Prospects unknown for Dorr 4th of July celebration

The Fourth of July celebration is Dorr Township’s biggest annual blowout, but right now it’s in danger of being canceled by the Coronavirus.

There has been no word yet on whether it’s a go or a no, but the Dorr Township Board Thursday night had a discussion about it.

Supervisor Jeff Miling said he hasn’t been in touch with the Dorr Business Association or the Fourth of July Committee, mostly because of the COVID-19 crisis. Fire Chief Gary Fordham also said he hasn’t heard anything yet either way.

The plans are to have the annual celebration over three days, Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5. Fireworks have been part of the agenda, but after seeing so many other festivals fold their tents for this year, Dorr’s still remains up in the air.

Fordham and Miling indicated they plan to reach out to both sponsoring groups as soon as possible and come back with better information at next month’s meeting.

In other business at their meeting Thursday evening, the board:

• Decided to continue to offer the township hall basement as shelter in case of a tornado warning, even though it might not comply with state guidelines about the COVID-19 virus.
• Awarded the low bid for graveling four miles of township roads this summer to R. Smith & Son for $58,880.
• Was told by Treasurer Jim Martin that the $107,402 check for state revenue sharing was the largest ever, but he expects the next check two months hence to be for a lot less because of a drop in revenue associated with the Coronavirus.
• Was told by Fire Chief Gary Fordham the department’s business was eerily quiet in March, with just 31 calls, bringing the year to date total to just 52, well below the same time last year.

“It’s been pretty quiet, but things have picked up a bit in April,” he said.

Fordham said that during the virus crisis, his men dress accordingly for call, noting, “We dress for the worst… and then we get ready for the next one (incident).”

• Learned that the Planning Commission meeting and master plan session March 17 was postponed because it would have violated state sheltering guidelines.
• Was told by Martin that township just recently received just under $50,000 in revenue from the Allegan County Delinquent Tax Fund.