By Genine Hopkins
Clare County’s Redding Township continues to have issues this time stemming from accusations of misappropriation of bottle return funds for the generator along with some missing papers from the Township Treasurer, James Kaminski, who resigned at the last regular board meeting in August. Since the November election, two Trustees and two Treasurers have resigned leaving only two acting board members, far short of a quorum required to attend to regular township business. No voting means no bills can be paid and the grants residents applied for cannot be approved as well.
The bottle fund has been a point of contention since at least November, when Billie Wrubel, who had spearheaded the collection of returnables to help pay for a new generator for the township, became the Redding Township Supervisor. Wrubel continued to return the bottles and cans, collecting the money without turning the funds over to the Township Treasurer, who at that time was Kathy Schreiner. The issue was discussed at meetings over the spring of 2025, with Wrubel being told funds needed to be held in a line item in the township coffers.
After the resignation of Schreiner and her husband, who served as a Trustee, the matter was once again brought up after James Kaminiski began his training to take over the treasurer position. Kaminski had been elected as a Trustee and volunteered to take on the role of treasurer after Schreiner’s resignation. Over the summer of this year, Wrubel stated she would begin to bring any funds from returnables to the township for deposit into the township account.
Kaminski alleges – in an email sent to County Treasurer Jenny Beemer – that Wrubel has withheld funds both in May, although he does indicate that money was eventually deposited, but also recently. Since that initial deposit, Kaminski alleges, no money has been deposited despite the fact that returnables continue to be collected at the Transfer Station each week. Kaminski stated he confronted Wrubel on September 4th at the township hall, but Wrubel said she would not hand over the money until the next meeting. Additionally, Kaminski said paperwork was missing from his desk to which both his deputy treasurer and Township Clerk Trisha Martin said they were unaware about any papers nor did they remove or move said paperwork.
Redding Township Supervisor Billie Wrubel told The Review that she withheld depositing the money with Kaminski due to a discrepancy in the beginning balance of the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July, which erroneously had the beginning balance of June 2025 without the June Deposit figured into the balance. Instead, July’s beginning balance of $2,195.29 – the end of June 2025 balance after Wrubel’s sole deposit of $569.70 – the July beginning balance read $1,626.20 (the beginning June 2025 balance was $1,625.69). It is understandable that this might raise an alarm, but nothing was brought up at the August meeting during its open session. Kaminski said the money is in the account, he misread the numbers in his report. He also stated he didn’t hear about any issues from Wrubel until their September 4th meeting.
The Redding Township Workshop held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, lasted exactly one minute. Supervisor Wrubel called the meeting to order, the pledge was recited, and roll call was completed. With only two members available – Trustee and Deputy Clerk Brooke Daniels and Supervisor Wrubel – Wrubel ended the meeting due to a lack of a quorum.
Resident attendees were not amused, highly upset that no meeting would occur and the reason why there could be no township business considered. Many were calling to have any salary claimed by the three absent members to be docked. While Kaminski was absent from the meeting he told The Clare County Review that he was planning on being at the township hall all day on Monday, September 15, as that is the tax deadline. Trisha Martin told The Review that she had been working mostly from home, but her deputy Clerk was still going into the office several times a week. With no required time, Chris Martin, as a Trustee, did not have any office hours needed nor logged.
Kaminski told The Review to remind residents they could always drop off a check or money order for their taxes and the online payment option has always been available.
Per state law, the Clare County Election Commission – which consists of County Clerk Lori Mott, County Treasurer Jenny Beemer, and Probate Judge Marcy Klaus – will convene to appoint at least one replacement, seeking suggestions from Daniels and/or Wrubel. But due to the current resignation date of September 30, 2025, given at the August meeting, they cannot perform this duty until after that date. Mott stated that she was hoping to have discussions with Kaminski and the Martins to determine if one of them could move the resignation date earlier so they could provide the needed quorum.
At this time, the township has received several notices of interest for trustee, and the current Deputy Clerk Brooke Daniels will step up in the role of the Clerk, they currently are seeking people interested in serving as the Redding Township Treasurer. If you are a resident and interested in this position, please contact Supervisor Wrubel at 231-743-9525.
