EDITOR’S NOTE: There was a typo in the original story of the pay raise. The clerk, treasurer and supervisor were given a bump from $3,080 per month to $3,357 per month.

Salary increases for Dorr Township officials were approved Thursday night, this time with a minimum of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Raises of 9 percent (with a nod to 8.7% increase in cost of living) were approved for Supervisor Jeff Miling, Clerk Debbie Sewers and Treasurer Laurie Perry on a 6-1 vote vote with Trustee Chandler Stanton dissenting.

All three had their pay bumped from $3,080 to $3,357 per month.

At the same time, compensation for the four trustees, Stanton, John Tuinstra, Dan Weber and Patrick Champion was bumped up from $3,706.50 to $4,029 annually, with continuation of $50 per meeting. Again, the reason was that inflation for the previous year was pegged at 8.7%.

Stanton explained his dissenting vote, “I think we’re well compensated for what we do.”

The new salaries will take effect April 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the Township Board:

• Directed Tuinstra to draft a resolution asking the speed limit on 12th Street south of Division into Moline be restored at 25 miles per hour. The plan is to send the letter to Michigan State Police, which decided to increase it 40 mph. Even so, Miling said, “What would be nice would be if we could have them change the law (enabling State Police to determine speed limits with villages and townships.) We want back control over our local roads.”
• Adopted a resolution supporting 123.net‘s application for funding to provide high-speed Internet service to rural portions of the county. Tuinstra voted against it because he opposes the federal government handling this service.
• Approved a slight increase for cemetery fees. The new rates are $700 for full burial, $250 for cremated clients, $100 extra for Saturdays, $55 per hour extra after 5 p.m., 60 cents per square inch for foundations and board members may decide later in favor of a $25 administration fee.