By: Aimee Bingham Osinski
anbingham@gmail.com
This morning I drove to the first in person forum meeting in what felt like forever. There were Zooms every other Saturday, but over Zoom, something is lost in translation. The friendly comradery and the dad jokes weren’t as readily available over Zoom. Saturday, the forum met at a new venu, with more space and more air circulation. It felt more like a brainstorming session than a way for neighbors to share what is happening within the community, as it is normally. Diverse opinions, respectful of their neighbors and friends, a little gem in this political environment.
The meeting opened with a heartfelt thank you to all the first responders who sustained us through this nightmare, police, fire, emt, drs, nurses, grocery store employees, and postal service workers. The room seemed to collectively nod our heads in disbelief of what we’d survived. Someone noted that just over a year ago, if a person claimed 600,000 of us would die and we’d be celebrating Juneteenth as a National Holiday, we would laugh at the absurdity.
But there we sat on Juneteenth, alive and grateful. I could not help but smile.
The township trash issue was on the agenda. The issue seems to be stemming from a driver shortage. But, we also discussed recycling when a county commissioner offered that he had proof his recycling was going into the dump like his other trash. There is a soft market for recyclables and the bottom line is always going to be the bottom line. While the forum didn’t have the quick easy solution, it was noted that Dexter does now have a zero waste store. Bee Joyful is a place the consumer can shop to create less waste. Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority does have markets for the recyclables they collect. It was noted that the consumers can also attempt to purchase materials made with recycled products. No immediate solutions but small steps we can all take to improve the situation, long term. Brainstorming and open conversations about an issue, with a variety of input and opinions feels productive and useful even without quick easy solutions.
We learned that Miller Road is open again, but the signs will remain in place until the company contracted to place them gets contracted to place them somewhere else; it’s more economical than removing and storing them.
There are two open seats on the Dexter Board of Education. Board President Julie Schumaker has resigned her position so she and her husband can move. Daryl Kipke, Board Secretary, has also resigned. The City Council is trying to fill it’s vacant position as well.
The discussion on the labor shortage resumed. No exact cause was determined, but the question of laziness and lack of motivation was raised. A dad joke made us laugh. There is a help wanted sign for, “heavy truck drivers,” which seems to be permanent. The question was raised, how heavy does one need to be? Others pointed out that if a person worked a summer job and didn’t drink or gamble away their earnings, that money could support two semesters at a University. As a class of 2000 graduate of the University of Michigan, that idea is unimaginable to me. A summer job would pay for books and clothing for a school year but not much beyond that. I just finished paying off my student loans after years of working to do it. I also worked the entire time I attended school, to cover housing and food. It is a different world and now, after Covid, we are entering a whole new one. I guess we’ll just sit back and watch as it unfolds. I’m certainly grateful to have the wisdom and diversity of opinions of the Dexter Forum to observe with.
If you’re interested in joining the next in person meeting of the forum, it will be July 3, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. at the Dexter United Methodist Church. If you are vaccinated, there is no need to wear a mask. But if you prefer, feel free.
