BERGLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one man with about $200 worth of camera gear is doing something he thinks local officials would rather not see: giving the public a view of what’s happening inside township meetings.
Meet “Willie,” a Carp Lake Township resident in Ontonagon County and self-described citizen journalist, who has been recording local meetings and posting them online – not for profit, but as an effort to keep the public informed.
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His YouTube channel showing Carp Lake Township meetings can be seen here. Along the way, others began asking him to record meetings in neighboring communities. But when he showed up in Bergland Township with his camera and tripod, he says the welcome mat got yanked.
Open meetings act says “roll tape.”
Michigan law is clear that the public may attend and record open meetings under the Open Meetings Act using audio or video equipment, so long as the recording is not disruptive. The law does not require recordings to be livestreamed, nor does it prohibit editing. It also says that a public body can establish reasonable rules and regulations in order to minimize the possibility of disrupting the meeting.
Willie even keeps a copy of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act on hand, ready to show local officials who question his actions – especially when those in the room may not fully understand, or may disagree with, what the law allows.
The township’s new rules.
According to a recent interview Willie gave to fellow citizen journalist Dave Bondy, Bergland Township officials – led by Supervisor Jack Otlewis – have adopted new rules governing how meetings can be recorded, along with restrictions on public comment.
The township’s list of rules includes a request (not mandate) that meetings be livestreamed to discourage editing or tampering, that recording equipment be positioned at the back of the room to avoid disruption, and that video creators refrain from adding commentary outside the designated public comment period.
Cease-and-desist clash.
After the new recording rules were passed in Bergland Township, Willie fired back with a cease-and- desist letter, arguing the township is violating state law. Otlewis says they are in compliance with the law and that Willie’s letter is “baseless.”
Transparency on a shoestring budget.
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Willie’s setup is simple: a basic camera, tripod, and memory cards. Then he uploads the video file to his YouTube channel. No fancy production crew. And people are watching. “I don’t make a dime off of anything I do,” Willie said to Bondy. “I’m just doing it so people can see what’s happening.” Because no one was going to the meetings in Carp Lake Township besides him, Willie decided to record them so residents could see what was going on – and has since taken that effort to other townships as well.
For residents who work when meetings are scheduled, have kids, are elderly, or can’t physically attend meetings, those videos are often the only way people have access to what is going on in their township or county. For municipalities who say they cannot afford to record their meetings, Bondy argues that the cost of recording should not be a significant barrier, noting that Willie has been able to do so with roughly $200 in out-of-pocket expenses.
Supervisor responds.
Michigan News Source reached out to Bergland Township Supervisor Jack Otlewis regarding meeting transparency, public access to records, and the handling of a citizen recording board meetings and he pushed back, arguing that he believes Willie has been spreading “false and misleading statements” about the township to generate views for his YouTube channel. He also suggested Willie was encouraged to attend their township meeting by a disgruntled now-resigned trustee and said he welcomes scrutiny from “a fair journalist” without an agenda, maintaining that his administration has prioritized transparency since he took office in November 2024.
Otlewis explained that township records, including meeting minutes and zoning documents, are available online, though he acknowledged some recent materials may not yet be posted due to staffing changes following a resignation. He added that while Bergland does not currently livestream meetings, he is open to doing so and pointed to a previous resident who recorded meetings “in a very professional way” without disrupting proceedings.
Supervisor says rules aim to maintain order, not block access.
The supervisor described Willie’s conduct at a February 19 board meeting as “disruptive,” alleging he arrived right as the meeting started, made noise while setting up equipment, bumped into people, and interrupted the meeting after public comment had closed. According to Otlewis, the township’s updated meeting rules were developed in consultation with an attorney to prevent disruptions, not to ban recording, and are intended to ensure meetings proceed in an orderly manner. He added, “Willie thinks he doesn’t have to follow the rules” including when it comes to speaking out of turn.
Otlewis further defended the township’s position by stating the rules are compliant with Michigan law and that his attorney is preparing a response to Willie’s cease-and-desist letter. He argued that requesting a livestream-style recording helps prevent “selective editing” and said multiple witnesses could corroborate concerns about Willie’s behavior on February 19 which he alleges Willie edited out of his video.
The supervisor also highlighted what he described as financial and operational improvements under his leadership, framing the controversy as a distraction from broader progress in the township. He describes helping to stabilize township finances and improving day-to-day operations, adding that the township has made strides in managing its budget more effectively, addressing prior inefficiencies, and maintaining essential services without overburdening taxpayers. In his view, the current dispute over recording policies is overshadowing what he considers meaningful improvements in how the township is run and funded.
The bottom line.
Both sides maintain they’re acting in the public’s interest – one focused on keeping meetings orderly and township operations on track, the other on ensuring residents can see firsthand what their local government is doing. And as traditional media coverage continues to thin in smaller communities, citizen journalists are increasingly stepping in to fill that gap. In Bergland Township, the question now is whether transparency and order can coexist.
