualified than our current Treasurer to hold this position.
I would like to thank Don Robinson for initiating the recall against the 2 Trustees, the Supervisor, and the Clerk as, before now, I had no intention of running against Treasurer Pitt, but it has become obvious to me, that this is the best course of action moving forward.
Thank you,
Mark List
Trustee (for now)
Lee Township
