By Phyllis Rose
Building demolitions, appointments to the Planning Commission, a contract with Prein&Newhof for a trailway extension, and a single waste hauler discussion were main issues on the agenda for a July 8 Schoolcraft Township Board meeting.
The Board approved bids to remove a building in Schoolcraft Cemetery for a cost of $1,200 and a garage on N. Barton Lake Road at a cost of $3,200. The demolitions will be carried out by Ace Demolition in Kalamazoo.
The Board has been dealing with a garage issue on N. Barton Lake Road for months. The owner was to have razed the property last year as reported at the April 8, 2025 board meeting, but as of that time, nothing had been done. So the Board is going forward with the demolition. Supervisor Don Ulsh said he would contact the owner and tell him what’s going to be done. The Township will pay for the demolition and the cost will be added to the owner’s winter tax bill, said Treasurer Teresa Scott.
The Board appointed Todd Batts and Robert Goertler to the Planning Commission.
It approved a contract with Prein&Newhof, a civil engineering firm, for the routing and cost estimate for Phase 1 Trailway. For a cost not to exceed $9,900, the firm will provide several services including a field review of the route, construction estimates, and a preliminary map of the proposed route.
At the Board’s June meeting, approval was given for Phase 1 for a trail from Vicksburg to Schoolcraft. At that time, the Board also contracted with Prein&Newhof to create a five-year parks and recreation plan, a requirement for the trail plan to qualify for grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Related to this is a survey the Township is conducting regarding the parks and recreation plan. Trustee Tamra Stafford thanked the South County News for printing a QR code in the July issue so residents could take the survey online. “Please look at it and vote for what you want to see in the parks,” said Stafford. The survey results will be compiled and reported to the Board, she said.
The Board also discussed the issue of having a single waste hauler in the Township, an issue which nearby entities such as the Village of Schoolcraft and Brady Township have also discussed. Supervisor Ulsh noted one of the arguments in favor is that it’s cheaper. A negative issue is that a three-year contract in such cases could force smaller waste haulers out of business or out of the area.
Dave Pawloski, chair of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, said that the Commission doesn’t have a position on the issue at this time. He did note that the single hauler relates to residential service, not commercial services which would continue.
Another lengthy discussion at the meeting was whether to allow the Little League to use the Township’s Gator utility vehicle. “The Township owns the Gator,” said Treasurer Teresa Scott. “We pay to have it fixed. Somewhere we have to draw the line.” Discussion centered around possibly allowing them to use it this year, but making some decisions about its usage before next year’s Little League season. In the end, it was decided that they could use it as long as Justin Ferrell, building and grounds maintenance technician, doesn’t need it.
During public comment time, Pawloski gave the Board an update on road projects in the Township. He also encouraged drivers to slow down when they see the orange barrels in construction zones.
Clerk Eska Brown told Pawloski that the chip seal in her neighborhood is already coming up.
“We’ve had some trouble with Mother Nature and with chemicals,” he said, telling Brown to report it to the Commission.
Also speaking during public comment time was Dayne Webb, a Schoolcraft High School senior. He thanked the Board for its help in allowing him and 15 volunteers to clean veterans’ gravestones in Schoolcraft Cemetery at Lyons Street and U.S. 131, in Schoolcraft.
Webb said that this was a project he spearheaded as a youth leader with the Kalamazoo County Republican Party. The volunteers, ranging in age from 9 to senior citizens, cleaned 90 graves in two hours.
They accomplished that even though the water in the cemetery had been shut down due to some damage, he said. His grandfather brought over jugs of water to help. Afterwards, they had free pizza courtesy of Pizza Hut. He hopes to have another gravestone-cleaning event in August.
