The Allegan County Board of Commissioners has restarted negotiations with the Gun Lake Tribe of Potowatomis to try to reach an agreement on a proposal for tribal land to be put into trust by the federal government.
Commissioner Gale Dugan told the Hopkins Township Board Monday night he is not representing Hopkins Township, but rather the County Board in talks regarding a parcel of land near 12th Street and 129th Avenue the tribe wants to have taken into trust for non-gaming use.
Dugan said the wording of the county’s proposal is very similar to that of the township, which is being represented by Supervisor Mark Evans and Trustee Bob Modreski.
Hopkins Township officials’ have stated opposition to the tribe seeking to take land into a trust because the process will take the parcel off the tax rolls. They noted the tribe earlier took into trust the land now used for the Jijak camp. However, the Jijak property formerly was not on the tax rolls because it was a non-profit being used as a camp for Mel Trotter Ministries.
Dugan, in reporting to the township, commented, “This property going in hurts the county.”
In other business Monday evening, the Township Board:
• Pored over data involving the 2019-20 fiscal year budget, which will begin April 1. Anticipated expenditures in the general fund tentatively are pegged at $410,512, with estimated revenues at $322,720. The estimated shortfall of $87,792 will be absorbed by the fund balance, reducing it to $758,385.
• Learned the Allegan County Road Commission plans to resurface 128th Avenue between 14th and 18th Streets later this year. Supervisor Mark Evans reported the township is not on the hook for any road expenses this year.
• Approved the appointment of Jason Veenstra to the Planning Commission, succeeding Mike Timmer, who is taken on other responsibilities that will interfere with his duties.
• Noted Hopkins Township has budgeted $93,000 in expenses for the Hopkins Area Fire Board, which includes Monterey and Watson townships and has a total budget of $231,000.
