Watson Township Trustee John Caras told his board colleagues Thursday evening that the estimated cost for maintenance is $4,500 a year for the new Seven Generations Park at the corner of 20th Street and M-222.

Caris said the maintenance would include snow plowing and lawn mowing at the site, which was established as a park a year ago.

Meanwhile, it was noted that the Township Board is seeking grants from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), formerly known as the Department of Environmental Quality.

Supervisor Kevin Travis said the annual maintenance could be handled as an expense from building and grounds.

Some citizens in the audience mentioned they would like to see the park have a baseball field and there has been talk about setting aside some of the land for Martin High School and Middle School cross-country teams.

Nonetheless, local officials said it’s too early to determined what will go into the park, except perhaps for a gazebo and parking spaces.

In other business at the meeting Thursday night, the Township Board:

• Adopted an outdoor burn ordinance, stressing that it would not apply to residents making back yard camp fires. Travis, who said the ordinance would target thos who torch large and toxic materials explained, “Sometimes you have to have rules because some people don’t know how to behave.”
• Was told by Allegan County Commissioner Gale Dugan that a public hearing on the 2023-’24 county budget will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12.
• Fielded a complaint from Travis Long, who said he did not see the junk car ordinance he supposedly was violating in a letter he received. He was paired up with Zoning Enforcement Administrator Jim Davis to iron out the issues.
• Learned from Dugan that County Treasurer Sally Brooks earlier this month announced that Allegan County has benefitted $414,730 in the past year in revenue from taxes on cannabis businesses.
• Was told by Dugan the County Board is getting serious about providing decent, affordable housing for moderate income households, particularly with plans for a 240-unit subdivision near Otsego.
• Agreed to buy a replacement camera at the fire station at a cost of up to $300.
• Decided to buy an ordinance republication program, at a cost of $1200, to replace all paper records in the township digitally. “It becomes a repository, and that’s what we need,” maintained Caras.
• Discussed replacinga 2009 copier machine that has fallen into disrepair with a multi-function printer for a total cost of $4,000. Caris insisted, “It’s pricey, but actually only a fraction of what we’re paying for now.”
• Was told by Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski that though they are no hospital spaces for births, a record 42 were performed at home with midwives in 2022.