BY LARRY SOBCZAK
EDITOR
It was the first public statement by Bruce Township Clerk Susan Brockmann’s since her drunken driving charges that packed the meeting room at the township hall, not the board of trustee’s light agenda on Dec. 7.
“I’m extremely remorseful that this happened. I realize it was an extremely poor judgment call on my part. With that said I am entitled to the same rights and due process as any citizen. This has not and will not affect my job in any way. My family and I are handling this in the same way we would any private matter,” Brockmann said.
She then thanked friends and family in the audience, Bruce Township Supervisor Richard Cory, trustee Mark Falker and trustee Paul Paul Okoniewski for their support.
“And I also very much appreciate them (the board) not making comments to the media and respecting my family’s privacy and my own privacy,” she said.
In November, Brockmann was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a high blood alcohol content (BAC) from an incident that allegedly occurred on Sept. 11 at the township hall.
According to the Michigan State Police, a trooper was responding to an alarm at the township hall when a trooper allegedly encountered Brockmann in her vehicle.
The trooper said that Brockmann put her car in reverse and stuck his patrol car.
The trooper reported that he asked Brockmann to perform a breathalyzer test which registered 0.20 BAC which is considered “super drunk” under Michigan law.
After Brockmann gave her statement, audience members were allowed to comment during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Most of the audience that spoke made comments in favor of Brockmann.
“I don’t know how something that happened privately should be brought into the office,” said a woman from Washington Township. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s business.”
Bruce Township Carl Beauvais said that he was not in favor of Brockmann serving on any committees or boards as punishment for the alleged drunken driving incident.
“She’s shown a disrespect for the law, for her community,” he said.
Appointments were one of the items on that evening’s agenda.
By a vote of 3-1, the board appointed Brockmann as Freedom of Information Act coordinator, planning and zoning coordinator and parks committee alternate. Okoniewski was absent and Treasurer Debbie Obrecht voted no.
Other appointments the board unanimously made include:
- Okoniewski to the planning commission;
- Wayne Tornow to the zoning board of appeals;
- Cory as building supervisor and parks and recreation committee;
- David Vinson, Gordon Dorris and Lorraine Deleo to the board of review;
- And Ted Ulissee as an alternate to the board of review.
In other action, the board approved an amendment to their agreement with the Great Lakes Water Authority and appropriated $250 to the Macomb Agricultural Purchase of Development Rights Committee.
