25C Volume 17, Issue 10 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, January 20,1993 Township gives its blessing to water & sewer agreement final draft " it was not a ease of Low- With the Township's ap- strictive. Esch stated that a conccm that the Township will make a system to serve the school. ell Township battling Lowell proval Monday night, the The school's draft called of the school's was that the good faith effort to have the Any funds deposited and in- Schools," emphasized Lowell school's approval is expected for a joint escrow account, Township provide some sort water and sewer service op- terest earned which are un- Superintendent Fritz Esch. "It to come relatively quickly. and was rejected by the Town- of guarantee that it will be erational so that the school needed to pay for the cost of was a case of both sides want- "Being the draft was drawn up ship. The final draft states the able to open the new school complex can be ready for oc- construction and any related ing to protect their own con- by the Township, I think it is $500,000 from the school will despite any problems that cupancy in August of 1994. cost of the sanitary sewer, will stituents." probably right that the school be placed into an interest bear- could arfse between now and The agreement calls for be promptly returned to the The trail, which led to waited for its approval before ing account of the Township's August of 1994. the school district to be a re- school district Lowell Township's approval taking action," Esch said. choosing, as a contribution to He also emphasized that tail customer of the Township The school district re- Monday night of the final draft The final draft, like the be used at the sole discretion the school trusts the Town- water and sewer system (there tained the right of review, of a water service agreement Township's first draft, was 1- of the Township to construct ship, but wanted some assur- is no language problem with comment, and approval of all with the school, was started 1/2 pages in length. How- a public water system. ances that the Township will sewer). sewer location and design before Christmas. ever, both were substantially Interest earned on this deliver what it says it will. Upon execution of the studies, final plans and bid- Both sides have worked shorter than the school's first contribution during construc- Esch added that this issue was agreement the school agreed ding documents, and the through misunderstandings, draft, which was nearly four tion of the water system shall covered in the agreement to to immediately deposit Township's engineer recom- miscommunications and pages. be reimbursed to the school the school's satisfaction. $500,(XX) with the Township mendation to award a con- drafts of one another's drawn The school's draft was re- following completion of con- Item 10 of the agreement for the Township's use in con- struction contract. up documents, to get to the jected because it was too re- struction. speaks to that matter. It says struction of a public sewer final draft. Lift on property assessment freeze bound to raise ire of residents & schools Many believe that the one-year freeze on second Monday in June, which happens to be property assessments sent out a false sense of the day it's put on the ballot. V security. Lowell Assistant Superintendent Gary Now that the freeze is being lifted, Ihc Kemp said, without the Headlee being rolled harsh reality begins to set in. The estimate for back Lowell Schools would be forced to use 1993 assessments will reflect a two-yea rgmwth up its fund equity balance. "Right now lhai at seven percent a year or 14 percent over two balance is large enough to operate Ihc school years. for one month." Kemp said. "However, il In the short term it presents a financial would leave us no money to start ihe follow- crunch for property owners. In ihe long term, ing school year." it presents quite a problem for schools come Last year (1991 -92) the school was forced June. to cut $85().(M)() oui of its budget because of Most schools will have no other option but monies lost through Ihe stale aid formula. to ask voters to roll back the Head lee Amend- "What thai did was downshift Ihe respon- ment. For the Lowell district this will mean Ihe sibility back onto Ihe taxpayer," Kemp ex- difference between 1.9 and 2.1 mills. plained. State leaders give affirmation to working majority Lowell School's will lose somewhere be- 9 Esch believes financiallv* , schools are Senate Majority leader Dick Posthumus (R-Alto, left) and House Co-Speaker Paul tween $680- and $750,000 if the Head lee is not where I hey were 10 years ago in regards to % Hille^onds (R-Holland, ri^ht) join (Governor John Kngler (center) in giving a "Thumbs- rolled back in June. This is an estimate, since facing siale aid cutbacks. He says ihe lack of lip" to the new working majority in the State legislature. Kent County is not required to confirm final siale aid, school costs and increased legisla- Photo by (ire# Dotnagalski sessment figures and the inflation rate until the Freeze, cont'd., pg. H Along Main Street Winter brings halt to exterior work, foeus now on wings fdLri The rainy days of fall could not dampen Owen, Ames, Kimball's enthusiasm for the continued progress on Ihe new Lowell High School. Wiih Ihe assistance of as- sistant job superintendent Dennis Love I and, RonBiehcr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION MEKTING filled in for job superinten- dent Craig Willison al Ihe The Lowell Area Historical Association's annual meeting January Lowell Board of Edu- ^ will be held Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7;3() p.m. at the Look cation meeting to update ihe Memorial Fire Station. Local attorney, Michael Tummino will Board on Ihe progress of Ihe be presenting a program dealing with Ihe shooting of Charlie project through Jan. 11 of this Knapp. year. Members, as well as the general public, are invited to With old man winter hav- attend. ing brought to a halt Ihe exte- rior work, Bieber said Ihe fo- TICKETS ON SALE FOR cus of Ihe work over Ihc next "A MOUSE THAT ROARED" two mo nl hs w i 11 be i n I he w i ng areas. The Lowell Area Arts Council is presenting "The Mouse " Most of t he sile work will ^ That Roared," a comedy in two acts, on Feb. 18,19,20, 26 and start back up in Ihe Spring of 27. Tickets for Thursday, Feb. 18 are $4 for adults and $2.50 the year," Bieber said. "Some for Seniors and students. No reserved seating. Tickets for The walls are being poured around the orchestra pit and air tunnel in the new high work in the stadium area may Main StM cont'd., pg. 8 school auditorium. Construetkm, cont'd., pp. K 11* Ixmell l^djjer-Wednesdav, January 20,1993-Page 2 The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, January 20,1993-Page 3 Kropf; sisters Emma Heiron, Storage. Inc. He was chair- Roth-Gerst Chapel. Rev. p.m. The family would prefer Xx\xxxx\\xxVvxxx\x\xxx\\xx\\\\VvxX\\\\\XX\X\X\VvA\\\\\vvVwsX\\A\ XVVVVVVXNV all of Lowell and Lillian man of the Board of Total- William J. Amundsen of First memorial contributions to Briggs of Grand Rapids. Mr. Agri Services. Inc. and Kropf United Methodist Church. Hospice of Greater Grand OBITUARIES Kropf was founder and presi- FruitCo. Funeral Services will officiating. Visitation Rapids. dent of Kropf Orchards and beheldThursday l;30p.m.at Wednesday 2 to4 and 7 to9 GRUMMET • Mrs. Elsie vice was held Friday al the •••MM Grummeu aged 81, of Lowell, Roth-Gersl Chapel. Rev. Wil- died Tuesday, January 12, Ham Hirt and Rev. Kirk Local businesses enjoy rewards of Notices in The Ledger's lifetime. For more informa- WEDNESDAY: Rollaway SATURDAYS - Take Off puppet ministry. THURS., JAN. 28: Com- 1993. She was preceded in Starkweather officiating. In- "Coming Events" are free tion call 897-8829. Ltd. Senior Bowling, 1 p.m. Pounds Sensibly Tops#MI modities will be distributed death by her husband, Ronald terment Oakwood Cemetery, of charge to any non-profit 55 and over. 1493 meets every Sat. at THURS., JAN. 21: between 8a.m. and 3 p.m. and son, Fred. She is survived consumers' confidence organization in the Lowell, SECOND MONDAY OF 9:00 a.m. in the Congrega- Keenagers will meet at at the Moose Recreation by her children, Zelma KROPF - Carl Kropf, aged Ada, Alto, and Saranac EACH MONTH: The 2ND WEDNESDAY: Men's tional Church basement in Vergennes Methodist Building, 1320 E. Fulton. Pearson of Lowell, Robert 83, a life long resident of the retail store was as busy as in Lowell/ Bernard said. "I If Lowell can be used as Hale said business was up 0 area. We prefer such no- Bowne Township Histori- breakfast at Lowell Senior Lowell. Comer of Spring Church at 10 a.m. They will (Lila) Grummet of Alto, Lowell, died Monday, Janu- also believe the addition has some sort of an economic ba- 10 percent from a year ago. a year ago. tices to be kept brief and to cal Society will hold its regu- Center, 314 S. Hudson St. and Hudson Sts. weigh-ins have apotluckdinner, bring TUES., FEB. 2: Grattan James (Frances) Warner of ary 18, 1993.