Dorr Township voter
s again will be asked to approve millage requests for fire equipment replacement and for repairing, maintaining and improving local roads.
The two millage requests are expected to be on the primary election ballot on Tuesday, Aug. 2. They were scheduled to be brought to the attention of the Township Board at its Monday, Feb. 29, meeting.
Both have been rejected in the past, but township officials insist they both are critical to meet local future needs.
The fire equipment millage will be for a half mill for five years with a four-year renewal. The request was rejected in 2012 and again two years later.
Fire Chief Gary Fordham has explained that the local fire department periodically must replace its equipment when it wears out or when vehicles are no longer usable. After the millage request failed most recently, equipment needs have been paid for by dipping into the general fund. The special millage is earmarked specifically
to fire equipment.
The millage, if approved, would cover the years 2016 through 2020, and revenue from the first year has been estimated at $115,500.
A special citizens’ roads committee was formed in October 2014 to come up with plans for maintenance, reconstruction, resurfacing and improvement of public roads and streets. The committee members, led by Chairwoman Carolyn Sandel, outlined plans for what roads could be paved first, noting the road widening work on 18th Street north of 142nd Avenue scheduled for 2017.
The committee had a three-mill request placed on the ballot in the special state-wide election of May 2015, but it was defeated, along with the State Legislature’s disastrous Proposal 1 for roads.
The road millage, like fire equipment, would include the years 2016 through 2020. The annual levy has been estimated to raise $693,000.
Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling Monday night indicated that the county takes care of about 21 miles of roads in the township, but Dorr has a total of 80 miles.
Trustee John Tuinstra tried to amend the request to two mills in August and then one mill in the November general election, but his move was defeated 3-2. The board voted 5-0 to go ahead with the three-mill request.