Bingham Township will expend $12,700 this year to improve portions of Bingham Road and Park Drive.

At its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, the board learned from township supervisor Ross Ard that he had been in touch with officials of the Leelanau County Road Commission who will oversee the road improvement projects and pay half of the costs totaling $25,400.

Ard reiterated what the board had discussed at prior meetings regarding road improvements. Plans call for the east end of Bingham Road near Boughey Park to be re-paved along with an adjacent parking area for the waterfront park on West Grand Traverse Bay.

In addition, the beginning of Park Drive on the west end of the township will be paved near Bingham Park on the south Lake Leelanau waterfront.

Appearing at Monday night’s meeting was Park Drive resident Bob O’Brien who said that he and fellow residents on a private extension of Park Drive had also been discussing paving their portion of the road. He explained that Park Drive residents hoped to coordinate their efforts with those of the township and the county Road Commission to save money.

Ard said he and O’Brien would both stay in touch with Road Commission manager Herb Cradduck with an eye toward ensuring the projects are coordinated and, hopefully, completed before the end of the year.

Township treasurer Sandra Grant reported that some $17,863 had been set aside in the township’s road improvement fund, meaning more than enough money is available to complete the project.

The board voted 4-0 on a motion by Ard, supported by Grant, to undertake the road improvement projects with a total cost share to the township of $12,700. Trustee Midge Werner was absent.

In other business, the Bingham Township Board:

• Authorized Ard to award a contract to Alpine Electric for a $3,750 project to install a light with a photoelectric eye and timing device to illuminate the township parking lot. The township had received a $3,895 grant from its insurance carrier, Municipal Underwriters of Michigan, to install the light. Clerk Peggy Core said she would be especially pleased if the light is installed prior to the November election to accommodate those arriving at the polls after dark.

• Endorsed Ard’s nomination of trustee Mary Bush to serve another two-year term as the board’s representative on the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire and Rescue Authority.

• Heard from Bush that the Fire and Rescue Authority Board last week authorized the addition of one more “part paid” volunteer firefighter to the department, and decided to begin sending out a periodic newsletter to residents to address some of the questions that were raised in connection with last month’s successful fire and rescue millage vote.

• Heard from township resident John Popa who complained that certain provisions of the township zoning ordinance were not being enforced to his satisfaction. Ard agreed that Popa should meet with zoning administrator Steve Patmore and Planning Commission chairman Mike Park to discuss the issue further.

• Heard from township resident George Shaw who is concerned about continuing noise from fireworks, and is circulating a petition urging local municipalities to take action. Ard noted that a new state law legalizing fireworks for private use is problematic, and township officials will continue to monitor action in Lansing to modify the state law.