Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner is again contesting information put out by the group seeking to recall him.
‘This flyer they put out (paid inserted flyer in the March 24 Clarkston News) was very bad,? Wagner said.
The flyer stated there was ‘excessive spending? for the new Township Hall, which cost $3.5 million, was never approved by the voters, and the money was ‘spent on plasma televisions and new furniture, but not signs for the building or handicap parking.?
Wagner said the current township board voted against signs for the building, and when the building was built, it ‘fell into compliance and didn’t need any signs (for handicap parking).?
‘There are other ways to get into the building on both floors,? he said. ‘We really don’t need an elevator, but we have an elevator in here just to accommodate these individuals.?
Wagner said what really upset him was that the flyer said ‘wrongfully terminated employees later received $3,000,000 in lawsuit settlements.
‘First off, these guys know I can’t talk about any settlements that were made whatsoever,? he said. ‘The only thing I can say is there was no money paid out by this township and that’s a fact.?
Citizens Against Independence Township Waste member Henry Woloson said there was a typo and the figure was supposed to be $300,000.
‘Notice that the comma was correct, but there was an extra zero,? he said. ‘We hand corrected 1,700 copies with the error and also corrected the typo on a subsequent flyer.?
Woloson noted they made a mistake while trying to meet deadline.
‘They’ve completely mislead the residents,? Wagner said. ‘The amount was paid by insurance.?
As far as lifetime healthcare for him and his spouse after eight years of service, Wagner said the healthcare privilege is a perk and has been ‘in place for years.?
Wagner also said sheriff deputies were not laid off for a $800,000 sheriff substation, but because property taxes were ‘decreasing at an alarming rate.?
‘The cost from the county went up and we had no choice but to lay people off because the revenue was not coming in.? he said. ‘It had nothing to do with building.?
He noted the building of the new substation was not being funded by the police millage, but instead two individuals were going to privately donate the money.
As far as Wagner’s trip to Peru, he said it was because he is part of the Aliaga Foundation, which was started by his friend Jose Aliaga, township resident and local businessman.
‘I went to Peru on a request from the government because of all the work I’ve done to help raise money for kids who are in school in Peru who are underprivileged,? he said. ‘I paid my own way, had no compensation from anyone whatsoever. I went and gave a speech at the school to talk to all the kids we have been giving supplies too, to tell them how important their education is.?
He also spoke to the Supreme Court not on trash, but on the goodwill between the two countries.
‘Since then, a delegation from Peru was here last week to meet with me and talk about our two countries and what possibilities the township here would have on some international trade,? Wagner said. ‘At the same time they gave me an honoree doctrine from the University.”