By MARISA LORANGER, Staff Reporter.
With five decades of involvement in Buena Vista Charter Township (BVCT), 54-year-old Dwayne Parker has seen his city go through some rough times. Now, as the Buena Vista supervisor, he is on a mission to bring his city back.
“I’m Buena Vista bred through and through,” Parker explained.
Parker has plenty of projects he is working on. One project Parker is stoked about is the new Arlington & Rienbold districts drain and road project.
“This is a major project,” said Parker.
The majority of BV’s complaints are about the roads, Parker explained. Parker decided to reach out to Saginaw County Road Commission and Saginaw County Public Drain Commission. Parker made clear, “It’s extremely expensive,” so the township and the residents are paying for it, through a special assessment program.
Parker was fortunate enough to have a close knit family, community, a father and mother in his life, mentors, coaches and a big brother. They were all there for him to support him whenever he needed it. That kind of background is why Parker feels strongly about his hometown.
“I am fortunate to have grown up with guidance,” said Parker.
After graduating from BV high school in 1979 Parker received a scholarship from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar,Mo. and eventually a college degree.
When he finished college, he began his professional career in Kalamazoo, Mich working for the Kalamazoo Public School system. After working there for a couple of years his mother became ill with cancer. He moved back home to be with her and when she passed away, he decided to stay in the area.
Parker launched the Buena Vista Business Association in 2010. Its “Buy BV First Initiative” has proven to be a positive injection to the local business community. The concept is simple: encourage the business community in BV to buy goods and services in BV first before they go outside of the township.
In 2005, Parker started Neighborhood Watch programs in BVCT, and three out of five precincts still have acting programs. He reached out to Habitat for Humanity which BVCT is now in year three of its five year Brush Up program, which is a program that fixes up homes in the community. A total of 47 homes have been repaired and painted.
Parker co-chairs the monthly Senior Pancake Breakfast at the BVCT community center. He’s part of the Breakfast of Champions Men’s Club which serves as the Mid-Michigan chapter of “Shoes that Fit,” a national charity organization. They have provided up to 2,000 free pairs of shoes to Buena Vista elementary school students over the past five years.
Parker championed the BVCT “Spring Clean Up Day.” This event gives the community one day a year where residents can throw away absolutely anything and the service is completely free.
He is also on a campaign called Fight the Blight. They demolish abandoned homes and the campaign reaches out to the county land bank and the state to obtain funds and grants. So far they have received half a million dollars.
Parker was on the committee for the BVCT Alzheimer “Miles for Memory” walk which raises money for Alzheimer’s care and research.
He joined the BVCT Planning Commission in 1993. He ran for the BVCT trustee board in 1996 and was on it for two years before becoming Supervisor in 1998 and has been in the position ever since.
With so much community involvement in the past, Parker has big plans for the future.
Parker would like to see a hotel task force established to take care of the issues that plague their current hotels.
“Frankenmuth is the largest tourist attraction for people in Michigan, and BV is only 10 miles away,” explained Parker. “I want BVCT to be the go to place for overflow people. My ultimate goal [is to] be a township of the 21st century.”
He wants physical changes, new buildings, new roads and a prideful BV; A community that takes care of itself.
