Square one

Ortonville- The village square will soon have a fresh look.
High weeds, a fountain in disrepair and overgrown trees prompted area officials to take a look at the maintenance of the aging village square on the southeast corner of Mill and South streets.
‘The image of the community is at stake here,? said Ed Coy, village manager. ‘The area is part of the village and we’ll step up and help the DDA take care it. Keeping the fountain in working order and weed-free will be part of our DPW routine.?
Constructed on the site of the old Yolande Hotel, which was destroyed by fire in the early 1970s, the current village square was a Downtown Development Authority project started in the early 1990s. The area, which includes a fountain, flagpole, benches and VFW memorial, was conveyed to the DDA from the township in a 1993 agreement.
Robert Renchik, chairman of the Ortonville DDA, said the village square will get some serious attention in the next few weeks.
‘For starters, we need a continuous source of water to the fountain,? said Renchik. ‘The problems in the past with the fountain were it would run dry and burn out the pump. We’ll get a waterline from the police station to the fountain and even a light in the water to illuminate it at night.?
‘The project will be on top of our list to get done in the next few weeks.?
Downtown business owner David Bonner said the fountain is key to the area.
‘I hope the fountain and village square become an attractive showpiece for this community,? said Bonner, former DDA chairperson who helped bring the fountain to the village in 1995. ‘We needed something there for a centerpiece. The intent was for passersby to sit on the benches and listen to the water running.?
Over the years, maintenance on the village square has been an issue, said Ron Lapp, Brandon Township supervisor.
‘The township has helped keep the lawn mowed over the past few years,? said Lapp. ‘But the fountain and flagpole have fallen in disrepair. Routine maintenance is a key issue here’several citizens donated to have this facility built. We owe it to them to keep it looking good.?