Monday, January 13, 2025
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
Entering his fourth year leading the robotics program at Belding High School, Alex Colville has watched with excitement and admiration as his students have helped grow the program each year.
From only three students in 2021 making up the “Scrap Cats” robotics team to around 25 students participating today, the robotics teacher and head coach said he sees the program turning a significant corner.
Fire Chief Tim Lubitz reported an update on the city hall/police station construction project to the Belding City Council on Tuesday evening.
Lubitz said a planning group was formed to spearhead the project, all members have toured the site and been provided with previous plans, contracts and department head ideas.
More than 50 people filled Pierson Township Hall on Thursday evening for a public hearing about plans to remove and process sand and gravel from land near Tri County Area Schools before turning that property into a housing development.
The subject of the public hearing was first to consider a request from Tri-County Gravel LLC for a special land use for the removal and processing of sand, gravel and other mineral resources in the R-1 single family residential district involving nearly 65 acres at 21898 W. Kendaville Road, west of the U.S. 131 Expressway.
The Belding City Council is fully populated with five members again after a special meeting Thursday when Linda Curtis and Nikolai Zerkle were selected to serve the terms vacated by the sudden resignations of Bruce Meyers and Jorel Davis.
Curtis’ term on the council will expire in November 2026, while Zerkle’s term will expire in November 2028.
The regular publication of meeting minutes is one of the best ways to help residents stay informed about their local township government.
A state law in Michigan (MCL 41.72) requires townships with a certain amount of taxable value to publish a synopsis of meeting proceedings in a newspaper of general circulation in the township not more than 21 days after each meeting. That taxable value was most recently adjusted to $114 million for 2025 based on the current Consumer Price Index, according to the Michigan Townships Association.
Consequential legislation affecting both employers and employees regarding paid sick leave and minimum wage is set to take effect in a few weeks.
On Feb. 21, Michigan’s Paid Medical Leave Act will be replaced by the Earned Sick Time Act, requiring all employees in the state to accrue sick time.
On the same date, the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act will also take effect, raising the state’s minimum wage from $10.56 to $12.48 an hour. Wages for tipped workers will increase from $4.01 to $5.99 an hour.
Last year was a tumultuous one for Belvidere Township. Judy Spring was appointed clerk in March, the township’s fourth clerk in a year and a half. Leigh Murray was appointed supervisor in May after Armon Withey resigned due to health issues. Yolanda Lane, who resigned as clerk in February, proceeded to run against Treasurer Forrest Herzog in the August primary election. She lost, but was then appointed Spring’s deputy clerk.
The city’s Planning Commission discussed zoning regulations relating to nonconforming lots, structures and uses during their first meeting of the year on Wednesday. Assistant City Manager Jonathan Bowman told the Planning Commission that chapter 1278 of the city’s zoning code was designed to bring nonconforming parcels into compliance over time.
For a third consecutive year, Jeff Scoby will continue to serve as mayor of the Danish Festival City.
During Tuesday evening’s organizational meeting, City Council members voted unanimously to reelect Scoby as mayor.
The Montcalm County Community Advancement Committee met on Wednesday for their first meeting of the new year and began figuring out the process of awarding interest from a $2 million endowment fund created by the county.