It’s been more than six months since the Dorr Township Citizens’ Road Committee absorbed the defeat of a three-mill request in a special election, and local roads have only gotten worse.
Dorr Township Treasurer Jim Martin told his colleagues on the Township Board Tuesday evening that the Ranchero Estates subdivision has asked the township for road repairs for next year and the special committee has estimated that about $600,000 worth of work in two different areas is sorely needed, “and that doesn’t pave any gravel.”
The local millage request failed on the 
same ballot that carried a state-wide proposal that was rejected by 80 percent of Michigan voters, which Township Supervisor Jeff Miling said he suspects was a big part of the problem.
The Township Board meanwhile insists all requests for road repairs be referred to the special committee and Chairwoman Carolyn Sandel.
“Carolyn has been working with the Allegan County Road Commission on what they can or can’t do (in terms of paving and repairs).
Clerk Brian Boot noted the Road Commission will not add gravel, but it will provide grading services for free and it tries to handle gravel roads that are getting thin.
It is expected that the Township Board starting Dec. 28 will be better able to speak directly with Sandel when it switches back to Monday night meetings instead of Tuesday evenings.
Martin said Sandel cannot make Tuesday night meetings and he favored going back to Mondays himself because “We’ve had more absences on Tuesdays” during the year since it set meetings for the last Tuesday of each month.
The board in 2016 will meet the final Monday of each month except in May, October and December.
PHOTO: Carolyn Sandel
