At the Haven Township meeting Monday night, Supervisor Mark Knowles informed the board the Elk River Estates road improvement bid had been published, and bids received would be opened at the April meeting. Jon Bogart from Bogart, Pederson & Associates will review the bids and the board will then hold a special meeting to make a decision on the project.

 

Knowles said he had met with Bogart to discuss his estimate for the project, and was told Bogart felt the township should leave the estimate as is versus paring it down. The board was concerned the proposal was higher than others they had received due to extra work included on it.

 

Knowles explained the extensive work needed on the road was a direct result of truck traffic, and it was a strong argument for looking into having a single sanitary provider for the township. 

 

“We can’t keep having garbage trucks pounding through our neighborhoods and still maintain our roads,” he said. “We have extra work there [Elk River Estates] due to the condition of the road.”

 

Resident Roger Plombon expressed disapproval of the township taking away the right of individuals to choose their own service. 

 

“We’re only providing an alternative,” said Knowles. “If we can do something about it we’re going to present it to the township to decide. You can save money on your monthly garbage bill but you’re paying dearly for it. The issue I have is they’re the one vehicle that can be overweight and often are, and it’s costing us a lot of money.”

 

After an inquiry from a Sherwood West resident, Knowles explained once the board knows what the Elk River Estates project is going to cost they should be able to get numbers and a schedule in place for Sherwood West, which will be their next major project.

 

Attorney David Meyers presented the board with a 1906 road order showing existing right of way along 52nd Street SE; the township needs to acquire right of way for the upcoming 32nd and 52nd Street railroad-crossing project.

 

He asked the board why the township began maintaining 50th Ave. as it’s a private road; none of the board members had an answer. He and Knowles will look into the issue.

 

Knowles informed the board Driveway Services LLC had been cutting trees and cleaning up right of way in Deer Haven due to not having a lot of snow to plow, and said he couldn’t be happier with the work Jeff Rhodes had been doing considering it was his company’s first season doing snow removal for the township.

 

A motion passed approving and accepting the 2018 budget for $401,000. 

 

Knowles said he felt the township should let residents know they would need to look at a levy in three years. He asked to be provided information on where Haven Township was at compared to other townships in the area before the April meeting.

 

The sheriff reported 70 incidents for February, including 30 traffic, three fraud complaints, four motor vehicle accidents and one DUI.

 

The next Haven Township meeting will be April 17 at 7 p.m.