MONTAGUE — At its regular meeting Tuesday, the White River Township board unanimously approved a resolution that will allow Fruitland Township residents to vote on a millage to join the White Lake Ambulance Authority later this year.
White River is one of five participating municipalities that must approve resolutions allowing Fruitland to join before the township is permitted to vote on the matter, which it plans to do in August. Montague Township approved its own resolution Tuesday. Whitehall Township, Blue Lake Township and the City of Montague also will need to approve resolutions prior to an August vote.
Trustee Laura Anderson said despite the past acrimony between Fruitland and the WLAA - Fruitland left the authority in 2016 - it would be a good move to approve the reunion. The board believes the issues that led to Fruitland's departure have since been addressed.
Anderson, the township's WLAA representative, also noted that the WLAA has the opportunity to bid on a nearly brand new ambulance that the Norton Shores Fire Department purchased and has not found that it needed. She said she's hopeful that the WLAA's bid, which was not disclosed, can be accepted.
The board also granted unanimous approval to the new ordinance governing data center construction in the township after the planning commission sent it to the board at a March 31 special meeting. Supervisor Ron Bailey said the presented ordinance (details were in the April 3 Mirror) fits well with Michigan Township Association recommendations, and Anderson complimented the commission on its work.
The board again opted out of road brining from the Muskegon County Road Commission, as it has the past few years, by a 4-1 vote (Bailey dissented). Trustee Deb Harris said her objection to the brining is mostly for environmental reasons as she does not want the salt used in the brining getting into the groundwater. The brining would have come at a cost of about $7,800 to the township and included 13 roads.
Bailey shared that he had a recent meeting with Montague Township Supervisor Jeff King and Montague City Manager Jeff Auch regarding a Medbery Park trail project all three would like completed. The trio shared ideas on how to work together in pursuit of state grants. The hope is to connect such a trail with a new pedestrian bridge planned for a 2027 construction at the end of Lau Road.
Bailey also noted that oral arguments were being made in Detroit this week in an appeal filed by dozens of townships, including White River and Montague, regarding perceived overreach by the Michigan Public Services Commission. The Michigan Appeals Court's official YouTube page was slated to have video of the arguments posted by Thursday.
Two different community service projects were discussed. The local Boy Scout troop is planning to again participate in a cleanup at Mouth Cemetery May 9, for which the township has made contributions of $800 the past couple of years. Because the contribution is already budgeted, no action was necessary. Also, public commenter John Richard shared that the Catholic Heart Work Camp is again coming to Montague in the second week of June and the group is looking for projects to complete. Township Clerk Julie Goericke suggested a power washing of the exterior of the township hall building, a task she had already been investigating.
Another public comment came from Claire Schlaff of the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee. She shared that a tentative date of June 11 has been set for a public meeting with the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to gather public feedback regarding Chemours' October corrective action consent agreement that it has publicly shared. Schlaff, as well as trustee Anderson, believe the measures Chemours are suggesting are "unacceptable" and hope public turnout can push the company into taking actions CEIC would prefer, such as the removal of landfills in the area. Schlaff noted that community acceptance is one of the stated factors to be considered in EGLE's dealings with the company.
