Mayor disputes mailer urging his recall

Following the “World’s Largest Flag Day Parade” in downtown Three Oaks Sunday, June 12, Three Oaks Village President Richard Smith presented the key to the village to Miss and Mr. Three Oaks/River Valley, Maura Killips and Sebastian Kirk, at the Three Oaks American Legion Post 204. — PHOTO BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

BY STAN MADDUX

New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey said flyers making claims of restricted property rights are fake news aimed at “You can’t let people live in homes that you’re renting as a business uninspected. It’s just the law,” he said. Humphrey said the mailers were distributed by the same people involved in having him and city councilman Brian Flanagan removed from office.

“These people are putting out misinformation for two reasons. They either don’t understand, are uninformed or just ignorant of the process and how these things work or they’re doing it maliciously,” he said.

An effort is underway to try and recall Humphrey and Flanagan over their support of a cap on short-term rentals and new regulations governing the use of existing vacation homes.

Recently, citizens began receiving information in their mailboxes alleging diminished property rights and invasion of privacy on large post cards in support of the recall attempt.

The post cards allege it’s now illegal for people to allow family members or struggling friends to live in their homes rent free under the city’s new long-term rental ordinance.

There’s also mention of a $250 fine for violators and a $150 fee for an inspector to go through their homes.

“New Buffalo is governing WHO is close to you and who’s allowed to stay in your home rent free,” the card proclaims.

In response, Humphrey said residents can let parents or anyone else stay in their primary residence or second home at no cost.

He said a $150 inspection fee must be paid only if guests are living in a second residence used previously for commercial purposes or if rent is currently being charged.

Humphrey said homes used commercially must be inspected to help prevent a fire or some other tragedy and protect the city financially from potential liability if people were injured or died while staying in a vacation home the city failed to inspect. the recall attempt and lawsuits against the city over things like the cap on short-term rentals. He said some of those people also complained a few years ago about homes lived in by nearly a dozen or more restaurant workers. He said the city answered their concerns with the long-term rental ordinance now being used as a tool in their recall effort. “They were calling about that complaining you got to do something about that. So, we did and now they’re complaining about what we did,” he said. Humphrey said requiring rental homes to be registered helps the city enforce the regulations but also looks out for property owners who might not realize they must have commercial insurance or they’re in violation of some other land use. “If you don’t live there and you’re using it for commercial use to make a profit you could potentially be violating your mortgage and that’s mortgage fraud,” he said. Prior to adopting the ordinances, Humphrey said the city lacked proper land use regulations and, in some cases, was breaking or unable to enforce some laws. He said the goal from the beginning was to do not just the right thing for the community but what the city was legally obligated to do under state and federal guidelines. “A lot of these people try to pretend they’re not commercial businesses. When something goes wrong and you’re caught, it’s a big deal. These are the things that got to be cleaned up for the future and safety of the community,” he said. Humphrey and Flanagan would have to run for election half way through their first terms if more than 200 signatures are obtained on recall petitions. The vote would occur in November.

Humphrey portrayed as villain by recall supporters

BY STAN MADDUX

People behind the effort to recall New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey paint him as a nuclear bomb leaving the local economy in ruins by detonating over Chicago. The portrayal was contained in a picture of Humphrey smiling under a mushroom cloud from the make believe nuclear blast. The image was printed on documents that Humphrey alleged contain false information in order to build support for recalling him and city councilman Brian Flanagan. Humphrey said the picture was created and sent to him as a joke by a friend after he moved from Chicago to New Buffalo in 2014. He said the picture was meant to show him at peace and glad to be here away from the turmoil in Chicago. However, a caption under the picture distributed by his opponents describe his policies as the “nuclear option.” His opponents blame him for the recent ban on additional short-term rentals, which they claim will significantly hurt the local economy by discouraging tourists from the Chicago area. Humphrey said the idea behind the ban is to help increase the number of full-time residents and build more of a year round economy. He said he’s exploring his legal options because the picture was taken from his personal Facebook page without his authorization and used to depict him in a false manner. “We’re looking at this overall for various legal things. We don’t know exactly where we’re going yet,” he said. The documents containing the picture also tell residents to be prepared for a series of negative outcomes as a result of his policies. Among the claims is potential higher property taxes because of costly lawsuits challenging the short-term rental ordinance and removal of two residents during the public comment portion of separate city council meetings. to be cleaned up for the future and safety of Humphrey said the claim is false because municipalities are restricted on how much of an increase in revenue can be collected in property taxes from the previous year and a vast majority of property taxes go to the state and schools. He also said any damages the city would be legally ordered to pay is covered by the city’s insurance policy and was confident of victory in what he described as claims lacking good legal standing. Other claims include warnings about a significant drop in property values and higher property taxes if the cap on short-term rentals leads to STRs converting back to single family dwellings. A single family dwelling has higher market value when it’s used as a short-term rental and a majority of local taxes are generated by non-homestead or second homeowners.

“The result will be a higher tax burden for existing full-time residents,” said the unknown publisher of the material.

There’s also mention of a city council member allegedly showing up for meetings and voting on matters while intoxicated.

Humphrey said no names were mentioned but the claim is meant to create a false impression about him.

“This very easily is defamatory toward me because it doesn’t specify that it’s not me and anybody that knows me more than five minutes knows that’s a joke because I very rarely even drink,” he said.

The mayor is also portrayed in the documents as a bully prohibited from school property because of his “explosive temper.”

Humphrey said it was a six month ban imposed last year but not because of any explosive temper.

He said he swore in front of two school employees during a school board meeting over a decision he disagreed with on an issue involving his daughter.

Humphrey said especially upsetting is some of his private text messages were obtained and printed in the documents.

In some of the messages, he calls people “idiots” and viewed one man with disgust for his “pointless rambling.”

Humphrey said he has not publicly made disparaging remarks about anyone and it’s not unusual for private messages from people to contain insults.

“If I want to make private derogatory statements against people personally that is my right. You cannot make those public and then accuse me of doing something wrong,” he said.

‘Memories of Michigan’ paintings to be featured at Vickers Theater

Focusing on the local charm of southwest Michigan, artist Annie Hickman has created a colorful and whimsical collection of 65 acrylic paintings depicting her favorite places in Three Oaks and nearby towns that will be at the Vickers Theater, 6 N. Elm Street in Three Oaks.

Opening Thursday, June 30, the show will remain open during theater hours through late August. Each painting will sell for $50, and the proceeds go directly to Vickers Theater.

Hickman spent many days camped out sketching the buildings and the park with the cannon and gazebo. She developed her own techniques that combine using black permanent markers and acrylic paint on inexpensive stretched canvas, making the works unique yet affordable.

“Living near Three Oaks has given me the opportunity to focus my art on the community I see every day,” said Annie Hickman of Harbert. “I am so inspired by the buildings and parks, I took advantage of having many childhood memories here: shopping for school clothes, going to the beach, the bakeries, and the park.”

Hickman’s art has evolved from performance art, from her handmade, basketry-woven costumes to these acrylic paintings that depict the personality and love she has for these buildings.

“Some of them look lost in time, but I see the poetry and elegance of their simple grandeur,” she added.

The Vickers Theater has a history of exhibitions featuring art of interest to the community. — STAFF