'Twill be tough to replace VBT Planning Director

The followingwas posted by The View staff reporter Jerry LaVaute:

I wrote recently about Dan Swallow’s departure as Van Buren Township Director of Planning and Economic Development, and wasn’t planning to write anything further.

But after attending the VBT Work Study and Board of Trustees meetings earlier this week, and seeing a letter from a colleague and friend with whom Dan and I worked, I feel compelled to share these added dimensions of his role in our community.

Dan’s departure was such that he can’t be replaced immediately – a search will be conducted for a worthy replacement, and it may take as long as three months to complete.

In the interim, Dan will be replaced by three different people from the township’s planning consultants, McKenna and Associates.

Supervisor Paul White rightly said that the township’s long history with McKenna, and its qualified and highly skilled professional staff, make them a good choice for interim help in replacing Dan

One of the McKenna staff will work 40 hours each week; a second will work four hours each week; a third will work the equivalent of five hours each week.

The internal budget transfers that were approved to fund interim coverage while Dan’s replacement is being sought were over $35,000 for three months, or the annual equivalent of over $140,000.

Wow. When it comes our turn, we can only hope that as we depart our job, that our employer has to jump through as many hoops – three different people and the annual equivalent of $140,000 - to replace us, even temporarily. Because that is an important, hardworking, highly talented employee. That is Dan Swallow.

The other dimension of Dan’s role in our community was suggested by a letter of thanks to Dan that was written earlier this week by Woods Creek Friends member Dave Wilson.

WCF was started in 2007, and among several others, included Dave Wilson, Dan Swallow, Paul White and me.

Here’s the letter from Dave Wilson:

“At our Woods Creek Friends meeting tonight, the group asked me to write a letter to you on its behalf thanking you for the enormous amount of support and valuable counsel you’ve given WCF.

If it weren’t for your efforts back when things were getting started, WCF would not exist. Your work with us will be most gratefully remembered as long as there are WCF veterans of those early days on board.

As I well know from past experience, groups like ours cannot necessarily count on support from their local governments, especially not the sort of whole-hearted and knowledgeable support we received from you on our various projects. Many, many thanks.

Congratulations on your new position with Monroe; we wish you all the best. But we’re sure going to miss you here! “

Amen to that, Dave. Well said.