Nixon withdraws from his new post at Suttons Bay Township.

A resident selected last week by the Suttons Bay Township Board to fill an opening caused by the resignation of trustee Dick Catton has stepped down due to a conflict of interest.

At last week’s meeting, the board appointed Tom Nixon to replace Catton. Nixon has been serving on the Suttons Bay Township Planning Commission, on the township’s recreation committee, and as an alternate member of the township’s Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Review.

Nixon is also a trustee on the Suttons Bay Public Schools Board of Education. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the school board last year and was elected to the seat in May.

Following last week’s township board meeting, officials took a closer look at a state law that defines “incompatible public offices.” According to Public Act 566 of 1978, the office of township trustee is considered “incompatible” with that of a school board member if the township has any contracts with the school district.

In Suttons Bay, the township has a contract to collect taxes for the school district. The two public bodies also have a contract that calls on the school district to administer youth recreation programs, such as soccer and baseball for the township.

Both township supervisor Rich Bahle and Nixon said they were not aware that the law had deemed the two offices “incompatible” until a township resident suggested they double-check.

“I’m very disappointed, but the law is very clear and it’s vital that there not even be an appearance of a potential conflict of interest,” Nixon said. “Although I’d rather not choose between the two, I must honor my first commitment to the school board and withdraw from my appointment to the township board.”

Nixon said he planned to keep serving the township through his involvement with the Planning Commission, recreation committee, Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Review.

The only other candidate who had expressed an interest in filling the vacancy as a township trustee was Gerald “Jerry” Bergman who is also currently serving as chairman of the township Planning Commission.

Township officials said they plan to appoint a new township trustee at next month’s meeting, Oct. 10.

The five-member township board has two trustees who each earn $1,456 per year. The only trustee now seated is Ron Send who has indicated that he is considering stepping down as well in the coming months.