Articles – Page 66

Two supervisor contests highlight primary ballot

July 5, 2020

The Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary election will include contests for U.S. Congress, state representative, township supervisor and township treasurer. Please remember voters cannot split their tickets in a primary. They must vote in either the Democratic or Republican runoffs or those third parties. Sixth District Congress State Rep. Jon Hoadley...

Watson still weighing plan to switch to Hopkins FD

July 2, 2020

Representatives from both the Hopkins Area Fire Department and the Martin Fire Department continue to make presentations to the Watson Township Board over the issue of which department offers coverage. Lt. Trevor Bilbee of Hopkins and Chief Kurt Knight of Martin Fire & Rescue again outlined what services and equipment...

Dorr Township hears about proposed trails commission

June 30, 2020

Jennifer Antel explains the trails commission proposal. Jennifer Antel, representing West Michigan Trails and Greenways group, gave a presentation to the Dorr Township Board Thursday night about plans to establish a commission to oversee local paved recreational trails. Antel, mayor pro tem for the Wayland City Council, said the commission...

Dorr Planning Commission Chair reappointed 4-3 again

June 25, 2020

John Tuinstra Bob Wagner So here we go again. The contentious 4-3 split on reappointing veteran Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner reappeared Thursday night at the Dorr Township Board meeting. Wagner has served on the Planning Commission since 1968 and has been chairman since 1975. His reappointment echoed the vote...

Petition drive started to appoint Dorr Parks Board

June 24, 2020

Chris Gesink Dorr Township Treasurer Jim Martin Wednesday evening announced there is a petition drive that has been launched to change the way members of Parks Commission are chosen. Under current rules, the five members of the commission are elected on a non-partisan basis, but not one single candidate filed...

Dorr Twp. road, fire millage plans explained at forum

June 24, 2020

Gary Fordham talks through his mask. A hastily called political forum Wednesday night at the Dorr Township Hall attempted to focus on two important local millage requests in the Aug. 4 primary election. Retiring Township Treasurer Jim Martin explained that he felt it’s important to get information in front of...

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Martin also prepares for difficult school budget year

June 22, 2020

Samantha Ball Martin, just like Wayland and Hopkins school systems, is anticipating a difficult fiscal year financially in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Samantha Ball, who handles payroll and per-pupil funding duties, presented the Martin Board of Education Monday night with a challenging budget for fiscal year 2020-21. The...

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Dorr Plan Commission wants visioning hearing reset

June 16, 2020

The Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night attempted to set a master plan public visioning session for sometime in August and reviewed the local setback ordinance. The visioning session originally was planned for last March, but the COVID-19 virus crisis took care of that. “It’s a shame that COVID-19 came...

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Hopkins Schools expects deficit in 2020-21 budget

June 16, 2020

The Hopkins Board of Education Monday night made the difficult choice of approving a 2020-21 fiscal year budget showing a $507,523 deficit. The shortfall will be absorbed in the district’s fund balance, or rainy day fund, reducing that amount to 13.93 percent of the total budget. The reason for the...

Wayland schools brace for budget, revenue problems

June 15, 2020

Patricia Velie The Wayland Union School District is expecting to have a flat budget for fiscal year 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 crisis and economic slump. However, Patricia Velie, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, warned the Board of Education Monday night that more than $453,000 may have to be...

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