Portland Township Poised to Build New Township Hall

After many years of planning, Portland Township will soon have its own office and hall.  Portland Township has long had its offices in the Portland Emergency Services building in the City of Portland.  In recent years that has led to cramped meeting space for the township.  The shared space also creates space issues for the Portland Area Fire Authority, and Portland Police and Ambulance departments that share the building.   

That lack of space is especially notable every election season.  The township's offices are not large enough to accommodate a polling place so for many years township residents have voted at Westwood Elementary School.  Due to school security concerns and parking congestion that has led to Portland Public Schools canceling school for elections.  While students certainly don’t object, it is an inconvenience to parents without childcare.  This situation is hopefully soon to be rectified. 

According to Portland Township Supervisor Christian Jensen, the township hopes to break ground on their own township hall in the new year.  A number of years ago, the township bought a parcel adjacent to the Portland city limit and across the street from Tricounty Electric on Grand River Ave.  A location on the Grand River Ave front of this property was considered, but eventually dismissed in favor of a location at the south end of the plot with an entrance off Knox Road.  According to Township Clerk Charlene Keilen, the township is dividing the parcel and keeping the southern 10 acres and plans to sell the remaining 21.6 acres.

The facility will house the township office, and meeting space for township board meetings.  The facility will host township elections.  “Once built, we will no longer have to close the school for elections, as we will have room available,” says Christian.  The facility will also be available for rental for gatherings of up to 150 people and will feature a “warming kitchen.”  The township hall will also become the location for the monthly township recycling center.  Currently, the township borrows space for this function at Municipal Supply Co.

Christian and Keilen stress that building and site preparation plans are still in the works and final costs are unknown at this point.  However, the plan is coming together and township residents can look forward to seeing ground breaking on their own community space sooner than later.

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