M-40/48th intersection improvement

Iconic Allegan Bridge- In many ways a symbol of Allegan city’s resilience, the 2nd street iron bridge frames the open waters of the Kalamazoo River in mid-winter as they pass though their journey to Lake Allegan downstream.

Allegan County Storey

February 5, 2023 - Volume 3 Number 11

Former Commissioner Thierwechter passes

Former Allegan County Commissioner Louis Thierwechter passed away last week. He served on the county board in two separate stints for a total of eight years. In addition to his county service, Commissioner Thierwechter managed the Allegan city airport and was active in many community events, including organizing fundraisers for community facilities. Following his service to Allegan city and county, he and his wife Barbara moved to the Manistee area.

BAW team visits 123Net

Members of the broadband action workgroup (BAW) visited the Southfield headquarters of 123Net, the contractor selected to install broadband in the areas of the county without access to high speed internet. The visit included a tour of the company’s facilities that house both a data center and servers owned by many companies and organizations throughout Michigan and the nation. The group was briefed on the progress 123Net is making to win grant funding from the state government’s MIHI office to supplement the county’s allocation of federal ARPA funding and 123Net’s pledged matching monies. The company stated it will be ready to submit the application prior to the mid-March deadline. A decision from MIHI on the amount of funding is expected in late April. Meanwhile, the company is also developing designs for the installation of fiber optic cable. In addition to visiting the headquarters, the BAW group also visited 123Net’s Novi-situated warehouse and construction facility and were briefed on deployment plans by the company’s construction manager. Among the features of 123Net’s headquarters is a phalanx of diesel electric generators and massive batteries to maintain cyber services during power interruptions.

M-40/48^th street intersection improvement

The vexing intersection of the county’s 48^th street with state highway M-40 in Hamilton is on the improvement docket later this year. Currently, 48^th street intersects with the heavily travelled M-40 at an angle that challenges drivers seeking to safely enter the highway. Property has been acquired to convert the intersection into a more traditional “squared” intersection. Under current plans, the nearby intersection of 136^th Street with M-40 will be improved with a third lane and a traffic signal. As a result of the construction, 48^th street south of M-40 will be converted into a cul-de-sac near the Hamilton schools’ bus garage. Traffic traveling south on 48^th will then be directed to the new signaled intersection with 136^th Street. Construction is expected to start this summer.

A little about me

Jim Storey – is the chairperson of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, first elected in 2012, represents Fillmore, Laketown,Overisel, Salem townships and Holland city. He also serves on the boards of directors of the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council (of govts), Community Action Agency of Allegan County, West Michigan Airport Authority, West Michigan Works/ASCET, West Michigan Regional Planning Commission, Holland Civic Center Place and the Michigan Association of Counties.

Allegan County Commissioner Jim Storey allegancountystorey@gmail.com 616-848-9767

Articles in this newsletter are designed to provide information on timely topics. If more detail is needed, contact me or any individual named in the articles. Expressed opinions are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners as a body.