Former school board member named new clerk in Thornapple Twp.

A former Thornapple Kellogg Board of Education member is the new clerk in Thornapple Township.

Cindy Ordway, who served on the TK school board for 14 years, was sworn into office on Monday morning and attended her first board meeting that night. She was appointed by the township board April 13 on a 7-0 vote to succeed Cindy Willshire, who resigned as clerk at the end of March after six years in that capacity. She will serve until the 2024 elections.

"Ever since I left the school board, I felt kind of conflicted, like I need to serve. I need to serve somewhere else," Ordway said. One day, Ordway received a postcard in the mail from the township advertising the clerk's opening. "I thought, this is what I need, to give me an opportunity and serve and give back to the community," she said.

Ordway, who previously worked in the title insurance industry for 12 years, was selected from among five candidates who were interviewed by the board over a period of several weeks.

Township Trustee Curt Campbell moved to appoint Ordway "based upon the extensive experience and background with financial and record-keeping, the current use of our existing BS&A software programs, the community involvement of this candidate as well as the overall communication and people skills."

Ordway, 57, was first elected to the TK school board in June 2004 and served until 2018. She said the most rewarding part of her experience was "the sense of community and the sense of love of our staff toward our kids."

"Middleville is family, and the schools are the rock," she said. "I think that each and every teacher, staff member, bus driver, loves the kids at TK."

As clerk, Ordway will be responsible for elections. She is certainly aware of the increased focus and concerns on integrity of the election process.

"I want people to know that I will do everything to the best of my ability to serve - honestly, transparently and unbiased," she said. "Being an election official, I think it's important to connect with the community and see you in the community, so that they see you, they can communicate with you, they can establish a relationship with you and maybe gain trust. I think trust is a huge thing."

Ordway is one of two newly-appointed members of the Township Board. Laura Bouchard was appointed treasurer for the township in March, after longtime Treasurer Deb Buckowing resigned. Buckowing had been on the board for 20 years.

Ordway has lived in Thornapple Township since the age of 10. She is a 1983 Thornapple Kellogg High School graduate, where she served on the student council and was a cheerleader. She has been married for 37 years to her high school sweetheart, David, and has three children and five grandchildren.

Elsewhere on Monday night, the Township Board: - Approved a new logo for Thornapple Township Emergency Services that will include the words "Fire Department" and "Ambulance." The department will now be able to purchase patches with the new logo for TTES members. The previous logo had been in use for more than 20 years.

- Approved a 2 percent increase in the fee for connecting into the sewer system off Noffke Drive, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The fee will increase from $12, 000 to $12, 480. The township will consider similar increases annually.

- Approved a resolution clearing the way for the sale of bonds for the Duncan Lake No. 2 drainage district, and in a related move, authorized Township Supervisor Eric Schaefer to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the Barry County Drain Commissioner and Barry County Road Commission for the upcoming drain improvement project there. The agreement sets forth the coordination of construction and financing for the drain project in conjunction with road construction work on Noffke Drive that the township recently contracted with the road commission on.

- Approved the purchase of security cameras for the township hall at a cost of no more than $700. Cameras will be installed for the ballot box, the parking lot from the hall entrance and at the back door behind the hall. - Approved the reappointment of Elaine Denton to the township planning commission for a three-year term. Denton recently served on the Township Board as interim clerk between Willshire's resignation and Ordway's appointment.