Northville Township Election 2020
During the upcoming primary and general elections this summer and fall, Northville Township residents will be deciding on the Township leadership for the next 4 years. The Conservancy Initiative is a non-partisan organization but in an effort to understand how the goals and objectives of the candidates relate to the Arbor Hills Landfill we have asked all the candidates to provide short responses to a standard set of questions. Below are the questions we asked the candidates. To read their responses, click on their names below. (Note - TCI did not mandate a standard format or word limit. Some of the candidates formatting may not have translated to the posting directing on our Website. We felt it was important that no content editing was performed on the responses).
RUNNING FOR SUPERVISOR:
Robert R. Nix, II - (I) – Republican
Mark J. Abbo – Republican
RUNNING FOR CLERK:
Marjorie F. Banner (I) – Republican
Roger Lundberg – Republican
RUNNING FOR TREASURER:
Fred Shadko - (I) – Republican
Jason Rhines – Republican
RUNNING FOR TRUSTEE:
Scott Frush (I) – Republican
Mindy Herrmann (I) – Republican
Chris Roosen (I) – Republican
Cyndy Jankowski – Republican
Steve McGuirk – Republican
Kevin Johnston – Republican
Muhammad Aslam – Democrat
NOTE: (I) signifies the Incumbent
Candidate Questions
Dear Candidate
As a candidate for Northville Township Supervisor / Trustee, The Conservancy Initiative would like to ask for your perspectives related to the Arbor Hill Landfill, currently owned by Advanced Disposal. The Conservancy Initiative is a non-partisan environmental 503(c) corporation and would like to provide residents in our community with information related to this important topic as they determine which candidate to vote for.
As context, you may know that this landfill has been found in violation of numerous State and Federal regulations over the past 5 years. This has resulted in excess emissions, noxious odors and health concerns for homeowners living in proximity of the landfill and limits their ability to enjoy the outdoors, including Ridge Wood Elementary School having to limit outdoor recess. Further, neighbors are concerned with the Landfill’s plans to expand by opening a new landfill north of 6 Mile road as well as the planned merger of Advanced Disposal and Waste Management.
We encourage you to visit our website to learn more and we would be happy to connect with you at your convenience if you would like to learn more in advance of responding to our request: https://conservancyinitiative.org/
We would appreciate your thoughts on the following questions (and are committed to ensuring that you are comfortable in advance with the information we post):
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
2. As a Northville Township Supervisor / Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Supervisor / Trustee?
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
Candidate Responses
Robert R. Nix, II
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
Answer: In December 2015 the odor issues began. I contacted Ed Nam, the District Director of the EPA, gave him a tour of the landfill and affected residential area and asked that the EPA investigate the the cause of the odors. Over the next several years the EPA issued violation orders and initiated enforcement action against ADS and BFI at my request. After several years of follow-up with the EPA, Consent Orders were entered into with BFI on 9/28/2018 and ADS on 9/30/2019. The Consent Order with ADS included the requirement to install air monitoring at Ridgewood Elementary School as I requested. I lead the Township Board in passing resolutions and taking action with the residents to oppose the expansion of the landfill in 2016. This included many meetings with the Washtenaw County Solid Waste Planning Committee to ensure that their new 5 year waste management plan did not include the requested expansion the the Arbor Hills Landfill.
2. As Northville Township Supervisor, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
Answer: In addition to the items in paragraph 1, I have continued to pursue the investigation, monitoring and verification of the nuisance odors and issues with the landfill with the DNR, now EGLE. This has resulted in EGLE issuing over 50 violation notices and some corrective actions taken by ADS. Since the corrective actions did not resolved the problems, I sent a written request to the EGLE on 12/6/2018 to take accelerated enforcement action against ADS. As a result, EGLE is currently pursuing such enforcement action. I have also request that the EPA and EGLE take enforcement action against Fortistar for violations of air equality standards and hydrogen sulfide emissions. I have created a working group with the residents, several Township Trustees, representatives of Northville City and the School Board. With the assistance of Treasurer Fred Shadko, we spent several years promoting legislation that would prevent an expansion of the landfill or a new landfill. The Board of Trustees hired a lobbyist to assist in this legislative effort. State Senator Polehanki and Representative Koleszar have been engaged to assist our efforts against ADS to stop the nuisance and odors. Town Halls have been arranged with EGLE to address resident concerns. All of these actions will continue until the odors cease to impact our residents.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Supervisor?
Answer: My legal background has assisted me in addressing the enforcement actions by the EPA and EGLE. I have established relationships with ADS that has resulted in some corrective actions being taken. I served on a Wayne County Committee to review landfill operations in Riverview and Trenton Cities and Van Buren Township. My work with the EPA, EGLE, the Conservancy Initiative and proposed legislation has given me the opportunity to become familiar with landfill and environmental regulations. I will continue to use my relationship with EGLE to obtain a permanent solution for our residents.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Answer: The odor issue is best addressed by the enforcement actions by EGLE and the EPA. I will continue to pursue those actions with Senator Polehanki, Representative Koleszar, Governor Whitmer, Attorney General Nessel, Wayne County and Washtenaw County offices. The expansion of the landfill or a new landfill is best addressed by the pending legislation. I will continue pursue legislation that will prevent any expansion of the Arbor Hills landfill or new landfill and engage the state and county officials, the Conservancy, and residents in these efforts. The recent request of ADS for permits to treat and discharge leachate into Johnson Creek will be vigorously opposed. Johnson Creek is an irreplaceable natural resource for our community and we will have a zero tolerance for any discharges into it.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
Answer: The constant emission of intolerable odors by the landfill since 2015 severely impacts your quality of life. ADS has made some improvements as a result of our collective work, but the odor problem remains. I will continue to fight for you.
Mark J. Abbo
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
See attachment (below)
2. As Northville Township Supervisor, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
See attachment (below)
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Supervisor?
See below. In addition, at one time I was the Chief Financial Officer of an Ann Arbor based renewable energy company that converted waste heat to electricity. I am aware of the federal regulations that govern the operations of landfill.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
See attachment (below)
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road)
See attachment (below)
Below is what was in Mr. Abbo’s attachment:
During Mark Abbo’s tenure as Supervisor, his commitment to protecting the environment and enhancing our outdoor assets was a matter of record. Under his collaborative leadership, Northville Township achieved successes on a number of fronts.
With respect to the Arbor Hills landfill in neighboring Salem Township, during Abbo’s tenure as Supervisor from 2000 through 2012, he maintained open communication and achieved substantial cooperation with the previous owner and management group to assure compliance with best practices. There was a level of responsiveness then, and complaints about landfill operations were much less frequent.
In operation since about 1970, problems with the 337-acre landfill accelerated in early 2016, which by that time had a new owner, Advanced Disposal Services. Malfunctions of the gas collection and control system contributed to intermittent but intense odors in our community. Plus the footprint of the landfill continued to grow and expand.
The sorry history since then has been a never-ending cycle of increased odor complaints to the state, now numbering in the thousands, leading to inspections, followed by occasional notices of violations from the state MDEQ, now EGLE. Monetary penalties to ADS have not been sufficient to deter further violations. There have been countless letters and telephone calls to government officials at various levels, town hall meetings and other efforts to bring attention to the issue.
With the creation of the Conservancy Initiative in 2016, lobbying efforts by the community have become focused and more effective. But it took some time to get the attention of the current township leadership, which initially was mostly tone-deaf, and with near-clueless public pronouncements. Supervisor Robert Nix would make the point that there’s only so much the township can do about the landfill. “We have no authority. It’s not in our jurisdiction. We can’t write notices of violations….,” * he said. He didn’t embrace other opportunities to effect needed change.
But since then, primarily because of the efforts of the Conservancy Initiative, there has been an appearance of cooperation with community workgroups, and even election-year lip service on a bill in Lansing that is going no where fast.
In the meantime, the landfill is interested in obtaining permits for expansion and to dump leachate in the Johnson Creek to save money, and PFAS has been discovered onsite. The problems are significant and getting worse. These are problems requiring resolve and effort on multiple fronts.
Mark Abbo would not be a reluctant, and late-to-the-issue partner on the landfill issue.
Through creation of a robust coalition of multi-jurisdictional allies and stakeholders, and leveraging relationships at all levels of government, new township leadership would endeavor to obtain improved enforcement of existing laws by the state, including by litigation. Support for strengthening laws and rules including increased penalties for violations would also be a priority.
This is an issue that affects thousands of our residents, and Mark understands the plight of those affected. He considers the problem to be an urgent concern to their health and well-being, and will deploy township resources accordingly to resolve the matter satisfactorily.
The potential for ADS joining Waste Management would bring challenges as well as opportunities. It would likely bring a new ownership and management team, which could jumpstart a fresh dialogue if approached appropriately, but WM has a large footprint in the state and presumably more clout.
The township’s efforts to effectuate meaningful change must be increased and improved through new and more effective leadership.
*Seeking Solutions for the Stench,” The Ville, April, 2019 https://issuu.com/journeymanpub/docs/jp-theville-april2019_hr/8 )
*****
With respect to other environmental projects and issues in the community, in 2007 under Mark Abbo’s leadership Northville Township teamed with a developer to leverage a state grant with township and private funding to create the Cold Water Springs Nature Area-Linear Park along Johnson Creek.
In recent years Johnson Creek has been increasingly confronted by challenges that have threatened the viability of the only cold water fishery in western Wayne County. Sedimentation build-up from storm water run-off, stream bank erosion and vegetation loss have compromised the depth and flow of the stream resulting in degradation of fish and wildlife habitat and populations.
Like others, Mark has been following the long-awaited Johnson Creek Fish Hatchery Park Habitat Restoration project, which finally went to bid recently. This multi-jurisdictional effort intends to remove over 3,500 cubic yards of sediment from the pond at Fish Hatchery Park, and create an improved channel for fish passage from the pond to Johnson Creek.
Mark will leverage his relationships with leaders at the state, county and local levels of government to build on these efforts and identify and find funding for similar restorative projects for Johnson Creek and other environmental needs in the township.
Abbo’s success in governmental collaboration was also on full display in 2011 through the creation of the paved nature trail along Sheldon Road from Verona Lane, through the Hines Drive Bennett Arboretum and over Johnson Creek, up to 7 Mile Road. Teaming with Wayne County that brought almost $1 million to the project, this pathway also opened up a township-city link in a non-motorized way.
While Supervisor, Mark Abbo also led the charge for the township’s purchase of the former state hospital property of over 350 acres on 7 Mile in 2009, and formed a citizen’s advisory process to develop the master plan for the site in 2012. Over 3,000 citizens contributed in various ways to the 7 Mile Road Park Master Plan.
Abbo believes that the township must keep faith with the residents who approved the funding for the purchase in 2009, and finally pull down the remaining abandoned buildings on the site.
The current Supervisor has a message on the township’s website indicating his plan is to “make a list of things to do.”
But Abbo’s plan is that more meaningful progress in implementing the park masterplan is needed, driven by new leadership.
Marjorie F. Banner
Please see my responses - in CAPS - following your questions.
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
I ATTENDED NEARLY EVERY WASHTENAW COUNTY SOLID WASTE PLANNING COMMISSION (WCSWP) MEETING DURING LATE 2015 AND 2016, EXPRESSING THE TOWNSHIP'S OPPOSITION TO EXPANSION AND THE NOXIOUS ODORS EMINATING FROM THE LANDFILL. I HAVE SUPPORTED HIRING OF A LOBBYIST FOR HELP WITH STATE LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS. I HAVE SUPPORTED EGLE IN ITS CITATIONS AGAINST THE LANDFILL, AND HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH AND ASSISTED WITH OUR LANSING LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.
2. As Northville Township Clerk, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
AS CLERK AND A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, I AM COMMITTED TO CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AGAINST LANDFILL EXPANSION AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS MADE BY OUR SUPERVISOR AND TREASURER. I HAVE COMMITTED TIME AND EFFORT TO RESEARCHING OTHER ADJACENT LANDFILLS TO ASSIST OUR LOBBYISTS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO STOP EXPANSION OF THE LANDFILL.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LIVING IN THIS TOWNSHIP FOR 34 YEARS AND HAVE WATCHED THE LANDFILL GROW AND EXPAND TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. MY BACKGROUND AS A PARALEGAL AND JOURNALIST HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL ISSUES AND CONTRIBUTE TO ARGUMENTS AGAINST EXPANSION. Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? I HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS WITH ARBOR HILLS MANAGEMENT AND WASHTENAW COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES TO SORT OUT THE PROBLEMS. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INCLUDING MYSELF, DO REGULAR "ODOR PATROLS" TO ASSESS THE MANY PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS AND TRANSMIT OUR ANGST TO THE LANDFILL. Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? I HAVE READ AND STUDIED EVERY CITING BY EGLE AND HAVE TOURED ARBOR HILLS FACILITIES AND COMPOST. Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Supervisor [Trustee]? I KNOW MOST OF THE EGLE "PLAYERS" THAT DEAL WITH ARBOR HILLS AND FEEL COMPORTABLE SPEAKING WITH THEM AND ASKING FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
I BELIEVE THAT SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO BLOCK FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE LANDFILL WILL IDEALLY COME FROM STATE LEGISLATION, A DIFFICULT ROAD TO TRAVEL. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT EFFORTS MUST BE MADE THROUGH WASHTENAW COUNTY, AS THE LANDFILL IS LOCATED THERE AND IT FUNDS COUNTY PROGRAMS. WE MUST HAVE WASHTENAW COUNTY AND SALEM TOWNSHIP COOPERATION IN OUR EFFORTS - ANOTHER DIFFICULT TASK. FURTHER, TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR REPORTING EFFORTS TO ITEMIZE COMPLAINTS AND WORK CLOSELY WITH EGLE FOR CITING VIOLATIONS. IF THE NEW TAKEOVER BY WASTE MANAGEMENT COMES TO FRUITION, WE NEED TO BEGIN EFFORTS IMMEDIATELY TO ESTABLISH SOME RELATIONSHIP AND WORK TOWARD MITIGATING THE NOXIOUS ODERS AND LEACHATE THAT IS INFILTRATING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road)?
WE MUST KEEP UP OUR EFFORTS TO HOLD THE LANDFILL ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS VIOLATIONS, CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT EGLE MAKE THE LANDFILL ADHERE TO THE BEST INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AND KEEP ITS OPERATIONS WITHIN ITS BORDERS.
Roger Lundberg
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
A. I have been a supporter of the Stop Arbor Hills / Conservancy Initiative for the past several years. I have attended several meetings / town halls and spoken in support of the Stop Arbor Hills initiative, including ADI open Forum meeting at St.Johns Inn on April 16, 2016, Washtenaw County Planning Commission meeting in January 2017, and the Townhall Meeting at Northville H.S. on April 16, 2019.
2. As a Northville Township Clerk, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
A. Since the Township, has no legislative authority over the Salem Township, Washtenaw County landfill site, the primary means is through pressuring our State legislators. Additionally, social pressure could be applied to Washtenaw County and Salem Township via negative press coverage of the ADS poor record at the Arbor Hills Landfill.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Clerk?
A. Whereas I do not have any direct history or relationship with Arbor Hills or other waste companies, I am an engineer by training and understand the need to be fact driven. My approach to solving any issue or problem will be to gather all the pertinent facts, analyze all potential options, and evaluate the risk / reward of each. From my past involvement, I believe The Conservancy Initiative has done an outstanding job in gathering and presenting the facts.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
A. The response needs to be multi-faceted, including legal, social media pressure, legislative, and enforcement. Given ADS’s horrible record, there should be zero tolerance to all efforts to expand the landfill, to give permits to dump leachate into the Johnson Creek waterway, and we should continue to pressure our elected state officials to protect all citizens, including Northville Township, from the unbearable effects of the landfill operations.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
A. If elected, I will work to support the efforts of The Conservancy Initiative, and help bring Township resources to bear whenever appropriate.
Fred Shadko
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
As a township trustee since 2012, I have worked to stop the Arbor Hills expansion, and to get the EPA and Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to enforce the law regarding odors which have escaped the site.
2. As Northville Township Treasurer, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
The Township Treasurer not only watches over the finances, but is a member of the Executive Committee (with the Clerk and Supervisor.) We support the township staff in decision making. I will continue my work to block an expansion of the landfill, and implement positive changes to Michigan solid waste legislation. (see item 3 for details)
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Treasurer?
During the State’s development of updates to its solid waste regulation (known as Part 115), I participated in many working meetings in Lansing over a 2 year period. Supervisor Nix and I got several provisions that would help block future expansions into the draft legislation. We went to Lansing on June 9, 2020, to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee about the proposed Part 115 legislation. As a member of the Board of Trustees, I also voted for the Township to hire a lobbyist in 2020 to help support passage of this legislation. I am also an active member of the Landfill Working Group that meets monthly. I am on a first name basis with EGLE officials in the Jackson office (which oversees Washtenaw County) and EGLE personnel in Lansing.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
During the campaign to stop the proposed landfill expansion, I attended every Washtenaw County Solid Waste Committee meeting, spoke frequently at the meetings, and conducted guided tours throughout the Township for the Washtenaw committee members. I also met with Washtenaw County Commissioners, and the County Administrator. The landfill ultimately suspended its application, and an expansion was not included in Washtenaw’s new five year plan.
I also have an excellent relationship with the South East Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), with which I have worked for the last seven and a half years. SEMCOG puts a voting commissioner onto the County Solid Waste Committees that decide the future of new and expanded landfills.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
The landfill’s odor issues clearly violate Michigan law: EGLE has cited Arbor Hills over 50 times. The US EPA has also cited Arbor Hills. My efforts have contributed to those agencies’ awareness of the violations. It would be irresponsible to allow Arbor Hills to expand. I have a proven track record of working on these issues, and I plan to continue to do so for the next four years if voters retain me in the Treasurer’s position. My track record in dealing with landfill issues makes me the best qualified Treasurer candidate for landfill problems.
Jason Rhines
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
As a resident of the Woods of Edenderry, my family and I have experienced the smell coming from the landfill. There are times when it is difficult to even sit in our backyard so I can’t imagine how much worse it is for residents who live even closer to the landfill.
As small business owner of an environmental company that has to follow the rules set forth by both the state and federal government, I am astonished that Washtenaw County, Salem Township and our Attorney General simply allow Arbor Hills to ignore the rules and then get away with paying a small fine while our residents suffer almost daily.
As a result, I am looking very forward to being a strong supporter of the Conservancy Initiative’s efforts.
2. As a Northville Township Treasurer what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
The current Township Board had to be forced by residents demonstrating to take the fight to Lansing. As our next Treasurer, residents will not have to pack the Boardroom or hold townhalls to get my attention; the smell in my backyard already has it.
As our Treasurer, I will work with our federal, state and county leaders to ensure that Arbor Hills is living by the current environmental laws. More importantly, I will work to make sure they can’t just keep paying small fines while residents of Northville Township keep suffering.
I will also fight for the cleanup of the Johnson Creek. I will ask our Attorney General, who is a resident of Plymouth Township, to join us in our fight to force Arbor Hills to not only stop the smell, but clean up the Johnson Creek as well.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Treasurer?
As a small business owner of an environmental company that must follow the rules set forth by both the state and federal government, I do have experience with environmental concerns and the laws that govern environmental best practices and I am personally familiar with the basic operations of landfills.
As past history is usually indicative of future results, I see no reason to expect Arbor Hills to be a better neighbor in the future. Therefore we must use every tool at our disposal to stop the expansion of the dump, stop expanded dumping into Johnson Creek and to force Arbor Hills to clean up all existing contamination of Johnson Creek. If Salem Township and Washtenaw County want to continue to benefit from Arbor Hills, they too need to be better neighbors and start caring about the quality of life of the residents of the western half of Northville Township. Other landfills have figured out how to control the odor coming from their property, why can’t Arbor Hills do the same?
As I stated earlier, we must engage our Attorney General, State Representative, State Senator, and County Commissioner. This is an all hands-on deck situation that Northville Township cannot fix alone. It is time that all materially interested parties come together to create real and lasting solutions and enforce existing laws.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Again, we must engage our Attorney General, State Representative, State Senator, and County Commissioner. This is an all hands-on deck situation that Northville Township cannot fix alone.
Together we must work to put some teeth into the current laws so that Arbor Hills cannot go on paying small fines while we all suffer. We must fight to protect Northville Township property values and our quality of life. An expansion of the landfill may be good for Salem Township, but it will be devastating to Northville Township.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
As a resident of the Woods of Edenderry, my family and I have experienced the smell coming from the landfill. There are times when it is difficult to even sit in our backyard so I can’t imagine how much worse it is for residents who live even closer to the landfill.
As small business owner of an environmental company that has to follow the rules set forth by both the state and federal government, I believe I am the most qualified of all the candidates to bring about real and lasting change and improve the quality of life for residents who live near the landfill.
The fact that Salem Township residents do not have to pay local property taxes because of the landfill, but Northville Township has to endure all of the pain is unacceptable.
As our Township Treasurer, I will work with our county, state and federal elected officials to enforce and enhance our current laws. Additionally, the Michigan Attorney General is a neighbor, we need to get her office engaged in our issue, and I will lead that charge.
Scott Frush
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
First and foremost, I voted to approve the hiring of the lobbyist to fight the landfill through political channels in Lansing. Not all trustees voted to support this decision. Second, given my political network, I’ve encouraged our local and state officials to prioritize the fight against the landfill.
2. As Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
Provided this question also applies to trustees, the best two ways to fight the landfill include holding the landfill accountable with material financial fines and opposing both the expansion north of Six Mile Road and planned discharges into Johnson Creek. Obviously, the current level of fines has not materially impacted behavior, so convincing lawmakers to enact legislation to increase fines is needed.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
Since I am a finance professional and not an environmental professional, my options are limited. However, over the last several years, I have emphasized building relationships with public officials—close and far. Those relationships will provide benefits over time if I continue to serve Northville as a trustee.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Money and profits matter, so hitting the pocketbook of Arbor Hills should be priority number one to ensure regulations are followed and violations are minimized. Higher fines and more of them will serve this purpose. Opposing the expansion north of Six Mile is paramount—but that will need to happen with legislation. No landfill expansion should be permitted so close to an elementary school. Also, I see many garbage haulers and dirt trucks using our roads destined for the landfill. From what I understand, these trucks should only be using Five Mile Road and not Six or Seven Mile Roads. However, all of these aforementioned roads are Wayne County roads and the landfill is located in Washtenaw County. Perhaps restricting this traffic and forcing the trucks to use the Gotfredson exit in Washtenaw County would reduce wear and tear on our roads and also create extra burdens for the landfill to encourage them to minimize violations.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
The landfill is a blackeye to the community and a genuine source of extreme concern for Northville residents—especially those residents who live so close to the dump. It’s a disappointment that our community must deal with the vast number of issues that arise from this landfill deliberately placed by Washtenaw County in a downwind location whereby its own residents will be far less impacted. Although the current landfill may never be legally shut-down, we can fight for more and higher fines that impact the economic feasibility of its operations—and that could create changes for the good.
Mindy Herrmann
Thank you for reaching out to not only me but all of the candidates for the Northville Township Board of Trustees on our collective thoughts on this extremely important issue.
I expect that there will be a lot of overlap in our responses as hopefully all of the candidates feel similarly in that the dump:
A) Needs to be managed much better (both in terms of air-quality and smell) and also
B) Should not be allowed to expand north of 6 Mile Road
I hope it is acceptable if I take your questions out of order.
1. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
I do not have any history with, have never worked with Arbor Hills or any waste companies.
Obviously, with the dump located outside of both Northville Township and Wayne County, it poses an especially difficult challenge. Although, I have no specialty training with landfill operations, waste management, etc., I have been put into situations during my 28 years in the Marine Corps as well as other job capacities where I have needed to “learn the ropes” and problem-solve in areas outside of my expertise.
Although I am not presently assigned to it, I believe that our Township’s sub-committee currently assigned to work on the very important dump issue is doing a good job in working to achieve our township’s top objectives (A & B above).
2. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
I have advocated with our Supervisor that residents who come to our meetings be given extra latitude in expressing their concerns and frankly their frustrations with the dump and even our board when needed. I am not in favor on being a stickler for the 2-minute rule for public comments and am happy to give our constituents the opportunity to be heard.
At my request, and even though I am not assigned to this sub-committee, I have met with the former leader of the Conservancy to better educate myself and ask how I can best assist with the effort.
I was in favor of/supported having the Conservancy Group have a monthly line item on our agenda. As one of the township’s top priorities, this made absolute sense to me.
Perhaps most importantly, should the township’s assigned sub-committee (current or future) fail to advocate appropriately for the conservancy group/our residents (especially those most directly affected on the western side of our township), my allegiance is to the residents. This is simply to say while I have great respect for all of the current board members, when needed I am happy to vote and act independently in support of our residents, even if that vote/action is contrary to the rest of the board.
3. As Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
If elected I would continue to support the conservancy group/residents to the best of my ability and would be more than happy to serve on the landfill sub-committee if there were a vacancy as this issue is, I feel, one of the township’s top priorities.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
In addition to this proposed language:
Expansion of existing solid waste facilities and new solid waste facilities shall not be located within 2 miles of the border of an adjacent municipality without the consent of the adjacent municipality through a resolution of their elected governing body
I would like to see our sub-committee work with legislators to develop additional language which does not allow any expansions for existing facilities where violations have occurred in the last 2 years (5 would be better). I advocate for language where an entity seeking to expand their operations should not even be considered if they have a history of violations.
I would like to coral Northville stakeholders to work together and encourage all possible solutions, even those “out of the box” including those which may be a little unconventional yet effective. In the Marine Corps was a saying: “if it’s stupid and it works, it’s not stupid.” I would not be opposed to investigating if there were any way possible for the Township (or another friendly entity) to acquire property north of 6 Mile Rd which could potentially thwart the efforts of Arbor Hills as they try to buy up property there.
I would like us to develop a plan to identify, educate and persuade those specific individuals on the board of 13 with approval/denial power for any expansion of the landfill. We need to learn all we can about them and do all in our power to ensure they vote “NO” when/should that time come.
In general, I believe that people “vote their pocketbook.” And, even though Salem Township gets a considerable amount of money in tipping fees from the dump, I would not discount the fact that there are a lot of good Salem Township residents who - if properly informed and educated through a grass-roots campaign by the Conservancy Group supported by the Township - may be motivated to voice their desires to their township board to vote in the interests of the environment, of the values of being a good neighbor and persuade that group to put pressure on that board to NOT let the dump expand.
I think that in the next term we at the Township need to educate the eastern half of the township on the looming threat and get them involved in the fight.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road) .
You are right to be angry about this issue. I am, and we as a board are too. We want to advocate for you, work with you and do all in our power to stop the expansion and also be the watchdogs, squeaky-wheels (whatever you want to call it) to hold Arbor Hills accountable for managing their facility properly.
Chris Roosen
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
Response: As a citizen, I am negatively affected by the problems at Arbor Hills, and I have supported the Conservancy Initiative, including financially. In the past year, I have been working at the request of Supervisor Nix on the working group that interviewed and hired a professional lobbying firm, which was suggested by our residents. We have been meeting legislators in Lansing, and by zoom and conference call since the COVD19 shutdown. On Tuesday, June 9, we will be testifying in Lansing in support of new legislation, requesting that bordering communities be given a voice in landfill siting and expansion.
2. As Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
Response: I was asked by Supervisor Nix to be part of the working group on this problem. I want to continue this role to work with him and our lobbying firm in Lansing to reform the landfill permitting process to give our community a voice in any landfill expansion (which we oppose). I also oppose the request made by Arbor Hills to dump leachate in the Johnson Creek. This proposal is unacceptable. I cannot imagine that Arbor Hills could build and operate a treatment plant to treat this leachate before dumping it in the Johnson Creek any better than they have managed their existing infrastructure, which we know has been a failure. The leachate must continue to be taken offsite to be treated as today.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
Response: I am a trained engineer from UM with numerous contacts in the auto industry. I also have been politically active for 25 years, with numerous contacts in various capacities in Lansing.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Response: This is a complex problem that requires us all to work together. As a non-partisan issue, we have been able to work effectively across the aisle with our State Representative, State Senator, other state leaders in the Executive and Legislative Branch, and we are extremely happy with the professionalism and dedication of the lobbying firm we have hired to represent our community.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road)
Response: When we built our home on the west side of Sheldon Road twenty years ago, we knew the landfill was there, but we were not directly affected by it. We didn't know that someone gave them approval at some point to grow the height of the landfill, and one day we realized it is now looming over 400 feet tall. We also didn't experience odors or pollution twenty years ago, as we do now. We are your neighbors, our home is also our major investment, we love living here, but we share your desire to reverse this problem.
Cyndy Jankowski
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
As the Board of Education liaison to the Landfill Working Group, I have had the opportunity to educate myself on the ongoing concerns of our residents who live near Arbor Hill. Specifically, the health and safety of their children who attend Ridge Wood Elementary. With the completion of construction of monitoring equipment at Ridge Wood slated for September 1, 2020, receiving accurate air quality readings will be the first step in our fight to resolve the issues that continue without the proper repair and maintenance of the landfill.
2. As Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
As a township trustee, I plan to continue to monitor and listen to residents’ complaints and find ways to resolve the negative impacts our residents continue to endure. I believe it is also imperative to educate our residents who live in the Eastern part of the township, who may also lend a hand in support by writing to our representatives or attending future meetings on any future expansion plans or other related meetings where public input would be appropriate. Continue to provide current information through the Township’s website on the Conservancy’s work to educate our community on violations and new permit applications. Every Wayne County resident should be outraged at the recent application by Advanced Disposal to perform on-site treatment and discharge of leachate into Johnson Creek, the last cold water fish stream in the County. Your continued work to educate will continue to build awareness in our community and give all Trustees valuable information to continue the Township’s efforts for change.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
At this time, I do not have any direct relationships with landfill companies or to the agencies that oversee their operations. I do however, have the ability to educate myself on issues, understand the impacts, and continue the Township’s work with the Michigan House of Representatives Committee on House Resources and Outdoor Recreation on proposed Part 115 revisions to give communities in areas surrounding current or proposed new landfills a voice during the approval process. I recently watched the testimony given by Supervisor Nix on June 9, 2020, before that Committee and was encouraged by the Committee’s willingness to continue discussions. If elected, I would be excited to continue those discussions as an advocate for our residents.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Again, education is a key component for change. I would attend and advocate for our residents at meetings with the Washtenaw County Solid Waste Committee and personally meet with Washtenaw County Commissioners on continued monitoring of the landfill to keep pressure on Advanced Disposal to rectify current odor issues, as well as future repairs as necessary. Continue to find opportunities with our legislators and state agencies, in cooperation with the lobbyist the Township hired in 2020, to find voices from both sides of the aisle for revisions to Part 115 legislation. Part 115 will not only provide our Township, but others throughout the state who have similar issues, an opportunity to unite our voices in unison to change current legislation and give all state residents the ability to protect their homes and families.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
I hear you. With violations issued not only by The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) but by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), it’s long overdue for change. I am grateful for the opportunity to be member of the Landfill Working Group and feel this involvement has placed me in a great position to continue advocating for your families as a Northville Township Trustee.
Steve McGuirk
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
As the President of the Northville Soccer Association/Michigan Rush, I have witnessed first hand the amount of traffic and the smell residents have had to endure because of the landfill. As you may be aware, our soccer fields are located at 5 Mile and Beck, and our association has been negatively affected by the landfill, and as a homeowner I have concerns about PFAS or PFOS in the Johnson Creek and possible contaminating the groundwater which is used to water Northville Township Soccer fields. As a result, I have been a strong supporter of the Conservancy Initiative’s efforts.
2. As a Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
We need leaders who will fight for the enforcement of current laws and to strengthen those laws with increased penalties for violations. Not when it is election time, but 24 hours a day/7 days a week. We also need leaders that will fight to stop ADS from placing leachaids in the Johnson Creek and work with leaders in Lansing to clean up the PFAS that was recently discovered in the creek.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
I have no relationships with Arbor Hills; however, I do know that Salem Township has derived millions of dollars from the landfill and very few of their residents have to suffer from the smell of the landfill. Additionally, I am aware that Arbor Hills wants to dump more poisons into Johnson Creek and that has to be stopped. For a job to help pay for college, I was a reader in the Toxicology Department at Ohio State. I was to look for keywords and topics that were of interest to my professor. This was prior to journals being available online. I have a special interest in the 83,000 plus chemicals used in packaging and industry that can affect the environment.
As a Trustee, I will work with our state elected officials and Township Supervisor to demand changes and the restoration of the Johnson Creek.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
As I stated earlier, we need to work with our state and federal elected officials to help us to clean up the PFAS in the Johnson Creek and to stop Arbor Hills from placing any more contaminants in the creek. As for any expansion of the landfill, I am and will remain opposed to any expansion.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road).
As the President of the Northville Soccer Association/Michigan Rush, I have witnessed firsthand the amount of traffic and the smell residents have had to endure because of the landfill. As you may be aware, our soccer fields are located at 5 Mile and Beck, and our association has been negatively affected by the landfill, and as a homeowner I have concerns about PFAS in the Johnson Creek. On a different note, the sounds of the trucks are often confused by my coaches as thunder, causing a disregard of the actual threat of the real danger of lightning to our soccer players / coaches and baseball players / coaches.
We have seen what has happened in Wixom with the Huron River and we cannot let that happen here in Northville. As our next Trustee, I will do everything in my power to stop the expansion of the landfill, protect the Johnson Creek, and enhance opportunities for Northville families.
Kevin Johnston
1. How have you supported Northville Township to date in addressing resident concerns regarding Arbor Hill Landfill?
I have been a subscriber to the email campaign for some time and regularly report odor violations on the website. I live in Steeplechase at 7 Mile and Napier so am very familiar with the ongoing problems at the landfill.
2. As Northville Township Trustee, what, if any role would you plan to have in supporting residents that are negatively impacted by Advanced Disposal and Arbor Hills Landfill?
Moving forward I plan to continue my support of the newsletter and community activism. I believe everyone has a voice and valuable experience. Open communication is the only way to solve problems. Ensuring that others are made aware of the situation and continuing our intent for a compromise moving forward with the landfill is what I think is the best thing to do.
3. Is there anything in your background that may help you deal with the landfill issues? Specifically, do you have any history or relationships with Arbor Hills or any other waste companies? Are you familiar with landfill operations and environmental regulations? Do you have any relationships with the EGLE that may help guide you as Township Trustee?
I have lived in Steeplechase at 7 Mile and Napier for over 15 years. I know how the landfill has increased in odor, size, and nuisance. My background as a communicator and optimist is the best and most level headed way to approach and work with the landfill towards common good.
4. What are your thoughts on how to address the existing situation, including working with other state leaders to ensure compliance of landfill regulations and oppose any future expansion of the landfill? Please be as specific as possible on actions you believe could resolve the issues.
Making others aware of the problem is the best way. Community activism is all about support. Knowing the current state of the landfill and their proposed plans is the best way to get ahead of them.
5. What would you like to say to the Northville Township Residents who are regularly impacted by the landfill (roughly speaking, residents who live west of Sheldon Road. I know and understand your situation as I am in it myself everyday.
I believe we can work towards an amicable compromise with the landfill to help everyone out. With the support of our community and others, people will recognize the need for change and help us accomplish it together.
Muhammad Aslam
No response was received from Mr. Aslam