MONTAGUE — White River Township swore in its new clerk and treasurer, Julie Goericke and Mary Kriesel, at its regular monthly board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Goericke is being elevated from deputy clerk after Debbi Sargent's term ended as clerk. Sargent was clerk for a decade and has decided to move on. Kriesel, who was deputy treasurer, is replacing Deb Harris as treasurer; Harris was re-elected to the township board this year but will now be a trustee.
Supervisor Ron Bailey and trustee Laura Anderson, who were each re-elected this fall as well, also took the oath.
Sargent reported a record voter turnout in the recent elections, including a 98% return rate on absentee ballots. Over 500 township voters cast their ballots in person.
The meeting included an update from Marty Holtgren of the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee on recent Sadony Bayou visioning sessions. The update was a refresher for those who were not part of the sessions, but Holtgren did say that after the final visioning session takes place - Dec. 4 - work will begin on a report that will be available early next year, discussing what the community wants from the bayou and examining ways to get to that point.
CEIC got more good news recently, said Anderson during her monthly report, when it received a $15,000 grant from the Charles Evenson Foundation. She said the foundation learned of CEIC from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and found CEIC to be "overachievers," which led to the grant.
Sargent and trustee George Dufresne, who did not seek re-election to extend his term that ends this year, were both honored by the board for their service to the township.
Planning commission chair Don Kline said work on an updated master plan for the township continues. He said he anticipates a plan being ready within a few months.
