A cryptic sign on Cheesman Road in Alma had some people wondering if it was touting a new business venture coming to the area.
The orange and black billboard, sitting on a trailer near the intersection of Pine Avenue simply says “Coming Soon To Alma ?” with the hashtag “#1newalma” at the bottom.
But those Googling that hashtag will soon find that the mystery has nothing to do with business but instead politics.
It appears to be associated with the “We the County” movement that has local chapters in various counties, including Gratiot.
The closed Facebook group requires approval from local administrators to join.
It touts itself as “a movement uniting Small Businesses, Patriots and Churches in each County to stand together as One Voice to restore freedom. We support the Original intent of our Founding Fathers in understanding and interpretation of our Constitution.”
The group currently has more than 1,200 members.
Initially, Alma city officials, including interim City Manager Aeric Ripley and Mayor Greg Mapes, did not know what the sign meant or where it came from.
However, they found out first hand during last Tuesday’s city commission meeting when St. Louis resident Robi Rodriguez spoke during public comment.
She handed out five-page letters to the five city commissions who had supported a zoning change that allowed the establishment of a youth refugee center at the former Warwick Living Center owned by the Michigan Masonic Home.
Those receiving the letters were Commissioners Roxann Harrington, Audra Stahl, Nick Piccolo, Roger Allman and Mapes.
The four commissioners had voted to reject a planning commission recommendation to deny the rezoning request, while Mapes had abstained from voting due to his longtime affiliation with the FreeMasons, however, he did write a letter of support for the zoning change that was published in the Morning Sun.
“This is notice requesting that you resign within seven days for breaking our state, federal and city laws,” Rodriguez said during the meeting. She went on to say that the four commissioners and the mayor had violated their “oaths of office.”
“We didn’t want it to come to this but you’ve given us no choice,” Rodriguez said.
The decision has “endangered the citizens of Alma, Gratiot County and surrounding area,” she added.
The letter presented to the commissioners was signed by the “notifying party,” Alma resident Holly Butcher, and titled “Notice of Intent to File Claim Against Your Risk Management Plan.”
It went on to note that the commissioners had violated state law, Alma city charter zoning ordinances, and the 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States, among others.
The letter concluded by stating “a bond claim may be filed against your surety liability insurance policy if you do not resign” and if the terms were not met a lawsuit would be filed in federal court.
The amount being sought from the bonding agent, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, is $1 million from each of the five commissioners.
Commissioners Daniel Wernick and Michelle Pitts, who voted against the zoning change, were not targeted by the group.
An earlier recall effort against Harrington, Stahl and Piccolo failed due to the lack of petition signatures. Allman and Mapes could not be recalled under state election law because they were in the first year of their new terms.
Ripley said the matter has been turned over to the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, which is now reviewing the documents commissioners received.
“We’re now just waiting to see what they have to say,” he noted.
The group’s seven-day timeline ultimatum ends Tuesday, Feb. 15.
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Alma learning the meaning behind cryptic sign - The Morning Sun
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