WHITEHALL — The Whitehall Township board unanimously approved a line item in the 2026-27 budget that will enable the township to pay for a minor renovation of its hall that will include new entrance doors and a higher-security entrance during its Monday meeting.
The "entire package," said supervisor Dennis Kroll, will cost about $60,000, but since a bid for the full project has not yet been determined the exact number isn't known yet. A main reason for the project is that, Kroll said, the current entrance door is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a complaint could cost the township far more than that $60,000 figure in fines. At the moment the door requires 12 pounds of pull force to open, which exceeds the five permitted by the ADA.
"It's a situation that has existed for far too long," Kroll said.
The renovation, which will be completed in the spring when weather permits the hall to comfortably have open doors for an entire day, will include an automated door that can open upon the push of a button. Due to the 90-day lead time necessary to procure the doors, the project wouldn't be able to be completed until April anyway, which works out well for the township as April 1 is when its new fiscal year begins.
The original project bid the township received also included an automated door to replace the one leading from outside directly into the conference room, but that is not necessary to be compliant with the ADA.
Another key point of the renovation will be a more highly secured entrance, which Kroll said is necessary due to the amount of money that passes through the clerk and treasurer's offices. The new entryway will remove the door directly into those offices; Kroll said it will be modeled after similar changes made at the Montague city hall last fall. There will also be a door with a crash bar installed at the back exits to make a departure easier in case of emergency.
The board gave unanimous approval to a planning commission recommendation to approve a large accessory building that a Silver Creek Road resident requested. The new building, which trustee David Holly said was well away from the road, will be used to store classic cars. Approval was necessary because the building doesn't fully comply with the township's zoning ordinance, but the commission said "there really was no pushback on it," according to Kroll.
Approval was also given to the administrative compensation schedule for the year, which did not feature much change, Kroll said, and to the poverty guidelines that must be approved each year in order to collect property taxes.
The board will determine its contribution to the White Lake area's July 4 fireworks show in March, Kroll said, and there will also be a public hearing March 16 at 4:30 p.m. regarding the township's budget. A February work session will feature discussions about a quote the township received from the Muskegon County Road Commission regarding potential upgrades to most township roads as well as potential other uses for the township's senior millage money. Currently the township uses that money to aid the White Lake United Methodist Church's food bank program, the White Lake Congregational United Church of Christ's Feeding America mobile food bank program and to the White Lake Senior Center for various events.
