Dorr Township Board members Thursday evening granted themselves 3.2 percent pay raises, the rate being the same as the cost of living allowance (COLA).
And Clerk Debbie Sewers may getting getting an additional stipend because of her additional duties for the nine-day early voting requirements between Feb. 17 and Feb. 27.
Sewers, Treasurer Laurie Perry and Supervisor Jeff Miling all were given raises that bring them to $41,573.09 apiece in annual salaries. Township Trustees John Tuinstra, Dan Weber, Chandler Stanton and Pat Champion were elevated to $4,157.92 annually.
The vote to approve the increases was 5-2, with Tuinstra and Stanton both voting “no.”
Meanwhile, a letter from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was read, recommending local clerks be compensated for the extra time they put in for the presidential primary election that concluded Feb. 27.
Citizen Bernie Schumaker told the board, “Debbie needs to be paid for her extra work. I definitely believe she deserves more money.`”
Sewers said that only 129 residents took advantage of the extra voting over nine consecutive days and she and Schumaker called the new procedure “stupid” because of its added cost to taxpayers.
Though board members did not disagree with the extra pay request, they did not set an amount.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the board:
- Began discussions about township offices being moved from the current facility to the former Crosswinds Church further east on 142nd Avenue. Stanton argued that no specific plans should be made until the seven board members took a tour together in a work session. However, no date for such a session was scheduled.
- Received a report from Deputy Supervisor Jim Martin about plans for road work this year. He said a safety grant will pay for all but $300,000 of the reconstruction and paving of 138th Avenue from 24th Street east to 21st Street. Al’s Excavating was awarded the bid to do the work.
- Agreed to hire Ed Justice full time because of increases maintenance duties, particularly with the move to the old Crosswinds Church.
- Approved a request from Clark and Jordan Galloway pay $5,000 for an easement on a strip along Leisure Street. Stanton, Sewers and Champion voted “no” in the 4-3 vote.
- Learned from Fire Chief Gary Fordham that the fire department had an increase in calls of 61 percent from last year, mostly because firefighters are answering medical calls.
- Was told by Library Director Jeff Babbitt there still is one vacant seat on the Dorr Library Board.
- Learned from Amanda Winters of the Parks and Recreation Commission that South Park may welcome an artisan market this year.
COVER PHOTO: A sketch of the new building Dorr Township offices will move to, formerly the Crosswinds Church
There were only 129 voters during the 9 day early voting, NOT 179.
The clerk needs additional pay because the job has been changed by the constitution which now requires 9 day early voting for all state and federal elections. The amount of work and time required by each election has increased exponentially. Dorr is one of the largest townships in Allegan township. All elections held in Dorr have integrity thanks to the efforts of our clerk, Debbie Sewers and her Deputy, Nancy Westhouse.
Laketon township in Allegan County, one of the smallest townships recently increased their clerks annual salary 10,000.00 to reflect the additional work and responsibility the job now requires. Dorr Township should follow suit and give our clerk a generous salary increase.
Sorry about the typo.