Perry business meeting planned Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 10:28 am PERRY — Business owners from throughout Perry are invited to attend a business round table session during the next meeting of the Perry Business and Technology Committee, at 7 p.m. June 26 on the third floor of Perry City Hall. “At this meeting you will learn about new and exciting ways the city of Perry is willing to stand with you as a business owner,” a press release issued by Business and Technology Committee Chair Karen Potter said. Potter recently met with representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Shiawassee Economic Development Corporation and has information to share with area businesses. “This is not a networking meeting. This meeting is about getting things moving for you and your business and helping the city of Perry forward into the 21st century,” the press release states. If you know someone interested in starting a business in Perry, she said, bring them along as well. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP online at www.doodle.com/kkfgpymkpuivne8e or email karenpotter2006@yahoo.com.

Perry woman wants manager issue on ballot By CHRISTINA GUENTHNER, Argus-Press Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:45 am PERRY — Perry City Council member Karen Potter is circulating a petition in an attempt to force the issue of a city manager onto the ballot in November. Potter previously presented the idea of creating a city manager position during the July 17 city council meeting, but it was voted down. “People should have the choice. If they do not find value in having a city manager then they can vote the measure down, but who are we as council members to take away their right to choose?” Potter said. Potter contends that once she tells people the process can be done without raising taxes and she explains the benefits of a city manager, “it’s an easy sell.” “I have been knocking on doors and talking to people on the street and not one person has flat out told me ‘no,’” Potter said. During the July 17 council meeting, Potter said a city manager — who would be hired by and report to the city council — would help lead the community in the right direction by marketing the city and networking with businesses, organizations and other municipalities to create partnerships. But most of the council disagreed, saying the idea was placed on a public ballot years ago and turned down by a wide margin. “This was put on a ballot and I believe two-thirds of the people voted it down,” Mayor Pro Tem Tom Chaput said at the meeting. “We’re not at a point that we need a city manager, nor can we afford it.” Potter said July 17 that the average salary for a city manager in a city about Perry’s size ranges from $48,000 to $75,000 a year. Mayor Ross DeLau insisted the cost would be much higher — close to $85,000 by the time benefits were factored in. During the July 17 meeting, a motion to place a resolution on the November ballot was made by Potter and supported by Michael Johnson, but was turned down, 4-2. During another meeting Aug. 7, the city council passed a resolution stating “the Perry City Council does not endorse the creation of the position of city manager for the city of Perry at this time.” The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Chaput and supported by Terry Wood. The only council members who voted against it were Potter and Johnson. Potter said she’s frustrated because “several council members supported the measure privately but when the measure came to a vote, they backed down. “I have had several city workers, and city council members state they support the concept. However, for whatever reason, when the issue comes into the light, they run scared,” she said. “I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in and what is right for this city’s future. I know change is scary but change is coming and we can be a part of it or try to fight it.” In order to place the measure on the ballot, Potter must collect signatures from 149 voters registered in the city. To make the November ballot, the signatures must be turned in and verified and the city council would have to approve ballot language by Aug. 28. Anyone who wants to sign the petition can contact Karen Potter at (517) 927-4458 or via email at karenpotter2006@yahoo.com.

A garden grows in Perry By CHRISTINA GUENTHNER, Argus-Press Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:15 pm PERRY — As a new wife and mother, Bonnie Jean Peavy learned about the benefits of tending to her own vegetable garden while her husband served in the military. Now, 40 years later, Peavy is hoping to share her knowledge with the Perry area by creating a community garden. “I hope I can help some young people who have lost their jobs and literally don’t know where their next meal will come from,” she said. Peavy, whose husband was in the Navy during the Vietnam War, was left at home with their baby girl and $75 per month to live on. “Even in the ’70s that just didn’t cut it, and I was terrified,” she said. That’s when Peavy’s father-in-law stepped in and taught her about gardening — he had experienced the victory gardens during World War II and knew how much it could help. He tilled a patch of land on his Howell-area farm, and she got to work. “It was really basic,” she said of her first garden, which contained green beans, cabbage, beets, lettuce and tomatoes. “I wanted to grow everything I needed to make BLTs,” Peavy said. That fall, she learned how to store her harvest when one of her friends taught her how to can a basic tomato sauce, jam and applesauce. To this day, Peavy’s garden — full of vegetables, fruits and herbs — takes up the majority of her front yard in downtown Perry. “They were giving me a lot more than food,” Peavy said of her mentors. “They were giving me knowledge that I could use to help myself. That’s the legacy that I want to pass on.” Last week, Peavy pitched her idea for a community garden to the Perry City Council. Although no official motion was made to approve the idea, council members generally supported it. They suggested she could use a patch of land near the Department of Public Works building. “This is great way to help people in the area learn about being self-sustainable and it’s a fun way to get people of all ages involved in something positive in the community,” council member Karen Potter said in an email to The Argus-Press. “I support people learning how to take care of each other and themselves instead of relying on the government.” Peavy says she is hoping to gather some interested community members this fall so they can prepare the soil, and possibly do some fundraising. Another possibility Peavy is open to is teaching community garden participants how to can what they grow. “Anybody who wants to learn how to can, can come help this old lady,” she said, laughing. Peavy and Potter have set up a Facebook page for anyone interested in participating in the community garden at www.Facebook.com/PerryAreaCommunityGarden. Those interested can also email Perrycommunitygarden@gmail.com.

Interview for local news station.

Potter to run for Perry City Council The Argus-Press | Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2012 6:00 am PERRY — Current Perry City Council member Karen Potter has officially announced her candidacy in the upcoming city council race. “As a strong advocate for business, enhanced parks and recreation, as well as my strong conservative values, I am well equipped and uniquely qualified to serve another term,” Potter said, pointing to her 11 years of business, education and public service experience. Potter was appointed to the city council in January to fill a seat left by the resignation of Brad Sharlow. Potter said declining home values, scarcity of jobs and the recent and on-going reconfiguration of Perry Public Schools have residents ready for new and fresh ideas to jump start the area. Potter believes focusing on community enrichment programs, partnerships with public schools, other local governments and a focus on enhancing the quality of life for residents will help move the City forward. “We need less government, better return on our tax dollars and more growth, its real simple,” Potter said. Potter has served as director of the Waverly Schools Ombudsman Alternative High School, executive assistant to the vice president at Aldi Inc., constituent relations director for a state senator, and currently serving the Lansing School District Board of Education as a board liaison. Potter also emphasized her service on the Zoning Board of Appeals under Mayor Steve Daunt, current role on the Perry Planning Commission, as well as her work on the board of the nonprofit Perry Youth Baseball /Softball Association. “My faith, my family and my community are what matter most to me,” said Potter, who has lived in Perry for 11 years with her husband and two children who attend Perry Public Schools. “My diverse background in private and public sectors gives me insight and wisdom to work with my fellow Council members to make decisions that move this community forward,” she said. Potter urges residents who are interested in learning more about her background and commitment to visit www.KarenPotterUSA.com or check out her LinkedIn Profile. In addition, community members can call her at (517) 927-4458.

Perry plans city intern program By CHRISTINA GUENTHNER, Argus-Press Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, August 26, 2012 5:00 am PERRY — The Perry City Council is forming a partnership with Baker College of Owosso that will create an internship program in the city. Council member Karen Potter introduced the program, which will allow college students to earn credit and experience in exchange for working as a city intern, during Tuesday’s council meeting. “I think it would be a great way to reach out to young people in our community and teach them about municipal government and really set a good stage for the city,” Potter said. According to Potter, the internship opportunities will be for undergraduates in areas such as business, marketing, technology, criminal justice and accounting. “It might be a great thing to help us enhance our image a little bit, too,” Potter said, stating that an intern might be available to improve the city website or its Facebook page. “There’s a million different things they could help us do.” She said the city will provide Baker with information about the internships it would like to fill. Baker would then send resumes to the city, and department heads could then select which interns they want. “You actually get to pick who your interns are,” she said. Each intern would be available for one semester at a time, during which they would be required to work 120 hours. The interns must be supervised, and the supervisor would be required to keep tract of their hours and submit an evaluation at the end of the semester. “At the end of the semester you can get another intern if you choose, or you can take a break, however you want to run it,” Potter said. Other council members said they supported the program, as long as none of the city employees were forced to supervise an intern if they didn’t want to. “We don’t want to take an intern and shove them down anyone’s throat,” Mayor Pro Tem Tom Chaput said. “The employees can let us know if they want an intern.” Potter said even through there is a little bit of work involved, she thought it would be worth it. “Even though it can be a little bit of an inconvenience to the workers, it’s kind of cool that you can help kids get their career started,” Potter said. “We want to help kids get jobs and create a future.” Chaput was the lone council member to vote against the partnership, stating that before he agreed he would like more information about what would be required from the council in order to participate. “Before we jump into this I would really like to see the letter of agreement we would have with them,” Chaput said. Potter said all that is required is an informal letter of understanding. “Because the semester is about to start, now is the time to make a commitment that we want to join the program,” she said. “The letter of intent would be something just customary, saying that we intend to partner with Baker and have interns... All you are doing is giving your support to the program. If you don’t like the program you can just end it at the semester.”