The Barry County Commission’s committee of the whole has recommended replacing the Gun Lake Dam on Marsh Road in Orangeville Township. The full board will act on the recommendation at its meeting next Tuesday.
The dam was saved from collapse in May of 2015 by temporary emergency measures. A subsequent study by Land and Resource Engineering recommended a new control structure made of steel to protect public safety, properties around the lake and preserve natural resources.
The approval sets in motion the many steps involved, including approval by the Allegan County Board of Commissioners within 60 days of Barry County’s approval.
At an informational meeting held by Land and Resources Engineering for residents around the lake, all of the estimated 25 people present voted in a straw poll to replace the structure. Commissioner Vivian Conner, who represents District 6, said everyone she talked to on the subject, “just wanted to get it done.”
In other business Tuesday, the committee recommended approval of:
* the results of an unofficial survey held by WBCH and on the Barry County website, in which responders clearly wanted the former library on Court Street to be re-named the Tyden Center after early Hastings businessman Emil Tyden. Eighty two voted for Tyden, 10 voted for Andrew Mellon, 12 for the Cabinet Building and 26 supplied their own choices.
* the sheriff’s office request to continue upgrading its technology with 10 new Kustom Signals Raptor ROP-1 Dual Ka-Band speed radar detectors from low bidder Kustom Signals for $17,420. The office has 20 detectors, with 15 working. Undersheriff Matt Houchlei said deputies highly recommended the Kustom detectors and they are user friendly.
* the county's taxable value report from Timothy Vandermark, equalization director.
* the timelines for development of the 2018 budget, with specific dates for each step in the process from May to Oct. 24, 2017.
* the Office of Community Corrections 2018 grant application to the state, for a total of $100,073 for plans and services and $5,392 for a drunk driver jail reduction program. Administrator Dawn Karfonta said they asked for more funding this year to add anger management services and cognitive behavioral services to men and women separately. Karfonta said she was leaving Barry County this week to work for the State of Michigan and quipped she would then be assessing Barry County’s future requests.
