The Hopkins Township Board Monday night met for only the second time in the meeting room of its new digs in the newly-constructed connector building next to the library.

The board for 40 years has been meeting inside the district library, besides having the supervisor’s office inside as well. But now, with the completion of the new building that connects the library with the village/township hall, the group has started 2024 with its new venue, on Jan. 8 and Feb. 12.

Supervisor Mark Evans defended all those years meeting inside the library, saying, “It saved us a ton of money over the years. It was a significant benefit to the taxpayers.”

The connector building also provides offices for the treasurer and clerk, both of whom had to conduct a good share of their business from home.

But now representatives from the Library Board and Township Board will have to meet to negotiate how expenses such as utilities and insurance, will be paid for.

Meanwhile, because the township will be vacating southwest portion of the library building, the library will be closed for renovations in the expanded room over the next four to six weeks. Evans and Township Trustee Bob Modreski have agreed to serve as representatives of the township in the negotiations.

The township is picking up 25 percent of the cost for the remodeling.

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

• Agreed to pay $17,683 to the Wayland Area Emergency Services (ambulance) Board for its annual contribution.
• Was told by Monterey Township Clerk Megan that she and Hopkins Township Clerk Stacey Simmer are well prepared to handle the challenges of the extra nine days of voting mandated for the presidential primary election, starting Feb. 17.
• Decided to bid out the maintenance contract for Maplewood Cemetery and the Hilliards Park. Costs for the work have been rising and Evans told the board, “I didn’t think it was in the best interests of the township just to renew the contract.”