Let me begin by thanking everyone who attended my town hall on roads. It was encouraging to see more than 90 people come to the Niles District Library on a Monday evening to learn more about how our roads are funded and how we can repair them. My colleague, Rep. Jack O’Malley, chair of the House Transportation Committee, did a good job of taking all the nuggets of truth that a lot of people have about roads and explaining the bigger picture.

I think having town halls, district office hours and coffee hours are a great way to engage with the people I represent at the Capitol. I also try to attend the regular meetings of the counties, cities, villages and townships I represent. Most recently, I have attended Oronoko Charter Township, Sodus Township and Berrien Township. I think this is another way that I can be accessible, provide a legislative update, and answer questions. One thing I have noticed as I’ve attended meetings is that often it’s just me and the local officials. Sometimes there is a resident in the audience who is there to voice their opinion on a matter before the board or council and they usually leave immediately after they have said their piece.

I believe it is critical that elected officials are open, transparent and available to those who have elected them to serve. I believe that it is equally important that residents take the time to be engaged and informed citizens. Perhaps, for you, engagement is occasionally attending a board or council meeting. For others, it means taking the time to read the newspaper to learn what was discussed at the last meeting.

Below is a list of the local government meetings for the counties, cities, villages and townships in the 78th District. I hope you take the time to attend a local meeting and to be an engaged citizen.

Counties

• Berrien County Board of Commissioners — Every Thursday (except the fifth Thursday of the month) at 10:30 a.m. (6 p.m. if it a night meeting)

• Cass County Board of Commissioners — first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

Every Thursday

Cities

• City of Buchanan — Second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• City of New Buffalo — Third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

• City of Niles — Second and fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m.

Villages

• Village of Baroda — First Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

• Village of Berrien Springs — First and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Village of Eau Claire — Third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

• Village of Edwardsburg — Third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Village of Galien — Second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Village of Grand Beach — Third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

• Village of Michiana — Second Friday of each month at 1 p.m.

• Village of Three Oaks second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

Townships

• Baroda Township — Third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Berrien Township — Second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. (Only when pending business)

• Bertrand Township — First Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Buchanan Township — First and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

• Chikaming Township — Second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

• Galien Township — Third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

• Howard Township — Third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Milton Township — Second Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

• New Buffalo Township — Third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Niles Charter Township — First and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Ontwa Township — Second Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

• Oronoko Charter Township — Second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Pipestone Township — Second Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m.

• Silver Creek Township — Second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Sodus Township — Second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

• Three Oaks Township — Second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

• Weesaw Township — Third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

I would also like to announce that I will be hosting coffee hours Saturday, July 20, at the following locations and times:

• 11 a.m. to noon: Nikki’s Café at 126 E. Ferry St., Berrien Springs

• 1 to 2 p.m.: Maple Café at 68867 M-62, Edwardsburg

I hope to see you there. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you need assistance dealing with red tape at the state level. My staff and I are happy to help in any way we can, and if you ever have ideas about how we can work to make Michigan better, my door is always open.

 

Brad Paquette R, represents the 78th District, which covers Berrien county.