The COVID-19 crisis has wreaked havoc on more than peoples’ health and lives and on the economy. It has thrown public plans into chaos.
This unpleasant development reared its head Thursday evening at the virtual meeting of the Leighton Township Board, where an effort to improve local roads faces an uncertain future.
Steve Shoemaker, chairman of a special citizens’ roads committee, said the group, formed much in the same was as was done in Dorr Township four years ago, hasn’t had a chance to meet and solidify plans and identify township roads with the greatest needs.
Shoemaker told the board the most immediate tasks are to get a ballot proposal together in time for the Nov. 3 general election. He added the deadline for submission for such a proposal is July 28 and working must be approved by mid-August.
Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis said the township can get the word out about the ballot proposal, but it cannot advocate for its passage.
Shoemaker and a number of local citizens formed a citizens’ group about a year ago after the failure of a road millage increase. It was modeled after the Dorr committee, led by Carolyn Sandel, that spearheaded the passage of a three-mill levy.
Supervisor Steve Deer has said in the past that Leighton Township is growing, but it still does not have enough money to pave or improve roads adequately.
Interestingly, the board tabled a request from Brock Mellema, representing Classic Transportation, which is building a warehouse on 147th Avenue.
Mellema asked if the Township Board could make a contribution or grant a tax abatement for costs of repaving a quarter-mile of 147th.
When he asked if anything such as this had been done before in Leighton, Clerk Mary Lou Niewenhuis, who will retire at the end of this year after serving 36 years, replied, “I don’t recall anything like this.”
Trustee John Hooker added, “We’ve already spent a lot of money on paving 144th Avenue.”
Deer added that the economic picture immediately ahead doesn’t look so good and he’s heard the state will cut about $100,000 in state revenue sharing, the township’s largest source of revenue. All because of the economic downturn caused by the Coronavirus.
However, the board agreed to spend an extra $3,000 for a short paving extension to the east of the intersection of 2nd Street and 144th.
In other business Thursday night, the Township Board:
- Agreed to the recommended bid from R. Smith & Sons of $26,980 for graveling roads this year.
- Learned from Fire Chief Matt Weston that the local department continues to see less activity. Its 84 call calls thus far this year, are 15 fewer than this time in 2019.
“But we’re seeing quite an uptick already this month (May),” he cautioned.”
- Was told by Allegan County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Berens that, “We’re significantly lower since the (COVID-19) restrictions started, but we’re seeing some increase in domestic problems.”
Berens said he and fellow Deputy Bernard Austoff will monitor more carefully speeding traffic on 12th Street near the curve on Division in Moline.
