The subject was roads at the Hopkins Township Board meeting Monday night.
Supervisor Cade Bolser told his colleagues that rules governing funding and road projects have changed at the county and state levels. For example, the Allegan County Road Commission plans to grant the township $375,000 for roads in 2026 and board members are encouraged to meet soon to determine just what they want done.
Bolser, noting neighboring Dorr Township’s use of a special citizens’ road committee, said, “I think it might be a good idea with our new millage.”
He was talking about local citizens approving an extra one mill last fall for roads.
The Road Commission earlier this month noted that 124th Avenue is getting a crack seal and a portion of 135th Avenue is slated for a fog seal coating, as well as 20th Street to M-222.
In other business Monday evening, the Township Board:
- Approved the appointment of Fritz Kerber to a seat on the Board of Review, succeeding Gary Timmer, who has resigned.
- Fielded a request from Bolser to add three people to a newly-created, seven-member Ag Preservation Board.
- Agreed to request from Burton Brenner to set aside a 98-acre parcel on 126th and 127th Avenue and a 60-acre parcel on 130th Avenue for placement as protected farmland land under the state’s Public Act 116.
- Agreed to join Monterey and Watson townships establishing a three-township entity to handle the nine days of early voting before the August primary.
- Increased the amount of funding support for the fire department, from 111,000 to $111,533.
- Agreed to renew the technical support contract with Clark Technical.
- Sent back to the Planning Commission a request from Wayland Ford to rezone property just to the west of the U.S.-131 expressway. Board members agreed with the developer that Planning Commission members voted to deny, but didn’t have all of the necessary information in front of them.
