MONTAGUE — White River Township's Tuesday board meeting covered a variety of expected topics - budgets, upcoming events, reports from committees, updates to ordinances - but also brought to light a peculiar mystery regarding the township’s cemeteries.
At Mouth and Hubbard cemeteries there are medallion flag-holders placed on the graves of a number of veterans, totalling 23. In the past, the annual responsibility of populating those flags has fallen to the City of Montague, but recently the task was switched over to the township. After all the work of determining the amount of flags, price, and a list of veterans, township clerk Julie Goericke was surprised to hear that new medallions and fresh flags were already present at veterans' graves.
April is unusually early for the flags to be placed, as the City of Montague traditionally did so the weekend before Memorial Day. Even if the city had reconsidered the transferring of flag responsibility to the township, there would still be no reason to inform the township where to procure the flags. So if the township didn’t place the veterans’ flags and the city didn’t, either, who did? If there is an unknown, flag-placing Good Samaritan out there, the township board would love to know and offer their thanks.
As for other township business, National Grid Renewables has postponed their Lakeside Solar open house meeting, originally scheduled for April 17. While the board was adequately informed about the cancellation, it received no clarification on why the meeting was cancelled and when residents may expect a meeting to take place, though supervisor Ron Bailey did indicate he would continue to inquire for further information.
Still on the calendar is the May 6 election. In preparation for the election, the township will conduct tests to ensure the ballot machines are in working order, with plenty of time for adjustments and repairs if such are necessary. A sample of the ballot has been made available to view in the window of the township hall for any residents interested in knowing the ballot ahead of time. The only item on the ballot for the township is a millage proposal which would fund expansions and renovations for the county properties belonging to the Lakeshore Museum Center, such as the Muskegon Museum of History & Science.
One decision made by the board Tuesday pertained to the licensing of Short Term Rentals (or STRs). The board was originally considering offering a STR license in three-year terms with a fee of $600 - $200 per year. Following feedback from STR property owners, the board amended the ordinance to offer one-year license terms for a $150 fee, which the board approved during the meeting.
The township again opted out of a brining treatment for area roads, a service offered by the Muskegon County Road Commission. The board has cited environmental concerns, as well as the $7,509.68 cost, for choosing not to pursue the service in past years.
Also of interest for township residents, particularly those who do not live full-time in the area, starting May 20, tax payments and permit fees for the township can be made online. When this is available, residents will be able to find the payment link on the website. Likewise, online payment information will be noted on tax bills following the go-live date.
The cemeteries remained a topical subject for the meeting. Every year, local Boy Scout troops volunteer a “spring cleaning” service to Mouth Cemetery. As the donation amount is factored into the cemetery budget, there was no need for the township to approve further expenses. However, there was a discussion acknowledging a damaged area of fencing at the cemetery. Bailey said he would have the cost of repair evaluated.
During public comment, one resident suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that perhaps the township could get into contact with one of the various paranormal societies that have investigated Mouth Cemetery (infamous for its purported hauntings) and see what insight they might have on the appearance of veterans' flags. If paranormal forces are at work caretaking area cemeteries, it would be wise to host the spring cleanup and repair the fences soon, lest further terrifying presents be left at gravesites, such as seasonal wreaths.
