While one controversial appointment was turned down Tuesday by the Township Board, another appointment was approved.

Former township supervisor Noel Flohe, who was defeated in the 2004 election by present supervisor Derith Smith, was named in a 6-1 vote to the township public safety committee. The board later voted against appointing resident Eric Saxon to the Planning Commission. Saxon helped lead an unsuccessful recall attempt against the four board members who opposed his appointment, and successfully sued the past board for being forced from his boat slip at the township marina.

Smith cast the opposing vote against Flohe. She successfully sued Flohe and two other township residents for defamation of character following their mailing of a Suttons Bay Village report that was proven to include incorrect information about her work performance while clerk for he village.

Smith said her opposition was not connected to her being the subject of the mailing. “The fact that he damaged anyone, I think is very important,” she said, adding that “we are expected to appoint good people.”

Trustee Jim O’Rourke, the long-serving board member, stuck up for Flohe. “He was the hardest working supervisor I’ve ever worked for,” said O’Rourke.

Flohe’s primary task will be to improve insurance fire ratings in the township, which could reduce insurance costs to residents. No other resident sought to sit on the committee after advertisements were placed in newspapers seeking applicants.

Flohe thanked the board during public comment for the appointment, and reminded Smith that the outcome of the civil lawsuit remains on appeal.