The Martin Township Board Wedn
esday evening decided to contribute $1,500 to the Gun Lake Protective Association’s effort to obtain a tornado siren.
Former Delton High School varsity football and wrestling coach Rob Heethuis and Dan Ullery, representing the association, outlined cooperative plans to bring the siren to centrally located Murphy’s Point on Gun Lake.
Heethuis told the board that Wayland and Orangeville townships have agreed to contribute $3,500 apiece and he believes Yankee Springs will follow suit. Martin is being asked for less because only about 1% of the Lake is occupied by Martin Township residents.
“It’s almost impossible to get a grant for a siren,” Heethuis said. “We’ve always believed we’d love to have a siren, but who’s going to pay for it?”
He learned that the device would cost $22,800 with a $425 annual service fee.
“Now we know how much it will cost and where we want to put it,” Heethuis said. “Now we have to figure out how to pay for it.”
He and Ullery then chatted with D.K. Sprague, chairman of the Gun Lake Tribe, to see if the casino would be willing to contribute. Sprague told them he liked the idea of a group of benefitting municipalities sharing the costs and offered $15,000 for seed money.
So if three townships covered by Gun Lake and each pay $3,500 and Martin $1,500, that adds up to $12,000. Add in $3,000 from the association and in-kind services from the Department of Natural Resources and the goal will have been met.
Township Supervisor Glenn Leep said, “Yes, we’re only 1% of the houses on Gun Lake, but it’s a good thing. The siren over the lake would reach even more Martin Township residents.”
The $1,500 will be taken out the general sinking fund, according to Township Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer.
Heethuis said the siren will be activated by the Barry County emergency 911 system.
Interestingly, all of Barry County has only four tornado sirens and this will be the fifth.
