Wayward and Waylaid in Wayland

[XLFD]

Wayland is a small town of about 4000 people just south of Grand Rapids.  They have had some interesting problems as of late, beginning back late last year, when their City Manager Chris Yonker was fired without any specific reason, although it was later disclosed he had not been adequately performing his duties up to the City Council's ....   Prior to being hired at Wayland, he had also been dismissed as Fremont's City Manager, again with no clear reason why.

 

People outside the City Council, for the most part were perplexed when he was let go, including the Wayland Police Chief Dan Miller stated at the time:  “As far as the Police Department goes, we have never had an issue with Mr. Yonker or his availability.”  His brother, Fire Chief Joe Miller also spoke in Yonker's favor. 

 

In his defense, ousted CM Yonker said:  "To those who want to know what happened I'd be glad to share that privately. Suffice it to say, I did nothing immoral, unethical or illegal. I leave with my head held high, proud of the many accomplishments we've done together for the betterment of this fine community."

His Facebook post further cited politics and hidden agendas, a City Hall mole, a council that doesn't understand the Council/Manager form of government, and micromanagement as reasons for the termination.  The City hired retired Holland City Manager Terry Hofmeyer as an interim while they searched for another CM, as Hofmeyer does not want the job permanently.  He will be replaced soon.

 

However, last month Dan Miller, the Police Chief was put on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into "irregularities" found by the interim CM and which is being conducted by the Michigan State Police. 

"I've done nothing wrong, so I really don't have anything to hide," said Miller.

Miller said he doesn't know about the irregularities mentioned the letter that placed him on leave.

"No one's contacted me yet," said Miller.

Miller believes the situation is rooted in small-town politics and may have something to do with his recent divorce from his wife - a Wayland city hall employee.

Had he been asked to resign?

"Not in them exact words, no," he said.

And he said he doesn't plan to.

"I have no reason to. My health is good. I've done nothing wrong," he said. "I want to work until I'm 65."

State police hope to wrap up the investigation by the end of the month. No charges have been sought against the chief or anyone else in the department at this time.

Hoffmeyer said he was would not discuss the nature of the "irregularities" because they are only suspicions at this point.

"I don't know for sure if there are issues," he said.

Miller said he's confident everything will be cleared up.

"There's nothing to be worried about. I've done nothing wrong."

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/allegan_county/state-cops-inve...

 

Police Chief Miller has been offered his old part-paid position on the fire department while on this forced administrative leave by his brother, Fire Chief Miller, while the MSP investigate the charges leveled by City Hall Receptionist Miller (his ex-wife of 22 years) against him.  You gotta love small town politics.

[Willy]

That town would be a perfect fit for Shay. Someone should email him and let him know the City manager's job is open. It would be another opportunity for him to trash the Constitution. 

[XLFD]

I'm afraid to say that they have pretty much decided the new City Manager for Wayland, and the last name is not Miller.  But you offer a good idea; maybe we need to keep an eye open for cities that are looking for a City Manager and send them John Shay's resume-- we'll have to fudge the qualifications and accomplishments though, and make sure it is a city we don't really like.

[Erica Walker]

As a member of Wayland Im pretty pissed that you would name us a crappy town. Miller has been a name in our community for a LONG time. Dan did nothing wrong. Please just keep your mouths shut. You dont know anything about our community so dont act like you do!

[Willy]

Erica

I don't see anything in the article or comments that anyone called Wayland a crappy town. The article comes out of a news reports which are trying to explain what is going on down there in Wayland.If I were you I would be upset with whoever is trying to smear the Police Chief and City Manager not with anyone here on this forum. I like Wayland it 's a very nice  community. XLFD [the person who posted the discussion] is just trying to show that Ludington isn't the only small town with political problems. So relax, read the topic carefully and add something to this story that will inform us as to what is going on in your fine town.

[XLFD]

I've got this dyslectic "vision thing" that disallows me from reading on the headlines, Shawn.  Thanks for sharing.  If you want to share more on this Wayland story with us, I'd love to hear it, but I also hope you have some outlet down there for expressing yourself.

[XLFD]

Erica,

We have our own problems with nepotism and drama among our City Officials up here on the lake.  I comment freely on our public official problems regularly here, and yet I would never call it a crappy town.  In fact, I threw my hat in the ring to run for City Council in 2011 to improve the place, because our leaders are messing up their stewardship of our resources.

I like your city and have been there numerous times, but not since the '90s, and I would never call your town "crappy".  Your political institutions on the other hand seem to be having some rough times, and if you are an actual citizen and not a public official, I would hope you would be cognizant of it.  You have the right to express why you feel the Millers are a bonus to your community, but we would appreciate specifics and less narrow-mindedness on your part. 

Thanks, and welcome to the Ludington Torch.

[AQUAMAN]

Erica W., thanks for joining the Torch, and we are more alike than different in the end. No one has specifically said your town is crappy, and I hope and believe no one here ever will, cause we don't make those kind of insults here. God's speed for your troubles down there, and hope you can see this forum as a future ally, not an adversary in any form. Nepotism and corruption needs to stop at all the halls of government these days, irregardless of size and importance to the Nation as a whole. Thanks.

[annabel johnson]

Erica, gosh, chill.  Re read the article.  Where does it state your town is crappy?  Wow, drama

[XLFD]

I believe the following series of events occurred that brought Erica here.  Waylander Shawn found our article in a 'search', and thought it appropo to post it to the "Support Chief Dan Miller" Facebook page.  Kind of like posting a Romney ad in a Santorum site, good clean harmless fun, on his part.  Erica, who I'm assuming is a partisan for Dan Miller, read it from there, and made her post, shortly followed by Shawn's above post. 

I don't support Dan Miller, nor do I not support him, I'm just amused by the whole situation down there, and notice some similarities to the problems we have in our town with our public servants.   

[AQUAMAN]

Just more liberals going off the deep end as per the usual I might guess. "True patriots check and question the actions of their government on a continual basis; for the safety and security of our Constitution; to do nothing, is an act of self-treason, to permit government uncontrolled legislation and actions that can be counter-productive to our Bill of Rights", sayeth I. Apparently, Erica's objective and agenda was squashed here before it got out of the gate, that of defending the system, even when seriously questioned and at wrong, and therefore, she crawled back from whence she came.

[XLFD]

After an investigation by the Michigan State Police, it has been concluded that Wayland Police Chief Dan Miller will not face criminal charges  Latest from WOOD.  The fact that they are not pressing criminal charges does not necessarily preclude guilt of other non-criminal statutes, but I'm sure Dan Miller is glad to hear this news. 

Once the investigation becomes closed, we hope to be able to present further updates on this story, courtesy of FOIA, to clear the Chief of all impropriety.  If that is indeed the case.  Some people may automatically conclude that policemen investigating policemen may lead to a flawed finding of facts, but that is not always the case.  Not always.

[XLFD]

Shawn,

Direct me to where I need to send an application for your City Manager position.  Nah, I'm not interested in it myself, but I want to nominate by proxy someone named John Shay who has reportedly been doing that job for years up here in Ludington.  I don't have all the specifics on just what qualifies him to be the City Manager of Wayland, but here's the first page of a quick Google check of what makes him special for your city:

Just don't look at the links beyond the first two, LOL.   I enjoy the Wayland site, and the attitude of its founder.  If I was a Wayland City Councilor or citizen, I would propose dropping the City Manager system and going to a 'strong mayor' form of government starting ASAP, with the hope that your interim City Manager can stay through the transition period.  

And I wish we could do that here in Ludington and nearby Scottville; City Managers are stale leftovers of a Progressive era started 100 years ago and there is a need to go back to having an elected executive in local governments, not just in State and Federal governments.  A point I argued two years ago here.