The Dorr Township Board Thursday evening voted to spend $1,000 for “research and investigation” of the feasibility for a paved trail to traverse through the township.
John Morrison, executive director of the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition, presented the board with information about plans to install a trail where the old Interurban provided citizens travel routes a century ago. The land now is owned by Consumers Energy.
Morrison said the idea is to connect the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids trails for use by walkers, runners and bicyclers.
“We prefer using the Interurban,” Morrison said, “because it’s more private safer and a prettier route.”
The trail would run 2.9 miles through Dorr Township, but Trustee John Tuinstra and Supervisor Jeff Miling expressed worries about potential costs, particularly maintenance.
“I don’t mind funding the $1,000 for the study,” Tuinstra said, “But some of these (projected) prices are obscene.”
Despite the misgivings, board members were unanimous in supporting the resolution and Clerk Debbie Sewers was appointed as Dorr’s representative for a proposed trail authority.
In other business Thursday evening, The Township Board:
• Agreed to use $26,000 from the road fund and another $26,000 from the general fund to pay for graveling 14th Street between 136th and 140th Avenues and between 144th and 108th Avenues.
Local officials indicated they preferred graveling work on the stretch from 144th to 108th, but the Allegan County Road Commission wants to do the other. So they opted to do both, despite the added cost because of the need.
Trustee Terri Rios, referring to the pay raises approved earlier in the evening for three township officials, said, “We’ve got enough money for raises, but not enough for our community’s roads.”
Miling shot back, “I don’t think my raise would have been enough to take care of any of our roads.”
• Heard from Fire Chief Gary Fordham and Wayland Area Emergency Services Board representative Penny Post that both departments have been much busier this year than last. Fordham said fire department runs are up more than 30 percent and Post noted the WEAMS has handled 1,594 calls in just the first five months of 2018.
• Approved payment of $63,000 to the Parks Commission for finishing work on bathrooms for the North Park renovations.
• Learned from Miling that Leighton and Dorr Townships likely will have to split the cost of buying a new police cruiser because the aging Dodge Charger has spent too much time recently in the repair shop.
• Noted that work will begin soon on widening and paving 18th Street north of 142nd Avenue to the Kent County line at 108th Street.