When The Conservancy Initiative is occasionally asked, “How can I help?” We will respond that the two most important and simple things any resident can do are:
Report Noxious Odors using The Conservancy Initiative Odor Report. Odor reports are immediately shared with landfill personnel, EGLE, and several local elected officials. The odor reports are used to identify and correct issues as well as track the landfill’s performance.
Contact your elected politicians and make sure they understand your issues with the landfill and your opinion on a potential expansion. Your elected politicians are your representatives; make sure they understand your opinion.
Representatives from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) tell The Conservancy Initiative that community activism helps them. When the community speaks up, EGLE gains the support of local politicians, and the local press, and is assured they are speaking for the public. The idiom “The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease” is very true in politics and environmental enforcement.
Support from our elected officials is also important. The Conservancy Initiative and western Northville Township have benefited from the strong support of State Representative Matt Koleszar and State Senator Dana Polehanki. Unfortunately, due to redistricting, Matt and Dana’s districts no longer include western Northville Township.
The Conservancy Initiative encourages residents to reach out and meet their elected representatives to ensure they know how you feel about the landfill and a potential expansion. Most elected representatives occasionally hold informal “meet and greet” meetings, which offer a great forum to politely introduce yourself and make your opinions known. Your representatives value this type of input and it also serves to educate others who are attending the “meet and greet” meetings. Please remember to always be polite and respectful when speaking up at a public meeting.
Note - State Senator Rosemary Bayer has a Coffee and Chat session planned for Friday, February 17th at 11 AM at the Novi Library. Representative Jason Morgan currently has no scheduled events.
Emails and phone calls are also effective. We have attached an example letter you can easily modify to make your own for communicating with your elected officials.
Below is a list of key elected officials with links to their home pages. We suggest subscribing to your representative’s newsletter and following their Facebook or Instagram Pages to stay updated on their events. Please consider attending a coffee hour meeting, introducing yourself and your opinions. If any new information is exchanged at the meeting, please pass it on to The Conservancy Initiative.
State Representative Jason Morgan, 23rd House District (D)
This district includes parts of Ann Arbor, western Washtenaw County including Salem Township, and western portions of Northville Township. 23rd District Map. You can subscribe to email updates on Representative Morgan’s website.
State Senator Rosemary Bayer, 13th District (D)
This district includes all of Northville Township and Plymouth Township and large portion of Oakland County. The district does not include Salem Township. 13th District Map. Senator Bayer maintains a Facebook Page and holds regular informal “coffee hour” meetings.
State Senator Jeff Irwin, 15th District (D)
Senator Irwin’s district includes Salem Township, portions of Ann Arbor, and a large portion of Washtenaw County. 15th District Map. The landfill is located in Senator Irwin’s district and he holds regular informal “coffee hour” meetings.
State Senator, Sue Shink, 14th District (D)
Senator Shink’s district is the Northwest portion of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. 14th District Map. Ms. Shink was previously the County Commissioner responsible for Salem Township. Ms. Shink may influence Washtenaw County Commissioners.
Washtenaw County Commissioner Crystal Lyte, Washtenaw County District 2
Washtenaw County Commissioners will play an important role in approving or denying landfill expansion. Arbor Hills is located in Washtenaw County District 2.