Representatives from Kent County spearheading the sustainable business park in northeast Dorr Township are proceeding apace with plans.
Darwin Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works, told the Planning Commission about the “Reimagine Trash” project a couple of months ago and colleague Rick Chapla said the Kent County landfill to the immediate north may have only seven years left to accept waste.
Baas earlier has indicated the strategic plan is to reduce solid waste taken to landfills by 20 percent by the end of the year 2020 and as much as 90 percent by 2030.
Chapla said the waste reduction project could result in 100 new jobs and an investment of as much as $100 million in the area.
“The goal is to take landfill waste and convert it into something else,” he said, using emerging technology that has been successful in Europe and Canada.
He said there are hopes to have businesses operating at the 250-acre site within three years. The location is 108th Avenue south to 146th Avenue and between 14th Street east to U.S.-131. 14th Street would be the main service road for the park.
Chapla said the Kent County DPW is seriously considering five business proposals, two from Europe and one from Canada, and one prospective anchor tenant could take up half of the 250 acres.
State and federal grants are being pursued for the project.
Chapla said a planned unit development (PUD) will be sought to accommodate the work. He added that the Kent DPW has been working with Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections on determining what can and can’t be done at the site.
In other business at Thursday evening’s meeting, the Dorr Township Board:
- Fielded concerns and questions from citizen Joycelin Denstone about the Citizens’ Road Committee’s plans for road projects next year.
Denstone said she was told about intentions to pave 16th Street as early as 2017, but nothing has been done and she is worried the stalemate will continue well into 2022.
Road Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Sandel said there appears to have been some misunderstandings about road projects, but right now the paving of 16th Street is the highest priority in Dorr for the Allegan County Road Commission in 2021.
- Adopted an ordinance granting the rezoning of the John Langlois property along 18th Street from agricultural to rural estates. The request, which plaves the way for a 13-unit site condo project, was made before the Planning Commission Tuesday evening and it was recommended.
- Was told by Clerk Debbie Sewers that the November general election presented significant problems and there were huge numbers of people who had to wait in line in Precinct No. 2. She advocated finding a new polling place to accommodate more citizens.
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Welcomed three new board members, Treasurer Myrna Marr and Trustees Chandler Stanton and Patrick Champion, all of whom were elected in the primary and general votes.
- Approved the appointment of Trustee Dan Weber to be the board’s representative on the Planning Commission, succeeding Terri Rios, who was defeated in the primary election for supervisor.
- Appointed Josh Briley and Michael Grafton to the Parks Commission, filling two vacant seats. They will join Rios, Amanda Winters and Linda Stephans of the five-member panel.
- Reappointed Sandel, Eugene VanPutten and Connie Holbrook to the Board of Review and Brian Boot as alternate.
- Approved the appointment s of Sewers, Marr and Supervisor Jeff Miling to the Dorr-Leighton Sewer Authority.
- Held lengthy discussion on a proposal to buy laptops or tablets for township officials to conduct township business from home or attend virtual meetings. Stanton was tasked with getting prices and specifications and bringing a proposal to the board next month.
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