Dorr Township ALERT

Dorr Township officials have announced an "Open House", which ran several days last week and will run Monday and Tuesday late afternoons. This is not your "usual" open house with punch and cookies to find out about senior services, bingo, and mutual aid. Better hide your checkbook and head over to 140 Newell St. on Monday and/or Tuesday. The following announcement appears on www.dorrtownship.com:

"Dorr Township would like to announce its plan to hold informational open houses at the township office, 140 Newell Street, Woodstock. The open houses will provide information to the public on options for expansion of existing facilities at the Dorr Township Office and also the Dorr Township Highway Department, located at 12322 Davis Road. Options will also be presented for consideration of facilities on a non-specific site.

"These representations are a result of recommendations from staff and the efforts of a citizens' planning committee that was formed after electors voted against purchasing property in 2009 without specific plans for the property.

"Open house dates are scheduled for October 20, 21 and 22 from 10:00 am. until 4:00 pm., and October 25 and 26 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. Marc Rhode, of Legat Architects, will be present on Tuesday evening, October 26, to answer questions regarding the site plan options.

"For more information, please contact Dorr Township at 815-338-0125"

Some Dorr Township residents think that township government is already too large and should be shrinking, considering that ground is lost every time a municipality annex land. Administrative costs for relief are a high percentage of the actual amount doled out; when I say "high", I mean high! And Dorr Township now maintains only about 32 miles of roads.

It was the citizens' planning committee that actually brought to a vote the question about $2.7 million that the Township had accumulated quietly, but legally, over the years. The committee thought the Township ought to refund $1,000,000 to taxpayers. Out of what woodwork all those people came for the annual meeting last April to vote down that refund, I have no idea.

Show up Monday and Tuesday and ask questions. And then start showing up every month to observe how your township is operating. As Supervisor Bob Pierce said at one meeting earlier this year, "We don't want to behave like Grafton Township" (or something like that). And he's right; we don't. But more than the 5-6 interested voters should be showing up every month.

Did the author of the announcement mean "presentations", not "representations"?