Week in Review: A City Endowed
"This is a truly historic win for the city of Hillsdale."
Week in Review
City Council, Monday, August 19
Public Comment
Shelley Hebert, on the College’s forthcoming $2 million endowment for the City: “With a $2 million annuity, how is that going to be used for the local residents? On her preferred use of the money: “The local nonprofits and agencies that are overworked and overfunded in this community are struggling.”
Shannon Gainer, preparing for a 2026 City Council run: “The College has no intention of helping with the Airport. . . You guys aren’t doing a good job here!” On the College hotel project: “The Keefer Hotel–I was so excited about the hotel. . . We were going to have little shops!. . . But Keefer Hotel is not going to get that business. You guys have got to think on a bigger picture here.” After being informed that she was well past the three minute limit: “Yeah, but you guys talked about a lot.”
Airport Update
The Airport currently costs the City more than $100,000 per year to operate, while it saves money from its own fuel sales to leverage Development projects.
Ginger Moore, Airport Director, on the need to impress corporate businessmen: “We’re the front door to this beautiful community. . . We’re a great economic driver for this town. . . We’re perfect. Some of these business wouldn’t come to this town if they couldn’t fly in, because time is money.” On the type of money that it will cost to continue improving the airport: “Maintaining an airport is a lot of investment.”
Paladino, questioning the Airport’s financial feasibility: “I’d like to see [the State’s report on the trickle-down economic development benefits accrued by the town], because if we’ve been paying into this fund for decades, it would be nice to have some evidence that we’re not simply transferring wealth to corporations who want to move here to utilize subsidized airport services.”
Sharp, on his desire to be relevant: “We’ve got to get in the 21st century and stay in the 21st century. . . We don’t have an Interstate in this county; we have the Airport.”
Stocks Park Public Camping
Councilman Socha found a man camping at Mrs. Stocks park and took photos of the campsite.
Socha: “We had a guest stay the night at the gazebo at Mrs. Stocks Park. . . My point was to keep it in the Council’s attention that the park gazebo is being utilized again from open to close.” On the trouble brewing at Hillsdale Thrift:1 “If what’s happening at Hillsdale Thrift does fail. . . we need to hold institutions like LifeWays, which has a nine-figure budget, more accountable. Maybe the Commissioners could consider that.”2
Paladino: “The County is the proper place to turn on this issue.”
Airport Asphalt Project
The City will spend $25,000 on Airport parking lot repairs. All in favor, Paladino excepted.
Dow Hotel Expansion/Development Agreement
Hillsdale College intends to construct a 158-room hotel north of its campus. In exchange for the elimination of a small section of Galloway Drive, the College and City have reached an agreement resulting in the College’s paying a total of $2 million to the City, $1.7 to use explicitly for an endowment.
Matt Hazelton, a Hillsdale College representative, noted that the hotel would not only generate local revenue, but would help bring money in that would otherwise go to Coldwater or Jackson.
Morrisey, asking who will control the the $1.7 million endowment: “Who’s going to make decisions with respect to where that money goes?” The answer: “That would come to the Council.”
Sharp, on ethnic cuisine: “Hopefully we’ll get more restaurants in this town.”
City lawyer, trying to get ahead of the already-developed, articulated, and rearticulated anti-College Facebook narrative: “Not a thing is coming off the tax rolls.”
Morrisey, councilman from Ward II, on said narrative: “I’ve heard it alleged that the best streets in Hillsdale City are those that surround the College. That is a falsehood. The worst streets in Ward II are all with 600 yards of the College. . . there’s West Fayette, West Street, McClellan Street, Park Street, Summit Street; Davidson Street is in deplorable condition. . . There are real people living on those streets, and they do not have adequate streets in those areas.”
All approved the agreement. The public hearing will be September 3rd.
Keefer Hotel Deadline Extension
After missing the August deadline, CL Enterprises, the contractors for the Keefer Hotel, requested yet another extension on the project, to December 31. The TIFA Board decided to give them until April instead.
Andrew Gelzer, a member of the TIFA Board, on the need to emotionally support the Keefer Hotel project: “They asked for their promissory note to be extended to December. After the progress that we saw, we unanimously moved to change the date to April 15. . . This is the point in the project where support is needed.”
Paladino, on the Keefer’s seemingly-endless leash: “It’s not good for community trust when we’re doing this on a yearly basis. . . . On a project like this . . . there are externalities. There’s a threat to the health and property of nearby business owners; there’s a huge demolition cost to the City. So we don’t need to make the argument that this is going to be an economic boon to the City. We’re protecting ourselves from demolition costs, and from a building falling on someone else’s building, or on someone’s head. The extensions are chipping away at public trust, and I don’t think we need to do that.”
Stockford, addressing the CL representative: “I believe you when you say it’s going to get done. . . I know you’ll get it done because you’re on the project, and I’ve seen you over there holding employees’ feet to the fire.”
All in favor but Stockford and Pratt.
The Oligarchy Consolidates
Part one of four.
The Hillsdale County Republican Party (HCRP, Leininger faction) held an uncontested indoor August nominating convention last Thursday.
The Wikipedia page about Hillsdale County describes only a few of its greatest historical moments: the early settling of the period by English Puritans, the people of the divine book; the expulsion of the Neshnabé, the people of divine breath; the two times since 1884 that the county has voted for a Democrat—in Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose presidential campaign of 1912 when he won Michigan and in Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 victory where the Democrats secured their highest margin of victory ever recorded in the state. One event stands out among them—the political equivalent all at once of a sundered marriage, of a kingdom rent, of a people conquered and divided and exiled to foreign lands to worship false gods: when the Republican Party split after a bold plot to defend the party’s ancient ways met with an unexpected counterrevolution.
For two years, the people suffered uncertainty about the local machine’s leadership. Would it continue under the steady, experienced, and trained hands of Brent Leininger? Would it fall into the hands of the militiamen and the novitiate zealots who have such a strong desire to put America First that some journalists have labeled their passion “extreme”? The fate of perhaps two dozen government jobs and retirement gigs in elected office depended on the outcome. But the Michigan primaries on August 6th eased the turmoil. Leininger has brought a return to normalcy with a sound plan for consolidated control of the party.
The undisputed HCRP elected 13 delegates to represent them at the Michigan Republican Party’s Convention on August 24th. The America First Committee, having been routed, lacked the will to nominate a slate formally. It seems possible that the AFC could wage a contest on the floor at the convention, where the AFC would convince the gathered state delegates to replace the HCRP’s candidates with their own. The AFC might want a just satisfaction after the last convention in March 2024.
The AFC relinquished three of its state-party-recognized delegates at that state convention, allowing Leininger to seat three of his party’s delegates. The decision to hand over the delegates came as “a step toward resolving the conflict that has split Hillsdale County Republicans since August 2022,” according to The Collegian’s paraphrase of state senator Jonathan Lindsey, R-Coldwater, and former state representative Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale. In exchange for 3 of 13 delegates, Leininger’s faction would back a fair precinct delegate election. The AFC has accused the clerk’s office of tampering with the precinct delegate elections, but the Chief Deputy Hillsdale County Clerk called the office’s involvement in “unethical or illegal activities. . . simply false in every respect.” On AFC’s behalf, Lindsey, a gentleman and a possible statesman, orchestrated the offer of friendship or at least of a ceasefire, but the opposition devoured the tribute.
The Establishment’s Method: Precinct Delegate Machinations
The HCRP directed the Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast to reduce the number of precinct delegate seats—seats which control party leadership—countywide from 100 to 50 for the August primary. At the time of this decision, the Republican Party had filled more than 80 of 100 precinct delegate spots, with interest exceeding availability in several jurisdictions but falling short in a few wards. The number of potential candidates in the county, disregarding the precinct lines, exceeds 100. With fewer precinct delegate positions, the seats go to recognized names, who happen to be politicians and business owners. The tighter elections thus ensure a party ruled exclusively by those who already rule.
In the county seat, for example, the Ward 1 seats went to Greg Stuchell, the ward’s councilman, and Dennis L. Wainscott, a longtime member of city boards. Belle Danyell Stier, an AF committee member, fell short. Mayor Adam Stockford apparently did not appear on the ballot in his own ward because he failed to put Hillsdale “City” on his application, leading the clerk to an understandable confusion about where the mayor of the city of Hillsdale resides.
Ward 2 only elects one precinct delegate, and the seat went to Ruth E. Brown, who sat on the County Commission from the 1st District for four terms and the Hillsdale City Council for one term—even simultaneously holding city and county legislative power for a period until she resigned because of a possible conflict.
Seven candidates ran for two positions in Ward 3: Michael R. Clark, Scott M. Sessions, Joseph Hendee, Annabel J. Kies, David Mosby, CJ Toncray, and Steve Vear. Former Hillsdale councilman and mayor Scott Sessions and former state representative Steve Vear, R-Hillsdale, won the seats.
Ward 4 also saw a seven-way race with two victors. Business owner Andrew Gelzer, the great-great-grandson of H.J. Gelzer and the heir to a family political tradition, took the first seat. Rob Socha, a Ward 4 councilman, grabbed the second spot. Penny Swan, Frank Sobieralski, Amy Sobieralski, Daniel Spencer, and Douglas Price all lost.
By comparison, the Hillsdale County Democratic Party offered three spots per Ward. Only three candidates ran, so all will represent the party. Twelve spots for Democrats and seven for Republicans—that’s effective management. For seven seats, 21 candidates vied. Few of the elections were particularly close. Leading men and women snatched them without trouble. The HCRP consolidated its control of the party. All the leaders who have turned Hillsdale County into a casual programs-and-services state of nature will also lead the party—the mechanism that the AFC wrongly believed would give them a seat at the table. Leininger and the HCRP steadied the party but at the cost of making its foundation narrower.
The Establishment’s Prerogatives: Data Collection & Best Practices
A healthy aristocracy feels a certain indifference toward the people’s wishes, but the distance must be commensurate with good manners and effective governance. A failed ruling class cannot even look at the working class; it exiles them.
As the oligarchy reduced democratic participation in Hillsdale County’s party politics, lesser matters rightly waited their turn. The 700 or more unserved warrants patiently gathered dust on the desks of the three tiers of law enforcement in our jurisdiction. The HCRP and the County Commissioners have not reacted hastily to the crisis. They have let it fester for decades while they gather data.
We have gently collapsed into a well-managed state of nature, and we can rest comfortably in the knowledge that a Google search of “Hillsdale Daily News Jail Space” returns the top article: “District Court to relocate to current LifeWays Building.” Even algorithms will teach us if we listen. The conquered institution, with its archaic notions of justice and punishment, will move into the used building of its conqueror, which continues its quest to eradicate antisocial behavior through open, respectful dialogue and other best practices.
Throughout the party affair, the Hillsdale Daily News kept the people informed with at least 17 articles discussing the factional conflict, with most focusing on its socio-economic and geopolitical ramifications, though others bravely investigated the intersectional fallout. National outlets covered the ongoing events in detail, too. The Guardian highlighted the rift’s disturbing consequences on wellness, well-being, well-feeling, and well-seeming. We sincerely pray for those whose hearts have suffered during these trying times.
Upcoming Events
County Commissioners, Tuesday August 27
External Links
“This is a truly historic win for the city of Hillsdale.” Adam Stockford.
“A Michigan township might have violated state law by using taxpayer resources to urge residents to vote ‘yes’ on a road millage renewal.” Capitol Confidential.
“Whether I was teaching at a top-ten liberal arts college or something much less glamorous in the middle of nowhere Kentucky, I really liked teaching the most.” Daniel Buck interviews Dr. Kathleen O’Toole.
“The U.S. economy added 818,000 fewer jobs from April 2023 through March this year than were originally reported.” Associated Press.
“If you watched the DNC, you would have come away thinking the current president is Donald Trump . . . The man who has lived in the White House since January 20, 2021, was hustled off the stage as soon as he finished his speech after midnight Tuesday and shipped to a ranch in California. From that point on, Joe Biden’s name was barely uttered.” Matthew Continetti.
“If President Trump is elected and honors his word, the vast burden of chronic disease that now demoralizes and bankrupts the country will disappear. This is a spiritual journey for me.” RFK, Jr.
“Between 2014 and 2022 . . . self-identifying as transgender nearly quintupled among 18- to 24-year-olds and quadrupled among 25- to 34-year-olds, but either declined or did not change significantly among those older than 35.” Sexuality Research and Social Policy.
“If you push for revolutionary change now, you are going to lose, probably destroy yourselves in the process, and set back (y)our cause by years or even decades.” Michael Anton’s advice to the online Right.3
“For Wolfe, the only truly universal Church is the ‘invisible’ communion of believers, and this is governed by Christ directly invisibly, without the mediation of a Supreme Pontiff. And yet the notion of a visible head of the Church and Vicar of Christ is not so much absent from Wolfe’s schema as it is simply embodied in the temporal power whom he dubs the ‘Christian prince.’” Br. Anthony Maria Akerman, O.P. responds to Stephen Wolfe’s Christian Nationalism.4
Hillsdale Thrift, the home of a large homeless encampment, is reportedly in dire financial straits.
Commissioner Ingles was present at the meeting, but we hold out no hope that the Commissioners will hold anyone accountable whatsoever.
For those grad students willing to pore over their copies of Machiavelli’s Discourses: “What will save us, I am not sure I know. As noted, I have some ideas, but I don’t want to bring the Eye of Sauron down on me or on any of the institutions that so generously and graciously support me. So, for now, I will stick with theory, written esoterically, so that, for those geeky enough to try to find them, inklings of my speculations can be teased out of the surface.”
Brother Ackerman might have said more about the difference between preferring one’s own people to another, which he seems to condemn, and a patriotic willingness to protect the borders of one’s country, which he suggests is possible for a Catholic.