By Phyllis Rose
The Schoolcraft Historical Society now has an additional $15,000 to use for improvements on the Underground Railroad Museum thanks to a unanimous vote by the Schoolcraft Township Board at its July 9 meeting.
Speaking before the vote, Barry Visel, vice-president of the Historical Society, said that interest in the museum is higher than it’s ever been.
However, it’s been 40 years since major improvements have been done on the museum, he said. Initial fundraising monies were used to repair the foundation, which has been completed, and to install new windows which will be done in August.
Other improvements that need to be done include sealing the roof and replacing the picket fence and ramp. The total cost for improvements is expected to be about $95,500.
The initial bid for replacing the roof was about $35,000, said Visel, but the society will be checking with other contractors for additional prices.
Speaking in favor of the donation to the museum, Trustee Jenny Sportel, a fifth-grade teacher in the Schoolcraft Schools, said she has toured the museum with her students and that the experience is very informative.
The museum was originally the home of Dr. Nathan Thomas and used as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
In other discussions, the Board heard an update on the U Avenue road project from Dave Pawloski, vice chairperson of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County. The trees have been removed in the first stage of the two-year project. The road will be pulverized, rehabilitated with a structural overlay, and shoulders widened, all at a cost of $1,050,000.
Pawloski noted that the commission is a bit behind schedule on the project.
Due to all the trees down in the county because of the recent storms, he said it might take a year to get all the trees cleaned up. The road commission is also busy chip sealing on some roads
He encouraged residents to report any road issues such as potholes to the commission’s website, kalamazoocountyroads.com.
The Board also discussed a $10,000 invoice from the W.E. Upjohn Institute for employment research for updating the Township’s master plan.
Barry Visel, chairman of the Planning Commission, said that the process of updating the plan was not smooth and was beset with various problems including spelling errors and maps being mislabeled.
“But we got the job done,” he said. “Did we get our money’s worth? I don’t know.”
Visel said that perhaps they should take their concerns to the firm and make sure everything is done before paying them, possibly approaching them with a list of grievances.
Two major issues discussed during “member time” were the cemeteries and the need for a police presence.
Clerk Virginia Mongrieg said she is getting calls from people outside the township who want to purchase a burial plot because the township’s rates are cheaper than other places. But that takes away spaces that could be used by township residents. She suggested that maybe there should be a change to the burial permit process.
The other cemetery issue brought up by Supervisor Don Ulsh is that people are putting items on the graves which not only look unsightly but also make it hard to mow.
Mongrieg noted that decorations are removed from the graves twice a year. Those who purchase a gravesite are given a list of rules to be followed. But people don’t follow the rules.
Trustee Sportel suggested listing the rules on signs at each of the cemetery entrances. She also noted a problem when someone buys a gravesite for future use and then years later when the plot is needed, the rules have changed but the family doesn’t know that.
“Let’s do some investigation on cemetery ordinances or rules,” she said.
Regarding police presence in the Township, Supervisor Ulsh raised the issue during the Board’s June meeting, noting that they had three options: hiring a full-time deputy, hiring a deputy for specific patrol hours, or sharing with another township. Currently, Michigan State Police cover accidents.
After Ulsh brought up the issue again at the July meeting, Trustee Tamra Stafford reported on research she had done on the costs of policing as reported from area villages and townships.
“I don’t see it,” she said. “It’s a lot of money. What are we going to get?”
Ulsh noted that the Township has the money with over $1 million in the bank.
No decision was made. Sportel said the Township should keep discussing the issue.
On another topic, Treasurer Teresa Scott suggested looking into getting new legal counsel for the Township, since the current firm is not responding promptly to requests for information. She suggested putting out a request for proposal to get new legal counsel. No action was taken.
