The Mayor — He carried a hammer as a carpenter, but never needed one when he was running the town. Michael Elliott’s calm demeanor always carried the day. “Michael is someone the people respected, the other councilors respected,” said council member Chris Wilkins. “He was the perfect guy to have at the head of the table as mayor.”
    He had already listened to Dr. June Irwin’s speeches for more than four years by the time he became mayor in 1989. In his mind, it was time to take action against the lawn chemical companies who he felt were risking the water supply and the health of his citizens. “I always wondered why the guys for the lawn companies had to wear acid proof rubber boots when they applied the products,” he said. “Acid proof? That means it’s going to do you some damage. I don’t know. I’m a simple guy. It’s not rocket science to me.”
    Though he was ultimately vilified by some town residents for taking away their lawn chemicals, he didn’t back down from the threat of lawsuits. Elliott would lose the next election as mayor in 1993, but by then he had already written his place in the history books.