The Martin Township Board Wednesday night agreed to place a county-wide recycling question on the August primary election ballot.
The proposal will enable a surcharge of up to $50 per household per year for curbside recycling services, an increase of $14 per year. Recycling Coordinator Rosemary Graham said the fee hike is necessary because of increasing costs for recycling itself.
Some of Allegan County’s 24 townships do not participate in a curbside recycling program, but most do. Each township has until April 14 to indicate whether or not it will place the proposal on the August ballot for voters to decide.
Martin has voted to do so.
In other business Wednesday evening, the Township Board:
- Tabled a request from Martin Fire & Rescue to craft an amendment to the local Outdoor Gathering Ordinance, first adopted in 1970 and amended in 2012.
This proposed change would accommodate the reality that the B-93 Birthday Bash, the impetus for the 2012 amendment, no longer takes place at the Martin Motor Sports Park. It also suggests the maximum number for such events be lowered to 300 instead of 5,000.
Some proposed changes attempt to establish rules for public safety services, fire, police and ambulance, at outdoor events.
The fire department suggested only that township officials pass along the amendment proposal to the township attorney.
Township Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer, however, was skeptical about the need for an amendment.
“I think the ordinance we already have in place is fine,” she said.
- Noted that plans are in place by the Allegan County Road Commission to pave Second Street north to as far as 118th Avenue, with Gun Plain Township sharing in the project.
- Decided to change the date of the March meeting from the customary second Wednesday to the first, from the 11th to the 4th, because of the March 10 presidential primary election in Michigan.
