Allor’s first visit with constituents is in Rogers City
by Peter Jakey
Managing Editor
It had been only two weeks since State Rep. Sue Allor took the oath of office in Lansing and she is already reaching out to constituents as a part of what will be monthly coffee/office hours throughout the 106th district.
Allor hit the road Monday and her first stop as representative was in Rogers City. She was at the high school to speak to Chad Coolman’s government class and then at Karsten’s Restaurant to meet with residents.
“It was great hearing the different comments, thoughts and concerns,” said Allor. “I took a lot of notes…I have things to start working on and looking into.
“Having these on a monthly basis is going to be a primary method for me to hear what individuals in the area have concerns about, or thoughts they want to share. That is how I am going to be able to get insight on things that are happening.”
Attending were a handful of township officials with different concerns, but there were a few people that just wanted to say “hello” and congratulate the Wolverine native.
The range of topics varied from the restrictions of sentencing guidelines to the lack of cell phone service in Presque Isle area.
Also in attendance was a handful of vocal residents opposed to the recent tree cuttings at Herman Vogler Recreation Area.
“Thank you for having office hours,” Frank Krist told Allor.
“I am going to rotate the times in each community, to allow other people to attend, who might be working,” said Allor. “We’ll get the notices out on Facebook and the local papers.” She will be at Woodwinds Restaurant Friday to meet with Onaway residents, as well as those in Forest and Waverly townships. It will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Howard and Jackie Viegelahn told Allor they were there on a sensitive subject involving the molestation of their grandchild in Alpena County.
“It was one of the most horrific things to sit through, with all the parents getting up during sentencing,” said Howard. “These are handicapped children. They could not speak. There were 10 cases that happened during a year, year-and-a-half. His sentencing is what we are here for today.”
The individual is serving 20 to 30 years in prison.
“He is probably going to be eligible for parole in 18 years,” said Howard. “This is for 10 cases in one county. We don’t know much more goes on. I think legislators need to re-evaluate this and expand on giving judges some leeway.”
Later, Howard said he believes his grandson will probably never be the same again.
“He was a very innocent little boy,” Howard added. He said prosecutors would be going to Lansing to speak to legislators about the issue.
Allor said she had been contacted by an individual in Alpena County with a similar story and intends to look into it.
Posen Township supervisor Jim Zakshesky shared his concerns about “14-point reviews and all the new mandates that have been put in place,” said Zakshesky. “It could warrant a little investigation, or even questions by a legislator.”
“In Posen Township, I am the supervisor and assessor,” said Zakshesky. “You could have an assessing program in place for 20 years and they definitely don’t like it.”
Zakshesky said the private company Tax Management conducts the reviews.
Allor said she had been hearing about those issues for a few years, but plans to looking into matters herself in Lansing.
Presque Isle Township supervisor Larry Fields, who was elected in November, told Allor about the problems with cell phone service and unreliable Internet service.
“We live in an area which has no cell service – zero. It’s a dead zone,” he said. “Peter Pettalia lived in Presque Isle…”
“I could not call him on his cell phone when he was home,” said Allor.
“He was certainly aware of the problem,” said Fields.
Allor said there are many areas in the district where she loses cell phone service for 30 minutes at a time.
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Fields said it’s a matter of economic development. “We know of many people who carry on their occupation through the Internet and need reliable service.”
More importantly, is the safety issue in an older community.
“Thank you for sharing that,” commented Allor.
Other topics included term limits and a proposal for a part-time legislature. Most in the audience who spoke were against both.