Dorr Township officials are beginning discussions about finding more office space inside township hall to conduct business.
Clerk Debbie Sewers said she brought up the matter about six months ago and a subcommittee consisting of Supervisor Jeff Miling and Trustees Josh Otto and John Tuinstra was supposed to meet and come up with some kind of a suggestion. She said Thursday night that she’d like an update.
But not much, if anything, has happened.
“Our office space is getting very crowded and impersonal,” Sewers said, maintaining that when people come into the office to conduct business, there sometimes is chaos and too much noise.
“We cannot function in an appropriate manner,” she added.
Miling said an extension or addition would cost between $200,000 and $250,000.
Sewers said she’sd like to pursue the most inexpensive option, but, “Every time I bring this up, (I’m told) there isn’t enough money.”
Leighton Township recently built a new addition to the library and moved in to pick up needed office space and Martin Township is extending its township hall so the clerk and treasurer have room to conduct business.
It was even proposed the township hall would be big enough to accommodate the fire department and ambulance service if township government abandoned it for another building.
Penny Post, representative for the Wayland Area Emergency Ambulance Service, said, “I’m still looking for a bathroom (for women)… We have to look to the future and come up with a plan.”
Post said she’d be willing to serve on a subcommittee after Miling said he is no longer interested in doing it because of the press of business in his job already.
Trustee Terri Rios said, “We need a maintenance building as well.”
The building was constructed in 1990, and in less than 30 years, officials say, the needs have outgrown its size because Dorr Township has grown so such in the last 29 years.
It was agreed to have the issue put on meeting agendas every month.
In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the board:
- Was told by Miling that it received a check for $18,979 from the Gun Lake Tribe as part of the continuing agreement for distributing a portion of receipts from the casino once every six months.
- Learned from Sewers that her office has sent out 360 absentee ballot applications and received 240 in return in anticipation of the special election Tuesday, Aug. 6, on the library’s request for one mill for 10 years.
- Adopted on a 6-0 vote the proposed local sign ordinance amendment to accommodate the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings and to update regulations for electric signs. The Planning Commission earlier this year had recommended approval.
- Noted there has been a troubling high turnover rate on the Parks Commission. The most recent resignation was by Heidi Allen, creating a vacancy of one seat on the five-member board.
When asked if members were appointed, Treasurer Jim Martin replied, “They are supposed to be elected, but in the last election there wasn’t a full slate of officers.”
- Approved the expenditure of $14,000 to the Allegan County Road Commission for replacement of a culvert on 17th Street. The Road Commission is picking up the tab for culvert replacement at two other locations.
