Montague Township officials spent much of their latest board meeting discussing future focused projects and long term planning efforts across several areas of the community, from environmental stewardship and park improvements to emergency services and conservation.
A common theme throughout the meeting was preparing for future needs rather than simply reacting to present issues.
Park discussions center on future growth and accessibility
One of the larger discussions of the evening focused on improvements at the township soccer fields and park areas.
Board members reviewed fencing options around the soccer fields while also discussing growing parking concerns as usage of the complex continues increasing.
Trustee Jay Goodrich said a forester may evaluate trees near the soccer fields that could potentially be removed to create additional usable space and improve parking opportunities.
The discussion tied closely into the township’s ongoing Parks and Recreation Plan and Master Plan efforts, which officials said could help position the township for future grant opportunities.
Treasurer Tracy Korthase said she gathered ideas for playground improvements while attending a recent conference, including new equipment concepts and park layout ideas.
Clerk Drew Roesler also stressed the importance of ADA accessibility when considering future upgrades.
“If we do our structure, I think there’s probably some ADA compliance we should think about,” Roesler said during the discussion.
Officials discussed how future upgrades could improve both the appearance and functionality of the park while helping accommodate increasing use from the community.
White Lake Smart Buoy project seeks community support
The board later heard a presentation from the White Lake Association regarding its Smart Buoy program, an initiative designed to improve real time water quality monitoring on White Lake.
Chief Science Officer Jim DeBoer explained that the buoy collects environmental data every 10 minutes, including water temperature, dissolved oxygen, wind speed, algae monitoring information, and other conditions throughout the lake.
DeBoer also showed a video highlighting the Smart Buoy project, White Lake’s environmental history, and how the technology is helping provide real time data for researchers, residents, and recreational users.
DeBoer said the project represents both an educational tool and a long term investment in protecting White Lake.
“White Lake was once a pollution hotspot,” DeBoer said during the presentation. “Driving and maintaining improvements to White Lake’s water quality is possible.”
The buoy system was originally funded through a $40,000 EGLE grant, though DeBoer said maintaining the system continues to create significant ongoing costs.
The White Lake Association is now seeking support from local municipalities, including Montague Township, to help offset expenses tied to the program.
Funding would support several areas including the buoy’s public data portal, insurance costs, manual collection testing, and additional sensors that would improve data collection and monitoring capabilities.
DeBoer also encouraged residents to support the effort through membership in the White Lake Association.
The Smart Buoy video shown during the meeting will be linked at the end of this article.
Chemours discussion highlights environmental and conservation concerns
Environmental concerns remained a major topic during a presentation from Claire Schlaff regarding Chemours and the company’s 2025 Corrective Measures Study report.
Schlaff discussed concerns raised by the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee regarding cleanup efforts and the long term future of the Chemours property.
She said the committee would like to see Chemours consolidate its 14 landfills into one properly constructed landfill rather than continuing to manage multiple separate landfill areas.
“We don’t want to leave it for our grandkids to worry about,” Schlaff said.
Schlaff explained that a 2024 enforceable document established the cleanup timeline, but the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee successfully lobbied for earlier opportunities for public comment before the normal timeline would have allowed.
Upcoming public meetings were announced, including informational sessions May 20 and May 30 at the White Lake Community Library and a larger public meeting June 11 at NBC Middle School featuring both EGLE and Chemours representatives.
She also shared personal stories illustrating how contamination concerns continue affecting residents emotionally, even when public water systems are considered safe. Schlaff described knowing residents who carefully test their water and remain hesitant about gardening because of groundwater concerns.
Along with cleanup discussions, Schlaff emphasized the importance of conservation and preserving the Chemours property for future generations. She said many community partners hope to protect the land from future industrial development.
For more information read this Press Release from CEIC here.
Henderson Lake treatment approved
The board approved $1,060.84 for phragmite control efforts at Henderson Lake through the Muskegon Conservation District.
Officials said treatment efforts in recent years have significantly improved conditions, though continued management remains necessary to prevent the invasive plant species from spreading again.
Township officials reflect on MTA Expo
Several board members also spoke positively about attending the Michigan Township Association Expo, where they participated in sessions covering accessibility compliance, public safety, municipal planning, and future development issues.
Korthase said she appreciated the opportunity to gather new ideas that could benefit the township moving forward.
Board reports focus on emergency services and operations
Board reports included updates on emergency services and township operations.
Fire Board representative Jay Goodrich reported that emergency runs are currently down, though officials believe changes in dispatch procedures may partially explain the decrease. He also noted the department’s rescue watercraft is ready for the season and that a formal fire chief job description has now been created.
Solid Waste Board representative Jake Seaver reported that disposal pricing increases are being considered for the first time since 2019 due to rising operational costs. Board members also praised transfer station employee Tim for the work he continues doing managing operations.
Supervisor Jeff King shared that all five participating municipalities approved Fruitland Township’s return to the ambulance authority, though Fruitland residents must still approve the move through a vote. King also announced the authority recently purchased a low mileage ambulance from Norton Shores.
Long term planning remains key focus
Throughout the meeting, officials consistently returned to the idea of planning for the future across multiple areas of township operations.
Whether discussing environmental cleanup, park improvements, accessibility, water quality monitoring, conservation, or emergency services, township leaders emphasized positioning the community for long term improvements and future opportunities.
The next Montague Township Board Meeting will be held on June 9, 2026 at the Montague Township Hall.
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