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Citizens come to Kidwell’s defense
Published 9:51pm Monday, April 4, 2011Facing a recall effort, Niles Township Supervisor Jim Kidwell had several residents come to his defense at Monday’s board meeting in a standing room only Niles Township Hall.
Four township resident supporters spoke on Kidwell’s behalf during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“The previous administration was nothing but lip service,” said Charles Rogers. “But I support Jim Kidwell. He always has treated me professionally and with respect.”
- Jim Kidwell
Kenneth Ray said it looks like all the other board members are against Kidwell.
“It’s like six against one. The checks and balances seem off. There are six balances and one check,” he said.
He went on to criticize the board for its “bickering.”
“This isn’t junior high. This isn’t grade school,” he said. “It’s time to grow up.”
Another resident took the board to task for not supporting some of Kidwell’s recent cost-saving proposals, like building a township website for free rather than purchasing one and hiring the state to do the township audit.
Ollen Baldwin, a township resident who has been vocal at board meetings in his criticism of Kidwell, accused Kidwell of inviting his supporters to Monday’s meeting to publicly support him during the recall process.
“You filled the house up with your cronies back here,” he said. “He (Kidwell) is only telling you half truths.”
During Baldwin’s comments, others shouted out comments like “shut up” and “sucks to be outnumbered, don’t it?”
Township resident Herschel Hoese is leading the recall effort, which began in response to Kidwell issuing a press release to reporters last month notifying them of an investigation of Township Treasurer Jim Ringler for an alleged violation of township policy. An internal investigation revealed he was not in violation.
The recall wording states that Kidwell’s actions “breached both the confidentiality of the township’s attorney-client privileged information of a closed session meeting … and an employee’s right to a confidential investigation under Niles Charter Township’s policy manual.”
At Monday’s meeting, Kidwell fired back at Hoese, questioning how he was able to determine what was said in a closed meeting. Kidwell asked the board members if they had tipped him off. None of the board members responded.
Hoese and his supporters have to collect more than 900 signatures of township residents within a 90-day period in the next six months in order for a recall election to be scheduled.
A recall effort against Ringler, Clerk Marge Durm-Hiatt and trustees Dick Noble and Richard Cooper stalled after it didn’t pass a clarity hearing conducted by Berrien County officials last week.
Tags: Jim Kidwell, Niles Township recall
I could not be at the meeting due to being out of town,but had I been there I would have agreed with Kenny Ray.
The Falicy is
The Idea of “The recall wording states that Kidwell’s actions “breached both the confidentiality of the township’s attorney-client privileged information of a closed session meeting … and an employee’s right to a confidential investigation.
The Township does not have an attorney Client relationship
with it’s employees, It has a Duty to inform the Township,
of any Impropriaties, or even the appearances of such.
this is called “transparency” it owes the Township, to
inform them of ANY such Investigation.
an Investigation is not the same thing, as a trial.
If You want to see if and or If not anything done was
proper and or not proper it MUST BE INVESTIGATED!
and the Township MUST be Informed, that is who the Township owes any loyalty, and not the old township “Mafia” that have controled the Township for so long, the have forgotten they Serve the Township, and
not the Township serves them.
no employess should ever get a secret Investigation,
on a Township level, as that only serves the built in Croneisms the township Mafia relied on for too many years.
I was at the meeting last night and it was good to see that the township residents came out to show their support for Mr. Kidwell. I know that he is in office to do good for the township people. I was appalled at the violent behavior of Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Hoese. If this is the kind of violent individuals that are trying to influence the township I would not want any part of it!
I also found it interesting that Mr. Kidwell brought out the fact that he was being recalled for supposedly divulging closed meeting information when it was obvious that someone on the board divulged that same information to Mr. Hoese for the recall. So it looks like “the pot calling the kettle black.” If I were Mr. Hoese, I would think twice about sending out a petition with false allegations on it.
After hearing what Mr. Kidwell had to say about the information in regard to the recall wording, it has become apparent to me that one or all of the other board members have ha d a hand in the recall as well. The board is doing just as Mr. Kidwell has said, they are continuing to wastefully spend our tax dollars by aiding Mr. Hoese with this recall. So I would hope that all of the Niles Township residents would NOT sign the recall petition and let the voters decide in 2012!
I use to be proud of the fact that I live in Niles Twp. However, it is getting more difficult for me to say those words. I think that it is sad that our “officials” can’t get along with one another, like adults should. Personally, I never really liked or wanted Mr. Kidwell for our supervisor. Then today while my son was walking in our neighborhood he found a piece of paper on the ground. He picked it up cuz thats what good kids do, help keep their neighborhood clean. That paper was a open letter from Mr. Kidwell asking citizens not to sign the recall petition against him. I have a question, who paid to print these letters out and deliver them, so they would just blow in the wind and trash our neighborhoods. Is Mr. Kidwell that afraid that the recall will actually be passed and he loses his position with the Township. Personally I was just going to wait for the next election, but now if someone asked me to sign the petition I will not hesitate to do so.
Here is a simple test, Boy’s and Girls…..
read it carefully, and slowly.
who’s money is the Township spending?
To find the Answere to who owes Who What,
just ask Yourselves the Question, of
Who’s money are they spending.
that is the important relationship,
and that is where their Loyalty should
assigned to.
I don’t think Mr. Kidwell is afraid of what will happen with the recall petition on him. I think it’s a matter of what is right, and Mr. Kidwell is trying to let the people know what these good old boys and girl are doing to our township. There was a status quot in our township, and now that Mr. Kidwell is there their little world is starting to fall apart. I’m a firm believer of Karma. What comes around goes around. Now for my first question. Why did the township attorney, and township clerk almost crap their pants when Mr. Kidwell brought up the wording on his recall, and how citizens would not know about the section covered during that meeting for which he is begin accused of? Second question, why was the attorney there anyway. More wasted dollars?
As Jim’s daughter and one of the few that actually knows all of the time and personal funds he has invested in the township I feel it is time to share. So there is no question, all printings that Jim has ever distributed has always been paid for out of his own pocket. He has never submitted a single reimbursement request even for the conferences and other jobs he attends to for the township.
As for the distribution of these fliers, between Jim, myself, and my children, we have personally delivered them to resident’s paper boxes. Our apologies if some of those have been blown out onto the ground.
Jim has dedicated so much of his time to helping this township. He loves to serve and help the residents. He has taken time to help rake leaves, dig trenches to help a home from being flooded, helped residents with a road that no other township official would ever help with, he accomplished the demolition of Eastgate at no cost to the township, and much more. That’s all in two years of service.
I know I am biased, but I think it is important for citizens to know the whole story! If any resident has any questions his door is always open.
I know there will always be sides taken to these issues and can only imagine the tension among the employees at the township with all this controversy. They have always done a good job and I hope this doesn’t affect them in any way negatively.
“username75″ you stated: no employess should ever get a secret Investigation”; Why, may I ask, do you think an employee should have a complaint become public? Do you think anyone would want to go through the media exposure whenever they have a problem with another employee?
I don’t believe Kidwell should be involved with anything to do with the public or taxpayer’s money. I watched him on several occasions commit perjury while under oath. How and why the Judge didn’t is beyond me, kinda makes ya wonder. I too believe in Karma, it’s just a matter of time. If you ever pay attention though, watch for that smirk on his face and the noises that he makes, (pffts, grunts, ect…) just says guilty to me….I will be one among many, who DEFINATELY WILL sign the petition.
I have spent YEARS volunteering my time and spending MY money on behalf of the kids in our community. Much of this time has been spent at Fireman’s Park in NTWP. I have also either lived and worked for 2/3 of my life there. (30 years)
Much of this time has been spent working with the good people running our township. The chaos that has become the norm began with Mr. Kidwell’s arrival. The staff and board members are quality people whom due their jobs with due diligence.
I’m afraid the costs of a recall may pale compared to what has been, and what will be wasted, by this man and his actions. Look for a five figure settlement for those he has wronged with his ignorance and disregard of due process. Where do I sign??
Madison asked
“username75″ you stated: no employess should ever get a secret Investigation”; Why, may I ask, do you think an employee should have a complaint become public? Do you think anyone would want to go through the media exposure whenever they have a problem with another employee?”
well if Billy Bob, had a problem with Joe Bob’s picking His nose, in public, i would think that was of little Consequence, But if a high Employee had a complaint of
Funneling funds to a certain project for his personal enrichment, I really do.
as i believe in a little known principal of Accountabilaty to those You really work for,
not just the board members You are entrusted to watch their butts, so they will watch yours.
You can contact several people to sign recall. Lets stop this mess. Call Herschel Hoese to find out where to sign. You can find the number in the phone directory. Lets all take our Township back
I do not understand why the fearsome foursome (Hiatt, Ringler, Noble and Cooper) are so worried. If they have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, then what is the problem? As ELECTED officials (not public employees – there is a difference) they are supposed to be held to a higher standard and are not supposed to harrass, intimidate and threaten employees or use their office for personal gain. You or I would get fired on the spot for that. But the “4″ decided that they did not want a policy making them accountable for their conduct. Apparently they feel above the law and basic ethical behavior. So abusive behavior is still wrong, but does not violate township policy-because there isn’t one. Kidwell seems to be the only open book on the board and he is almost painfully honest. Baldwin & Hoese, you continually harrange Kidwell at the meetings, but when an elderly gentleman dared to disagree with you Monday nite, you threatened him. Who are you representing? If its the “4″, they may want to reconsider having the likes of you speak for them. Rather frightening, isn’t folks.