Page 4/The Sun and News, Saturday, May 15, 2021Beck pointed out that cover-
age is available.
“It is possible to get insur-
ance, for both [personal inju-
ry protection] and liability
for a side-by-side that is not
considered street legal,” he
said. “We’ve researched var-
ious auto insurance agencies
in the area, and the insurance
to drive our side-by-side, on
the road, with such coverage,
is readily available.”
Shawn Kramer, who also
lives in Misty Ridge,
expressed similar opposition
to the proposal. He said his
side-by-side has some of the
features requested in the
ordinance, such as turn sig-
nals and a horn, but doesn’t
have a windshield.
“I understand that we
don’t want dirt bikes flying
up and down the street. We
don’t want quads flying up
and down the street. We need
to have some established
rules as far as what’s going to
be proposed here,” Kramer
said.
Kramer said he uses his
side-by-side to give his
12-year-old dog a ride.
“I can’t take her for walks
anymore. She has a harness
and everything. If you saw
the way she smiled when I
took her for rides at 25 miles
per hour – she loves it,” he
said.
Wade Poland, who owns a
business and property in the
village, recalled being
involved in discussions
regarding ORV use in Barry
County, when county com-
missioners approved an ordi-
nance in April 2016 allowing
their use on many county
roads.
“There was a lot of people
who spoke against that at that
point in time, to say it was
going to be a free-for-all,
we’re going to have within
our county bad things hap-
pening,” Poland said. “We
convinced them it wasn’t,
and that’s pretty much been
the case.
“That is our hobby. That is
what my wife and I do,”
Poland said. “We typically
get up on a Sunday morning,
get a cup of coffee and we go
for a ride to view the beauti-
ful Barry County.
Occasionally we need gas or
we want ice cream, and we
like the opportunity to come
into Middleville and get that
gas and fill up, or get some
ice cream and be able to do
that lawfully.”
Poland said he carries
insurance on his ORVs. He
also supports Beck’s call for
establishing a committee.
During final council com-
ments prior to the meeting
adjourning, Cramer pushed
back.
“I’ve done my research.
I’ve worked in liability. This
is my view of it: What hap-
pens is when you have a
vehicle that is not licensed
for the road, and you carry
liability insurance, that lia-
bility insurance is void when
you’re using it unlawfully,”
Cramer said.
“I’m not opposed to form-ing a committee, but I don’t
feel there’s going to be any
new information brought.
The secretary of state has set
forth specific guidelines that
state to be operated on the
roadway, they have to have
the parts installed, they have
to be titled, registered and
insured like any other motor
vehicle. I can’t drive a jet-fu-
eled motorcycle down the
street. I can’t drive a monster
truck down the street. It’s no
different. It’s not an on-road
vehicle, it’s an off-road vehi-
cle.”
Trustee Kevin Smith
encouraged ORV owners to
check their insurance cover-
age.
“I think it would be worth
at least one more conversa-
tion before an all-out ban [is
adopted],” Smith said.
Village Attorney Mark
Nettleton will review the
proposed ordinance language
before it comes back to coun-
cil for final action, Cramer
said.
The ordinance changes
would not apply to depart-
ment of public works equip-
ment and Thornapple
Township Emergency
Services vehicles, Cramer
said.
In other business Tuesday,
the council:
Approved awarding the
contract for the Johnson
Street reconstruction project
to Oetman Excavating of
Wayland. Oetman’s bid for
the project came in at about
$414,400, a little less than
the estimate the village’s
engineering consultant,
Williams and Works, had
given. Williams and Works
had projected a project cost
of $417,990.
“This will be a complete
street reconstruction, curb,
gutter, sidewalk on the south
side of the road, new water
main and sewer main along
with water services,”
Department of Public Works
Director Alec Belson said.
Oetman has done work for
the village in the past, Belson
said.
Funds for the project will
come from the general fund,
local streets fund, water fundand sewer fund, Belson said.
Decided to maintain the
village’s current policy over
the use of its stagecoach. The
village had received a request
for the use of the stagecoach
for an upcoming memorial
service.
“They would like to put
the urns of their passed fami-
ly members in the stagecoach
and take it from here down to
the cemetery, where they
would intern the urns in a
plot,” Village Manager
Patricia Rayl said.
The policy requires any
requests for the stagecoach’s
use to be made in writing to
Rayl, with approval at her
discretion.
“Currently, it is in pretty
decent condition. They’re
showing some weathering of
the body itself, something
I’ll be looking into repairing
next winter, but other than
that, it’s mobile, it’s very
usable for pulling down the
road by horse and buggy,”
Belson said.
The policy, which was
adopted in 2017, is reviewed
by the council annually.
Approved spending no
more than $15,935 for
replacing the transmission on
a 2000 Sterling dump truck
that the village has used as a
plow truck for more than 20
years. The village is keeping
the truck for backup purpos-
es, Belson said.
Approved the appointment
of Troy Newman to a 3-year
term on the planning com-
mission through May 2024.
Newman replaces longtime
commissioner Fran French,
who recently stepped down
after 14 years on the com-
mission.(269) 795-
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News and press releases: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected]DeWards to celebrate
50th wedding anniversary
Rob and Kris DeWard of Gaines Township are planning to
take a trip this summer with their children and grandchildren
to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where they will renew their vows
for their 50th anniversary. The DeWards are grateful
for their 50 years of friendship with family and friends.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or
proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not
irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. I
Corinthians 13:4-—RESCHEDULED—
Bakers to celebrate
golden wedding anniversary
Ron and Lorna Baker will be celebrating their 50th
anniversary on May 15, 2021. They were united in marriage
on May 15, 1971 at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church,
Grand Rapids. Their children include Kristi Kandow of
Sandusky, Ohio, and Lorrie (Rob) Hewlett of Caledonia.
They have five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
There will be a celebration on June 12, 2021 at 295
Washington, Middleville, at Grand Rapids St., from 1 to 4
p.m. No gifts, please. To send them a card, please mail to 450- 141st Ave., Wayland, MI 49348.
Area students
make LSSU
dean’s list
Lake Superior State
University in Sault Ste. Marie
has released its dean’s list for
the spring semester
Full-time students
carrying at least 12 graded
credits in a semester with a
grade point average of 3.50 or
higher earn dean’s list honors.
Local students on the
dean’s list include:
Alto – Caleb F. Thomas.
Caledonia – Ashley
Brandow, Bethany J. Dyer,
Jenna E. Kermeen, Gabriel J.
Meindertsma, Casi C. Romig.OWNERS, continued from page 1