Dorr Township road projects for 2020 were outlined to the Township Board by Treasurer Jim Martin, who noted the five will cost a total of $870,000.
The plans include:
- Paving 22nd Street between 142nd Avenue and 146th Avenue, at a cost of an estimated $450,000.
- Repaving 24th Street south of 142nd Avenue, two miles, with costs being shared with Salem Township, $155,000.
- Chip seal for 140th Avenue eight-tenths of a mile west of 18th Street, $22,000.
- Repaving Walnut and Park streets, $40,000.
- Repaving 138th Avenue east and west of 18th Street, $170,000.
Since township voters three years ago approved a three-mill levy for road projects, a special Citizens’ Roads Committee, chaired by Carolyn Sandel, has decided annually on what roads in the township will be repaired, resurfaced and paved.
In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the Township Board:
- Approved pay raises for maintenance supervisor Randy Grantham, from $18 to $19 per hour, and for part-time maintenance assistant Lance Bowman, from $14 to $15 per hour.
- Approved dental and health insurance packages (80 to 20 percent plans) through Priority Health for three employees.
Trustee John Tuinstra said the township now is paying almost $20,000 a year for health and dental insurance plans for just three employees.
Clerk Debbie Sewers explained, “The rate is so high because we don’t have a large pool of employees.”
Trustee Terri Rios suggested the township look into self-insurance plans.
- Agreed to have all Township Board meetings on the last Thursday of each month in 2020, except for March, November and December because of budget time and conflicts with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
- Approved Rios’ request for a $15 supplemental payment per meeting be made for the next 11 months for the Planning Commission, which is working on the master plan.
- Learned from Martin that the township received an all-time record state revenue sharing payment of $113,000 in October.
