The Almena Township Board, Wednesday, April 19, filled two vacant trustee seats by appointing Joe Leduc, left, and John Wagner. Both were interviewed during the monthly township meeting, along with six other candidates, and were then selected by the board to fill the seats.
Courier-Leader photo/Paul Garrod
By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
ALMENA – The Almena Township Board, Wednesday, April 19, filled two vacant trustee seats by appointing Joe Leduc and John Wagner. Both were interviewed during the monthly township meeting, along with six other candidates, and were then selected by the board to fill the seats.
Leduc has lived and worked in Almena Township his entire life. “I have a historical and deep interest in the welfare of the land, as well as the residents of Almena Township,” said Leduc in a letter of interest to Township Supervisor Bill VanTassel. He has previously served on the Almena Township Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as the boards of Van Buren County Farm Bureau and Michigan Blueberry Growers. Leduc fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Greg Babik.
Wagner, in a letter of interest to Supervisor VanTassel, said, “I feel like my experience with the (Almena) Township Planning Commission and investment in the community make me a good candidate.” Wagner previously served as the township planning commission vice chairman. He will continue as a township board – planning commission liaison. Wagner fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Nick Toman.
Also seeking the trustee posts were Alex DeHaan, Pastor Sean Reed, Jim Rickli, Amy Bass, Mike Querry, and Angie Reed.
The township board also appointed Kyle Hohler to a vacant seat on Almena Township Planning Commission. Brandon Melson also was a candidate for the planning commission seat.
The township board also approved the purchase of two Motorola desktop single unit police radios for the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Reserve Unit. The reserve unit is not funded by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.