By Carol Stiffler
The Portage Township Board voted 4-1 to allow Three Lakes Academy (TLA) to install a sign in front of the apple orchard west of the school building declaring it the Sue Pann Community Orchard.
The request had been under discussion since it was introduced in December by Three Lakes Academy Superintendent Rachel Bommarito.
Pann previously served as the administrator for TLA and has spent many hours working in the orchard, tending trees and helping develop a walking path. The orchard and its apples are intended to be shared with the community.
The sign request became an unexpected point of contention, and its inclusion on the agenda for May’s regular meeting led to several failed votes to pass the consent agenda. As a result, the meeting was adjourned six minutes after it began, with no business conducted.
A special meeting held two days later did not include the naming request on the limited agenda.
June’s agenda once again had Bommarito’s request to name the orchard in honor of Pann’s efforts. This time, the consent agenda passed. When the naming item was up for discussion, trustee Edgar Holbrook said he’d received advice to be cautious about naming township properties after an individual, saying he was told it could have legal implications down the road – like in the event the township seeks to sell the property.
Holbrook cast the sole vote against naming the orchard after Pann.
Following the rare 4-1 vote — most votes are unanimous or 3-2, with the three male board members and the two female members voting together in opposition of each other — the audience gave a long round of applause.
Bommarito will bring proposed sign design to the July board meeting.
