Watson Supervisor seeks retiring judge’s post

Watson Township Supervisor Kevin Travis told board colleagues Thursday night that he is a candidate for the soon to become vacant District Judgeship currently held by 57th Judge Joseph Skokelas.

Travis, a practicing attorney besides his supervisor’s post, announced that he has taken out petitions.

Skokelas was appointed district judge in 2006 by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and has served for 20 years before finally deciding to retire this year.

Travis has been Watson Township Supervisor since 2016 and he was re-elected in 2020 and 2024.

“It’ll be interesting,” he said to the board at its regular meeting. He added that he feels comfortable with what he’s been able to accomplish at Watson. He will have to give up his township job if he is elected judge.

In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the Watson board:

• Was told by the Allegan County Road Commission it will share costs of paving 24th Street next year with Allegan, Otsego and Trowbridge townships. It also learned that graveling projects this year will be on 114th Avenue, 1.5 miles to 21st Street and on 22nd Street one mile from 112th to 114th Avenue. The two projects’ cost has been estimated at $63,000.
• Learned from County Commissioner Gale Dugan that Scott Beltman of Monterey Township has been elected new chairman of the Allegan County Board.
• Agreed to share costs of early voting provisions for nine days in this year’s August primary with Hopkins and Monterey townships.
• Learned that Watson Township’s bill for the Hopkins Area Fire Department annual subsidy will be $80,609, a slight increase from last year’s $75,000.
• Was told by Dugan that Allegan County will provide the township with $50,000 for annual revenue sharing.
• Approved the reappointments for three-year terms for Brady Cole and Tylor Shurkamp on the Planning Commission.
• Agreed to review the fees that go to the Zoning Board of Appeals because the current $300 doesn’t even cover costs of advertising.
• Authorized former Trustee John Caras to spend up to $600 on a camera for the ballot box at the township hall building.