Another negative headline concerning an elected Niles Township Charter Township board member makes the news. Mr. James Ringler, current elected Niles Township treasurer, being accused of approaching the Niles Township zoning administrator to make illegal zoning changes that could become beneficial to Mr. Ringler, a real estate broker for Grubb & Ellis/Cressy & Everett.

Mr. Ringler denies any illegality to these alleged violations of policy, or possible misconduct of an elected official.  This issue, of course, was given to our township attorney, Mary Spiegel. She just happens to be related to one of our salary elected officials. Could one say joined at the hip, and ask some questions? The investigation has been referred to a Kalamazoo law firm to minimize any thought of favoritism or bias being shown locally. If you follow the money, by that I’m suggesting, who’s paying whom? Relationships and family ties, one is entitled to question the outcome.