The Dalton Township board discussed adding cameras and signs along the township's equestrian trail at its Monday meeting. This is in response to issues that have arisen with vandalism, including people cutting down trees and leaving trash. Most worrisome was the digging of holes and covering them up with branches. This creates a safety hazard for horses and their riders. The board has decided to go forward with setting up cameras and signs, and will add more protection if the vandalism continues.
Additionally, the board opened a land sale request for several contiguous parcels on Catalpa Road and accepted a bid of $10,000.
The Dalton Township fire chief, Alan Styles, shared his annual report, including that the fire department responded to 1,031 calls last year. He and the fire department were thanked for their service to the community.
Amy Brown was introduced as the township's new clerk. She took over the position Jan. 2, after Tracy DeMarse declined to be sworn in. Brown has previously served as the township's deputy treasurer. Township supervisor Heather Petrie-Cooley said there is a potential candidate organized to take over the deputy treasurer position as Brown transitions to the clerk job.
“I didn’t want someone just from off the street with no qualifications coming in to do such an important job for this board and for the community,” Brown said during the Jan. 2 special meeting as she was sworn in.
The Chase family received recognition from the township for the large Christmas lights display in front of their Twin Lake home, which attracts many people from surrounding communities to Dalton Township and provides joy to many community members. The board noted that the family does not do this for any personal gain, but uses it as an opportunity to raise money for charities. This year, the family raised $3,400 in donations to the charities Miss Sawyer's Kids With a Cause and Rolling Thunder, a veterans charity.
“We appreciate that this is not an easy effort, and thank your family for the time, energy and commitment you put forward to this community,” Petrie-Cooley said, when reading the official letter from the township to the Chase family. “It is not often that we get recognition for things that we do well, so in recognizing your family today, you have given us another opportunity to express joy. Thank you for all that you do to bring that to our community and here’s to many more years of joy.”
