Leighton Township Supervisor Steve Deer told his colleagues Thursday night that work on the new township hall is “a little ahead of schedule.”

The facility is being constructed as an addition to the Leighton District Library in Moline. The current township hall, regarded as too much to house both township business and the Leighton Fire Department, is being renovated meanwhile to handle the fire department only.

Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis said plans call for occupancy of the new and more spacious township hall by Oct. 11 and notice must be given that the site will be a polling place for the Nov. 8 general election.

However, several other projects at the site have to be handled as well, such as a retention pond and a drain in front of the library building.

Deer explained, however, the matters are “part of the results of the library being there for almost 20 years, and not part of the new construction.”

The intent of the drain is to get water off a neighboring resident’s property and into the Moline drain. One option is to spend $5,000 for installation of a six-inch pipe, other options would cost as much as $15,000.

Township Treasurer Char Troost said, “I think it’s county drain commission issue… They did the job wrong (18 years ago).”

She suggested the Township Board ask County Commissioner Mark DeYoung to negotiate with the Allegan County Drain Commission. The remainder of the board members concurred.

Meanwhile, the board agreed to renew the one mill allocation for the library, which translates into $212,000 per year for operations.

PHOTO: Work is progressing on the new township hall adjacent to the Leighton District Library in Moline. Shown here are both entrances side by side.