We begin our Nov. 8 state general election coverage by looking at the two candidates vying to be president of the Brooklyn Village Council.
Terry Mahr
Explain your reasons for running for president of the Brooklyn Village Council.
It is time for a change. I have leadership skills, government knowledge, a business background, and a passion for serving this community.
I will be transparent about decisions. It is your right to know how your elected officials are thinking. I plan to write a monthly e-newsletter and hold quarterly town halls. I will listen, and respect your right to an opinion, even if we disagree.
A lifelong resident of the area, my history in the community will be an asset, as well as out-of-the-box, forward-thinking, along with a wide variety of experiences.
My democratic leadership style means your opinions will be sought, will be heard, and will be considered.
A wise elder of Cherokee descent said: “Instead of thinking I am born with rights, I choose to think I am born with obligations to serve the past, present, and future generations, and the planet herself.”
What is one challenge/problem in the village you would like to have the village council address and how? What would be a potential outcome?
We need to make home ownership in the village more attractive and affordable to young families. I admit I don’t know how the parts and pieces of that would look in our strategic plan, but I am excited to explore the possibilities with our new manager and the council.
It might take some of that “out of the box” thinking I spoke of above. With much of our country’s labor force able to work from anywhere, we have an opportunity to offer our own children the choice to remain in their childhood community and close to family.
I believe we need to look at the village with a critical eye and investigate what we can do better to attract and retain homeowners by offering a quality of life that suits today’s needs for all residents. The potential outcome is a sustainable population happy with their lives.
Do you think the village should expand via the annexation of properties? Yes/No. Explain.
No, not currently.
We should concentrate on attracting new businesses to locate in empty buildings and on buildable land we currently have.
We have land abutting Monroe Street that is suitable for light industry which would provide jobs. We have land available for both new residential construction and new commercial development.
I am not a fan of commercial “sprawl.” I think the future, even in small communities, will include walkable retail and commercial services.
What can be done to make Brooklyn more business-friendly?
Successful business communities usually have a plan. I would appoint an economic development committee specific to Brooklyn village. That committee should write a strategic plan for the design of the village business community – to have a mix of businesses to serve our trade area.
I would recommend lowering permits and fees for doing business here and coordinating sign ordinances with some surrounding municipalities to accommodate businesses that move.
The Chamber of Commerce has embraced a regional approach to its activities and removed the word Brooklyn from its name. I would advocate for the organization of a marketing group that advertises the village and its events using the word “Brooklyn.”
Example: Storytime on the Sidewalk: Brought to you by the Best of Brooklyn or Greater Brooklyn Group or Greater Brooklyn Association.
The village recently pulled out of an agreement with Columbia Township to maintain its sewer line. What do you see as the village DPW’s primary role moving forward?
A new sewer authority being formed may have alternatives to offer the village. DPW sewer responsibilities remain to be seen. Maybe the DPW can be downsized and save us some money.
I will ask the council and manager to consider beautification projects for the DPW.
We need to freshen up our streetscapes and spruce up our overall appearance. There are ways to include residents of all ages in beautification and cleanup projects when needed.
In July 2021, a village resident volunteered to paint our 87 fire hydrants. She spoke with the village manager and DPW head. She was told DPW would get paint and supplies and contact her. No one ever did.
You may think a faded hydrant is a small thing, but it contributes to making an impression of the pride we have in how our village looks.
Anyone who volunteers to complete a project like this should be shown the consideration of further contact.
Do you feel the village should be open to inviting more cannabis-related businesses in town? Why?
I do not think we will have to invite them. They will or will not come with more applications when they measure the success or failure of the businesses that already have approval. I am not a user and do not plan to be. However, I have friends who strongly believe in it for pain management.
This is an issue that must be decided by the people, and I will vote the people’s will.
Tell us about your family.
I have two children, MeChelle Johnson who lives in Ann Arbor, and Jeff Johnson who lives near Brooklyn. Both grew up here and attended Columbia schools.
Jeff and his wife Janeane have blessed me with five wonderful grandchildren, ranging in age from 8 to 18.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
I enjoy playing Bridge, gardening, birding, mahjong, reading, word games, live theater, and walking.
I attend my grandchildren’s sporting events.
I am an Uber Nana and enjoy every minute of cheering for Golden Eagle teams in baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, bowling, and track and field.
Estella C. Roberts
Explain your reasons for running for president of the Brooklyn Village Council.
I am running for my second 2-year term as village president. It is my goal to continue the progress that has been started in the village. Such as upgrades to our water plant and the paving of our streets. I also want to provide continuity for our newly hired village manager.
What is one challenge/problem in the village you would like to have the village council address and how? What would be a potential outcome?
It is important that the village council do everything possible to rectify decisions made in the past that do not fall within our current ordinances. These include providing water or sewer service to parcels that are not currently in the village. Each year we discover more things that were approved in the past 50-plus years that cause problems for our residents. Cook Street, parcels that are only partly in the village and no continuity to zoning approvals are all examples of this.
In some cases, annexation or de-annexation will assist in solving these problems. In some cases, creativity will need to be used to fix the situation.
Do you think the village should expand via the annexation of properties? Yes/No. Explain.
Yes. There is no loss of revenue for the township when a property is annexed to the village. The property owners would be eligible to receive village services which would be a win for them.
There is an opportunity to redefine the business corridors on Main Street, Jefferson Road, and M-124 which could enhance our ability to entice new businesses to the area.
What can be done to make Brooklyn more business-friendly?
I believe that Brooklyn is a business-friendly community. There is interaction between the village board, the Corridor Improvement Authority, and the Irish Hills Chamber. I would expect these relationships would continue to grow.
The village recently pulled out of an agreement with Columbia Township to maintain its sewer line. What do you see as the village DPW’s primary role moving forward?
The Village DPW has several roles that have not changed since the completion of the Columbia Township sewer maintenance agreement. We continue to maintain the sewer pumps and grinder cans for Napoleon, Hanover, and Liberty Townships which brings revenue to the department.
The DPW is responsible for the quality and maintenance of the village’s drinking water and maintaining our sewer system. There are many normal day-to-day activities that take place throughout the year such as snow plowing, leaf removal, mowing, maintaining of Swains and Weatherwax parks, yard waste pickup, etc.
The DPW staff also supports all community events that occur in the village.
Do you feel the village should be open to inviting more cannabis-related businesses in town? Why?
No. The council chose to limit the options for cannabis-related businesses. It is my understanding that Columbia Township is exploring options for this type of business.
Tell us about your family.
I have been a resident of the village for 40 years. I retired after 31 years in management at Comerica Bank. I am an active member of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church where I currently serve on the session. I have served on the Village Planning Committee, and the Village Council (including 3 terms as the president pro tem) and I am the current village president.
What are your hobbies and/or interests in your spare time?
I enjoy traveling, golf and gardening.
