Residents of Bloomingdale Township in Van Buren County are being invited to a meeting this weekend to learn more about a road millage that’s set to appear on the ballot on May 6.
Township Supervisor Matthew Ashbrook tells us the millage would be a renewal, although it’s not in place right now. It actually expired after voters rejected its renewal in November’s elections. However, he says the millage had been in place for a long time and is pretty important.
“It is something that we do need to be able to cover the costs,” Ashbrook said. “As everybody knows, roads are very important. We all travel on them, and they are very expensive to maintain.”
Ashbrook says the township millage combined with Van Buren County Road Commission support are what keep the roads in drivable condition. Voters may have rejected a renewal a few months ago, but he says the township board of trustees wanted to have another go at getting it renewed.
“If we aren’t able to get this, I know that there will be some tough conversations we’re going to have to have with our budgets and with where things are, because we have a lot of things we would like to do to maintain the roads.”
Anyone with questions or concerns about the road millage is invited to the meeting on Sunday at the Bloomingdale Conservation Club at 16681 41st Street. On hand will be representatives of the Van Buren County Road Commission, trustees, and Ashbrook to explain the millage and how it’s used.
The meeting is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
