Dorr Twp. August primary to have 3 millage requests

Three millage requests will be on the Aug. 7 primary election ballot in Dorr Township.

Voters will be asked to approve tax levies for the Dorr Township Library and Dorr Parks and Recreation and for a $36 annual surcharge per house for recycling.

The Dorr Township Library Board asked the Township Board to place a request for 0.798 mill for 10 years, with all but a half mill a renewal, for the next 20 years, beginning in 2020.

Trustee John Tuinstra insisted the board change the request to have it split into two proposals, one for a renewal of 0.298 mill and the other for a half-mill increase, both for only four years.

However, Supervisor Jeff Miling said, “I don’t know if we can chnge what the Library Board has set up (for the ballot). “They’re an elected board.”

The Township Board authorized the millage request as stated, with Tuinstra casting the lone dissenting vote.

The Parks and Recreation request for be for 0.34 mill. Miling noted the township set aside $200,000 for work on the park several years ago, but the money since has run out.

Tuinstra voiced opposition, insisting, “My opinion is that there’s enough money in the general fund budget.”

Miling replied, “Let the voters decide.”

Again, the vote was 5-1 with Tuinstra dissenting and Trustee Josh Otto absent.

The board also agreed to a $15 per meeting supplemental compensation for Parks Board members for up to two meetings per month because of its additional work on the North Park expansion. At the behest of Tuinstra, the proposal was approved, but only for one year.

The recycling resolution was adopted unanimously. It calls for each resident to pay $36 per year for curbside recycling, but no one will be allowed to opt out of the program any longer. Dorr did not participate last year because it had enough money in its recycling fund, but that is no longer the case.

Tuinstra voted for the resolution despite misgivings that some residents will be upset about no longer being able to opt out of the program.

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

•  Agreed to a pay increase for Fire Chief Gary Fordham, from $8,500 to $9.500 per year.

• Renewed the agreement with Wolverine Fireworks for its services during the annual July 4 celebration.

• Was told by Clerk Debbie Sewers that a recreation trail though the City of Wayland, Leighton Township and Dorr Township, is “not a matter of if, but when.” She has been attending regional meetings of a rails-to-trails group in Plainwell.

Tuinstra objected, asking whose authority was determining installation of a paved walking and biking trail, with an added price tag of $1,000 per mile per month for maintenance.

Sewers indicated she was just the messenger with the challenging news.