Of Wine and Water in Manistee

[XLFD]

Wine

In case you missed the reports, a high profile arrest for drunk driving took place at the Oleson's parking lot in Manistee.  Long term West Shore Community College (WSCC) President, Chuck Dillon, was stopped, evaluated and arrested by the Manistee Police Department around 9 PM on Wednesday after they had received reports that someone was seemingly driving while intoxicated.  Dillon refused a Breathalyzer test (PBT), but did have his blood drawn so as to determine whether he was indeed drunk.  Those results won't be known until about two weeks, but he did spend the night in jail for suspected DWI. 

Before the news was publicly released, the Board of Trustees of WSCC was informed of his stop and detainment, and Board Chairman James Jensen issued the typical statement of how they are taking this seriously and conducting their own investigation.  Dr. Charles Dillon up to this point has remained mute on the topic, showing the lack of any true leadership on his part. 

Don't get me wrong; I believe in his innocence of the charge until the blood test comes back and says otherwise, just like I would for anyone else.  But he is the leader of an institution where we send our kids to become better people, to learn how to be professionals, and this is a serious crime he is charged of.  We expect more from the people that lead our higher institutions.  

So saying nothing is inexcusable.   Either vociferously denounce this stop as a witch hunt where you assure us the results of the blood test will fully exonerate yourself, or own up to your problem and your foolish action of getting behind the steering wheel when you had too much to drink.  Dr. Dillon, you're smart enough to know what the result of that blood test will be in the range of, why don't you give us the truth, rather than make us all wait for it?  If you are guilty of DWI at 9 PM on Wednesday, it betokens other problems, which many people who respect WSCC as an institution may transfer negatively to that institution. 

In disclosure, I once served as an associate professor out at WSCC in the field of mathematics, and gave a student in one of my classes a grade of 'D', because that was what she had earned by scoring lowest in the class.  It turns out that the student fibbed about her scores to her mother who had used her position and influence to protest the grade to the WSCC Board three marking periods later; she wanted an 'A' or 'B'.  I probably would have taken a 'C' grade under strong consideration, if not for the student's misrepresentations of her grades, which were given to her throughout.  The board eventually approved the amending of the grade without showing why the initial evaluation wasn't flawed, and I appealed it to Dr. Dillon. 

Dr. Dillon didn't spend a lot of time on the matter in deciding to uphold the board's decision, but did accede to the fact once I confronted him that there was more at work behind the change than my evaluation methods, and implied that the change was needed to appease the proper people.  Rather than drink myself silly and wind up in an Oleson's parking lot, I just resolved not to work at WSCC any more after that semester. 

Mayhaps the pressures of the job finally caught up with him, but I saw the lack of good leadership in my ten minutes with him.  And even though he remained in his job, while I moved on, I believed he was the one who had the poor judgment.  He is just another pragmatist put into a leadership role, whose decisions are made to primarily satisfy those who may have influence over his future.  It seems to have caught up to him in his weaving car in Manistee.

Water

At the latest Manistee City Council meeting, the topic of water came up-- as in the cost of water to the poor and the people who don't use it went up greatly.  This has to do with a recent change in how the water bill is figured out in Manistee with a newly charged "ready-to-serve" fee. 

At the latest council meeting, Ray Fortier discussed the impact of the new charges on low-income people (along with the prohibitive subsidies the City is giving the marina and Ramsdell Theatre).  Bob Grabowski complained more of this and spoke of the ready-to-serve charge applying to outdoor (sprinkler) meters year round.  Ross Spencer argued how the new policy discriminated against the low-income users.

Before the change, Manistee did not have this charge.  A ready to serve charge is a fixed monthly charge that is designed to recover a portion of the costs of operating the system.  When initially introduced into a system that had only a charge per water unit used, it greatly affects those who use little or no water in their city system.  Effectively, the poor, the water conservers, and those who are absent most of the time pay a lot more than they used to.  This can be illustrated with the chart provided in this link from the City's website reproduced below, check the link for other frequently asked questions: 

A)  Someone who is away from his house for an extended period used to have only a fixed $6.60 per month for sewer, now they will see their bill more than double to $13.84 because of the RTS charge.

B)  A household that uses 2000 or fewer gallons per month (quite common for one or two person households-- check this link to see how much yours uses if you don't have access to your water bill) will see at least a 22% jump. 

C)  Big time users, like businesses and larger, wealthier households that use a little over 10,000 gallons a month, will actually see a drop in their bill because the nominal decrease in the charge per unit of water eclipses the RTS charge.

Therefore, the RTS is a fee that will be a lot more burdensome on those who use little or no water, and since few poor households will/could actually use enough water to see anything more than a double digit percentage increase in their water bill, it is fair to say they are being hit hard by the new system.  These users typically do not 'stress' the system like the high volume users, so it is fair to question this standard being implemented rather than a straight user fee, particularly when a user who has a hook up for one sprinkler pays the same RTS fee as an industrial entity that goes through hundreds of thousands of gallons each month.

[shinblind]

Video of the arrest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjgTFlkmEIs

Dr Dillon looks completely fit shaced. He should tender his resignation to avoid further embarrassment

.

[XLFD]

The video has already been posted in our videos section.  Dr. Dillon was fit-shaced and apparently taking medication that wouldn't work well with demon rum.  Chuck said he had only a couple of drinks, but when you have .186 BAC, that equates to about ten. 

But we could already tell his math was off that night when he went through the field sobriety tests.  In the two weeks since, Chuckles the Clown hasn't elaborated on what happened that night except in the comfort of a closed meeting with the WSCC Board, where he may have told some more whoppers. 

Our public tax dollars are going into WSCC, they get their own local millage.  We deserve better to have someone without the common sense not to drive when he's toasted up the wazoo at the helm of the institution.  He hasn't even the 'leadership' to say he 'sipped liters' and drove his expensive college-provided vehicle while he was blotto, putting his community from Elberta to Manistee at great risk. 

[XLFD]

According to West Michigan News 98's Steve Ruba, a local authority himself on similar topics: 

"Manistee County authorities have made it official: they're planning to bring a so-called "Super Drunk" charge against West Shore Community College President Charles Dillon. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Dillon's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit when stopped at a Manistee store, two weeks ago. He'll be formally arraigned next Wednesday morning; if convicted, he faces up to six months in jail, an ignition interlock for his car, and other penalties."

[Willy]

I Have a feeling he won't be the President at WSCC for to much longer. There's no way he can be an affective leader when he has a drunk driving conviction on his resume. He's old enough to retire so I think that what will be his next move.  I noticed in a news article that he is on "paid" leave. In other words he getting a free vacation out of this.

[XLFD]

Your reasoning is sound, Willy, but it leaves out an important factor regarding the WSCC Board.  Ludington City Attorney Richard Merlin Wilson sits on that board, and is supplying that group with his legal 'wisdom' and 'ethics', which includes looking the other way when the administrator does bad.  My guess is that Merlin wants King Charles to stay on his throne, and will use his legal illusionist magic to further that end.  Dillon obviously isn't wanting to resign after this, and if my read on his character is accurate, he will have to be forced out against his will.

[Willy]

There are 3 scenarios that could apply here. The first is that the charges are dropped because of some technicality. The second would be he is charged with drunk driving, goes to court and dukes it out. The third is that he is charged then accepts a plea bargains. The way I see it is that his reputation will be soiled no matter which way this plays out and the public will eventually call for his head. There is no way people will want their offspring to attend a college that is run by a felon. One of the main duties of a college president is fund raising and public relations. In my opinion, after this, he will be unable to successfully perform either duty.

[XLFD]

 You are absolutely right, nobody in their right mind should send their kids or go themselves to West Shore if Dr. Dillon is allowed to continue serving after the test results and the incriminating video have been released, technicality or not. 

But if Dillon does not have the wisdom to forgo driving in the condition he was in, he may not have the wisdom to do the right thing.  Particularly when the board is doing everything covertly in closed sessions and overtly looking to try and salvage the Dillon brand. 

Send your displeasure (or your support if you believe college administrators driving superdrunk for over 20 miles in broad daylight with a taxpayer-funded SUV is a good thing) to his E-mail :  [e-mail]

Or make a comment/complaint to WSCC itself, if they allow you to (the system is conveniently down currently, perhaps they got their fill of my comments/complaints) :  http://www.westshore.edu/about/comments.html

[AQUAMAN]

Tricky Dick Wilson is an expert at creating deception and a ruse out of a faulty situation. But with the arrest video, I doubt even he can Houdini Dillon out of this one. Time will tell, as to what we are told next, and how WSCC's board of directors will react. With integrity and honesty? So the institution's reputation is preserved. Or try to shyster the folks now. Thanks to Willy & X for the links. 

[Wonder Woman]

After watching the video, I think Dr Dillon needs to resign as president, and the college board needs to place him on unpaid leave.  The fact that he was driving a WSCC car, which is funded through taxpayer dollars, is a huge violation of policy.  On top of that, Dillon refused to answer the officer's questions about how many drinks he had that night and what he was drinking.  While he was mainly cooperative during the sobriety tests, he was uncooperative during those questions.  Secondly, he keeps asking to speak to Chief Bachman, as if name dropping is going to get him off the hook.  He wants to talk to the Chief as if Bachman will tell his officers, "Hey, it's Chuck Dillon.  I don't care if he's super drunk, just let him go because I know him and he's a good guy."  Too bad, Dr. Dillon, that kind of nonsense may work in Ludington, but not in Manistee!  Good for you, Chief Bachman!  Third, Dr. Dillon says, "C'mon guys, I'm only a mile from my home."  Who cares how far you are?!?!  You're lucky you didn't kill anyone driving all the way from Elberta!  Dillon expressed remorse at the college board meeting when he know the media would be present, and in an effort to save his job.  In the police video, he did not express the same remorse.  He could've told the cops that he had been drinking, was drunk, and shouldn't be driving....that he made a stupid mistake and that he's man enough to admit and pay the price for it.  But instead, he refused to answer all of the cops' questions and failed all of the field sobriety tests.  This kind of behavior is not a good example for people attending WSCC.  He needs to do the right thing and resign immediately.  WSCC board members are elected officials, so please keep that in mind.  Contact these elected officials to let them know how you feel about this situation. 

Here's a quote from the MLIVE story about his arrest, further showing his arrogance:  "With his arms crossed over his chest, the president of a Michigan community college pauses during a field sobriety test and asks police officers, "Do you guys seriously want to do this?" "

Doing a quick Google search, I see Dr Dillon is also on the Board of Directors at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital where is the Vice Chairman.  http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.as...  I wonder if Spectrum will ask Dillon to step down from this position. 

It'll be interesting to see how all of this plays out in court and through his employment and civic duties.  I hope WSCC shares as much info as possible so the taxpayers are made aware of what is going on. 

[XLFD]

Sure the WSCC Board will keep us apprised, that's why they go into closed session for a couple of hours.  Dr. Dillon requested the closed session?  Then Dr. Dillon isn't exactly manning up and being transparent.

Great point about the Spectrum Health Board of Directors Veep position, and did you notice that two of the members of the WSCC Board serve on the Spectrum Board.  Does anyone know when this board meets or has met, they certainly don't tell on their website.  Great post, WW.

[Willy]

Good points WW.

[Willy]

I noticed a letter to the editor in the LDN from someone who says the LDN is being unfair towards Dr. Dillon. It states that the incident should have been reported, however, all the follow up news stories and comments were not necessary and are not a good thing because Dr. Dillon is feeling badly about what happened even though he could have killed someone. When I first heard about this incident I was willing to give Dillon a break because we all make stupid decisions but when I found out Dr. Dillon was falling down drunk while driving a taxpayer owned vehicle, I decided that this is not a person who should be making decisions at a college where impressionable young minds are being influenced. The decision to drive a vehicle while plastered might be something an alcaholic or an 18 year old would do but it is not acceptible behavior by someone of Dr. Dillons status. I compare what Dillon did to someone discharging a firearm near a crowd of people. Dr. Dillon should not be returning to the college especially as it's leader.