Candidate Q&A: White Lake Clerk Terry Lilley

To kick off election coverage, White Lake-Highland Patch has sent out a survey to candidates running for office in White Lake and Highland. The following is the Q&A response from White Lake Clerk Terry Lilley. Lilley (R), the current township clerk, will be running against republicans Laura Vogel and Kelly Knight in the August election.

Patch: How long have you lived in White Lake?

Lilley: I was born in Highland Township (1/2 mile from the White Lake border) and lived there until the age of 7, then moved into White Lake and have lived here for the last 58 years. 

Patch: What community and civic organizations are you currently involved in?

Lilley: 

• 2011 Graduate Michigan Township Association Governance Academy
• Central Michigan University certificate of achievement for three years attendance at Municipal Clerks Institute
• Certified Municipal Clerks designation from International Institute of Municipal Clerks
• Volunteered time to complete two new baseball diamonds at Vetter Park and Hidden Pines
• Member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks; Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks; Oakland County Clerks Association; Rebuilding Together-Oakland County; Automobile Racing Club of America and Licensed residential builder
• Member of the following committees: Township Board representative on the Dublin Center Senior Advisory Committee; Legislative Committee Oakland County Clerks Association; First Vice President Oakland County Chapter of Michigan Township Association; Member of the Township Sewer Advisory Committee

Patch: What drew you to run for Clerk?

 Lilley: In 2008, I was elected as your Township Clerk. Accounting and record keeping since high school have been of major interest to me. My current position has allowed me to further my education as well as working with some special ladies with expertise in Human Resources, Election Management and specialized training in accounting and bookkeeping. I truly enjoy coming to work everyday, working with my current staff as well as serving the interest of the citizens in White Lake Township and our surrounding communities.

I am proud to say we currently project budgets for three years in advance as well as having balanced the township budgets for the last four years. Our revenues have dropped almost 30 percent in the last several years. Our township board has made some very difficult decisions in response to those declining revenues. I believe we are in very good financial shape compared to other communities in the state; many communities are facing possible bankruptcy or financial managers to balance revenues with expenditures.

Patch: What personal and professional experiences make you qualified to hold that position?

Lilley: As I listed above, I believe my achievements, memberships in different organizations, committees I serve on and my previous experience has best prepared me to be your Clerk for the next four years. I am totally committed, without any other conflicts of interest, to best serve the residents of White Lake Township 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Patch: What is the most important issue facing the township and what do you intend to do about it during your term in office?

Lilley: There are three major issues that concern me:

1. Maintaining the current level of staffing for both police and fire. We are currently within driving distance of two major cities in the state of Michigan noted for crime, shootings and deaths among its residents. If we do not stop crime before it gets to our borders, we will never be looking ahead, but always looking behind. I believe the current level of staffing that had been approved by the voters previously is the bare minimum it will take to protect life, property and our children. With 30 percent loss of revenues, our residents need to understand that it takes tax dollars to support that level of staffing. With our township contracts approved through 2013, there are no wage increase for the next three years. Please understand with the loss of revenues, this could result in reduced staffing. Is paying for already approved staffing levels worth the risk to your family, children and your property? I believe you, the voter, must make that decision and I hope your decision is based on factual and intelligent understanding of the facts, not misinformation or lack of understanding.
2. We would hope the further loss of revenues will level off; our budget revenues have declined over 30 percent in the last four years. This equates to the loss of seven people within the township hall. The board approved the loss of two positions, retirements and unfilled vacancies. With additional responsibilities given to the remaining staff, it sometimes gets very busy. I hope in the near future revenues begin to increase slightly; however, it will take getting people back to work and wage and benefits for retirees to at least keep up with the rate of inflation, and the housing market to stabilize and to protect people's equity and investments.
3. My staff and I have demonstrated steadfast dedication and commitment to this community while operating under budgetary restraints. I have supported the implementation of enhanced technology to improve efficiencies and make information more readily available to the public. Current improvements being put into operation include accessibility to local ordinances, electronic document retention and fully implemented electronic poll books at every voting location in the township. In addition, the Clerk's office will have conducted 5 elections in 2012 alone.

Patch: In recent years there has been discussion about contracting either police services or dispatch services with the county. Do you think the police department should be turned over to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department? Why or why not?

Lilley: In years past, both police and fire were subsidized from the general fund, and interest earnings from millages were receipted into the general fund. Today interest earnings and all income are receipted into separate accounts for Police and Fire; balancing each department's budget to provide adequate coverage for public safety is the main objective of the township board. Relations between full-time elected officials and representatives from police and fire and the unions have been the best they have ever been. Providing safety for our residents at reasonable costs has been the goal from both sides.

Today I believe we provide the best fire and police services in the area. There are a lot of services that our dispatchers provide other than just dispatch. We have made, over the years, substantial improvements to the facilities, dispatch, jail and security. Today someone in trouble can drive to the station and get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and our vehicles are typically no further than three miles away in either direction. I personally support both our police and fire departments for being the most cost effective for the citizens of White Lake Township; however, I will never shy away from considering cost comparisons. If someone thinks there are more cost effective solutions then they should provide us with the facts instead of simple rhetoric or special relationships with others.

Patch: What is your vision for White Lake Township, where do you see the township in 10 or even 20 years, and what does the township need to do now to realize that vision?

Lilley: While we continue to struggle with massive unemployment, loss of jobs, high costs of health care, loss of township revenues, declining assessments, low interest rates, I do not see improvement in the next five years recovering in any aspect (as E mentioned above) to get back to 2008 funding, assessment levels, employment and people’s  to borrow money for improvements. With the present Headlee Amendment in place at 3 percent increase per year will take over 10 years to recover.

Our #1 goal is to keep crime outside tbe boarders of White Lake. Our community is comprised of large acreage parcels to the north of M-59, higher density residential houses to the south serviced by sewer and water and many still on septics and wells. The corridor is a blend of many different type of businesses with services available for every person in the community. Our community is made up of many diverse groups of people; quiet, vibrant, caring, helpful, considerate and concerned are just some words to describe our citizens in this great community; a place where families started and as their children grow, continued to make their homes here. I've heard it said many times "I don’t want the new people to live on that vacant land, I moved here because it was rural, away from the hustle and bustle of the city." But the fact remains; population growth continues to increase in White Lake Township (the four Seasons Playground) with Pontiac Lake Recreation, Highland Recreation and Huron Clinton Metro Parks, many inland lakes, 5 major school districts, and many new diverse commercial establishments, White Lake Township will continue to remain a place where everyone wants to live, work and play. Many, once visiting our great township, have considered making White Lake Township their new residence and will continue to do so in the future. I wish to thank the community and ask the good people of White Lake Township to VOTE for me their confidence and support to continue progress and implementation of needed improvements for the next four years.