Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling told board colleagues Thursday night that he plans to retire in October 2027, before the completion of his four-year term.
And on another personnel front, the board rejected Miling’s proposal to assign Trustee Patrick Champion to handle duties formerly associated with the deputy supervisor’s job now vacant because of the retirement of Jim Martin.
Miling has been supervisor since being appointed in May 2013 to succeed the resigned Tammy VanHaitsma. He turned back electoral challenges from Trustees Patty Senneker and John Tuinstra in 2014, Senneker again in 2016 and Trustee Terri Rios in 2020.
He has guided Dorr Township through a stormy period, featuring much turmoil in the wake of a failed recall movement led by Tuinstra and Senneker.
One of the most recent controversies has come from technology giant Microsoft, which has purchased two land parcels in the township with plans to build data centers. Many Dorr residents are adamantly opposed and it shows with huge audiences at Township Board meetings over the past several months.
Some citizens have accused Miling of working secretly with Microsoft to make the project happen. Miling has insisted that attempts to stop the data centers will be futile or even costly if the issue winds up in court, where he says Dorr certainly will lose.
But the deputy supervisor controversy is even more recent.
Miling told the board that Champion has offered help with township business without pay and he has lessened the work burden for him. He suggested that Champion fill the role of deputy supervisor at a stipend of $25 an hour without the title or official recognition, in an effort to help get things done.
“Somebody should be around when I’m not here,” Miling said, noting he plans to take a vacation soon.
Champion, who is retired, told board colleagues, “I’m just doing my part to help the township, but I don’t want to do the work for nothing.”
Champion’s work career began at Hoeksema Hardware in downtown Dorr, repairing machines, and he later was a mechanic at Wayland Chrysler.
He has been doing some work for the township this year while maintenance supervisor Randy Grantham has been recovering from surgery.
“I’ve been on the mechanical side for 50 years,” Champion said, insisting his services could be valuable to the township.
Citizen Courtney Cardosa maintained the personnel move is not following the spirit or intent of the law, rather, it tries to work around it. She said it creates conflicts of interest and lack of clarity in duties.
Newly appointed Treasurer Shiela Reitz, who said she believes it demonstrates a lack off clarity.
“I’m not opposed to having a deputy supervisor, but I’m uncomfortable with this,” she said.
Miling, noting apparent opposition from Reitz, Tuinstra and Clerk Debbie Sewers, agreed to take no action on his proposal.
Rios, who was in the audience, and Tuinstra insisted the board advertise the deputy supervisor’s post in the Allegan County News & Gazette, on the township electronic signs and on the township’s web site.
