Four candidates are seeking two trustee seats on the Centerville Township Board.
Jody Arens graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art history. She is married with two sons and works with her husband who owns a 31-year business in the county employing approximately 20 people year-round.
Kerry O’Non is a retired family business owner. She studied at Sonoma State University and University of California. Michigan has been her home for more than 40 years after moving to Leelanau, where her husband grew up.
Von Walthausen is a small business owner with a background in music and economics. These perspectives and experiences inform his work as an advocate for strong, vibrant and resilient communities.
Winston is a business journalist and editor focused on insurance and risk management news. He is also a Centerville election worker and a member of the Leelanau Internet Futures Team. He is married with two adult children.
We asked each candidate three questions, limiting length to 75 words or less. Here are their responses:
1.) What are the top three priorities for Centerville Township?
Arens:
1 —Limiting the size and scope of governmental interference in the lives of everyday citizen residents.
2—Doing what we can as a community to help facilitate the culling or curtailing of the wild deer population.
3—Facilitating (to the degree we can) to help the “highest and best” redevelopment of the Sugar Loaf property and surrounding lands in Centerville Township.
O’Non: Community engagement helps ensure fiduciary responsibility, protects property rights and maintains shared values articulated in our master plan. Good stewardship of natural and fiscal resources requires good listening, passion for problem solving and working together for the greater good. I’d be honored to serve and uphold the values of our residents. Together, we can safeguard the beauty and resources of our land, while protecting property rights and preserving our unique township way of life.
von Walthausen: My first priority is to maintain our history of good governance and civil discourse. This involves listening to and responding in a timely way to the concerns brought forward by residents.
Secondly, upholding our Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance which underscores the rural nature and agricultural character of our township. And thirdly engaging a wider cross section of people, especially younger residents, around issues of importance to them and the future growth of the township.
Winston: No drama – Our township government is not the place for a political or cultural agenda. I want to maintain Centerville’s tradition of stable, effective government.
Election integrity - We have well-run elections in our township. Attracting more community volunteers would strengthen confidence in election systems and become a source of community pride.
Community engagement – Process for revising zoning regulations benefited from extensive community input. Updating Centerville’s Master Plan will require a similar commitment to communication.
2.) Centerville Township has been the defendant in a lawsuit over a proposal to expand the former Leelanau Pines Campground on South Lake Leelanau. The township board put a moratorium of consideration of zoning requests which was extended to Aug. 31. What has the moratorium allowed the township to accomplish?
Arens: I am not familiar with the specifics of this issue. In general, I would say that I oppose undue interference by townships (and all other levels of government) allowing private property owners to do what they see fit to do with properties they own, and upon which they pay taxes, follow the known existing laws regarding zoning, blight, etc, which they try their level best to maintain or improve.
O’Non: Per referenced moratorium in 2022-2023, Centerville received site plans unprecedented in complexity and public interest/participation. This revealed a need for significant updates to the zoning ordinance to better reflect the township master plan. As semi-volunteers, our planning commissioners are not expected to undertake critical ordinance revisions while simultaneously processing large, complex site plan applications. The moratorium allowed the planning commission to work on a zoning ordinance while carrying out their other duties as prescribed by law.
von Walthausen: As a member of the Planning Commission I can attest that the moratorium allowed us the time to adequately conduct a thorough review of our zoning ordinance and revise where necessary. In combination with robust public engagement we were able to strengthen the portions that were weak, eliminate ambiguities and bring more clarity to the intent of the document as a whole. A strong and clearly worded ordinance will help the Township avoid future litigation.
Winston: The moratorium provided time to conduct a comprehensive and thoughtful revision to the township’s zoning ordinance, close gaps and inconsistencies and benefit our community. This process ensured the township can better defend legal challenges, and that decisions are not rushed without clear guidance and public input. It also provides greater clarity to all. Centerville used this time wisely to not only address specifi c proposals (e.g. Leelanau Pines), but also to modernize its zoning regulations.
3.) The Leelanau County Road Commission’s 2024 PASER study of local roads indicate that $1.5 million is needed to improve the poorest roads in the township. What roads are most in need of improvement, and why?
Arens: A PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating) study is used by localities created by outside groups using federal revenue sharing dollars; the federal government is $36 trillion in debt: They have no money to “share”. The most responsible thing is to use moneys we have from our own state Act 51 tax on motor fuels. I would identify the regrading of the Schomberg/Bodus Road Intersection as the most dangerous that ought be addressed to improve sightlines.
O’Non: According to the 2024 PASER study’s rating system, these are the road most in need of improvement, including some specifics of their condition and current “rating”- “1” being “worst.” Overby (M-22 to gravel) noted as a “2”, fully deteriorated; Cedarview-rated as a “2” in 2018 repairs continue deteriorating; Amore (Lakeshore to Popp) as per former Centerville supervisor — LCRC engineer has rated this as a “1” and Zeits (Schomberg to gravel) rated as a “3.”
von Walthausen: There are certainly roads in poor base condition, such as Manor Drive in Sugar Loaf. However, as I reach out to residents while campaigning, the concerns and frustrations I hear articulated most involve issues such as snow removal, centerline painting, as well as, lack of edge painting and shoulder maintenance in some areas making it dangerous for cyclists. The current cost-sharing model between townships and the County limits how road improvement choices are made.
Winston: Picking a single road most in need of improvement -- Amore? Overby? – misses a larger issue. The 2024 PASER rating found only 11% of primary roads in Leelanau were rated “poor,” but local roads are in worse shape – 25% rated poor, and 50% earned only a “fair” rating. The road commission should explore how to augment existing tax dollars, such as state infrastructure funds, grants, and creative cost-sharing, to fund improvements to the quality of local roads.
