The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening pushed the boundaries on policy for accepting bids.
The board voted 5-0 to accept the dust control bid again from Southwest Dust Control for about $37,000, which Clerk Mary Lou Neiuwenhuis said was $1,000 less than last year. However, SWB Enterprises put in a bid for $27,945, more than $9,000 cheaper than Southwest Michigan’s.
Nieuwenhuis explained that Southwest Michigan has been “fantastic to work with… My motion is to stay with a good thing.”
Supervisor Steve Deer said he understands continuing to do business with a quality vendor, but added, “I also understand the $9,000.” He added that SWB has done dust control in nearby Dorr Township, which is well satisfied.
New Treasurer Jaci Bultsma said, “I don’t if we’re comparing apples to apple” with the two bids.
Nieuwenhuis noted the township in recent years has received just one bid annually, from Southwest Michigan.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the board:
• Welcomed new Deputy Clerk Rachel Fennema, who succeeds Jodi Bird, and noted veteran Deputy Treasurer Jen Vander Kam has agreed to continue in her job.
• Agreed to purchase a third voting machine before the August 2020 primary after Niewenhuis predicted a significant increase in the number of absentee ballots in the wake of approval of Proposal 3 last November.
• Scheduled a public hearing on a special assessment district for weed control on Round Lake and Green lake for Tuesday, April 30.
• Held a discussion about a public survey on what residents would like to see in the township, including some feedback about a recreational trail. The township recently held an open house for residents to give input.
“The public expressed interest in a public trail system, and it’s a good idea, but it costs money,” Deer said. “We have to ask to what degree the board is willing to support these kinds of things.”
Nieuwenhuis said, “We can’t very well make a decision until we really know what the public wants.”
Trustee John Hooker said, “But we can’t even take care of our roads, so how can we support something like recreational trails?”
• Agreed to the bid of Superior Asphalt for $85,350 for paving West Shore Drive.
• Agreed to pay outgoing Treasurer Char Troost $25 an hour for any consulting work she does to help the new treasurer.