The fastest-growing township in Allegan County and one of the top three in all of Michigan finally will have a commercial retail store within its borders.

Leighton Township soon will have a Dollar General store on a lot just to the south of the former Chemical Bank site on Polk Road along Division.

John Hooker, a member of the Township Planning Commission, told Township Board colleagues the Plan Commission Wednesday night approved the site plan for the business.

Citizen Steve Shoemaker, a longtime resident of the township, remarked that he believes it’s the first time Leighton has had a commercial retail business in Moline in more than a quarter of a century. This, despite the significant recent residential growth.

Dollar General has been becoming more visible in this area of late. It’s had a store in downtown Wayland for quite a spell, but now new facilities have been added to downtown Martin, Dorr and Gun Lake.

There continued to be plenty of evidence of growing pains in Leighton, as explained by a number of local officials Thursday evening.

Fire Chief Matt Weston told the board there had been 321 total incidents, 173 of them medical, the department handled in all of 2019, up 17 percent over 2018, which had 274.

“Last year, I predicted that having as many as 300 would be a stretch,” Weston said.

The building inspector’s report showed 59 new residential buildings at an estimated value of $11.5 million for the year.

Then came the news that the Wayland Area Emergency Services team that serves five municipalities, including Leighton, handled a record number of calls last year and probably will need more money in order to continue to provide the quality of service its constituents have come to expect.

“I see them (the WAEMS Board) seeking more revenue from the townships,” said Supervisor Steve Deer.

He noted Leighton pays $12,000 a year, but anticipates a request for as much as $5,000 to $10,000 more. Deer said WAEMS will replace one of its old ambulances this year, but the remaining units are old as well.

In other business Thursday night, the Township Board:

• Agreed to place a recycling surcharge proposal on the August primary ballot.

Residents of Allegan County will be asked to approve an increase of the fee for curbside recycling from $36 per year per household to $50.

“As much as I think they will not to approve it, I think we need to give our voters the option,” said Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis.

Hooker added that part of the problem with curbside recycling in Leighton Township is that, “Everybody’s paying for it, but only one-third use it.”

• Noted that the only local road project for 2020 will be the paving of 144^th Avenue east of Kalamazoo Avenue. Also planned is the resurfacing and paving of Division Avenue from 138^th north to 142^nd.
• Scheduled a workshop on the 2020-21 budget for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, and a public hearing on the budget for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, before the regular meeting.
• Noted that the Allegan County Road Commission this year will lay down gravel on 140^th Avenue from 9^th Street to Kalamazoo Avenue and on 146^th Avenue from 2^nd Street to Patterson.