It is more than likely that Leighton Township voters will be asked to decide on two millage requests in August primary election.
Though board members tabled proposed decisions on ballot language in the August primary, they it clear they believe the two, one on public safety and another on roads, are sorely needed.
Clerk Rachel Fennema said she supports the idea of splitting up a proposal to fund police protection and another for fire services and equipment. The police protection Leighton gets is through two deputies from the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department and the fire department is dealing with ever-increasing workload now that it responds to calls for medical help.
Roads have presented the township with serious problems lately.
The board received letters from residents from 141st Avenue and Ninth Street, complaining about the conditions of the two local arteries, both gravel roads.
Fennema said she did a tour of the area in her vehicle and had to agree that something needs to be done. However, she acknowledged the failures of recent millage requests.
She explained that gravel seems to gather at the sides of the roads, leaving the middle areas subject to the whims of the weather, mostly mud.
“They’re a mess,” she said. “They are worse than they need to be.”
Trustee John Hooker added that 137th Avenue, which was paved only a little more than a year ago, already is showing signs of strain, causing application of cold patches to repair where it’s breaking apart.
Ballot language for at least two millage requests will be decided at the May meeting of the Township Board.
In other business Thursday evening, the board:
- Fielded a complaint about the new camper and trailer ordinance readopted at this meeting after first being passed last January. Officials said township attorneys advised readopting it because the first one didn’t dot the I’s or cross the t’s.
Resident Jay Steinbach appeared at the meeting to protest the township’s “selective enforcement” of the ordinance at his residence at 4552 East Shore Drive, maintaining his camper was the first and only one found to be not in compliance. He said complaints were targeted and anonymous and he appealed the fee for his Freedom off Information Act request.
The board voted to uphold the fee.
•Was given a solid look at the master plan for renovations at the Moline ballpark.
• Was told by Planning Commissioner Steve Shoemaker that the Skywarn program plans a presentation at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Martin High School. He added it might be worth attending in the wake of the recent spate of tornado sightings in Allegan County and nearby.
