Meeting Minutes: New Mexican restaurant coming to Georgetown

The Georgetown Township Board of Trustees met on Nov. 10 to discuss and vote on several issues, including a liquor license for a new Mexican restaurant, a water and sewer rate policy update, and new street lights for Kreekfield Drive.

Trustee John Schwalm was absent.

The issue

Isaias Manriquez-Vargas is opening a Mexican Bar and Grill on the former site of Dickies BBQ at the corner of Cottonwood Drive and Baldwin Street. He has applied for a liquor license, which must be approved by the township board.

What we know

Vargas and his wife moved to the area six years ago. He was a partner in Taco Loco Taqueria in Grandville, which closed in 2022. Now, his family is planning to open new restaurant Taco Veloz, which will serve alcohol along with food.

Before the township board discussed the issue, a member of the public rose and spoke in favor of approving the proposal.

Township Supervisor Jim Wierenga reminded meeting attendees that selling meals alongside alcohol was a general requirement in the township.

"In other words, we're not looking for bars," Wierenga said. "We're looking for restaurants that happen to have bars or alcoholic beverages available there."

Trustee Gary Veldink asked if the proprietor of the business had a building permit for the work being done, but Vargas said that all they had done so far was paint, and that the floor plan would not be changing. When asked why they were waiting to open until after they received approval for the liquor license, Vargas said he intended to invest more money into the business if the license was approved. The board voted in favor of issuing the license.

What happens next

Vargas told the board that if everything goes well, he hopes to open the doors of his new restaurant in about a month.

The issue

A policy update recommended by the finance committee will accomplish three things:

• Ensure that utility rate increases aren't retroactive, making changes effective on the next billing date that falls at least 100 days after an amendment is passed.
• Require that a notice be sent to all utility customers within 30 days of a change in water and sewer rates. 
• Switch any customers currently receiving monthly billing statements to the quarterly billing schedule.

What we know

The first two items are direct responses to the public outcry following this year's water and sewer rate increases. Township Superintendent Justin Stadt said the third item was a matter of efficiency. The present members of the township board voted unanimously to make the policy change.

What happens next

The new policy is effective immediately.

The issue

A resolution to authorize Consumers Energy to install two LED street lights on Kreekfield Drive where it meets Port Sheldon Street, under the terms of a contract signed in 2018.

What we know

Trustee Veldink recused himself from this vote, saying he owned property concerned in the decision. Trustee Kevin Kelly, who serves on the utilities committee, said the installation was to support the safety, aesthetics, and uniformity of the area. All those present voted in favor.

What happens next

Consumers Energy will install two LED post-top street lights on the west side of the portion of Kreekfield Drive that connects to Port Sheldon Street.

The issue

A resolution to contract with Dean's Excavating for up to $111,000 for sewer repair along Port Sheldon Street, where several leaks have developed in a pipe that is nearly 50 years old.

What we know

Georgetown Township Department of Public Works Director Joel Hananburg showed the board a video taken from inside the sewer pipe that showed two areas that he said needed to be dug up to be repaired.

"As you can see, we have water infiltration," he said.

The sewer line is about 20 feet underground, below the water table, so water leaks into the pipes. While Hananburg said he was confident several other areas could be repaired with sliplining, the two leaks should be excavated.

He recommended getting them repaired as soon as possible after school is out in the summer, as it would be difficult to do the work in proximity to Bursley Elementary School and school traffic.

After a member of the public criticized the board for not having multiple bids for the project, Trustee Veldink defended the process.

"You can, but they're probably gonna add another $50-60 grand to make sure they're gonna make money on it," he said.

He also said having Dean's Excavating have a crew in the area for another project would save on insurance costs. The board unanimously approved the proposal.

What happens next

The township hopes Dean's Excavating can start the project in June 2026.

— Joshua Vissers covers communities in eastern Ottawa County. Contact him at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.