Township News

At the Sept. 2 meeting of Rochester village council (present were mayor Bill Spicer, clerk Laura Brady and council members Shelly Elbon, Dora Miller, Matt Livingston, Sue Sparks and Susan Del Campo; Cindy Kurpley was absent), council:

* Brady stated the OPWC project should be starting on Griggs Road. She has sent in a letter to the engineer's office asking for inspection of the Griggs Road drainage project once it starts. This was suggested to her by the engineer's office. Council and mayor agreed.

* Council and mayor have been looking for new legal counsel since the last attorney has left the area without notice. The law firm of Fauver, Keyse-Walker & Donovan have agreed on representing the village. An ordinance had been drawn up and read by the council of Rochester. After some discussion about the legal counsel, compensation and naming a village solicitor, and approved by council.

There were some questions in regard to contacting and speaking with the attorney's about legal matters. Miller made a motion to allow Sue Del Campo, zoning inspector, to contact the attorney's office as needed. The motion passed.

* Del Campo reported the van has been moved at the end of Griggs Road. There was also some discussion in regard to some of the property inside the village limits being zoned agricultural.

* There is a vacant seat on the council that will need to be filled. Dwaine Clinker has not been to quite a few meetings and a letter has been sent asking him for a resignation letter but as of this meeting nothing had been given to council in writing.

Council has appointed Andy Kurpley to fill Dwaine Clinker's council position. Kurpley was sworn in by the mayor.

* The curve signs for Griggs Road are in and just need to be installed. The berms on Griggs Road west have been washing away and the council would like to have those filled in. Laura Brady will talk with Mark the township's roadman in regard to filling in the berms when he has the bermer on the truck.

* There has been some discussion in regard to the Neighborhood Watch. The mayor has made a suggestion to have four signs at each end of the village to say this is a neighborhood watch area.

There are some other areas around that have these. Council approved a motion to purchase the signs.

* Kurpley will be the new representative for LORCO and Brady will get in touch with her and verify this. Then a letter will then be sent to LORCO for verification.

* Spicer reported talking to Representative Sue Morano at the fair and she will be looking into some funding for the basketball court.

* Miller will call the railroad in regard to the holes in the sidewalk and tracks.