Martin Twp. to seek fire millage on Nov. 6 election ballot

The Martin Township Board Wednesday evening decided to put a fire millage request on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Board members also decided to seek at least two other options in plans for expanding township hall or picking up additional office space.

The board voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution to place a request for 0.75 mill annually for the years 2019 through 2022 for fire department equipment. The department already has a one-mill levy for general operations that will expire in 2020.

Meanwhile, the board has been wrestling with finding more office space for Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer and Clerk Rachelle Smit. Both have severely crowded facilities on the east side of the township hall and original plans were to expand that building. Dan Vos of the The Architectural Group of Grand Rapids has provided drawn materials for the expansion plans.

However, board members agreed Wednesday night that using tunnel vision with just one plan may not be wise.

Supervisor Glenn Leep reported that two other options would be to use office space in a building across the street on the old Grinage lot or to use space in the PNCBank location at the corner of the village downtown.

He said, “We have these other options, so we don’t have to go (in the one direction already traveled).”

During discussion about whether it’s a good idea to spend more money with architects for different plans, Tiemeyer said, “If it helps us to make a better decision then this is money well spent.”

She added that the bank option is problematic because “The biggest negative for the bank is (lack of) parking.”

Leep countered, “But it’s the least expensive option.”

The board decided to proceed with asking TAG for information about the two additional options.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a proposal to have a second application of brine for dust control before the cooler fall weather arrives. The cost is $12,500.

• Agreed to have Assessor Joshua Simmons and his wife, Christa, come to the September board meeting to discuss his proposal for him to share assessing duties with his wife. He has accepted a job with the St. Joseph County Equalization Department and his wife has just passed tests to become a Level 2 assessor. He proposes to act as her assistant.

• Discussed a variety of problems with local cemeteries, particularly in the wake of identifying graves containing people who have been cremated.

• Was told by Fire Chief Earl Wykstra that the number of calls to the department is between 20 and 25 higher than the same time last year.