Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski has lost in his bid for the 106th district in the Michigan House of Representatives.  His opponent on the Democratic ballot received nearly twice the amount of votes. 

     He and his supporters will surely blame the loss on the fact that he's being recalled as the P.I. Supervisor.  Rather than admit his own shortcomings, he has constantly said that the recall effort was all about derailing his campaign.  Nowhere in any of the recall literature did it say don't vote for Pat on August 3rd.  No effort was put forth to saturate the media in places like Grayling and Harrisville that Pokorski was being recalled.  The recall is a local township issue.  Now that his run for Lansing is over, the recall won't be "recalled" because the citizens of Presque Isle Township are still upset about his conduct as Supervisor. 

The recall was never about the race for the 106th.  Pokorski simply lost to a better candidate.

By Barry Schatz

     Many people think the Township Supervisor is ultimately in charge of a Michigan township.  They think the Supervisor is the King/Queen of the land and ultimately in charge.  The truth is there are five members of a township board including a Treasurer, Clerk, two Trustees, and of course the Supervisor.  The Supervisor's job is to set the budget and run the meetings.  Each board member has an equal vote on all township matters.  A Supervisor does not have veto power or the ability to override the will of the Board of Trustees.  It is the board as a complete unit that has the power to make decisions.  This is grass roots politics and democracy the way the United States of America was set up to be run.  If we don't like the job they do, we can elect somebody else when their term is up.  

     Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski apparently doesn't believe in the democratic process.  In his first year as the Presque Isle Township Supervisor, he acted unilaterally in cutting down $7,000.00 in trees on historical public Property.

     Supervisor Pokorski's actions while in office have been laughable like the images in this post.  He blames his political opponents for his mistakes.  He blamed the trees he had cut down at the lighthouses on the Township Parks & Recreation Committee by stating "they had a plan."  I was on that committee and at the meetings.  There was a conversation about creating more parking spaces at the New Lighthouse but there was no motion to make a recommendation to the Township Board of Trustees.  There was no conversation about the Old Lighthouse whatsoever.  (For more information on the tree cutting, see other post on this blog)

     An employee of the New Lighthouse recently reported that Pokorski and several guests walked right by the counter without paying to climb the tower.  The employee had never met the Supervisor before and yelled up the tower that they had to pay when they came down.  Pokorski apparently yelled back, "I don't have to pay, I'm the Supervisor."  King?  Special treatment?  Do the other township board members get this special privledge?  The revenue earned for tower climbs are split between the lighthouse fund and the consessionaire.  The township's share of the tower climbs are what helps cover the expense of the lighthouses rather than make them a burdon on the taxpayers.  By not paying, he is stealing from tax payers AND the concessionaire who are independent business people.  When I was on the Parks & Recreation Committee, I didn't expect any special priviledge.  What I did was buy a season pass to the lighthouses.  This allows the card holder to take guests up for free.  

     A recall petition was signed by 274 area residents and submitted to the Presque Isle County Clerk on July 30th.  Normally people have 90 days to collect signatures but to get on the November ballot, there was only 30 days.  Given the full three months, there surely would have been twice the amount of signatures. 

     Many people supported recalling Patrick Pokorski but were reluctant to sign the petition for fear of being judges socially.  Some local business owners were afraid the few patrons that support the Supervisor would stop using their services.  I myself have lost some business but have already gained twice as many new customers.  It seems people respect a person that stands up for the truth and has integrity. 

     If the petition is approved, the decision to recall Pokorski will fall on ALL the voters of the township.  This is how the democratic process is meant to work.  If Pokorski is removed from office, a special election will be held to elect a new Supervisor.   

     Destroying historical public property isn't the only issue with Supervisor Pokorski.  Setting the township budget is his responsibility.  His first budget was spent in the first 8 months of the fiscal year.  Pokorski frequently overspent the money the Board approved for projects like the cemetery expansion.  Is this the kind of person that should be in charge of the Presque Isle Township checkbook?  

     I understand Pokorski blamed the prior Supervisor for not teaching him how to make a budget.  It seems somebody that ran for the center seat at the Township Board of Trustees table should know something about budgets?   Isn't this like expecting to be the starting quarterback for a football team when one don't know how to play the game...and then blames the old quarterback?   

     Only the registered voters of Presque Isle Township get to vote in the recall election.  I know of several people that changed their voter status to Presque Isle so their voice can be heard.  As far as the rest of the people that pay taxes but are not registered voters, do you remember a little event called The Boston Tea Party?   You represent taxation without representation.  You don't get to vote on the matter.  You can write a letter to the editor of local newspapers however and express your concern.  You can also write to the Township Board of Trustees.  You can also post comments  on this  blog.

    Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski gave away nearly $7,000.00 in township assets when he allowed a local logging company to remove trees from historical public property in Presque Isle township as well as from some private property.  The amount was obtained by the Michigan State Police who are investigating Patrick Pokorski's actions.  The logging company sold logs, cedar posts, and wood chips and have provided evidence of the amount they received. 

     Patrick Pokorski did not have permission from the Township Board of Trustees to remove the trees and he did not have a contract with the logging company.  There were no bids from other contractors or the one that got the job.

     Giving away $7,000.00 in township assets plus repair and restoration costs to the Lighthouse Parks are expected exceed $20,000.00 in tax payer's money.

     Besides a criminal investigation, a petition to recall Patrick Pokorski is being circulated in the township. 

     The picture to the left is the view from the top of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse after Hurricane Patrick ripped through the forest in October, 2009.  Of course there aren't hurricanes in Michigan.  The damage was actually caused by Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski.  He invited a logging contractor to harvest trees from historical public property without approval from the Township Board of Trustees.  Patrick wasn't in town when the trees were being cut.  Instead he had Parks & Recreation Committee member Clayton Peters supervising the cutting.  Peters was not aware Pokorski didn't have approval from the board. 

      Pokorski's favorite response to the damage is "it's political."  He is arrogant enough to suggest that YOU can't make up your own mind whether you think the view from the lighthouse looks bad.  He seems to think YOU need permission from his political opponents to form your own opinion.  This is just his way of avoiding admitting he broke the law when he gave away township assets - the trees. 

     All that remains after the trees were removed are ugly gray rocks.  It will be years before the land starts to green up due to the lack of top soil.  Cost to repair and restore the lighthouse parks will be in the thousands and YOU the tax payer are going to foot the bill.  Yes I did say "parks" as in plural.

     The above pictures illustrate a before and after look at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.  The circle drive up to the Old Lighthouse was covered by a canopy of trees creating a tunnel one would drive or walk through.  As you can see, the charm is gone.  Pokorski didn't just give away the trees, he gave away the character of the lighthouse parks. 

• There were no bids from other contractors.
• There was no contract with the company that did remove the trees.
• The logging company did not follow  S.F.I.(Sustainable Forest Initiative) guidelines by cutting all the way to the shore at the New Lighthouse. One objective of the S.F.I. is "To manage  the visual impact of forest operations and provide recreational opportunities to the public."  Another objective is to mange lands that are culturally important in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities.
• It is unknown how many thousands of dollars the truckloads of logs and wood chips the contractor took were worth.
• Supervisor Pokorski ordered the contractor to dump stumps and debris on the Lake Huron Shore (wetland) which was a D.N.R.E (Department of Natural Resources Environmental) violation  Removal cost the township taxpayers approximately $2,500.00.
• An Army Corps of Engineers (who control the first 1,000 feet from the water) permit was not applied for.
• An endangered species permit was not applied for.
• Both lighthouses are on the National Register of Historical Places.  Removing the trees was in violation of Secretary of Interior's standards for the treatment of historical properties. 
• Patrick Pokorski proudly stated at the 2009 Parks & Recreation Committee meeting that the tree cutting was done at no cost to the tax payers.  The repair and restoration however is expected to be up to or in excess of $20,000 of tax payer's money, not to mention hours of volunteer hours.  This does not included lost revenue as many locals refuse to visit the lighthouses now. 

     After looking at the pictures and / or visiting the parks, call Pokorski's political opponents folks and have them tell you how you are supposed to feel.  Pat apparently thinks you can't make up your own mind.

By Barry Schatz

A petition to recall Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski is being circulated among township residents.   The wording on the petition was approved at a clarity hearing on June 30^th in the Presque Isle County Courthouse.  Pokorski had about 30 supporters at the hearing but those numbers are dwarfed by hundreds of township residents in support of the recall.  I know of several seasonal residents that changed their voting status to Presque Isle Township so they can vote in November to recall Pokorski.

Following is the petition wording as approved at the clarity hearing.

1)      Removed acres of trees at the Lighthouse Parks without approval from the Township Board.  No contract with contractor that did the work. Committed DEQ and other violations by not getting permits.  Cost for cleanup, repair, and restoration will exceed $5,000 including $2,000 to remove stumps and brush from wetlands. 

2)      Additional trees were cut from private property adjacent to township cemetery without owner’s final approval.

3)      Exceeded his budget as approved for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, then continued to expend Township funds.

4)      2010-2011 budget not prepared for the May 2010 meeting so the Trustees could examine it prior to approval at the June 2010 meeting.  A special meeting to review the budget was called at tax payers expense.

5)      While serving as Township Sextant, exceeded budget as approved by the Board of Trustees for the expansion of the Township Cemetery.

6)      Has behaved unprofessionally at Township meetings.  Has been argumentative and raised his voice to attendees.  Blames others for his errors and decisions.

7)      In general, has failed to provide leadership and management for the Township.  Does not communicate with board members, committee members or staff.

Patrick Pokorski insists that the recall is politically driven by his opponents to derail him in his bid for the 106^th District of the Michigan House of Representatives.  The truth is, a recall is a legal and political move to get an elected official out of office.  PATRICK POKORSKI IS A POLITICIAN.  Pokorski chose to be a politician and then complains that his opponents are being political?  One doesn’t go to a funeral and act surprised when people cry!  The residents of Presque Isle Township feel Patrick Pokorski has done a crappy job as Township Supervisor and want him out.  This IS grassroots politics and is all about issues in the township.  Heck yes this is political but it has nothing to do with any other politian in the state.  Pat has to be accountable for his own poor performance as an elected official.

To further dispel any political agenda beyond the township level, I want to point out that Pokorski was informed prior to the petition being filed that there was a plan for a recall.  He was offered the chance to resign as Township Supervisor so he could focus his time on his campaign.  People can’t recall somebody NOT in office.  He was offered a chance to save his campaign from this negative publicity and refused. 

I also want to note that Pokorski’s opponents for the State Rep., position have not used the recall to campaign against him.  The Committee to Recall Patrick Pokorski have not been campaigning about the fact that he’s running for an office in Lansing.  It’s Pokorski himself that keeps drawing attention to himself and his campaign.  Newspapers in Alcona or Crawford Counties have not been contacted about the recall.

Patrick Pokorkski’s continued comments about the recall being political is simply his answer to the accusation on the petition.  He has no good answer when he is asked, “Why did you ignore the process of getting Township Board approval before destroying public property?”  or “Why do you continue to blame other people for your mistakes?”  How about, "Pat, what happened to your budget?  You spent it in the first 8 months of the fiscal year."  or "Pat, why are you over budget on nearly every occasion when the board approves money?"  

Pokorski’s answer that the recall is political echoes in the media, his speeches, and among his supporters.  It’s time to answer the questions Pat! 

By Barry Schatz

     As a prior-member of the Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee, many people have approached me over the last several months to ask why so many trees were cut at the Old and New Presque Isle Lighthouses.  First I'll tell you what happened in a quick statement, then I'll fill in the blanks.

     Presque Isle Township Supervisor, Patrick Pokorski invited a contractor to come to both lighthouse parks and remove trees.  He did this without approval from the Presque Isle Board of Trustees.  There were no bids from other contractors.  There was no written contract with the company that removed the trees. 

     The trees are as Township assets just the same as any structure owned by the Presque Isle Township.  Nobody knows the value of the logs and wood chips removed from township property.  The first photo shows the trees cut as viewed from the 1905 House at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse.

    The second and third photos show how the driveway was widened on the circle loop at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.  What was once a charming tunnel of trees one would drive under is now open to the sky.

     Here is the rest of the story.  In September of 2009, the Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee and the Presque Isle Museum Society held a joint meeting. (I attended as a Parks committee member)  As hosts of the 4th of July picnic and the Labor Day picnic, the museum society have had concerns regarding parking.  They suggested some ideas to add additional parking spaces. 

     It was agreed upon that Supervisor Patrick Pokorski and two members from the Parks & Recreation Committee were to walk the property at the New Lighthouse and determine what areas would be cut.  That meeting didn't happen as planned.   What SHOULD have happened was the three men would have reported their thoughts back to the next Park & Rec. meeting for further discussion among the entire committee.  At that time, the Parks & Recreation committee acted an advisory committee only with no decision making authority.  Once we had reached a decision about the best way to go about the parking issue, we would have made a "recommendation" to the Presque Isle Township Board of Trustees and they would make a decision on a project of this size.  There would have been discussion on cost, contractors bids, and zoning rules.  (As it turned out at later meetings, protocol would have had Parks & Rec reporting to the Township Planning Commission who would then refer it to the Board of Trustees)

     This is what DID happen.  Pokorski and Parks committee member Clayton Peters determinted what trees should be removed.  At the October meeting of the Parks & Recreation Committee, Supervisor Patrick Pokorski advised the members of the committee that the trees at been cut, "at no cost to the township."  Supervisor Pokorski appeared quite pleased with himself that he had arranged a deal where the contractor would not charge the township for the tree removal in exchange for the material including logs and brush that had been chipped to be sold. 

     It was at this October meeting that Supervisor Pokorski also advised us there had been a large amount of trees cut at the Old Lighthouse.  The committee was shocked because there had been no discussion at our prior meeting about any tree removal at the Old Lighthouse.  The driveway coming into the park had been widened as well as the circle loop up to the lighthouse.

     Supervisor Pokorski was not in town when the trees were being cut.  He put Clayton Peters in charge of the project. Clayton thought Pokorski had board approval.  Clayton told me as he was instructing the loggers on what trees to cut at the New Lighthouse, he was not aware that a second crew was working at the Old Lighthouse.   

     In addition to the tree removal at the lighthouses, several large trees were removed from private property (Common property owned by the Presque Isle Harbor Association) near the Presque Isle Cemetery.  I was not in attendance at any P.I.H.A. meetings where there may have been discussions on the cutting of trees there so I won't comment on that. 

     NO COST TO THE TOWNSHIP - As I mentioned, Supervisor Patrick Pokorski said the work was done at no cost to the township.  I can say there has been a great amount of cost to the township.  The contractor left a huge pile of stumps on the Lake Huron shore near the Old Lighthouse.  Dumping on that wetland was a D.E.Q.violation so the township had it removed at a cost to the taxpayers of $2,000.00.  Repairs in the Spring of 2010 have already exceeded $5,000.00 in taxpayer money to make the parks safe for visitors.  A special meeting was held by the Parks & Recreation committee to walk both parks and discuss repairs and restoration.  As the Parks & Recreation Committee is now a paid committee (As of January 2010) each member in attendance was paid the traditional meeting fee of $90.00.  Further repairs and restoration is needed and the total cost to the taxpayers isn't yet known. 

     FAILURE TO ADMIT FAULT - What has angered many residents is Supervisor Patrick Pokorski blamed the Parks and Recreation Committee for the tree cutting.  In minutes from Board of Trustees meetings, he refers to "The Plan" the Parks & Recreation Committee had.  At a Spring Parks & Rec. meeting,  I asked Supervisor Pokorski what he meant by "The Plan".  Supervisor Pokorski raised his voice and in an angry tone replied that "The tree cutting is done and we're not discussing it anymore.  It's a dead issue."  I begged to differ as the township hadn't finished paying for the damages. 

     The only plan the Parks & Recreation Committee has had was to have further discussions about parking and maintenance.  It was Supervisor Pokorski who brought in the logging company.  The minutes of all the meetings of the Parks & Rec, the Planing Commission, and the Presque Isle Township Board of Trustees are all public record.  Nowhere will anybody find and comments on a plan to cut down these trees.

     Township residents and visitors have asked what's being done.  The Michigan State Police have been contacted (as of June 12, 2010) and a criminal investigation has begun.  A petition to recall Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski will be be filed with the County Clerk in Rogers City.

     Patrick Pokorski is currently running for the for a the 106th district of the Michigan House of Representatives. 

     Unlike other blogs on the web that pertain to this township, I offer my name as a credible witness to all I have written.  Tell me what you think folks!  Your name will give your comments credibility as well. 

     I do want to add that this blog of which I own was not meant to be used for political reasons as I have no political agenda.  Unfortunately I have heard stories that suggest a skewed reality of the tree cutting exists in the township and I needed to set the record straight.  If any prior or current members of the Parks and Recreation Committee or the Board of Trustees finds error in my words, I will be happy to amend this posting.

     I do encourage comments and won't delete them unless they are inappropriate in taste and content.  If you have questions you would like to ask in person, The Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee meets the last Monday of each month at the Township Hall at 7:00.  The Planning Commission meets the first Monday and the Board of Trustees meets the second Monday of each month.  

Hundreds of ice fishing people showed up at the South end of the lake on February 13th for a chance to win a four wheeler or other great prizes.  I didn't see many big fish caught but it didn't matter.  The heaviest fish still won but the real winner was the charitable group raising funds to build an interpretive center on the island in the duck park in Alpena.

Art Mucciante sits and waits.  Yes that four inch perch was weighed for a chance at a prize.  I mentioned above that their weren't many big fish caught.

No, fisherman weren't dropping dead from boredom.  The water is Grand Lake is so clear, you can see the bottom of the lake and the fish swimming around if you look in the hole.

Plenty of ways to travel and plenty of prizes.

If you bundle up, you won't get cold.

By Barry Schatz

     Being one that likes to travel, David Bargeron of Herron Michigan was crossing The High Plains of Texas a few years back.  It was late at night when he heard a poem on the radio titled, The Men Who Don't Fit In.  He was so moved by the poem that when he returned home, he visited the Alpena Library and searched the internet for the poem.  To his disappointment, he didn't find it.

     On a future adventure, David visited the New Presque Isle Lighthouse in N.E. Michigan.  He was enjoying the warm summer evening on the porch swing of the 1905 house when a woman sat down beside him.  They struck up a conversation and she turned out to be a school teacher from Pennsylvania.  When she said she taught computers, David told her about his attempt at finding poem he had heard in Texas.  She asked for his address and he wrote it down on a matchbook cover.  A week later, David received a copy of the poem by Robert W. Service.  His new friend had found it on the internet and sent him a copy.  The following is the poem.