Petitions submitted to Calhoun County Clerk aim to recall local supervisor, trustee
EMMET CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Petitions to recall an Emmett Charter Township Supervisor and trustee were submitted to the Calhoun County Clerk - Elections Office Wednesday and Friday, according to Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds Kimberly Hinkley.
A petition submitted Wednesday looks to recall trustee Jim Mead, who is currently serving a four-year term until November 2024.
The petition's submitter claims that Mead is "counterproductive" and "...continues to undermine the board's intent, hindering township business with his disruptive behavior, and his tendency to break board confidentiality," according to the petition.
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A petition submitted Friday against township supervisor Deb Belles claims that Belles is unfit for office for various reasons, including the following:
- Belles hired a convicted felon as code enforcement officer of the township
- Belles violated Article 2, section 2.01 of the Zoning Ordinances of Emmett Township when she hired a Zoning Administrator without Township Board approval
- Belles uses bullying, intimidation, and verbal abuse as a management style
- Belles was given 25 Chick-Fil-A "Local Hero" gift cards (valued at $11,154) that were intended for public safety officers and gave the cards to "whoever she seen fit." Only eight of the 25 cards were given to the intended public safety officers, and Belles refuses to account for the other 17 cards.
The Calhoun County Clerk, County Treasurer and County Probate Judge are scheduled to hold a clarity/factual review hearing for both petitions at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Calhoun County Building, according to Hinkley.
The purpose of the upcoming hearing is to determine whether each reason stated within the submitted petitions are factual and of sufficient clarity to enable either Mead or Belles and electors, and to identify the course of conduct that is the basis of the recall, according to the release.
The hearing is not for debating the merit of the allegations, Hinkley said.
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Those who submitted the petitions, along with Mead and Belles, are anticipated to have the opportunity to speak to the Election Commission to share their concerns regarding the petition during the hearing Jan. 18, according to the recall documents.
The County Election Commission is also anticipated to discuss and vote to approve or disapprove the recall petition as clear and factual in nature in order to determine if the petition meets statutory criteria, the recall documents detailed.
