The Big Lake Twp. meeting of Sept. 9 rolled the annual meeting and the regular meeting into one.

Roads

The township road fund has been increasing for the last few years as roads near the end of their life cycle. One resident inquired as to why the road fund needed to increase so much each year when the roads didn’t seem too bad, especially compared to city roads. The board replied that seeing a lack of change in the roads is a good thing- that means the maintenance being done to them is helping to extend the life of the pavement. Six miles of road were overlaid last year alone. However, serious work will need to be done to the roads in the near future.

Work on Co. Rd. 79 will occur in the near future. A case of COVID-19 among the crew contracted to do the work has slowed the process down a bit, but things are getting back on track.

Krueger’s Lending Library

Karl Krueger approached the board after receiving a letter stating that his Little Lending Library needed to be moved back, away from the right-of-way. A Little Lending Library is a box on a pole which homeowners can put in their front yard, allowing neighbors to take and deposit books to be read by the rest of the community.

Krueger says that he would hate to move it, as it is cemented into the ground, and it was a gift that his daughter created. He also stated that he wanted the Library to be near the road so his neighbors would be able to see it easily and be encouraged to access the books inside.

Krueger also shared some pictures with the board showing other areas in his neighborhood where residents had permanent decoration in the right of way. He said that if the board was going to ask him to take down his lending library, he should ask neighbors to remove these items from their yards as well.

The board assured Krueger that he was not the only person to receive a letter on this matter, and other township residents are asked every year to move items back from the road. The statute that Krueger is violating is a state statute as well, so there is not much the board can do. They stated that if the Lending Library is left up and it happens to cause damage to township equipment, such as a snow plow, Krueger would be liable to pay for the damages. Still, they wished to let him know that he made a good case for his Little Lending Library.

The Board Welcomes Scott Sanford

The board appointed Scott Sanford to fill the township’s open seat. The board passed a motion authorizing Sanford’s contract, allowing him to receive payment for the work that he does for the township.

Next Meeting

The next annual meeting will be held Tues. March 9 at 6 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.