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Sept. 17 meeting in Wayland city is for the birds

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By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

Everyone will get a chance to squawk some more over whether they think an urban chicken ordinance in the City of Wayland is a good idea.

On Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. All Species Kinship of Battle Creek will be giving a presentation to the city council. “A.S.K.” is a rescue for abandoned farm birds, mostly from a result of the increased popularity in urban farming.

According to ASK, the illegal abandonment of farmed birds is a common problem happening everywhere. People buy ducklings, goslings and chickens on impulse for a few dollars as cute hatchling novelties only to find out that they require a significant amount of work. And they’re often surprised at just how loud and disruptive they can be.

These birds end up abandoned at city parks, lakes or roadside wetlands left to fend for themselves—which they cannot because they are domesticated.

City manager Joshua Eggleston said while this group is a con rather than pro for urban chickens, the public will also have their day to pipe in on the subject, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. Expecting too many people to comfortably fit into the council chambers, this public comment time will be at Wayland Union Middle School’s cafeteria.

At a council meeting coming up in October, a pro urban-chicken farming group will be asked to give a presentation to balance out opinions on the subject.

Over a year ago, a few residents asked for an ordinance to keep chickens in the city as pets and for fresh eggs. An ordinance regulating chickens and coops was sent back to the planning commission several times to hash out the specifics. According to a draft, it would regulate chicken coops by following Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices; not allow roosters or slaughtering in city limits; require a setback from side yards; limit the number of chickens on the property; and require a permit.

However, while being drafted, a new city manager search got underway and the ordinance came to a dead end over how to enforce it. The ordinance was tabled, then brought back to the table for discussion last month.

At that meeting, mayor pro-tem Jennifer Antel said “I’ve heard more about chickens than any other issue in my 13 years on the council.”

To deal with the issue once and for all, the council instructed the city manager to set up meetings to hear arguments both for and against and at a public input forum.

Virginia Ransbottom can be contacted at vransbottom@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

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St. John Lutheran church to celebrate 150 years

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St. John’s Old German Lutheran Church at the time of its dedication Oct. 25, 1874, was at the corner of Russell and Davis streets in Allegan.
By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

Allegan’s St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1764 34th Street is celebrating its sesquicentennial. To mark the milestone, the pastor who was there to celebrate the church’s centennial 50 years ago, will be back to celebrate its 150th birthday.

Elder Karl Vertz was the pastor of the church from 1964 to 1974. He will be part of a special service on Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. Along with current Pastor Ron Kruse who has led the congregation since 1996, there will also be a guest organist, trumpeters and vocalists, followed by a dinner. The public is invited.

To celebrate the centennial celebration, a 28-page history was compiled by Herman Eckert, 80, who was confirmed in the church in 1903, and his wife Martha Eckert who had been a charter member of the Ladies Aid Society organized in 1914. The couple translated early church records from German into English so it would not be lost to generations. The hundred years of history has been updated for each milestone since.

According to that history, the church was founded Sept. 1, 1868, but its beginnings were much earlier.

Today, Pastor Kruse shares fellowship with St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Allegan Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Holland.

To read much more of the church's history in our full story, pick up a copy of the Sept. 13, 2018, issue of The Allegan County News or subscribe to the e-edition.

Two people arrested in breaking and entering

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MONTEREY TWP.—After responding to a breaking and entering in progress at a home on 28th Street north of 134th Avenue in Monterey Township, Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies found a female hiding in a suspect’s vehicle in the garage and another suspect observed inside the residence.

It happened on Sunday, Sept. 16, at about 8:45 p.m. when the homeowner was not at home. A surveillance alarm system alerted Allegan Central Dispatch. The homeowner said he has numerous firearms in the residence. Verbal commands were given for the subjects to exit the residence but they did not comply. 

Allegan County SWAT was called to the scene and after giving more verbal commands a male subject came out the home. A thorough search of the residence found nobody else inside.

Both suspects were brought to the Allegan County Sheriff's Office for interviews and lodged in jail for home invasion.

The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Michigan State Police, Gun Lake Tribal Police and Wayland EMS.

If anybody has any information about the home invasion or similar incidents in the area, please call the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office at (269) 673-0500 or silent observer at 1-800-554-3633.

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Allegan County resident infected with Eastern equine encephalitis

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Health officials say protect yourself against mosquito bites

Health officials have confirmed an infection of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in an Allegan County resident.

The individual was hospitalized in late August with a neurologic illness, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Allegan County Health Department.

EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States with a 33 percent fatality rate. The disease can often leave survivors with lasting brain damage.

This is the first human case reported in Michigan since 2016, when three people were infected. Mosquito-borne illness will continue to be a risk in Michigan until late fall when nighttime temperatures consistently fall below freezing. Michigan residents are reminded to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

There is still plenty of mosquito season left in Michigan, said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. When outdoors, Michigan residents are urged to take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites including using mosquito repellent and wearing long pants and long sleeves.

Horse owners should note that EEE can also cause neurologic illness in horses. However, vaccination can protect horses from infection with EEE.

EEE is a virus of birds that is spread by mosquitoes near swamps and bogs. Human cases are rare, with only a few cases reported each year in the U.S. People who become ill with EEE may experience fever, headache, chills and nausea. In some cases, symptoms may progress to inflammation of the brain, signaled by disorientation, seizures and coma. Physicians treating patients with these symptoms should consider testing for EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses and should report suspected cases to their local health department.

As a reminder, West Nile virus is continuing to cause illness in people across the state, with a total of 44 cases and two fatalities reported to date. WNV has also been identified in 149 mosquito pools, 115 birds and one horse throughout the state.

Steps people should take to protect themselves include:

• Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET or other EPA- approved product to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturers directions for use.

• Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.

• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings.

• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay eggs.

For more information on EEE, visit www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis.

 

 

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ArtPrize plans big change

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Plainwell art teacher and artist Maggie Flynn’s designs on that district’s Library on the Loose book bus. (Photo by Ryan Lewis)

GRAND RAPIDS—Sixteen artists from Allegan County are presenting work in Grand Rapids’ 10th annual ArtPrize competition—the last before the event switches to an every-other-year schedule.

The artists are among the more than 1,000 artists from dozens of countries displaying works of art throughout town at 190 venues. No numbers were released for this year’s number of entries, but last year there were more than 1,260 entries from dozens of countries and throughout the United States.

All will compete for a combination of public vote and juried awards totaling more than $500,000.

While the number of participating artists has continued to drop slightly—there were 1,550 in 2015—the numbers of visitors and votes cast has continued to climb. Last year, the 19-day exhibition drew 522,000 visitors and more than 3 million visitors since 2009.

The top public vote-getter in each of four categories—2-D, 3-D, Time-Based or Installation—wins $12,500; a $200,000 public vote grand prize will go to the artist who earns the most votes overall after two rounds of voting.

On the juried side of the event, a juror in each of the four categories will award $12,500 to one piece. The jurors will then select four more from their categories and a three-person grand prize jury will determine who receives the $200,000 juried grand prize.

The event also gives out more than $290,000 in grants, everything from artist seed grants to a fellowship for emerging curators.

Public voting is done at artprize.org or through a mobile app. The first round of voting began Wednesday, Sept. 19, at noon and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. The top 20 vote-getters go to Round 2; voting for that begins Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. and runs through Oct. 4 at 11:59 p.m.

Winners are then announced at the awards ceremony Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. The exhibition closes Oct. 7.

 

New schedule

This year, however, marks a major change in the contest. In June, ArtPrize revealed plans for a new citywide public art project, slated to take place in alternate years, beginning in 2019 titled “Project 1 by ArtPrize.” Concurrently, the organization announced that the ArtPrize event will be shifting to a biennial schedule, returning for its 11th edition in 2020.

“Since its inception in 2009, ArtPrize has been an evolving experiment. Our job is to continue to push the bounds of how we engage the public in conversation about art and why it matters,” said Jori Bennett, ArtPrize executive director. “With the incredible support of the community, we are now in an exciting position to again be the accelerant for conversation about art and creative expression.”

For Project 1, a single artist or small group of artists will present a dynamic citywide public art project in September-October 2019 at sites in downtown Grand Rapids, and will include education and cultural programming that is free and open to the public. The entire cost and accompanying programming will be funded by ArtPrize with the support of its donors and sponsors.

ArtPrize artistic director Kevin Buist said, “As a counterpoint to the vast array of artworks vying for attention during ArtPrize competitions, Project 1 will invite visitors to slow down and engage with large-scale immersive work. The artist or artists will present a temporary, focused activation that will respond to the city’s history, community and sense of place.”

The following list of local artists in this year’s ArtPrize was compiled drawing from the information provided on the event’s website.

 

Allegan

Maggie Flynn

“Library on the Loose,” 3-D

First United Methodist Church

227 E. Fulton St.

 

Dawn Hollister

“The Pere Marquette River,” 2-D

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital

100 Michigan NE

 

Kalyn Stufflebeam

“Calm Expression,” 2-D

Grand Rapids Griffins

130 W. Fulton, Suite 111

 

Diane Sumner

“Broken Bullet,” 2-D

Grand Valley Artists Inc. at the Water Treatment Building

1101 N. Monroe NW

Street Level

 

Dorr

Steve Leary

Gold Rush, 2-D

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

303 Pearl St. NW

 

Fennville

Mary Hopson

“I’m Lost,” 2-D

Cornerstone Church, Heritage Hill

48 Lafayette Ave. SE

 

Tyler Voorhees

“Spider Rock,” 2-D

Davenport University Peter C. Cook Center

45 Ottawa Ave NW

 

Bart Woloson

“SWEET,” time based

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

303 Pearl St. NW

 

Hamilton

Michael Stewart

“Weeping Purple Beech,” 2-D

Grand Valley Artists Inc. at the Water Treatment Building

1101 N. Monroe NW Street Level

 

Otsego

Julie Baptiste

“Endangered,” 2-D

San Chez Bistro

38 West Fulton

 

Kathy Baptiste

“The End of the World as He Knows It,” 2-D

Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown

310 Pearl Street NW

 

John Jaeger

“Coming On,” 2-D

Bangkok Taste Cuisine Cafe

15 Jefferson Ave. SE

 

Saugatuck

John Leben

“Tornado,” 2-D

First (Park) Congregational Church

10 E Park Place NE

 

Michael Sampson Sweeney

“Sunrise on the Kalamazoo Watershed,” 2-D

The Artist’s Studio

40 Monroe Center St NW Suite 102

 

Shelbyville

Margaret Hall

“Magic of Summer,” 2-D

First (Park) Congregational Church

10 E. Park Place NE

 

Wayland

Stephanie Sebright

“Ensnare Trepidation,” installation

Rockwell Republic

45 S. Division Ave.

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Wayland seeks public input on raising chickens within city

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By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

The Wayland City Council will be seeking public input on whether to permit or ban chickens from being raised in city limits at a public forum set for Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Wayland Middle School cafeteria.

The meeting was confirmed at the council meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, after the council heard a presentation by All Species Kinship of Battle Creek who recommended not following the trend of allowing chickens in the city due to a lack of awareness by urban farmers of poultry health conditions and proper containment.

According to ASK executive director Sophia DiPietro, cofounder of the group that rescues abandoned  and neglected farmed animals, they are seeing an increase in neglect, hoarding and illegal abandonment due to urban or “hobby” farming.

If a chicken ordinance is approved by the city, she suggested the city set strict regulations and permit fees to cover the cost to the city when dealing with disease, vaccinations, improper housing, unsanitary conditions, manure management, attraction of rodents and wildlife, inability to identify hens from roosters, enforcement of complaints and inspections.

“I didn’t know that they stopped laying eggs after two years,” responded council woman Lisa Banas. “And how do we assess their health to know if they need to be removed?”

Mayor pro-tem Jennfier Antel thanked DiPietro for helping the council to make an informed decision.

“This has been a huge learning curve,” she said.

Following the public forum on Sept. 25, when council members will hear the pros and cons of urban chicken farming from residents, a guest speaker from the Michigan State University Extension office will be giving a pro-chicken presentation on Monday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. prior to the regular council meeting at 7 p.m.

At the request of a few city residents, the council has been developing a chicken ordinance for the past year but it was tabled with the transition of a new city manager. New city manager Josh Eggleston brought the ordinance back to the table but to make an informed decision, has scheduled pro- and con-backyard poultry presentations and a neutral public forum for the council to make a final decision.

In other business the council:

• Approved the engineering cost of $67,350 to design capital improvements for Galaxy Estates and Marlo Lane/Geneva Drive road projects in 2019.

City engineer Mickey Bittner of Wightman Associates said the projects will be combined for bids to take advantage of economies to scale. Galaxy Estates scope is to mill the roadway, cap it and upgrade to ADA ramps. The Marlo/Geneva Drive project will be a road pulverization, replacement of ditches previously filled in, pave the road and driveway approaches and sidewalks on the west and south sides, which may require some tree trimming and removal.

• Approved Ben Adams to replace Abe Garcia on the planning commission and Sam Dykstra to replace Sheryl Hamilton on the compensation committee.

 Virginia Ransbottom can be contacted at vransbottom@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

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Delton man, John Pluymers, dies in single-car crash northeast of Plainwell

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GUN PLAIN TWP.—A Delton man, John Pluymers, was killed in a single vehicle crash early Thursday, Sept. 20, on 106th Avenue near 4th Street, northeast of Plainwell.

According to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, another driver called 911 about 4:27 a.m. and said they’d come upon a crash car with the victim lying outside his vehicle.

Pluymers, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by first responders.

A Plainwell Public Safety officer went to the scene before the sheriff’s office could arrive and then turned the crash investigation over to them.

The sheriff’s officer said it appeared Pluymers was driving west on 106th Avenue east of 4th Street in Gun Plain Township when his car went off the south side of the road and into a group of trees. It flipped over several times and came to rest against a tree.

The crash is still being investigated.

Gun Plain Township firefighters and Plainwell EMS also assisted with the crash.

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Wayland Council has public weigh in on city chickens

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To be or not to be? That is the question Wayland City is weighing at their next meeting Oct. 1, on whether to allow backyard chickens in the city.
By: 
Virginia Ransbottom

A meeting to hear public comments about allowing chickens to be raised in the City of Wayland had just as many participants as there were council members on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Wayland Union Middle School cafeteria.

Because the issue had ruffled so many feathers, city manager Josh Eggleston moved the meeting to the school to provide room for what was thought to attract a flock.

Seven city residents provided their stance on allowing backyard chickens. Five were for it, one was against it and the seventh was on the fence.

Diane Smith of South Main Street said she was not opposed but not all for it either.

“I would want to see lots of rules and regulations if passed,” she said. “I live in a small area with not much space on either side and don’t want them close to me.

“I don’t think the noise and cackling would bother me but in the summer when it gets hot and humid, I wouldn’t want the smell that would come with it.”

Ryan Esposito of Forrest Street said when it comes to smell, it comes down to proper management and taking care of the coop.

“Proper composting of the feces eliminates the smell,” he said. “The complaints come down to residents who got into more than could handle and those are the one’s making a stink for those who want them and do take care of them.

“I hope some kind of balance can be met.”

Seth Schafer of Geneva Drive attended the meeting with his daughter. He said he has owned chickens in the past and currently keeps some at his parent’s home in Dorr.

“We’d like to see the proposal pass,” Schafer said. “My kids love them and they make really great pets—and then you get eggs from them which is a really big plus.

“They’re fun to have, have their own personalities and are not hard to take care of—like any animal you have to clean up after them so they don’t smell.

“We want chickens at our house so we don’t have to go back and forth to my parents.”

Nancy VandeVoord said as part of a science project, she raised chickens in the City of Kalamazoo before moving to Wayland 25 years ago.

She said not allowing chickens is limiting kids’ education and limiting the growth of the town since it is the millennials who are the growth population—the generation that is concerned with getting natural and fresh foods.

VandeVoord said of the towns that allow chickens, only 1-percent of the homes want chickens and inspections only take 15 minutes. With a population of 4,000, that’s only 40 homes in the City of Wayland.

“If you charge $50 for a permit that’s $2,000 for less than 800 minutes of inspections,” she said. “I don’t see why you’d have to worry about a financial strain.”

Jessica Esposito said such diseases as salmonella were a complaint she heard at a previous meeting.

“Research shows backyard flocks are less likely than commercial flocks for diseases and there are vaccines and testing to make them healthy,” she said. “Compost waste breaks down in three days and the smell goes away.

“With a bit of research and time to learn about them, chickens can be healthy and I agree with rules for coop size.”

Joe Dressler of Standish Drive said he’d like to see chickens legalized in the city.

“My kids have wanted them for years but we can’t have them.” He said “The biggest thing I’ve heard is the about the waste, but the feces is high in nitrogen and can be used for plants, gardens and there’s many ways to recycle it.

“It falls on the homeowner to be responsible and clean up after their pets just like a dog or cat—the cons don’t outweigh the pros.”

Kelle Tobolic of Locust Street was the lone voice against legalizing chickens.

“It’s a want rather than a need,” she said. “It’s not like we live in a metropolis where you have to drive miles to get organic eggs.

“I live in the city for a reason and if I wanted to have chickens I would live in the country.”

Tobolic also asked the council to think about recourse and what wants are next after chickens.

City Council members have been considering an ordinance allowing backyard chickens for more than a year after being approached by residents requesting them. An ordinance banning roosters, regulating how many chickens could be raised and providing setbacks and coop speculations was tabled until the new city manager Josh Eggleston could transition into his new job.

To come to a final decision, Eggleston held a meeting on Sept. 25, to hear a presentation by All Species Kinship of Battle Creek who recommended not following the trend of allowing chickens in the city due to a lack of awareness by urban farmers of poultry health conditions and proper containment.

On Monday, Oct. 1, a presentation on the benefits of raising urban chickens by Michigan State University Extension office will be at 6 p.m. prior to the regular council meeting at 7 p.m. At that time, the council may or may not make a final decision.

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Otsego’s water is safe despite trace dioxins

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Back in April, Kory Groetsch with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, speaks to a packed room at Otsego United Methodist Church. (File photo)
By: 
Ryan Lewis, Editor

Otsego’s municipal water has been given a clean bill of health despite a trace amount of highly toxic dioxins.

Otsego city manager Aaron Mitchell late last week announced the results of a recent round of extensive testing of the city’s three operating wells by saying the city now knows what is in the drinking water.

“I believe the testing we have gone through has been more rigorous than any municipality in the state,” Mitchell said. “And after all of that testing, we know that Otsego has clean drinking water.”

The city tested its water in unison with a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality effort to test dozens of residential wells in the surrounding area. That effort bloomed from public outcry over suspicions of increased cancer rates from decades-old contamination from the paper mill industry.

While final results of that testing are still pending, preliminary results showed some levels of some dioxins in 17; those homes are currently receiving bottled water.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, dioxins can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones.

A Tuesday press release said, “After reviewing the test results, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has determined there is no health concern regarding these chemicals in City of Otsego water.”

 

0.0992 picograms

Mitchell said testing detected no dioxins in two of the three city wells.

In the third, he said state agencies calculated the “toxic equivalency,” or TEQ, of what was detected at 0.092 picograms—“So: very, very small.”

That number was a calculation state toxicologists made, based on the different toxicity levels of the 29 types of dioxin-like chemical included in the test. The calculation method has been designed by international experts, adopted worldwide and vetted by the U.S. National Academies of Science.

The state press release said, “MDHHS concludes that 0.092 ppq-TEQ does not represent a public health hazard.”

That agency said the trace amount was more than 100 times lower than 12 ppq—or, parts per quadrillion—the level understood to still be safe for anyone—pregnant women, children, or adults—to drink daily over their lifetime and not expect harm.

Kory Groetsch, environmental public health director at Health and Human Services, said, “We’re being very thorough. And if you tested like this everywhere, I would not be surprised if you found detections like this or more in most locations.

“It’s as close to nothing as is really expected.”

While as much as 12 ppq was considered safe, levels higher than that would simply warrant more research and concern. At 30 ppq, state and federal agencies would step in to take action.

Groetsch said, “Being above 12 ppq doesn’t mean you’ll be harmed, but being below it we feel there’s a solid margin of minimal risk.”

In fact, he said both numbers were significantly conservative estimates for measuring public health danger.

To put Otsego’s 0.092 picograms in perspective, here are some other measurements related to recent contaminants being dealt with in the area:

• 50 parts per million—this was the measurement of the carcinogen PCB (another paper mill byproduct) the EPA used to determine whether contaminated soil dug out of the Kalamazoo River floodplain and riverbank needed to be trucked to special, sealed landfill. Any sediment with fewer than 50 molecules of PCB per million molecules of water could be disposed of in a standard landfill.

• 70 parts per trillion—this was the danger threshold EPA set for PFAS, the group of chemicals that made local headlines after high concentrations were found in Parchment’s municipal water. In early August, Otsego’s city wells measured at 11 ppt; that’s a ratio of 11 molecules of PFAS for every trillion molecules of water.

• A picogram is a one-part-per-quadrillion measurement; that’s a 1 followed by 15 zeros. A quadrillion is 1,000 trillions.

Mitchell said that when the measurements were being described for the PFAS testing, 1 ppt could be thought of a bit like a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“So, this would be like a drop of water in 20,000 swimming pools,” he said.

 

Testing

Mitchell said city employees drew the water samples Sept. 6 for the main battery of tests that would be used to search for approximately 300 chemicals. The city does not filter the water but does chlorinate and conducts regular testing, as required by state and federal laws.

“We wanted it to be exactly as what’s being tested for in the township,” Mitchell said. “We’re doing that so we can make apples-to-apples comparisons.”

More samples were taken last week so the city could test for another dozen more exotic substances the DEQ added to the list of tests out in the private wells.

“It’s for stuff that has never been tested for in our drinking water,” he said. “All of the township wells were negative (non-detect) for them and we’re expecting to be negative as well. They’re not dioxin related.”

Each round of testing will end up costing the city approximately $4,000. Pace Analytical tested the samples.

“We’ve paid for all of this and paid to expedite the results,” Mitchell said. “Cost isn’t really a concern right now.”

 

What’s next

Next steps for the city depend largely on water testing results from Otsego Township and the City of Plainwell.

“We can actually feed into each other’s system if we need to,” Mitchell said. “It’s not as easy as flipping a switch. But, if catastrophe comes, it’s simpler than having everyone on bottled water.”

He said the DEQ had studied the issue and said the city had capacity to add the other municipalities. That basically involved opening a series of valves, but that was complicated by several concerns.

Being able to pump the water properly through the system and maintain the proper water pressure might require adding some booster pumps. Also, if there was contaminated water in the system, it would need to be flushed completely out, and that process came with a variety of challenges.

Other than that, plans that had been on hold to drill a new well would likely be going forward now. That would replace a 40-year-old well that had been pumping slower than its original capacity. That was expected to simply be drilled nearby the one it is replacing. All three city wells are near Brookside Park.

“We’re watching the residential well investigation,” Mitchell said. “But as far as additional testing, we’ve been told we’re good to go.”

In the announcement last week, he thanked residents for their patience as everyone awaited the testing results and said, “MDEQ is still continuing to do additional methodology validation with the laboratory, which could take some time, but they are confident the 0.092 ppq-(toxic equivalency) result will not change.”

Residents with questions can call city hall or the Allegan County Health Department’s Hotline (269) 686-4546 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.

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$2.8 million awarded for Sandy Pines shelters

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By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

FEMA has released $2,822,855 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funds to Salem Township for the construction of another safe room in the Sandy Pines campground.

“It is a new shelter that will be in Phase 4 of Sandy Pines,” said Salem Township supervisor Jim Pitsch. “It is a two story shelter as I understand it —the first two story shelter in the country—that will protect over 1,100 people.”

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property, said James K. Joseph, regional administrator, FEMA Region V.

“This project will give the community a safe room that can be used to protect residents and visitors in the Sandy Pines campground during times of severe weather.”

Last June, the first FEMA financed project in the park was completed. It was a $2.1 million project in which two new Convenience Centers replaced existing centers and were equipped as safe rooms with hardened concrete walls embedded with steel  reinforcements. Sandy Pines paid $285,472 of the cost.

The rooms were built to withstand an EF-4 tornado with winds up to 250 mph. Convenience Center 5 holds 260 people and Convenience Center 6 holds 210.

However, more shelter is needed. Sandy Pines RV resort and campground has 2,200 sites and populations of up to 30,000 people on busy weekends, the largest population of any city in Allegan County, according to park president Gene VanKoevering.

“This is a great example of a community seizing the opportunity for hazard mitigation grants to enhance the safety of Michigan’s residents,” said Capt. Emmitt McGowan, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.

PDM provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through PDM, FEMA will pay $2,822,855 of the $3,784,088 eligible project cost. The remaining funds, $961,233, will be provided by Sandy Pines Wilderness Trails.

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Picture perfect fair wraps up

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In local talent, the Allegan County “Show Us Your Talent” winner was “yo-yo meister” Gavin Hubner of Grand Haven (right). Second place went to Aubrianna Lance (center) and third to Larissa London. (Photo by Virginia Ransbottom)
By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

Fairgoers got their fix at the 166th—Allegan County Fair that is—where some got their fix with deep-fried fair food and death-defying rides.

The midway carnival, by Skerbeck Entertainment of Fennville, set a new record for ticket sales up 22 percent from 2017. The last day of the fair on Saturday, Sept. 15, was also a record for the most ticket sales in one day.

This year’s new ride was Top Gun, which strapped riders to the ends of what looked like a turbine blade and gave it few spins. The ride is the only one of its kind in Michigan.

“I could feel the G-forces pulling on me and my stomach rising up,” said Jamie Lomashewich of Dorr. Seated next to her, Mark Trueax said it went up in the air fast, stopped, and when it came back down he thought he was going to hit the ground.

“It gets your adrenaline rushing, that’s for sure,” Trueax said.

Fair manager Saree Miller said it was a great year for everything.

 “It went smooth, we kept up with traffic and the weather could not have been better.”

While overall attendance didn’t break the 300,000 mark set in 2015, it was up 4 percent over last year at  279,481.

Over in the 4-H livestock barn, the auction was down 14 percent at $603,000, on the heels of an all-time record high in 2017 of $698,000.

“Actually, we figure we were down like 10-percent because the Geurink Memorial was around $36,000 last year,” said 4-H coordinator Dian Liepe. That memorial was for 4-H supporter Bob Geurink of A & B Farms who died in a machine accident.

A total of 23 animals were donated this year through the Grand Champion Giving program, up from last year’s 17.

In its second year, donors gave 17 hogs, two steers, three goats and 1 lamb to the program. After a month to process and ship the meat to the Hungry for Christ warehouse in Hamilton it will then be distributed among the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative’s 16 local pantries for families in need.

“We’re very happy,” said Tracey Robrahn, the collaborative’s resource coordinator. “We’ll just keep building on this and getting the word out about this; it’s just such a great opportunity and a win-win. People get to support a child in 4-H and feed families.”

Katrina Tucker of Hopkins was named Overall Top Showman on the last day of the fair. Tucker, also an FFA member, was the Reserve Top Showman in 2017. This year’s Reserve Top Showman was Morgan Sturman.

Coming in number one in grandstand entertainment was Pentatonix. Southern Uprising, although missing the Marshall Tucker Band, came in a close second.

“Someone in the band came down sick and they couldn’t make it,” Miller said. “We offered refunds for tickets but only about 20 groups took us up on that.”

Travis Tritt and the Charlie Daniels Band took over the uprising and gave concert-goers their money’s worth. 5 Seconds of Summer had a lighter crowd but was just as fun, Miller said.

In local talent, the Allegan County “Show Us Your Talent” winner was “yo-yo meister” Gavin Hubner of Grand Haven. Second place went to Aubrianna Lance and third to Larissa London. 

In the agriculture barn, there was no 918-pound pumpkin like last year when John Haluch of Martin entered the gigantic gourd. He said the hot weather cracked this year’s entry but his 168-pound monster watermelon took a first place ribbon.

The Allegan County Fair Parade named Haircuts 404 the Best of Show for their float featuring a rolling hair salon, complete with hairdryers and curlers.

Plans are already underway for next year’s 167th Allegan County Fair.

Editor Ryan Lewis contributed to this story.

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Thieves rob mowers for second time in a month

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By: 
Daniel Pepper, Staff Writer

A Plainwell business has again been the victim of a late night theft of merchandise.

Gary’s Lawn and Garden was burglarized early Sunday, Sept. 15, owner Gary Langford said.

“What do you do?” Langford said. “Lights, camera, they don’t care. They’re pretty brazen.”

The store reported six 2018 Husqvarna riding lawn mowers had been stolen Aug. 26. This time, two zero turn riding lawn mowers were taken.

The thieves used a hand grinder to cut the lock off the gate to the business, located at 285 12th Street, Plainwell, about 2:15 a.m.

Langford said the thieves had parked a pickup truck and an enclosed trailer across the street at the Christian Neighbor’s building.

He said he’d heard a John Deere dealership in Barry County had been hit the same night and that there was no indication one way or the other if this was the same group of thieves from earlier thefts.

The thieves can be seen on the video testing keys to the mowers.

Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

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Casino opens poker room

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Gun Lake Casino cut the ribbon Friday, Sept. 14, on its new 14-table poker room. The non-smoking area offers a variety of traditional poker games, including Omaha, Texas Hold’Em, and many others.

“This is a great new amenity that our guests have asked for,” commented Sal Semola, president and chief operating officer for Gun Lake Casino. “The Gun Lake Tribe has done a tremendous job listening to our guests and community to continue to pave the way for new offerings here at Gun Lake Casino.”

The poker room occupies the 3,500-square-foot space that was once leased by Johnny Rockets and Villa Pizza.

Approximately 60 additional jobs were added to staff the new room, including dealers, supervisors, and managers.

Gun Lake Casino’s expansion plans will continue as it works to complete a five-story, 1,200 parking space garage, along with an additional coat check, rewards center, administrative offices, bar and slots. (Photo provided)

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Dorr Township recycling fee stays on books

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By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

Votes for Dorr Township’s recycling ballot proposal were recounted and confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 13.

The proposal had passed by a 15-vote margin, 863-848  

The recount confirmed the same results for Precinct 2 and 3; however, Precinct 1 was off by one vote, due to a ballot that was run through the vote-tallying machine twice.

Dorr Township clerk Debbie Sewers said this vote was due to a jam with the new equipment on election night and was noted in the remarks portion of the E-Poll book on election night.

Resident and former township board member Patty Senneker requested the recount on the grounds that the vote-tallying machines in the township’s three precincts may not have totaled the votes correctly.

The vote count stands at 862-848, confirming that each residence in the township will pay a mandatory $36 surcharge annually to help fund recycling services.

Residents currently pay a voluntary $25 annual fee to use recycling services coordinated through Allegan County’s Resource Recovery program. The new fee replaces the old one.

The $35 surcharge will be assessed to all households, including mobile homes from 2018 to 2022.

Clerk Sewers said Dorr Township said the recount will cost the township $421 to reimburse the Board of Canvassers per diem and mileage and will be paid from the township’s election budget.

“Finally, I can put the August Election away and focus of November’s, which officially begins 60 days prior to the election,” Sewers said.

Virginia Ransbottom can be contacted at vransbottom@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

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Memorial walk honors Kaylor, funds screenings

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The sixth annual Peter A. Kaylor Lung Cancer Memorial Walk will be in downtown Allegan on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Registration will begin at the Riverfront stage at 6:30 p.m. with a 7 p.m. kickoff of events, including the walk, silent auction, bake sale, and live music.

Drawing upon their own personal experiences, cancer survivors and guest speakers for the walk will be Teresa Steinburg and Joyce Wilson. Also speaking will be Dr. Sunil Nagpal, a hematology specialist at the West Michigan Cancer Center who has been practicing for 29 years.

Live music will be provided in the basement of the Griswold beginning at 8 p.m. along with the silent auction and bake sale, both following the walk.

Registration costs $10, and all proceeds go to the West Michigan Cancer Center for early detection of lung cancer.

In October 2012, Peter A. Kaylor was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. By the time he had any symptoms, the cancer had spread from his lungs to his heart, lymph nodes and brain. The professionals told his family he had four weeks to live. Five months later, in April 2013, Kaylor died.

Theresa Lynn, executive director of Wings of Hope Hospice, said, “Lung cancer is a devastating disease.  It ravages the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body such as bones, the liver and the brain. Among individuals diagnosed with lung cancer, for 40 percent of them, the cancer has spread by the time they are diagnosed.”

Lung cancer research is one of the lowest funded yet one of the most deadly of cancers. In the past five years, the Peter A. Kaylor Lung Cancer Memorial Walk has raised over $20,000 for the West Michigan Cancer Center specifically for early detection of lung cancer.

In a press release, the organizers of the walk said, “Walk with us to raise even more this year to help save a life—it could be the life of your loved one. ‘Save the Date, Save a Breath, Save a Life!’”

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Allegan sets fall clean-up, leaf pick-up

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Fall clean-up

Sept. 29—Oct. 6

Dumpsters will be at the Department of Public Works, 691 Airway Drive, Allegan. The DPW will also have tire disposal, metal and Freon appliance recycling.

All City residents may bring their items for disposal and recycling to the public works facility between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. free of charge. 

No disposal will be permitted on Sundays.

Participants must prove they are a city resident prior to disposing of any item.

Do not bring household garbage, asphalt, roofing shingles, hazardous household waste, leftover paint, flammables, brush, leaves, cement, brick or stone.

•Hazardous Household Waste including leftover paint is accepted by Drug and Laboratory Disposal Inc., 331 Broad St., Plainwell, MI 49080 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. A fee is charged for this service; it is recommended to call ahead for current pricing and to schedule a drop off at 269-685-9824.

•Seniors and disabled citizens requiring assistance can call City Hall at 673-5511 to schedule a pickup date.

 

Fall leaf pickup

Oct. 8—Nov. 30

Residents may place leaves at the streets edge for the city to pick up. Placement of leaf piles at the streets edge can only occur during this time frame. The leaf piles need to be within 3-feet of the edge of the road for the vacuums to reach.

Leaf piles cannot be placed near utility poles, guy wires, hydrants, mailboxes or other obstructions. The leaves need to be placed close to the edge of the road, but cannot block storm drains which can cause flooding.

On Monday of each week during this time frame the City will begin on the main streets and then move onto the side streets throughout the week.

•The City is not picking up brush during the Fall Leaf pickup. Leaf piles with brush mixed in will not be picked up. A drop off site for brush is at the Department of Public Works, 691 Airway Drive.

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65 years ago: The Year of the Big Stink in Allegan (Part I)

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Sixty-five years ago, this was the picture of the week in the Oct. 5, 1953, edition of Life Magazine, titled “Four Acres of Carp Corpses on the Kalamazoo.”
By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

This is Part 1 of a two-part series marking the 65-year anniversary of a gruesome chapter in Allegan’s history.

 

Life Magazine’s “Picture of the Week” for Oct. 5, 1953, was titled “Four Acres of Carp Corpses on the Kalamazoo,” and featured a fish kill that clogged Dumont Creek.

Dubbed “The Year of the Big Stink” by The Allegan Gazette, it led not only to mills complying with anti-pollution measures but Plainwell and Otsego both approving bond issues for municipal sewage disposal plants.

According to Life Magazine, “The carp, a fish that is extraordinarily tenacious of life, was losing a battle for survival in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River valley. Their corpses gorged the valley’s streams, as in Dumont Creek where 4 acres of carp choked the waters in glistening, smelly death.

“The carp’s plight was caused chiefly by the paper mills along the river. Stepping up production, they were increasing the organic waste dumped into the river, squeezing off the carp’s oxygen.

“Fighting for oxygen, the carp made their way into the small streams which empty in the river. At the stream mouths, the fish were soon packed so solid they were literally crawling over each other to get inside.

“Once into the stream the carp were momentarily restored by the cool, pure waters. But as more and more fish fought their way in, they were pushed farther upstream. Then abruptly the stream came to an end. Ahead lay the death-giving land. Behind lay thousands of other carp cutting off the way back.

“Jammed together, weakened by their rugged journey, the carp died, but of an entirely new cause—starvation, for the tiny streams could not feed them.

“Back down the Kalamazoo Valley the aroused citizens sought injunction to halt the paper mills’ pollution of the river.”

The Life Magazine photo was taken by Allegan resident Joe Armstrong and first appeared in the Sept. 17, 1953, edition of The Allegan Gazette.

Part 2 next week: Otsego mayor finds a partial solution to getting rid of the mill waste by using it as road binder on city streets.

 

 

For the full story, pick up a copy of the Sept. 27, 2018, issue of The Allegan County News or subscribe to the e-edition.

Man who burned shed in revenge pleads no contest

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By: 
Daniel Pepper, Staff Writer

An Illinois man entered a plead to charges of arson and aggravated stalking in a pair of incidents in summer 2016 directed at a former girlfriend’s new boyfriend.

Rolf Dieter Schmidt, 68, of Seneca, Ill., was in Allegan County Circuit Court Monday, Sept. 24, and entered a no contest plea to the pair of felony charges.

Judge Roberts S. Kengis ruled there was enough evidence contained in a police report to show Schmidt had committed the crimes.

“There is sufficient evidence to accept the no contest pleas,” Kengis said.

The no contest plea was sought by Schmidt for the purpose of avoiding civil liability, according to his lawyer Bradley Johnson, and Kengis agreed to allow it.

The fire was set Memorial Day weekend in 2016 on Lakeshore Drive in Saugatuck Township.

Reading from the police report agreed upon by Schmidt’s lawyer and Allegan County prosecutors, Kengis said the report detailed how a barn near the home the victim was renting was set on fire.

“Mr. Schmidt was seen in the area prior to the fire starting,” Kengis said. “He had a prior relationship with the victim’s current girlfriend.”

The former girlfriend also told police she’d had problems with Schmidt, Kengis read from the report.

“Mr. Schmidt’s phone was tested by the Michigan State Police and was shown to be in the area at the time of the fire...

“A witness also picked him out of a lineup as the person they’d seen.”

A report from the Michigan State Police fire marshall stated the fire was intentionally set, Kengis said.

Around the same time the victim had also come to the home he was staying at to find the words “We will get you” with his initials in black spray paint on the driveway, the judge said the report stated.

A phone call placed to the victim’s employer in Texas had also claimed to be from the Elmhurst Police Department and told them the victim was a drug dealer.

“(the former girlfriend) said she’d heard the voicemail message and that it was Mr. Schmidt,” Kengis said. “Mr. Schmidt also admitted calling (the victim’s) employer.”

All that amounted to aggravated stalking, Kengis ruled, because the victim felt threatened and “...a reasonable person would feel that way.”

As part of a plea agreement with Allegan County prosecutors, they agree to drop the rest of the charges against Schmidt in return for the no contest plea to arson of a building and aggravated stalking. Another arson charge, a second count of aggravated stalking and a count of malicious destruction of property $1,000 to $20,000 will be dropped when Schmidt is sentenced.

Kengis scheduled a sentencing hearing for Monday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m.

Schmidt was charged in one case with one count of second degree arson and one count of malicious destruction of property $1,000 to $20,000. In the second case, he was charged with one count of third degree arson and two counts of aggravated stalking.

Schmidt was arrested in November 2017 and charged with the crimes after being brought to Michigan from Illinois. He remains free on bond.

The fire Schmidt admitted to happened May 27, 2016 and quickly extinguished by Saugatuck Township Fire District firefighters and those from adjoining communities arriving under mutual aid.

While fighting that fire, one of the responders stepped on a white tail fawn, hiding near some woods, which hadn’t fled from all the activity of fire and firefighters, The Commercial Record reported at the time.

The other fire was reported Sunday, May 30, 2016, at a home almost next door to the barn where a person was seen throwing accelerant onto on to the home. The homeowner was able to slow the fire before firefighters arrived.

Schmidt waived his right to disqualify Kengis from hearing the case because he was county prosecutor when the case was authorized.

Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

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Restaurant concept at former Montage needs spaces

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By: 
Virginia Ransbottom, Staff Writer

JML Real Estate, a company owned by Jim and Michelle Liggett of Allegan Event, are proposing to purchase the six parking spaces abutting the former Montage Market at 137 Brady St. The building was recently purchased by JML.

A public hearing for the purchase has been set for Monday, Oct. 22, during the regular council meeting.

A conceptual drawing for the building and parking spaces was presented during the Allegan City Council’s pre-session meeting on Monday, Sept. 24. Although it was public information, the newspaper was denied a request for a copy of the drawing because the city said JML requested the drawings not be published at this time.

It showed plans for the restaurant “Fired Up” and the use of the parking area side lot for outdoor seating and a wraparound deck.

The spaces are on a downhill slope next to the building. The sidewalk and driveway that also slopes down to the riverfront next to Mahan Park would remain public.

When asked about a timeframe, JML project manager Scott Muller said the project could take anywhere between one to five years, depending on the processes.

“It could be one to two years if we get approvals from the city, which would get the ball rolling faster,” he said.

Council member Nancy Ingalsbee asked that the spaces remain public until any construction occurs if approved.

Council members also approved a lease for the city to make payments to the building authority for the new city hall, improvements to the Regent Theatre and Griswold Auditorium and new riverfront storage and public restrooms.

A proposal is being made for JML Real Estate with buildings at 217 and 213 Hubbard streets to become a leasehold interest for the site of new restroom facilities, a storage area and greenroom. The public restrooms would be located on city property behind the buildings along the riverfront. Leased space would be the storage area and greenroom on the lower level of the buildings, which also have the potential for concessions.

The restrooms/storage/ greenroom project will be paid for through building authority bonds from First Internet Bank and total $2 million to include new city hall renovations and Regent and Griswold building renovations.

City manager Joel Dye and council member Delora Andrus were absent from the meeting. Finance director Tracy Stull said a formal agreement with JML Real Estate has many moving parts and is still being conceptualized.

JML has also purchased 145 Brady Street for Sky Trail offices and 245 Hubbard Street—buildings that also border the riverfront.

Jim Liggett who was present at the meeting said he’s not sure what he’s going to do with all the buildings he’s purchased along the riverfront yet and plans keep changing.

“I want to make Allegan a wonderful place to sit outside along the riverfront and that’s what people want too,” he said. “We want to hit a homerun with the first building (137 Brady Street) before moving on to the next and we’re very excited about it.”

As for the public restrooms being located behind his buildings, he said the current public restrooms on Brady Street at the Welcome Center are a long way for children at the new splash pad to walk to.

“It’ll be a clean place to go and change,” he said of the new restrooms. 

Council member Charles Tripp said there were a lot of exciting things happening downtown with several buildings being gutted for regrowth, the splashpad and giant fireplace under construction and the library expansion project.

Mayor pro-tem Rachel McKenzie said Schaendorf’s brewery, restaurant and meat market were also on the verge of opening in the former Red Tail restaurant and Little Shop of Hoarders building on Water Street.

In other business, finance director Stull announced a tentative contract had been reached in negotiations with the Service Employees International Union.  The contract involves bringing wastewater treatment plant employees up to the same wages as the DPW. Previously, WWTP employees were non-union. Other adjustments include realigning titles by doing away with group leader and senior group leader and the addition of an assistant DPW director. Increases ranged from 4.7 percent and lower, with the group leader positions taking a decrease.

Virginia Ransbottom can be contacted at vransbottom@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.

 

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Allegan SOS branch relocates for remodel

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The Secretary of State branch at 430 Western Ave., shown above, will reopen in early November following renovations. (Photo courtesy Google Streetview)

The Secretary of State office in Allegan closed Sept. 24 and has temporarily relocated as part of a renovation and expansion project.

The temporary location at 277 North St., a building owned by Allegan County and previously housed Community Mental Health, is a temporary lease arrangement

The office at 430 Western Ave. is expected to resume service in early November.

When it does, customers and staff will benefit from 70 percent more lobby space, the addition of customer service stations and public restrooms. Other renovations include an expanded customer entrance, new data lines to speed transactions, electrical updates, new carpeting and new wall covering.

The remodeled office will also offer 24/7 access to a Self-Service Station, which provides a convenient option for customers renewing their license plate tabs.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said, “This project is part of our commitment to continuously improving our service and the experience of customers who visit an office. Area residents now can hop online to do many transactions with us at ExpressSOS.com, but when they do visit our Allegan branch, we want them to have the best experience possible.”

ExpressSOS.com allows customers to renew their tabs and driver’s licenses, get a duplicate registration or title, change their address and register to be an organ donor. And with its “Print ’N Go” feature, customers can renew their driver’s licenses and tabs for their vehicles, motorcycles or boats, print their receipt and drive legally until they get their card or sticker in the mail. On their eighth year, customers do need to visit an office to get a new driver’s license so they can pass a vision test and get an updated photo.

Those looking for other, alternative Secretary of State offices can visit one of these:

• Van Buren County PLUS, 32849 Red Arrow Highway, Paw Paw

• Ottawa County PLUS, 587 E. 8th St., Suite 90, Holland

• Kalamazoo County PLUS, 3298 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo

Individuals can now make an appointment or hold their spot in line at Secretary of State MI-TIME Line participating offices by using their phone or the Web.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

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