Six to be interviewed for PM Township supervisor position.

Six to be interviewed for PM Township supervisor position.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The township board of trustees will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. with the intent to interview candidates for appointment to the township supervisor position.

The elected position was left vacant when Paul Keson resigned to accept a job as director of Ludington Mass Transit Authority. Due to the vacancy, the board may appoint a candidate to fill the remainder of the term which ends on Nov. 20, 2020. In order to retain the office, the person would have to run for election in 2020.

Six township residents have requested the board’s consideration for the position that pays $61,115 per year plus insurance, pension and life insurance. The candidates include: Jeremy Piper, Christopher Tresnak, Tyrone Collins, Lawrence Gaylord, Kelly Smith, and Gerald Bleau.

The supervisor manages and supervises all public improvements, works, and undertakings of the township; sees that all laws and township ordinances are enforced; moderates board meetings; acts as the legal agent for the township; prepares and administers the township budget; acts as purchasing agent; acts as personnel director; and performs such other duties as required by state statute, township ordinance or direction of the township board. 

Candidates must be a qualified elector of the township and registered to vote. To be a qualified elector, a person must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in the township at least 30 days prior to the appointment.

Candidates:

• Jeremy Piper has worked as head accountant and office manager of Piper Tax and Accountant for the past five years. He and his wife, Katie, own and operate a day care also.
• Christopher Tresnak, is a licensed producer at Magee Insurance Group.
• Tyrone Collins has 25 years experience as a coach and 17 years experience as a sales manager, including six years owning two repair facilities.
• Lawrence Gaylord is currently the Pere Marquette Township fire chief. He has served on the fire department for 39 years and has been chief for the past eight years. He is retired from Dow Chemical where he served as an electrical instrument technician
• Gerald Bleau currently serves as the PM Township zoning and building administrator.
• Kelly Smith is the current township parks manager and is a licensed realtor. He has worked six years as park manager.

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