Ortonville – On March 8, Ortonville village residents will vote on two council seats and village president.
IncumbentsHarold Batten, appointed in 2002, and Gina Joy Roemer appointed in 2003 currently occupy the seats. The Village President seat currently held by Sue Bess will also be decided on March 8.
Batten, Bess and Roemer have all said they will seek reelection. As of Feb. 12 only Ortonville resident Bob Flath will challenge Harold Batten for the four-year term. Bess and Roemer will be unopposed.
Flath, 63, business owner, former member of the village planning commission, past Brandon Township trustee, fire board member, an appointee as a Brandon representative to the Oakland County Solid Waste Advisory Board, former Ortonville Lions Club member, and member of the Greater Ortonville Chamber of Commerce, amiably says he wants to add debate to the village council table.
‘I want to be the devil’s advocate because every board should have one,? Flath said, adding that it is important to have someone on the council who has been ‘out of the loop? who may have different ideas and opinions that haven’t been brought up before.
With more than 27 years as ‘Village Photographer,? Flath says he’s anxious to offer and blend his extensive community experience with new ideas to represent his neighbors and peers.
As a resident, Flath hopes to make a fiscally responsible impact on the community, stating he wants to make sure residents are getting the best for their taxes.
‘I just want to see the community gets the best we can for our taxes,? he said, but adds that until he is on the council and in the core of the budget numbers, he is unsure where dollars could be better spent.
‘It will be a learning process for me before I can make a decision on where taxes could be better spent.?
While the most important feasible village project to Flath is exploring sewer installation, and says the Main Street program could serve to improve image as well as the streets of the village. He impresses that it is a community wide project that should including funding through grants and business donations.
First however, Flath is anxious to be see improvements made to South Street and the South Street Bridge stating, ‘The most important feasible project in the village right now is redoing South Street, and as long as we have a bridge I don’t care about what it looks like.?