Milton trustee stresses balance

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It's important to take
advantage of available grants, the trustee said.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

LAKE MILTON — Maintaining fiscal responsibility, being available to those who seek him out and promoting business with a sense of balance are among the priorities Harold Maynard wants to take on for the next two years.

Maynard, of Pricetown Road, was appointed Oct. 29 as a Milton Township trustee to fill the remaining 26 months of Al Baker's four-year term. Baker, who died last month after a lengthy battle with cancer, had served six years, which included nearly two years of his second term.

The community is seeing more than just seasonal residential growth, in part because of the installation of the new water and sewer lines, Maynard noted. It's important to encourage the right amount of business to set up shop yet keep the area's rural flavor, he continued.

"We need to promote business, but not so much as to infringe on the integrity of our small community and the residents," Maynard said, adding that he plans to be proactive and address problems before they fester.

The township owns about 20 miles of roads and the county maintains the rest, Maynard noted. A stronger partnership between county and township officials related to roads, water, sewer and other projects needs to be established, he pointed out.

Maynard said it's imperative that officials apply for as many state and federal grants as possible to assist the police, fire, road and other departments. A recent grant helped fund a new firetruck, he noted.

Maynard also listed as top goals having a close relationship with fellow Trustees Sue Lemmon and Harold Moore, as well as working to soothe what he says is resentment related to taxes between some residents who live near the lake and some who live on area farms.

"I want to work as a three-person team," he said of serving with Lemmon and Moore. "We may even have some differing opinions, but we want to do what's best for the township."

Maynard said he thinks many residents are "looking for leadership to give them a definitive sense of what direction the township is heading." The new trustee added that he will make himself readily available to residents.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007