Leighton Township budget hearing will be March 9

The Leighton Township Board has scheduled a public hearing on the fiscal year 2017-18 budget for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9.

The board will have a special workshop on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the township hall.

In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the board:

• Approved 2% pay increases for all board members. The clerk and treasurer, Mary Lou Niewenhuis and Char Troost, respectively, will earn annual salaries of $26,052. Supervisor Steve Deer will get $16,539 and Trustees John Hooker and Brian Bonnema both will receive annual stipends of $6,514.

Nieuwenhuis noted that none of the board members received a raise last year.

• Agreed to offer $300 each to the Green Lake Calvary Church and to the Leighton United Methodist Church for allowing the township to use their facilities for elections and special meetings.

Nieuwenhuis said the idea was to “give them something for what they gave us… a thank you for what they’ve done for us.”

• Agreed to have the Allegan County Road Commission perform gravel work on 8^th Street, 9^th Street, 143^rd Avenue and Second Street near Patterson Road. It was reported the cost will be very similar to last year’s bill.