“Den mother” Theresa Fulk (far left) introduces members of her Girl Scout troop and points to a collection off new bat houses that will be placed on the Rabbit River Trail.
It’s been seven years since bat houses were placed along the Rabbit River Trail, but reinforcements are on the way, courtesy of a local Girl Scout troop.
Since 2018, when Steeby Elementary students under teacher Lori Howell placed houses, some have fallen into disrepair and even fallen onto the ground.
But now Theresa Fulk, “den mother” of the local scouts, has headed up a project to replace the old houses. She explained the Wayland City Council Monday evening that the new houses will “help with mosquito problems on the trail.”
Indeed, bats are often credited with dining on the insects in large numbers, especially during evenings because they are nocturnal animals.
In other business Monday, the City Council:
- Had a 3-2-2 vote to approve an application for a West Michigan Trails grant to extend a recreation trail from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Council members Steve Stepek, Grace Sefranik and Mayor Pro Tem Joe Kramer voted in the affirmative. Tracy Bivins and Jerry Jansen voted in the negative, Mayor Jennifer Antel abstained and Councilman Norm Taylor was absent.
- Approved a request by Streets Supt. Cole Lutz to restart the city’s Tree Board and approved Sefranik’s request to be a member.
- Agreed to the sale by sealed bids of surplus heat lamps from the local DDA.
- Heard a presentation from Director Linda Teeter, Sheriff Frank Baker and Circuit Judge Marge Bakker about the Allegan County Legal Assistance program and agreed to have City Manager Erik Wilson meet with Teeter to discuss a possible funding arrangement.
- Approved the Surf Net project in the city to install private equipment for fiber optic Internet service.
- Noted that a current alternate on the city’s Board of Review will be removed because of lack of attendance and a replacement will be chosen at the City Council’s meeting next month.
