Breaking News: Oshtemo Recall Removes Trustee Cole

The team of volunteers working to gather petition signatures to recall several Oshtemo Township Board members on the November ballot is announcing that they are no longer seeking to recall Trustee Kristin Cole

The recall effort is now focusing on four board members: Supervisor Cheri Bell, Clerk Dusty Farmer, and Trustees Zak Ford and Neil Sikora.

The Oshtemo Township Board recall effort began due to several factors that led residents to question who the board is truly serving. Ongoing concerns about spending, benefits, transparency, and large impactful township projects made it clear the current cycle needed to be interrupted—giving the public the opportunity to choose new leadership two years early.

Due to November ballot timing – any signatures gathered in the winter time have expired and residents are being asked to sign again.

One major reason residents are choosing to sign is the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility slated for South Van Kal Street in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo MI, between M-43 and Stadium Drive. The BESS project by New Edge Power began long before its informational public presentation last August. The site was researched and land was leased more than two years ago in 2023.

Communication and coordination between Oshtemo township officials and New Edge took place for months behind closed doors. It took several FOIA requests for residents to understand the scale, scope, and financial implications of this massive 260-megawatt project—one of the largest battery projects planned in Michigan.

Despite a BESS moratorium, residents continue to see signs of the project progressing behind the scenes. Across the country, BESS and data center developments have frequently gone hand in hand. Questions have also been raised about whether a data center planning is advancing as well, given that a data center moratorium was recently enacted while the industrial district was expanded in the new township master plan.

This certainly isn’t transparency, one of the core values of the township. There were several very contentious board meetings of residents asking questions and being met with responses of this is how we do things here.

Other factors that are driving residents to sign the recall petitions include phase 2 of the sewer project starting in the Westport neighborhood, the dissatisfaction with some neighborhood connectivity projects, the growing budget, assessments, overreaching ordinance enforcement, township pay raises and benefits packages. And finally, the stunning attitude by several board and staff members that continually show a lack of respect towards their constituents.

But, some things have changed in recent months. Trustee Cole and Trustee Michael Chapman have begun asking more difficult questions. They are challenging the status quo—something many residents believe should be encouraged.

“This effort has always been about better leadership. Residents have been clear about that, and we’ve seen Trustee Cole begin to reflect those expectations.” - Katie Schneider, Oshtemo Recall Sponsor

At a recent Joint Board meeting, Trustee Cole questioned why board members were not involved in drafting and reviewing the township’s new energy ordinance. She was told that ordinance development is handled by a short list of staff. However, many residents see this issue as far more significant than routine ordinance work and believe it warrants broader input—especially from those directly impacted by potential industrial-scale projects in their backyards.

Recent presentations from EGLE and the Michigan Public Service Commission have also emphasized the importance of collaboration as the appropriate approach – not closed sessions.

Concerns surrounding the BESS project include the potential to contaminate the water source for residents in Oshtemo and Almena townships, lower property values, damage Hayden Creek on its way to Lake Michigan, impact the Mott Bird Sanctuary, close adjacent specialty farms, and potentially hurt or kill someone.

Because Trustee Cole has demonstrated a willingness to advocate for residents and ask critical questions, she is no longer a target of this recall effort. Similarly, Trustee Chapman was never included in the recall.

The remaining four board members named in the recall petitions have made their choices clear. Now, residents are being asked to make theirs—whether to continue with the current leadership or take the opportunity to place new leadership on the ballot this November.

Volunteers must gather 2,604 valid signatures by Memorial Day to qualify for the November ballot.

Neighbors have begun going door-to-door in local neighborhoods again collecting signatures. Signing opportunities are also available at Panera Bread on West Main every weekend from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, most afternoons at 9th Street and Stadium Drive, and at several upcoming community events, including the Rotary Family Festival at the end of April, polling locations on Election Day (Tuesday, May 5), the VerHage Craft Fair on Saturday, May 9, and the Oshtemo Cruise-In & Auto Show on Sunday, May 17.

More information and signing locations are available at RecallOshtemo.org.