Montcalm board approves $40,000 in community advancement awards, appoints committee member

The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved three awards from the Community Advancement reinvestment fund and appointed a new committee member.

The board approved $10,000 to Pine Township for an emergency siren project, $15,000 to the Village of Lakeview for signage and landscaping tied to a new pavilion project, and $15,000 to the Crystal Township DDA to electrify two pavilions and add security cameras. The board also approved the appointment of Annie Mapp to the Community Advancement Committee with a term to expire Dec. 31, 2027.

Commissioners debated the scope of the committee’s work, with some members arguing the fund should prioritize countywide economic development or projects that create broad destinations, and others saying the committee followed the guidelines given to it. Commissioner Peterson read the committee’s recommendation and noted nine committee members had reviewed applications; some members of the committee abstained on projects where they had conflicts of interest. Commissioner Peterson moved to award Pine Township $10,000; that motion passed on roll call with four votes in favor and three opposed. A subsequent motion to award Lakeview $15,000 and Crystal Township $15,000 passed on roll call 4–3.

Supporters said the awards will help communities advance local amenities that can attract visitors, while critics said several requests resembled routine township maintenance rather than projects that spur countywide economic growth. Commissioners discussed tightening future guidelines, reserving some interest to pool toward a larger future project, and clarifying what the program should fund going forward. The board directed staff to provide committee guidelines and to consider adjustments before future rounds.

The board also placed other committee minutes and related correspondence on file and noted the fund had generated $77,716 in interest through Sept. 30.

Funding decisions and the committee appointment were approved by formal motions; Pine Township’s award was approved first, followed by the Lakeview and Crystal Township awards. The board majority said it would review the program’s guidelines to reduce ambiguity about eligible projects.