Hello All 👋

​

This month is packed with information and updates. I have another announcement (& update) to make in addition to the following:

• Training Information - Planning Commission & other township officials/volunteers (see my update below)

• Public Hearing - Guardian Dumpsters regarding Special Use Permit for outdoor display & site plan

• Meeting Agenda(s) & Packets 

• Survey Update

• Board member contact info 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

​

I put in for the Planning Commission seat as well as made it known to all BOARD members my interest in the supervisor position when the seat is available.  I was appointed the Planning Commission seat at the Township Board meeting last month! 🎉

​

Below is an update on what I have done towards my goals for this position since being appointed:

​

AI Data Center & Other Technology Ordinances

​

I am on the AD HOC Committee as a Planning Commissioner. 🥳 I will also be one of the Planning Commissioners going to IOWA to Microsoft's AI Data Center.  

​

The Master Plan Coming Up For Review in 2027

​

I won't have any updates until the Planning Commission starts working on this.

​

Tighten Up Ordinances

​

I have asked that we put the agricultural flexibility on the Agenda if it wasn't already on it.  At the last meeting, we were told that the reason for the 73 acre rezone was due to a mother passing away and wanting her children to split the property between them.  However, we learned the ordinances only allow for 2 acre splits and not splits larger to accommodate children receiving property equally. I made a public comment stating we should look into agricultural land having more flexibility for splits in situations like these as rezoning it to accommodate it would allow for even more housing and loss of agricultural land that neither the residents nor the applicant wanted.  I asked that they heavily consider tabling it until we could get more information regarding zoning that would open us up to more problems down the road.  It was tabled and now a discussion point at Tuesday's meeting.

​

I have also made it known to the chair that I want to have a discussion regarding limitations on various types of businesses - such as junkyards, eye sores, fast food joints, etc.  I was told this would be coming down the pipeline soon and there is a processes.  I do know Rebecca has had her hands full this month trying to keep things moving along on the residents' behalf and she will be updating everyone at the meeting on Tuesday.  I already pushed hard on training and didn't want to push more.

​

County Roads Traffic

​

No updates yet.

​

Training

​

I have been trying to hit the ground running with training.  We hit a bit of a snag with it but I have been told it is on the Township Board's agenda for next week.  If the township is willing to pay additional for a premium membership, every township employee and volunteer will receive access to more than 100 webinars on dozens of topics through MTA for a year at no additional cost.  This would be HUGE!  The subscription is $1,900 total (not per person).  We have enough new people that this would be a major benefit.  If we had the subscription, I alone would utilize numerous training webinars that it would cover itself.  I do know Rebecca has expressed to the board the need for training.  I will also be sending emails to them expressing that the board please pass the Premium membership through as the other levels do not cover nearly as much for the Planning Commission.  Anyone else that is willing to send emails on this matter, would be incredibly helpful.  Additional training money was moved last month at the board meeting, there is enough to cover this without going over budget.

​

​

PUBLIC HEARING

​

During the Planning Commission meeting, there is a Public Hearing regarding Guardian Dumpsters application for a Special Use Permit.  Courtny Cardosa had a post about this on her "The Civic Second" Facebook page.  Below is her post:

 

‼️Planning Commission - Notice of Public Hearing 

 

In anticipation of the packet being posted for the regularly scheduled August 18th Planning Commission meeting, the public notice below was published in a local newspaper.

 

Residents and commissioners may want to take note of what is being proposed.

The parties involved include Patrick Mullally of Guardian Dumpster, in pursuit of a "contractor's yard with outdoor storage of equipment/merchandise..."

 

Take a look at this same owner/company's property in Muskegon:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZWgUxrASvnj9Xt5j6

 

Of important note: I don't know what Muskegon's ordinances look like compared to Dorr's...and I don't know if the Google map view (in 2024) is representative of their desires for the Dorr property.

 

🔥Civic Second Hot Take: This highlights the importance of making sure our ordinances are comprehensive and representative of our community's desires and vision--and not just related to big projects like data centers, solar farms, wind farms, etc. EVERYTHING is important right NOW! 

 

I have attached a PDF with the images of the Muskegon property as it currently stands that Courtny sent me since the link above is from 2024 images.  I have also attached a PDF of her post giving a breakdown of the Planning Commission agenda that includes her HOT TAKE.   

 

 

Township Agenda Items

             

The Planning Commission packets can be found on the Township's website or by clicking the meeting below.  The Township Board Packet currently isn't available but should be found on their website around Thursday this coming week.  You can click the link below and select 8-27-26 meeting to view the packet once it's ready. 

 

• Planning Commission Packet - Please note there is an error on the packet.  It says 8/12/26 but the meeting is actually 8/18/26.

• Board Meeting Packet

 

​​​​

​

Survey Update

 

We just received the survey results and are still going through them with Lilith.  The document she sent is over 60 pages long.  I will upload this onto the website once we have our meeting with her at the end of the month.  I am hoping to get a recording of the meeting that I can upload with it.  In next month's newsletter, I will have a link to view the survey results document.​​

​

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

​​

​

Board Contact Info

​

Trustees no longer have personal email addresses listed on the township website. Courtny Cardosa pointed out Trustees should not be using their personal email accounts for FOIA and other reasons (more info can be found in last month's newsletter). It sounds like Sheila (on the Township Board) is working on getting township emails for the trustees.  I would also like to see Planning Commissioners & AD HOC Committee receive township emails so that the public can better access them outside of public meetings.  

​

• Jeff Miling (Supervisor) - 616-359-9164 supervisor@dorrtownship.org

• Debbie Sewers (Clerk) - 616-359-9165 clerk@dorrtownship.org

• Sheila Reitz (Treasurer) - 616-359-916 treasurer@dorrtownship.org

 

Phew, that was a lot!  Thank you for your interest, we greatly appreciate it. 

 

--

~Rachelle 

Dorr Township - We The People 

Website:  www.DorrTownship-WeThePeople.com 

​​

​​

JUNE 2026 NEWSLETTER

​

JULY 2026 NEWSLETTER