The Sun and News, Saturday, May 15, 2021/ Page 11our children. We owe that
much to them.”
TKHS sophomore Skyler
Wiseman spoke of her own
mental health struggles
through the pandemic, which
she said led to her hospital-
ization at Pine Rest Christian
Mental Health Services in
Grand Rapids for two weeks
at the end of last year.
“With the whole quaran-
tining and the COVID stuff,
it’s not really helping any of
us or anybody with mental
health [issues], whether
they’ve been to Pine Rest or
have gotten help,” Skyler
said. “Every time we get
quarantined, we get taken
away from people. Social
aspects of life are a very
important thing, especially in
a kid’s life. It helps us emo-
tionally and mentally.”
Skyler said that some stu-
dents have gone through
multiple quarantines during
the pandemic, further taking
them away from school
activities and their friends.
“I feel like the whole quar-
antining and the mask thing,
at this point, feels kind of
unnecessary. I get the point
of them, but we’re kids. We
just want to live our life out
and actually have a good
year,” she added.
Another parent, Keara
Hilton, said that two of her
daughters have had to go
through multiple quaran-
tines.
“I know that our school
district is under a lot of pres-
sure, as all schools are, and I
don’t want you to think that I
don’t sympathize and I don’t
feel for what you guys aredealing with, but we hired
you to do a job and we expect
it to be done,” she told the
board.
Hilton quoted from a letter
written by the president of
the Sparta Board of
Education in Kent County,
appealing to the state to give
local school boards the
authority to make decisions
regarding how best to handle
COVID-19. That letter links
mask mandates and quaran-
tines to negative impacts on
mental health of students,
and also calls for eliminating
required testing of stu-
dent-athletes, instead offer-
ing rapid tests to any stu-
dents who might develop
symptoms of illness.
“They are standing up for
their kids, which is what we
hired you to do,” Hilton said.
The comments were made
during the public comment
period at the beginning of the
school board meeting. Per its
policy, the board did not pro-
vide an immediate response
to the comments.
Thornapple Kellogg
Superintendent Dan
Remenap said later that heunderstands the parental
frustration.
“I completely understand
where our parents and stu-
dents are coming from, and
we are just as frustrated as
they are,” Remenap wrote in
an e-mail to the Hastings
Banner Tuesday. “Our staff
and students have done a
great job handling the chal-
lenges and constant changes
and interruptions brought on
by the pandemic.
“We are hoping for far
fewer restrictions as we head
into the 2021-22 school
year.”
The Barry-Eaton District
Health Department Tuesday
issued an update on quaran-
tine timelines, reducing the
length of quarantine time
from 14 days to 10 days for
someone who has close con-
tact to an individual who has
been diagnosed with
COVID-19.
Otherwise, no other
changes to the health depart-
ment’s handling of the pan-
demic have been made,
Health Officer Colette
Scrimger said.
Scrimger said she has
heard from unhappy parents
who oppose requiring wear-
ing masks and quarantining,
but says she has heard from
just as many individuals who
support the measures that
have been taken to date.
“We have worked closely
with the superintendents, to
help the schools take the
steps they need to make sure
the atmosphere is safe for all
students,” she said.
Neighboring health
departments in Kent and
Ionia counties last Friday
issued a joint statement, say-
ing that school districts inthose counties no longer had
to require students to quaran-
tine if they had close contact
with an individual with
COVID-19.
The departments “advised
the school districts within
their jurisdictions that, in
consideration of current epi-
demiological trends, increas-
ing vaccination coverage
rates, and the availability of
safe and effective vaccines,
the local health departments
are not issuing countywide
orders requiring all school
districts to comply with the
MDHHS’ quarantine guide-
lines,” the statement said.
“Instead, the local health
departments will maintain
their continual assessment of
vaccination and new case
data; consult with hospitals,
infectious disease experts
and educators; and respond
as warranted to particular
school situations with indi-
vidually developed guidance
and, if necessary, orders.”
Scrimger said the state-
ment, which also included
the health department in
Ottawa and Muskegon coun-
ties, was confusing.
As of Tuesday, 186 active
cases of COVID were found
in Barry County, and 310
other individuals were in
quarantine.
Since the pandemic began
more than a year ago, 5,
confirmed positive cases
have been reported and 64
people in the county have
died, according to the
BEDHD website.
In the Caledonia
Community Schools in
southeastern Kent County,
district officials issued an
update to parents on Monday,
based on the new guidelinesfrom the county health
department. Most significant
is the change that no longer
requires those who have had
close contact to a COVID-
positive individual to quar-
antine – unless there is an
outbreak in a school setting.
“However, the district
strongly recommends that
students deemed as close
contacts voluntarily quaran-
tine,” the letter from district
administration said. “If you
choose to voluntarily quar-
antine your student due to
close contact they shall not
be penalized.
“We do recommend that
during self-quarantine stu-
dents do not attend school or
participate in any extracur-
ricular activities.”
The letter also defined
close contacts as students
“who are within 3 feet of a
positive individual for 15
minutes,” and also says all
students who are currently
quarantined may return to
school and take part in extra-
curricular activities.
The updated order does
not change the quarantine
requirement for district staff
members if they are identi-
fied as a close contact, unless
they are fully vaccinated or
tested positive for COVID in
the past 90 days, the letter
said.THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP BOARD
200 E MAIN ST.
MIDDLEVILLE, MI 49333
SYNOPSIS OF MEETING MINUTES
Monday, May 10, 2021
Meeting called to order at 7:
p.m. by zoom and in-person. Seven
members present.
Items approved:- Printed Agenda approved as
amended with the addition of 13 c.
dust abatement budget amendment
to $16,200 and d. gravel roads
budget amendment $22,000. - Consent Agenda approved as
presented.
3.Approved motion to purchase
replacement fire hoses, including
the 2-inch attack hose, not to exceed
$6,000.00.
4.Approved motion to update
overtime policy and the employee
insurance deductible policy as
presented in the board packet. - Approved motion to amend the
community promotions GL account
amount in the budget to $12,000.
from $8,000.00. - Approved motion to spend
$2,500.00 on a contract with the
Lyon’s Club for a 4th of July fireworks
display. - Approved motion to amend the
dust abatement budget GL# 101-449-
930.100 to $16,200.00. - Approved motion to amend the
gravel roads budget GL# 101-449-
930.300 to $ 22,000.00. - Approved motion to adopt the
Barry County Road Commissions
4-year road projects plan as
presented for the Thornapple
Township roads. - Approved motion to spend
$4,200.00 from the Duncan Lake
Sewer Authority Fund on a contract
with Progressive AE to do a rate
study. - Approved motion to spend
$53,758.00 from the Duncan Lake
Sewer Authority Fund on a contract
with Progressive AE for engineering
and administrative services on the
Duncan Lake Sewer System update
and expansion design. The update/
expansion of the system only pertains
to those current users of the system. - Approved motion to spend
$1,400.00 on headstone restoration
rather than mapping within the
Cemetery budget.
Meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
Prepared by deputy clerk Amy
Brown. Approved by Township
Supervisor, Eric Schaefer.
Copies of the meeting minutes
are available upon request from the
Township Clerk or by visiting our
website at https://thornapple-twp.
org/meeting-minutes/ Office hours
are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Thursday.
PUBLIC NOTICE
GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP
BOARD MEETING SYNOPSIS
May 10, 2021
The Gaines Charter Township
Board held a regular meeting
on Monday, May 10, 2021 in the
Gaines Township Boardroom and
took the following actions.- Prayer was offered by Treasur-
er Lemke. - Approved the agenda.
- Held a public hearing on Mo-
bile Defender’s Industrial Develop-
ment District (IDD) prior to the In-
dustrial Facilities Tax (IFT) request. - Held a public hearing on the
proposed Amendment to Liquor
Control Ordinance. - Held a public hearing on
Preservation Lakes III Special As-
sessment to hear and consider ob-
jections to the petitions, proposed
improvements, and all other matters
relating to the improvements. - Held a public hearing on Pres-
ervation Lakes III Special Assess-
ment to hear and consider com-
ments and objections to the Special
Assessment Roll. - Approved invoices and ex-
penditures for payment in the total
amount of $278,681.79 for 04-01-
2021 and 04-30-2021. - Approved the correction to
the 01-11-2021 Board of Trustees
meeting minutes setting the salary
of the Assessing Technician position
from $23.00 / hour to $20.75 / hour. - Set the Public Hearing for
1171 and 1175 68th Street Crys-
tal Manor / Addington Place Major
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Amendment to June 14, 2021. - Approved establishing the
IDD for Mobile Defenders 6155 East
Paris prior to the IFT request. - Accepted the language for
The Crossings PUD Major Amend-
ment for M-6 Hotel Group 1439 and
1469 Eastport Drive. - Set the Public Hearing for
The Crossings PUD Major Amend-
ment for M-6 Hotel Group 1439 and
1469 Eastport Drive to June 14,
- Approved, accepted, and
filed the 2021 1st Quarter Financial
Report from the Treasure. - Approved the Preservation
Lakes PHASE III Street Lighting
Special Assessment District. - Approved the Amendment to
the Liquor Control Ordinance. - Adjourned the meeting at
8:51 p.m.
A complete copy of the minutes of
this meeting and any resolutions or
ordinances adopted at the meeting
are on file and available for review
at the Gaines Charter Township of-
fice, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE,
Caledonia, Michigan 49316. Ordi-
nances, meeting schedules, meet-
ing minutes, and other Township in-
formation are also available at http://www.
gainestownship.org.
Michael Alex Brew
Gaines Charter Township Clerk
SYNOPSIS
VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE,
MICHIGAN
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
April 27, 2021
The regular meeting of the Village
Council of Middleville, Michigan,
was called to order at 7:00 pm by
President Fisk. Present: Cramer,
DeVries, Lytle, Ronning, Schellinger
and Smith. Absent: None
ACTIONS TAKEN
- Motion by Schellinger,
supported by DeVries, to approve
the agenda as printed. Roll Call
Vote. All Yeas. Motion Passed. - Motion by DeVries, supported
by Smith, to approve the Consent
Agenda as printed:
a. Approval of Minutes for the
Regular Council Meeting of April 13,
2021
b. Approval of bills in amount of
$150,752.
Roll Call Vote. All Yeas. Motion
Passed. - Motion by Schellinger,
supported by Smith, to approve
donation of $2500 yearly, for three
years, for Independence Day
celebration, with understanding that
all safety guidelines in place on the
day of the event(s) be followed. Roll
Call Vote. 6 Yeas, 1 Nay (Lytle).
Motion Passed - Motion by DeVries, supported
by Schellinger, to approve Special
Event Permit – Memorial Day
Parade on May 31, 2021. Roll Call
Vote. All Yeas. Motion Passed - Motion by Cramer, supported
by Ronning, to approve Special
Event Permit – Flea Market, with
understanding that all safety
guidelines in place on the day of the
event be followed, on September
25, 2021. Roll Call Vote. All Yeas.
Motion Passed - Motion by Cramer, supported
by Lytle, to approve Misty Ridge
#8 final plat with the following
conditions:
A. Installation of directional
signage for safe traffic circulation
and installation of construction
signage during all phases of
development.
B. Inclusion of Phase #8 in the
Homeowners’ Association By-Laws
with final approval of Village Council.
C. Inclusion of Phase #8 in the
standards for maintenance of the
common area.
D. Stand up (high back) curbs in
all remaining phases of the Misty
Ridge PUD, as similarly conditioned
in Phase 7.
E. A quit claim deed shall be
prepared by the applicant for the 5’ x
66’ portion of land at the end of View
Pointe Drive for road, utility, and
other public purposes.
Roll Call Vote. All Yeas. Motion
Passed - Motion by Schellinger,
supported by DeVries, to adjourn
the meeting at 7:53 PM. Roll Call
Vote. All Yeas. Motion Passed
Respectfully submitted: Rhonda
Van Polen, Deputy Clerk, Village of
Middleville
The complete text of the minutes
is posted on the Village Website
http://villageofmiddleville.org or may
be read at the Village Hall between
the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm,
Monday through Friday.
(^160614)
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GAINES
KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
PUBLIC NOTICE OF POSTING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND
THE CRYSTAL MANOR (AKA ADDINGTON PLACE) PUD
At a regular meeting of the Township Board for Gaines Charter Township,
held at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, on May 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., the
following Ordinance/amending ordinance was proposed. A major
amendment to the Crystal Manor PUD to construct a 3,000 square foot
addition, connecting the existing residential builds, and adding an awning
over the entrance.
The property subject to the major PUD amendment is located at 1171 and 1175
68th Street SE (parcel number 41-22-05-326-015) and is described as follows:
PART OF E 1/2 E 1/2 E 1/2 SW 1/4 COM 170.0 FT S 89D 02M 13S W ALONG
S SEC LINE FROM S 1/4 COR TH S 89D 02M 13S W ALONG S SEC LINE
161.84 FT TO W LINE OF E 1/2 E 1/2 E 1/2 SW 1/4 TH N 0D 32M 51S W
ALONG SD W LINE 1670.0 FT TH N 70D 38M 20S E 348.56 FT TO N&S 1/
LINE TH S 0D 36M 31S E ALONG N&S 1/4 LINE 1540.0 FT TO N LINE OF S
240.0 FT OF SW 1/4 TH S 89D 02M 13S W ALONG SD N LINE 170.0 FT TO
W LINE OF E 170.0 FT OF SW 1/4 TH S 0D 36M 31S E ALONG SD W LINE
240.0 FT TO BEG * SEC 5 T5N R11W 12.17 A.
The Township Board of the Charter Township of Gaines will consider the
proposed amendment at its Regular Meeting on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 7:
PM, held at the Gaines Charter Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE,
Caledonia, MI 49316.
A true and complete copy of Ordinance to Amend the Gaines Charter Township
Zoning Ordinance, therefore amending The Township Zoning Map, can be
inspected or obtained in the office of the Township Clerk at the following location:
Charter Township of Gaines
8555 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
616-698-
Michael A. Brew, Township Clerk
THORNAPPLE
TOWNSHIP
THORNAPPLE
TOWNSHIP
GAINES
TOWNSHIP
REACH, continued from page 1
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