Fiber Internet lately has been making waves in the northeast corner of Allegan County, and now it’s going to come to Dorr Township.
Surf Internet plans to do business as a fiber high-speed service in Leighton, Dorr and Wayland, and Thursday evening the Dorr Township Board agreed to let ‘em in with a $500 fee to lay it down along 142nd Avenue downtown.
Most of the area has been covered by Charter Spectrum and most recently with 123.net. The latter is deliberately intended for rural customers who do not have cable television service.
Dorr Township Supervisor Jeff Miling was clearly delighted with prospects of more competition and declared, “Fiber is faster and cleaner.”
The Township Board unanimously agreed to accept the $500 check under the Metro Act permit.
In other business Thursday, the Dorr Township Board:
- Engaged in a lengthy and hostile discussion about whether employees’ work hours should be regulated by two-thirds of an ad hoc Performance Board consisting of the supervisor, clerk and treasurer. Miling said he was uncomfortable with telling employees what they can and can’t do while taking lunch or breaks. The impetus for the discussion was some board members being uncomfortable with Deputy Supervisor Jim Martin working in the office evenings while no one else is there.
- Agreed with the Planning Commission’s recommendations to allow rezoning Walnut Dale Farms from Agricultural to B-1 business to enable a duplex residence and to allow for Three Winds LLC to change from Agricultural to Rural Estates.
- Was asked by Library Board Vice President Gordon Lieffers to remove the current electric sign on 18th Street and replace it with a new one. “It’s probably a 20-year-old sign. They don’t last forever,” he said. He was told to get in touch with office manager Vicki Fifelski.
- Learned from Fire Chief Gary Fordham that the local department again is busier than ever, responding to 380 calls, as compared to 312 this time last year.
- Agreed to pay Siegfried & Crandall $1,100 for the annual audit. Trustee John Tuinstra suggested the township look into hiring another auditor because the current service seems too expensive.
- Renewed its annual insurance payment to the Ted Hartleb Agency in the amount of $49,864.
