The Newton Township Board, which represents fewer than 400 township residents, meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Township Hall in Gould City. (Seated, from left): Supervisor Bob Brotherton and Clerk Alice Zdebski; (standing) Treasurer Marilyn Strickland, Trustee Frank Kuehnl, and Trustee Rick Frisch.

In a four-hour meeting stretching past 11 p.m., the Newton Township board made the difficult decision to consider placing a one mill, four-year road millage request on the November ballot, pending Mackinac County Road Commission advice and input from the public. During the Wednesday, April 13, meeting, the board decided to develop a plan with the help of the road commission on which roads would be repaired each year, and decided to hold public meetings to explain costs and needs to residents and to receive input as well. Trustees estimate one mill will bring in about $30,000 a year.

The township, which has 57 miles of roads, participates in the county’s matching funds program for road improvements. The township’s contribution to the fund is $10,000, and the county and road commission each contribute another $10,000, for a total of $30,000.

According to Mackinac County’s Equalization Department, only three governmental units do not have a road millage, Newton Township, Bois Blanc Township, and the City of St. Ignace.

“We don’t have the funding to do anything,” said Newton Township Supervisor Bob Brotherton, acknowledging the township’s weak budgetary situation when, last year, some certificates of deposit (CDs) were cashed to make it to the end of the year.

“This year I assume we will be in the same plight, other than we have less CDs to cash in,” said Mr. Brotherton. With that, he asked the board to consider appealing to voters for a road millage.

“Wouldn’t it serve the public better, for public safety, to upgrade all the roads to a point to where they’re passable year-around?” Mr. Brotherton asked the board. He was referring to making sure roads are passable to emergency vehicles.

He also said the road commission has a program for matching fund projects, but if Newton doesn’t have the matching funds, then they lose the whole project.

The board directed Clerk Alice Zdebski to contact County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn and the Michigan Townships Association to get the issue on the November ballot.

Trustees also decided not to complete a portion of Norton Road until they have a road plan and a millage in place. Part of the road is in Portage Township and part of it is in Newton Township. The Portage Township board asked for funds to finish Norton Road and has completed its portion of the project. Cost for Newton Township to finish its section would be around $3,400.

In addition to road concerns, the board faced a full agenda that included receiving a request to support the Mackinac Straits Hospital operating millage and hearing the first reading of the annual budget. The board talked about setting up a township softball team, established a cleanup day, and approved costs for CPR training for all fire department personnel.

Newton Township board took no action on a request from the Mackinac Straits Hospital to support the hospital’s 1.2 operating millage that will be on the May 3 ballot. Mr. Brotherton said that the board represents the people of the township and since the residents have never voted in favor of the millage, it would be difficult for the board to endorse it.

On a $100,000 house, the millage would cost a resident approximately $5 a month, said Richard Smith, 10 year hospital board member from Epoufette. Mr. Smith, along with former Newton Township Supervisor Don McArthur, who also is a hospital board member, made the request for township support.

Hospital representatives told the 11 people in the audience, along with the board, they realized Mackinac County has unique problems owing to its 135-mile length. Mr. Smith said he understood Newton Township residents sought medical care in Manistique, 30 miles away, and in Newberry, 35 miles away. He wanted residents to know the hospital has established a satellite clinic in Naubinway that is closer than the Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace, which is about 60 miles east of the township hall.

The operating millage would help support the Naubinway clinic, said Mr. McArthur.

Board member Rick Frisch said he never looked very favorably on the millage until he had to use the Naubinway Clinic. If the millage passes, he said, he hoped the clinic would continue for the long term.

Mr. Smith wanted the board and residents to know that the millage is to fund the hospital’s operating expenses, and that it has nothing to do with the new hospital being planned in St. Ignace. Mr. Smith said the hospital is the second largest employer in the county, with more than 180 employees. The largest employer is Kewadin Casino.

A first reading of the budget was part of the meeting. Township Clerk Alice Zdebski said a public budget hearing during the township’s annual meeting will be Saturday, June 25, at the township hall. No time for the hearing and meeting has been set yet. Mrs. Zdebski said Newton Township is one of the few remaining townships that holds an annual meeting.

The board agreed to pay expenses for all township fire department members to receive CPR training by Harold Reeves of Portage Township. Mr. Reeves is a certified trainer. The only charge will be for supplies and certification cards.

The board scheduled the annual cleanup day for Saturday, May 21, at the township hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until trash capacity is reached.

The board agreed to form a committee to see if enough softball players can be pulled together to challenge nearby township teams. Mr. Brotherton volunteered to contact Portage Township Supervisor Don Ferris to see if they would be interested in having a softball event.

The board next meets Wednesday, May 11, at the township hall at 7 p.m.