Senior crowd advocates for Casco senior millage vote

A senior crowd attends the December Casco Township Board of Trustees meeting

The Casco Township Board of Trustees conducted their monthly business meeting before a crowd of thirty residents on Monday December 15, 2025. The majority of the public was there to advocate for putting a millage on the ballot to continue the Casco Senior Program currently being operated by Senior Services of Van Buren County (SSVBC).

The advocacy began with public comment.

A resident of Scotsonia subdivision spoke about building a new house on Thornhill Rd. "My mother is 90, I myself retired on Friday, and one of the big reasons we moved here was to use Senior Services. As we get older, we get depressed. The Senior Center is our chance to get out," the woman, who gave her first name as Deborah, said.

Debbie Weaver, 7271 Pacific Ave, appealed to the board to let the issue come to a vote. "Please don't make a decision preventing an issue from being put on the ballot," she urged, complimenting the board on their governing history.

A resident from 28 Blue Star Hwy echoed many when she said, "Please let us have a voice in the Senior Center; put it on the ballot."

LeRoy Hogle, of 109th Avenue, spoke about how long he has lived in Casco Township. "I was born here in 1931. I think it's [SSVBC] a great thing; I sure would like it on the ballot."

Michael Fryer of 231 Glasgow Grove, spoke enthusiastically about SSVBC. "I exercise on the indoor track, get a cup of coffee, and I've made many friends. If it’s not on the ballot, we can’t use it [SSVBC]."

Carol Rice, 992 70th St, said, "the Senior Center affords us one good meal for the day--one hot meal."

Cheryl Overholser, 7169 103rd Avenue, said "with nearly 50% of Casco's population age 60 and above, consider the amount of people who should have access to this."

Mike Gould said he and his wife have been residents of Casco for 42 years. He said, "We do enjoy the senior center and think it should be on the ballot."

Dave Campbell of 7176 Ferndell Ave, spoke somewhat incredulously that the millage wouldn't be voted on. "This is an overwhelming turnout for putting it on the ballot."

Clerk Rachel Ridley reported receiving correspondence from residents, 4 letters in favor and one against, and phone calls, and the correspondence had been distributed to the Board members.

During the business section of the meeting, Supervisor Allan Overhiser summed up the recent history of the senior millage. The Township voted a 4-year .25 millage passed in 2022, and that expires in December. In 2024, the Township voted a second .25 mil, with a term of two years, specifically to pilot a relationship with Senior Services of Van Buren County, and that also expires in December. 

Supervisor Overhiser proposed putting a .5 mil on the ballot to continue the senior program with SSVBC.

Trustee Mary Campbell concurred. "A lot of seniors are dependent on this. Over 40% of our people are seniors." She felt the collected amount was quite reasonable for the breadth of programs and services available to Casco seniors through the SSVBC contract. Senior Services operates a primary site in South Haven at 8337 M-140 (the former site of Village Market) and also runs programs at the Casco site (the Casco Township Hall).

Trustee Dan Fleming spoke in favor of putting off the vote. He felt there were things that needed to be discussed. "Last time this came up, two years ago, (Treasurer) Kenny (Clevenger) brought up taxpayers coming in in tears, and that didn't faze anybody."

Fleming shared quotes from William Bradford, an English Pilgrim Separatist who was the governor of the Pilgrim colony, citing text from his writings that described the motivation of the Pilgrims to be 'stepping stones' for future generations. He also quoted John F. Kennedy, citing the phrase from his 1961 inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Fleming said, "Voting benefits to yourself turns both of these quotes on their head."

Fleming went on cite the participation data that has been provided to the board on a monthly basis. Based on the number of people served and the amount of money the millage raises, he felt the 220 seniors served should cost $77,000 and yet the Township millage raises much more than that. He advocated for other options that would give seniors a similar benefit--not the same benefit, but similar, he was careful to say--at a lower price.

He also addressed the push to place the millage on the ballot. He said, "This is not a democracy, it's a republic, and we have a responsibility to decide if this is the right thing to put on the ballot. Why is it the government's responsibility to provide (these programs?). People who can afford the $350 are taking it from those who voted no."

Supervisor Overhiser responded to the concept of residents paying $350 per person for an annual year of participation at SSVBC. "That rate is not available for use by Casco Township residents. It is not offered to municipalities that can join. Half a mil is the offer to join the Senior Services. That's the proposition."

Overhiser went on to say, "We have tried to have a senior program on our own since 2002, when it originally came back from South Haven. There have been some very good people who tried to do very good things, and tried to get traction. We were originally at the (Casco United Methodist) Church, then came here, built a room, and we never had more than 18-20 people. Put it on the ballot and let the people decide."

Treasurer Kenny Clevenger spoke. "I voted no on this last time," he said, acknowledging the geographic location of Casco and its proximity to the Senior Center in South Haven. "We are paying a full mill for senior services. I hear the voters, they seem very happy with it. If the voters want to approve it, I will vote yes based on what the voters are saying."

Acknowledging that he understood Dan Fleming's point, Clevenger said, "Let the voters vote."

Overhiser said, "I don’t disagree with the economics, but it’s the fact that a lot of people are within 2 miles of the facility in Van Buren County and we live a lot closer to South Haven than Allegan. We're on Lake Michigan and our taxable values are high. Our (population) numbers are low, our property value is high, so we pay a lot to SHAES, but we need a fire truck when there's a fire. I have faith in the people to figure it out. If they want something, they know what it costs." 

He reminded the crowd, "At the last election, more than half of the people voted for it."

Responding to criticism about the .5 millage versus a different funding approach such as a flat fee, Overhiser said, "It's structured as a governmental entity. It's not a private club."

Clevenger said that while he personally preferred a dollar amount instead of the half mil, he acknowledged the voter's right to vote.

Overhiser said, "We have to fund the operations and be in it for awhile so they (SSVBC) can staff up. They have to know what our intentions are in Casco. Our numbers are increasing, not decreasing."

Clerk Rachel Ridley said, "People are getting excited" and felt the momentum was building for the senior program.

Clevenger moved to place the four-year, .5 millage on the August ballot. This was supported by Mary Campbell.

In discussion, Dan Fleming said, "(It is) not a right to go on to the ballot. People can petition."

Overhiser responded that the senior millage has been on the ballot since 1994, expressing that the services are not something brand new that the Township board is creating.

Following the Monday Dec 15 vote, SSVBC thanks Casco residents for their advocacy for senior services

In a roll call vote, Overhiser, Campbell, Ridley, and Clevenger voted yes. Fleming voted no. The motion passed. The room erupted in applause.

At the end of the meeting, resident Bob Sherwood expressed appreciation during public comment. He said, "I want to thank the board for supporting and allowing the public to vote on the senior millage issue."

The .5 millage to fund senior service for Casco Township residents age 60 and older will be on the August 4, 2026 ballot.