“What mighty contests arise from trivial things.” — Alexander Pope

“It ain’t very good, but it sure is interesting.” — Detroit Pistons scout Will Robinson

A couple of seemingly simple requests were approved overwhelmingly by Dorr Township Board members Thursday night, but not without much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The board eventually approved 7-0 a request to make minor adjustments to the 2011 solicitation ordinance and followed that up with a 6-1 vote to increase the fee for public use of the township hall for special events.

Treasurer Jim Martin outlined an ordinance amendment for solicitors, raising the fee from $25 to $50, changing hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and apply the fees for one month rather than the original ordinance rules of a year. He suggested the board authorize office manager Vicki Fifelski to use these changes in contracts with those who go door to door in the township to sell goods and services. All solicitors must register with the township before going door to door.

Martin said the township had only nine known solicitors in the past 17 months.

Dorr adopted an ordinance in 2011 because residents had reported being uncomfortable with door-to-door salespersons showing up on their property, not knowing whether or not they were reputable.

Trustee John Tuinstra was adamant in his initial opposition, insisting the amendments, “restrict freedoms to do business… This is an increase in the fee and a tax… If we raise the price (of doing business), we will discourage people.”

He also insisted that all young people ages 18 and under soliciting for their church or school be exempt from the rules. The rest of the board concurred.

Clerk Debbie Sewers, however, asked, “Are we here to help our residents or the solicitors?”

Trustee Terri Rios expressed her displeasure with the apparent action by Fifelski to charge $25 per month though the ordinance called for $25 per year.

“We can’t have people in the name of Dorr Township making the rules,” Rios contended. “We just need to enforce the ordinance.”

Martin countered, “The contract they (solicitors) signed says ‘good for one month.’ The board can change the amount of the fee at any time.”

Rios responded, “The board can change that fee, but not the office manager.”

To which Martin replied, “Nobody has ever raised the fee (of $25). There’s nothing nefarious here.”

He acknowledged that the rule change was coverage from a year to a month.

Martin’s proposal was scrapped in favor of a sort of compromise proposal in which solicitors first report to the township office, sign a contract for $25 for 90 days with a renewal cost of $15. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during spring and summer hours and 9 to 5 in fall and winter.

The ordinance amendment will take effect Oct. 1.

The discussion about raising the fee for renting the township hall wasn’t as lengthy, but at times it got just as heated. The proposal was to raise the rental fee from $25 to $50 for residents and from $100 to $200 for non-residents.

Tuinstra again led the charge in opposition.

“There’s no reason to raise this (fee). It’s their (local taxpayers’) building.,” he said.

Supervisor Jeff Miling said, “I think 25 bucks is really cheap. We ought to at least recover our costs (for utilities and cleaning)… There’s wear and tear on the air conditioning, use of the lighting.”

Miling, however, said he didn’t like raising non-residents’ fee from $100 to $200.

Martin countered, “We’re getting a lot more non-residents’ traffic here.”

The treasurer added that neighboring Salem and Byron townships charge a lot more for rentals.

Miling said, “That $200 seems a little steep for non-residents. I’d like us to leave it at $100.”

The board agreed on a 6-1 vote to assess a $50 fee to residents and $100 to non-residents. Tuinstra cast the dissenting vote.

In other business at Thursday night’s meeting the board:

• Agreed to have Tuinstra and maintenance supervisor Jerrod Simon come up with a proposal next month for replacing the roof at the Then & Now historical library building across the street and agreed to seek bids on a new generator.

• Approved the hiring of Brett Wyllys as part-time maintenance worker under Simon. Wyllys has been working as a probationary employee since May 15.

• Heard a complaint from resident April Wendt who called on the board to adopt an ordinance forbidding dogs to run free. She said she called the sheriff’s department and animal control without receiving satisfaction.

• Adopted a resolution to allow the Allegan County Road Commission to take over maintenance responsibilities for former private road June Court.

• Learned from Miling that the township received a twice yearly check earlier this month for $17,334 from the Gun Lake Casino as part of the revenue sharing arrangement.

• Agreed to split the cost of $41,722 with Leighton Township for a new Ford Explorer as new police cruiser for deputies. The ailing Dodge Charger will be sold after the new vehicle arrives.

• Was told by Fire Chief Gary Fordham that calls continues to increase for the department, with 88 thus far this year as compared to 69 at the same time in 2017.