The Dorr Township Board Thursday night approved spending $296,758.55 with Langlois & Sons to rebuild 22nd Street from 142nd Avenue to about 250 feet north of 144th Avenue, a distance of about two miles.
Trustee Jim Martin, a member of the Roads Committee, said he was pleased to announce the approved bid and final cost was between $80,000 and $90,000 lower that the Allegan County Road Commission’s project estimate a year ago.
“The cost is about 75% of the original estimate,” he said. “This (project) will make a better road, ready for paving.”
The 22nd Street work was the second project approved for this year and its is expected to get under way sometime in July. The first project, now completed, was 144th Avenue west.
The 18th Street widening project is separate, with the work being handled by the Allegan County Road Commission.
Martin said the favorable economic move means a small paving project might be possible elsewhere in the township on a subdivision, with 17th Street being the leading candidate.
In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the Township Board:
• Learned from Fire Chief Gary Fordham at the Dorr Fire Department continues to be busy and still is on track to set a record for call responses for the year. It has handled 77 calls through May, as compared to 54 at the same time in 2017.
The good news was that the board approved the hiring of Tyler Ebels as a new firefighter. He has seven years of experience on the Georgetown Township department and is an emergency medical technician who can work some days.
• Received a request from residents on the June Court subdivision to have a private road taken over by the township or county. All residents along the private drive signed the petition.
However, Supervisor Jeff Miling said, “We’ve never done this in our town. It’s a new avenue to explore.”
• Approved a request from Assessor Michael Richmond to buy the appropriate BS & A software for $2.879 to better do the job. Clerk Debbie Sewers pointed out that the purchase has been anticipated in the township’s 2018-19 budget.
