Meeting Minutes: Spring Lake Township Board of Trustees

What is the body?

The Spring Lake Township Board of Trustees is the elected legislative body responsible for setting government policy, overseeing township operations, and managing fiscal responsibilities to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of residents.

• When: 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2026
• Where: Barber School, 102 W. Exchange St., Spring Lake
• Duration of meeting: 55 minutes
• Members present: Supervisor Jerry Rabideau, Treasurer Jim Koster,
  Trustee Cathy Pavick, Trustee Ande Scherf, Trustee Jack Schroeder and Trustee Molly Ziegler. Clerk Carolyn Boersma was absent.
• Agenda: The agenda can be found online here.

• Packet: No supporting materials for the agenda were available to the public.
• Agenda amendments: No amendments were made to the agenda.

Action items

1. Ambulance agreement:
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
2. Updated DPW agreement:
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
3. 174th Avenue sidewalk agreements: Staff has negotiated easement and license agreements necessary for the sidewalk to be located on the east side of 174th Avenue (north of Vanwagoner Road). These agreements are necessary to provide for development of the new paths that were supported by the August 2024 millage election. Once the agreements are signed, we will move ahead with bidding out this project.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
4. 2026 road work agreement: The Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) has prepared estimates for paving all of the roads in the Prospect Point (Oakwood Drive) neighborhood. The last time these roads were paved was 2000. The complete list of roads is included in the OCRC estimate. The estimate for completing the road list is $221,660. This is about $26,000 less than our 2026-27 road budget. There may be some added prep or restoration costs. The benefit of doing all of the roads on the list is that we will be able to complete the entire neighborhood.
   1. Approved unanimously.
5. Board and commission appointments: Jeff Baxter for Planning Commission and Christian Biasell for ZBA Alternate. Some discussion followed about the impending end-of-term of two different planning commissioners and whether or not they should just be reappointed. No decision was made with a commitment to place that discussion on next month's agenda.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
6. Rycenga Park courts resurfacing and fence installation: For several years, the Township Recreation Committee has discussed alternate uses for the current basketball court area to meet current recreational demands. The challenge has been to determine if the existing area and asphalt surface could be restored and transformed into a use to enhance recreational opportunity, in a cost-effective manner. The Recreation Committee has recommended changing several of the basketball courts at Rycenga Park to pickleball courts.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
7. Corridor Improvement Authority loan resolution: The Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) has selected Progressive AE for completing the M-104 Corridor Plan. The cost of the plan will be just under $50,000. The township has previously provided financing for the CIA. Staff is recommending that the general fund again provide financing to the CIA at an internal rate of 3% for a period of five years.
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.
8. Water tower lease extension:
   1. Vote: Approved unanimously.

— Submitted by Ken Willis