A massive winter storm predicted for this weekend helped prompt the Leighton Township Board to designate the township hall as an official warming station.

The township only last month received a new generator.

Officials reasoned that local residents who lose power in a storm might need to seek refuge in a warm location.

However, there was no provision made for any food to be available in the township hall. Treasurer Jackie Bultsma suggested anyone who needs to use the hall in an emergency bring their own food and store it temporarily in a refrigerator on site.

The City of Wayland announced the Wayland High School Fine Arts Center also can be used as a warming center, particularly for those who lose power.

In other business Thursday evening, the Leighton Township Board:

• Continued with plans to add more paving and expand the parking lot at township hall by as many as nine spaces. The effort is the result of Clerk Rachel Fennema’s request for more space to accommodate voters. Estimated cost is more than $168,200.
• Learned that the township pulled 47 building permits for all of 2023 at an average value of $342,170.
• Heard from Planning Commissioner Steve Shoemaker that there were 388 responses from residents to a survey, with about 76% of them from north of 142nd Avenue.
• Was told by Fire Chief Matt Weston that the department handled 480 calls in 2023, up by 16% over the previous year.
• Scheduled a 2024-25 budget workshop for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.
• Noted paving projects from the Allegan County Road Commission for Patterson Avenue, between 146th Avenue and Division and 142nd from 12th Street to Division.
• Reported the township received $17,939 in revenue sharing from the Gun Lake Casino in the twice annual meeting.