Amber appoints new trustee, addresses roads

By Thad Ray
MCP Correspondent

AMBER TWP. — The Amber Township board of Trustees met today. Board members present were Richard Alway, Trustee; Jim Gallie, Supervisor; Connie Anderson, Treasurer; and Brenda Knizacky, Clerk.

After a moment of silence honoring Larry Donovan, the former Amber township supervisor who passed away earlier this month, the first item of note was Sheriff Kim Cole’s announcement of the Mason County Sheriff’s Department’s intention to collaborate with the Michigan State Police in an effort to enforce safety along U.S. 10. This has been an item of concern for some time and Sheriff Cole said that he is “committed to doing everything he can to make (U.S.) 10 a safe by-way.” The Sheriff further affirmed his position stating that “one loss of life is too many,” and that “the goal is not to write tickets, but to educate the public on how to behave on that highway.”

Some Amber township roads may receive improvements this year, if approved by the board at next month’s meeting. Possible repairs include: First Street between Amber and Gordon roads, at an estimated cost of $56,000; Meyers Road (in cooperation with Pere Marquette Township), at an estimated cost of $17,500 to Amber Township; Gordon and Osborn roads (near Hackert Lake), at an estimated cost of $36,000 and Brye Road near Meijer at an approximate cost of $7,000.

Another item on the agenda was the election of a new trustee. Four applicants applied, three people chose to interview for the position. While the board members said all three applicants were excellent candidates, Thomas Alway of Johnson Road was elected in a three to one vote. Supervisor Jim Gallie voted no. Other candidates included Jeff Barnett, Gallie’s son-in-law, and Bill Lehrbass. Thomas Alway is son of trustee Richard Alway.

One last item of interest is the Alway family’s donation of land to Towns Cemetery. The donation is a piece of land 220 feet by 30 feet, with the stipulation that half of the donated land is to be designated for the Alway family. The area is located on the east end of the cemetery and is the abandoned portion of Quarterline Road.

The board also voted favorably on approval of the Amber township budget for their fiscal year which begins April first 2013.

The next township meeting is April 15 at 7 pm.