Casco Township Hall renovation celebrates Senior Services site

A renovation project at the Casco Township Hall was recently completed and celebrated with an open house, drawing a crowd of more than 80 people on Monday April 20 at 5:00 pm. The former fire station garage at the Hall, located at 7104 107th Avenue, has been transformed into a large, open meeting area with new ADA accessible restrooms and doors, storage, a large tv screen for senior programs and board meetings, tables and chairs, a carpeted floor and offices. Images of the building prior to the renovation rotated on the large screen to give those in attendance a look at the transformation.

The crew from Hall Construction launches the renovation on September 16, 2025

Funded in part by a $200,000 state appropriation, the renovation makes the room safe and accessible for senior programs currently conducted by Senior Services of Van Buren County through a voted .5 senior millage.

Completed on time, the renovated space no longer looks like a garage

Representative Joey Andrews (D-38) gave brief remarks at the event. Recalling his own upbringing as the son of parents who owned an oil change business, Rep. Andrews told an anecdote about visiting the former Casco fire station and immediately identifying the smell--engine oil-- that emanated from the former garage. He advocated for funding to spur the renovation so the site can be safely used for senior exercise and recreational activities. "It's always good to have community centers where everyone can come together," he said.

The project was not without hiccups. After construction was well underway, there was an effort led by Speaker of the Michigan House Matt Hall to "claw back the money," as Andrews put it, and Andrews needed to push his colleagues "to put this project back on the list." Funds had already been spent on the renovation, and the $200,000 appropriation covered 2/5 of the final project cost. The full funding promised by the state in the summer of 2025 did come through to the Township to offset the project cost which ended up just over $500,000. Allison Fuhrman, Legislative Director for Representative Andrews, worked with Casco Township during that time to ensure the funds would be delivered as promised.

SSVBC Executive Diane Rigozzi addresses the crowd

Diane Rigozzi, Executive Director of Senior Services of Van Buren County (SSVBC), co-hosted the event. SSVBC provided appetizers prepared by the dining staff at SSVBC. Celebrating the opportunity that this site offers, she said, "Any senior served by Senior Services can attend any program at any site." She also thanked the Casco Senior Advisory Committee, comprised of Linda Teeter, Chair; and members Mary Tobin and Dian Liepe, who provided input on the proposed building design and use. She thanked Julie Cowie, who is the Casco Township representative to the board of SSVBC, and Allan Overhiser, Casco Township Supervisor, for their collaboration and leadership.

Currently, the Casco site offers weekly cardio drumming, cards, chair yoga, tai chi, and an alternating schedule of bingo (three times a month) and crafts (once a month). Casco Township seniors are active at both the Casco site, where programs take place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays; and the main SSVBC site in the former Village Market building (08337 M-140, South Haven, MI 49090), where programs occur Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.

Casco Township Supervisor Allan Overhiser also spoke, describing the historical transformations of the room. Initially built as a fire station for the Township in 1985, it became a South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) station in the mid-1990s. In 2010, SHAES constructed a new standalone station on 66th just north of 109th and the garage was no longer used for fire trucks.

"This is a multi-purpose area," Overhiser explained, "as the seniors meet during the day and the Board meetings are held in the evening." Overhiser thanked Rep. Andrews for his advocacy in securing funding for the renovation. "This is much more functional," he said, also expressing appreciation to taxpayers for project funding.

left to right: Janet DeWitte, Rachel Brenner, Libby Catt, Jan Vander Ploeg, Lisa Ross-Miller, and (back to camera) Melissa Catt enjoy a corner of the senior activity center

Pressures to keep election equipment set up for 11 days of early voting also spurred the Township to pursue the renovation. The Clerk and Deputy Clerk have new offices in the space to be closer to the area where elections will be held and where election equipment is stored. The Building Inspector will take over the former Clerk/Deputy Clerk office.

The building entrance will shift to the new entry doors on the south side of the Township Hall after a receptionist is hired to greet the public and orient them to the proper office in the building. Clerk Rachel Ridley is leading the hiring process and adding wayfinding signs to help residents navigate the new building layout.

Note: Julie Cowie is the Casco Township representative to the board of SSVBC