MONTAGUE — March’s Montague Township Board meeting Tuesday began with a brief visit from Consumers Energy’s Lakeshore Community Affairs Manager Rich Houtteman, who updated the board on ongoing projects in Montague Township and the greater Muskegon County. Consumers projects for the township mostly concern streetlights and forestry. According to Houtteman, if they all aren’t already, all Montague Township streetlights will be converted to LED, concluding an eight-year long project. There may also be upcoming forestry work. All affected will be notified of such work, with the township clerk also given a circuit map.
Houtteman also updated the board on the first few months of operation of the company's newest solar farm, located at the Muskegon County wastewater plant, and the positive reception it's received in the area thus far. The future of solar as an energy resource looks promising to Consumers, with Houtteman saying, “[Solar] is getting very cheap, even without the renewable credits. Solar is getting very competitive.”
In response to the discussion of the newest farm, Township Supervisor Jeff King brought up the Macbeth Solar Farm on Sikkenga Road and the possibility of getting reports on the amount of electricity the farm generates. Houtteman said he did not know that information or how to obtain it, believing the information is released at the discretion of the farm’s owner.
In response to concerns of how useful solar farms are in general, considering the weather in West Michigan, Houtteman said. “Our [solar] sales are pretty flat most of the year… we really don’t lean much on solar this time of year… we lean on gas this time of year. We need [solar] in the summer, that’s when it really kicks for us.”
The benefits of solar to Consumers is that it is a helpful extra energy source on long summer days and is cheap.
Regarding data center construction, Houtteman said, “I know you’re hearing some things about data centers… We don’t build them, but we do serve them. We have enough energy, we feel, on hand to serve a data center should one come to our service area.”
According to him, no one has contacted him outside of Kent County concerning possible data center construction, and he personally doesn’t see any more than two being built in West Michigan at all.
With only three of five members in attendance, the township board made three approvals. The board agreed to purchase 48 new chairs for the town hall, including dollies and shipping. For work on Montague Township Park’s softball fields, the board contracted AAA Lawncare, who quoted $641 for the requested treatment. Finally, the White Lake Youth Sports organization will continue to contribute $7,500 to help with the Township Park’s upkeep and for their usage of the fields for rec sports.
The organization has inquired about upgrades to the fields, to which King said, “We’re willing to talk upgrades, but they’re going to have to help."
Trustee Jay Goodrich agreed, “If they want upgrades, they’re going to have to pay for it.”
Another issue brought to the township’s attention concerned the Viking Athletic Center in Whitehall. According to operators, many non-Whitehall residents are not paying admission fees to use the facility. The VAC reached out to Montague Township to see if they’d be willing to contribute, alongside other White Lake municipalities, to allow free admittance to Montague area seniors, with an agreement starting at $6,000 per year. King and Goodrich did not think it was a worthwhile investment for the amount of people that use the facility, especially when seniors can walk at Montague High School’s track (during limited hours) for free.
“I don’t think it’s a tenable solution to our issue,” King said.
However, as only three members were in attendance – Clerk Drew Roesler and Trustee Jake Seaver were absent – it was decided the topic would be better discussed at next month’s meeting when everyone is in attendance.
