The latest twist in the saga of East Bay township hall shenanigans: on New Year's Day, when the township offices were closed, embattled township Clerk Jan Gee slipped into the township hall to remove her desk and belongings, according to this Record-Eagle article. Gee's trial on charges that she embezzled money from the township is scheduled to begin next week.

Why does this matter for Leelanau County? Because the underlying issues at East Bay--lack of auditing and internal controls--are endemic in our townships as well. Of course most people who work in township government in Leelanau and elsewhere are honest, hardworking individuals--but procedures should be in place to guarantee that abuses like those in East Bay do not take place. That's not mistrusting the people who staff township government; it's just running local government according to business-like and well-established procedures.