Joe McAbee seeks 4 more years as Fairfield Twp. trustee

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Providing residents the services they want or need within Fairfield Twp.’s budget is the biggest problem facing board, said the incumbent trustee candidate.

Fairfield Twp. Trustee Joe McAbee, who won election four years ago, said he would “continue to be fiscally responsible and a good steward of township resources” if re-elected on Nov. 5 to four more years.

McAbee is challenged for a seat on the Fairfield Twp. Board of Trustees by former trustee Steve Morgan, who served on Fairfield Twp. for 16 years, and local real estate agent DeeDee Ollis, who also serves on the township’s zoning board.

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McAbee first served for 12 years before losing in the 2007 election. He was voted back on the board in 2015.

McAbee said the township needs to focus on several issues, including updating lighting around the township to LED lights, which are safer and more energy-efficient.

He also wants to continue to update the parks and equipment, build a service building to store and protect township equipment, work to video record township meetings, and complete the Fairfield Twp. Veteran’s Memorial.

“I will promote a safe, vibrant community where families can thrive with recreational activities, strong local schools, and the best police, fire and service departments available,” he said.

Part of his fiscal responsibility includes strengthening the township’s healthy, pro-business economic development plan “to lessen taxpayer burden, promote a healthy and sustainable economy.”

The township has one more big development boom on its horizon, officials have said, and proper zoning is “the key” to the township’s future development, McAbee said.

 

“Our zoning should protect our current residents while allowing for a mixture of business and commercial growth,” he said.

A strong infrastructure is also important, not only for a safer community, but it also helps with economic development, McAbee said.

“Another key to our development is our infrastructure improvements,” he said. “I have worked to encourage high paying jobs all the while protecting our residential neighborhoods, such as the Gilmore Road widening coming soon.”

The 16-year Fairfield Twp. trustee said he’d “continue to protect our current residents while controlling the future commercial and business growth,” citing he voted against a zone change request off Liberty-Fairfield Road “because it changed the integrity of the neighborhood.”

He also voted against the MI Homes project because lots were smaller, and homes were less expensive to neighboring subdivisions.

McAbee has lived in the township for 29 years and is actively involved in the community, including being a Fairfield Twp. Citizen Police Academy Alumni and a founder of the Fairfield Twp. Youth Basketball.

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