Housing needs continue in New Year–Availability of housing continues to be a priority and economic development need. This project at the terminus of 36th street in the Allegan portion of Holland is led by the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. The project is converting a former nature preserve to a housing neighborhood.

Allegan County Storey

January 7, 2023 - Volume 4 Number 1

Gun Lake Tribe awards $2.2 million

Representatives of 10 local governments gathered to receive $2.2 million in revenue sharing from the Gun Lake Tribe.

The Gun Lake Tribe awarded $2.2 million in semi-annual revenue sharing funds to ten local governments in late December. The funds are derived from two percent of the proceeds from slot machines at the Tribe’s Shelbyville Casino. Wayland schools and Wayland township received the largest allocation, $974.507.69 and $485,029, respectively. Allegan County was granted $419,793.42 while the Allegan Area Educational Services Agency received $185,255.49. Each of the following local governments received $17,399: Dorr, Martin, Hopkins, Leighton, and Yankee Springs townships, and the city of Wayland. The revenue sharing funds are distributed twice a year. As the tribe has independent nation status, the revenue sharing funds are meant to substitute for property tax collections for which the tribe is exempt.

Allegan soybean growers cop awards

The Michigan Soybean Association recently released its annual growing contest award results. The contest measures the bushel-per-acre yield of soybeans in five separate categories. Three of the five winners are Allegan County farmers. Jim Schaendorf, Jon Drozd, and Joe Jablonski all were the winners in their respective divisions. The winners each receive a $1,000 prize. These impressive results again emphasize the state leadership position Allegan County holds for agricultural production. Congratulations to our hard working soybean growers.

Citizens for Local Choice announce ballot drive

Repeal of the law enacted in November that shifts decision making for siting windmills and solar arrays from locally elected boards to the state’s Public Service Commissioners is the object of a new grassroots group call Citizens for Local Choice. The group’s goal is to collect enough signatures to put the repeal measure on the ballot in November. It is a daunting task as the group’s goal is to collect 550,000 registered voter signatures on petitions seeking a referendum on the new law by late May. The bi-partisan group announced its initiative this past Thursday. More information is available on the group’s website: https://www.micitizenschoice.org

Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey allegancountystorey@gmail.com 616-848-9767