The Dorr Township Board is seeking the services of a new attorney by the end of the year.

A special committee made up of Treasurer Jim Martin and Trustees John Tuinstra and Patty Senneker will do some research and try to come up with a recommendation.

Current Township Attorney Stephen McKown of Orton, Tooman Hale, McKown, Hale & Kiel of Allegan informed the board in a letter that he will retire in December. He added that no one in his firm will be available to take over for him.

Township Supervisor Jeff Miling said he’d done a little checking with nearby township officials and has heard good reports about Clifford Bloom from Leighton Supervisor Steve Deer and Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis.

The original idea on the lawyer search was to have the clerk, supervisor and treasurer, Brian Boot, Miling and Martin, to continue the search, but Senneker and Tuinstra volunteered, and Miling and Boot withdrew. Martin said he wasn’t keen on the idea because he’s very busy with taxes at this time of year.

The committee of three indicated they hoped to come up with a recommendation for hiring the new attorney by next month’s meeting.

“We need to get quotes on hourly rates, but we also have to know what they will do for the township,” Miling said.

PHOTO: Stephen McKown