Summaries of General Township Business: July & August Board meetings

The public gathers before the August 18 Casco Township Board of Trustees meeting

The Casco Township Board of Trustee meets each third Monday of the month. This is a summary of presentations made and business conducted in July and August, 2025.

Casco Township resident Linda Teeter, Director of Finance and Fundraising for the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center (ACLAC), gave a presentation to the Board. The mission of ACLAC is to support Allegan County residents to represent themselves in civil cases. ACLAC, a 501c3, was formed thirteen years ago by Circuit Judge Margaret Bakker. In the period of 4/1/24 through 6/30/25, 25 Casco residents were assisted, and 3,300 people in total. ACLAC has 14 contracts with municipalities and Townships across Allegan, and these contracts total $30,000 of the $154,000 annual budget. It is one of two premiere self-help centers in Michigan, saving Michigan residents thousands of dollars in attorney costs. Patron assistants help residents navigate the court system, respond to complaints, and complete forms.

A member of the public and Casco resident spoke in support of ACLAC, which had provided service to her earlier in the day. Information about the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center had been included in the summer tax mailing.

The Casco Township Board voted to approve a $3,000 contract with ACLAC for the next year. Linda Teeter invited the board to the annual fundraiser for the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center scheduled for Tuesday September 23 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES)

Casco Calls	Fire	EMS	Total
July	26	25	51
August	12	30	42

As of 8/18/25, there have been 1,901 SHAES calls YTD (compared to 1,676 total calls in 2024). On June 23, SHAES had its busiest day ever with 16 calls including 6 calls in one 40-minute period.

SHAES is seeking 4 additional hires; two to be added in January of 2025 and two to be added in July 2026.

The 66th Street station in Casco Township is a designated assembly area if there is an issue at the Holtec/Palisades plant (because it is located beyond the 10 mile radius).

SHAES has received a $2,000 grant for carbon monoxide monitors for gear bags to sense CO2 immediately in an area. SHAES also received a $5k check from Tris4Health, a $5k check from Gridlife, and a $5k Rotary grant to fully fund battery powered extrication equipment.

Free smoke detectors and alarms are available from SHAES.

Allegan resident Mary Coburn spoke during public comment in August to introduce the Allegan Food Alliance. The Alliance seeks to know the needs and stories of residents regarding the food system as a way of shaping food policy.

The August Treasurer's report included the following fund balances:

General Fund	1,632,000 (all numbers rounded)
Road Fund	949,000
Fire Fund	177,000
Police	109,000
Parks & Recreation	301,000
Cemetery	102,000
Senior Fund	84,000
Tax collected account	977,000

Treasurer Clevenger outlined rules for poverty exemption from property taxes. There is an asset test, and a family of 1 with income under $15,650 can be exempt from property tax; a family of 4 with income under $32,150 also qualifies. See the Treasurer for an application to file for the Povery Exemption.

Residents over age 62 with 100% PRE can defer the payment of summer taxes to Feb 15 and Winter taxes to April 30. Please contact the Treasurer about this.

Allegan County Commissioner: Brad Lubbers reported that $7.2M in Federal funding sought by the Allegan County Road Commission to fix the Lakeshore Drive washout by building a new road 1/4 mile inland has been denied.

The Pier Cove park is now open after remodeling. Parking is extremely limited.

The County park system is underfunded and the County is discussing other funding sources including a millage. Parks are used 50% by county residents, 50% by non-residents; there are 8 county parks in total.

FEMA held a training on 7/29 involving Allegan County, Van Buren County, Berrien County, Holtec, and the State and there were no red flags. This is in advance of Holtec reopening.

Parks & Recreation: LRE (Land & Resource Engineering) is still working on a plan to restore public access to the beach. LRE's meeting with EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) will be key.

Trustee Mary Campbell asked to have a monthly report on Short Term Rentals added to the agenda. She also proposed incentivizing Casco STRs to register early, and to penalize late registrants.

Senior Advisory Committee: Chair Linda Teeter presented statistics from Senior Services of Van Buren County including the Casco site and the main site in South Haven:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Total
Unduplicated-Casco	11	13	10	14	15	26	10
Unduplicated-S. Haven	118	112	136	152	183	189	199
Activities
Casco	69	72	60	123	103	202	110	739
S Haven	742	952	1123	1418	1530	1584	1671	9020
Casco Seniors	146	140	148	163	188	195	204
Total activities	991	1121	1345	1667	1640	1706	1781	10251

Activity times for the Casco site had been changed by group decision and a schedule will be published in September. VBSS has a new fitness team and in-person fitness has been in place in Casco Township with chair yoga led by Deanne Fridley.

Linda Teeter and another committee member will call Casco residents who used to attend activities to explore what changes might be made to prompt them to return.

Mary Campbell reported that September 9 is Allegan County Fair Seniors Day with free breakfast from 8 - 10 a.m. She also noted that Veterans in Allegan will be celebrated at an event at the Baptist Church on M-40 on 10/23.

A millage resolution was passed with the following amounts:

Township operating	1.0435
Township Roads	1.4277
Township Roads extra voted	.9966
Fire	2.2
Ambulance	.6500
Parks	.2437
Seniors	.2491
Police	.2491

The Township is under a new agreement with the Sheriff's office. Prior to this year, the Township funded a car and 75% of a deputy. This year, the Township will fund 100% of the deputy but no car costs.

Township Hall renovation: The Township approved an add-on fee to have the General Contractor hired for the Township Hall renovation also paint the exterior siding of the Township Hall. The Board also approved to receive bids for the 6 garage doors sold as a lot, and the radiant ceiling heater. Bids are due to the Township by 1pm on Tuesday September 2.

Fleming Tree Service was hired as the lowest bid to remove an old tree in Stuller Cemetery. Heavy equipment cannot get to the area. Dan Fleming abstained from voting.

The Board approved a Noise variance request from Ms. Denbow, of 7264 Lauder Ave, for an event on September 20 from 4p until midnight with a DJ. The neighbors have been informed of the event.

The Board approved the release of escrow funds back to Ms. Johnston of Miami Park. This was from the revetment project, and the Johnston portion has been fully completed.

In addition to regular business, the Board was asked questions regarding DayDreamer Domes, ongoing noise, and ongoing advertising of music events; the Board received public comment on the matter also. See related article.