The Lowell Charter Township Board met for exactly an hour on Tuesday, Feb. 19, for their regular monthly meeting. The evening’s agenda included reports, a public hearing and five pieces of new business, but most items required little discussion.
Taking up the most time was a recap of Planning Commission activity related to renewable energy farms. The commission’s chair, Dave Simmonds, was on-hand to present an overview of the commission’s efforts to turn the township’s current ordinance into one that will be considered “workable” by state standards.
After that, the board quickly ran through four resolutions. The first allowed alcohol in township parks as part of township-sponsored events. The other three set annual salaries for the township supervisor, clerk and treasurer. All resolutions passed unanimously.
The board also voted unanimously to update the township’s vacation and sick time policy to comply with a state law that was set to go into effect last Friday. The law was amended at the last minute so it would seem likely that the township board will revisit this issue at their next meeting.
Budget Approved for 2025-26
There was a public hearing on the township budget for 2025-26, but no residents spoke during it. Later in the meeting, board members unanimously approved both the general and fire fund budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
“My only concern is that you might need to take some out of (the general budget) for the fire budget,” said Board Member Carlton Blough, who is the board’s representative on the Lowell Area Fire and Emergency Services Authority Board.
He noted that the fire department expects to add an administrative worker later this year at a cost of $40,000. There is no funding left from the township’s fire and emergency services millage this year to cover the cost, which will be shared by Lowell Township, Vergennes Township and the City of Lowell.
The 2025-26 general fund budget includes appropriations for $1.063 million. The majority of the budget falls into three categories:
- Highway, Streets (Not Act 51): $250,000
- General Administration: $221,300
- Township Parks: $183,000
The fire budget is separate and set at $351,400 for 2025-26. Of that, $292,400 is for service through the Lowell Area Fire Department, and $59,000 is for service through the Bowne Fire Department, which covers the southern section of the township.
Road Projects Reviewed
The Lowell Township Board also reviewed a proposal from the Kent County Road Commission for 2025-26 road work. That proposal calls for the following work, with the price after each being the township’s share of the cost.
- Partial depth mill and fill of eight streets in the Barnsley Plat (Whispering Hills neighborhood): $156,000
- Chip seal Kissing Rock from Grand River until the pavement ends: $40,000
- Minor construction of Montcalm from Grand River to Oberly: $44,000
- Brine gravel roads: $10,000
“Then, we’ll have no more roads that are in really bad shape,” said Supervisor Jerry Hale.
However, Hale also mentioned that the township only received $25,000 of an expected $50,000 grant from the Lowell Community Fund to cover the cost of bolt tightening on the Riverfront Park bridge. Treasurer Ronda Benedict mentioned that the township also wanted to spend $208,000 to treat gypsy moths. Plus, there is the additional cost of an administrative worker for the fire department.
With these extra expenses, board members weren’t sure if it was prudent to complete all the proposed 2025-26 road projects. By consensus, they agreed to table the road projects for now. Hale will speak with the Kent County Road Commission to seek their opinion on which of the projects could wait another year.
The meeting adjourned at 8pm. The next regular meeting of the Lowell Charter Township Board will be on Monday, March 17, at 7pm in the Lowell Township Hall.
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