Marcia Lewis stepping down November 20
By Bruce Rolfe
Climax Township Clerk Marcia Lewis, believed to be the second longest serving clerk in the township’s history, will be ending the role she has held since 2007 later this month.
Lewis, who became deputy clerk in 2004, and then clerk in 2007, decided not to run for re-election in November.
Sarah DeBoer won the August primary and was elected to the position in the November 5 general election. November 20, at 12:01 p.m. will be the end of Lewis’ term and when DeBoer officially takes over. Lewis will assist DeBoer and the township during the transition.
According to a database put together by former Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow, it is believed Carleton Horsfall served as Climax Township clerk 19 years.
The outgoing clerk recalled when the company she was working for in Grand Rapids made the decision to move the department she was working in to New York in a downsize move, she decided to focus on her role as a grandmother when her grandchild was two years old.
She also wanted to keep busy and recalled asking former Climax Township Clerk Scott Torrance if the township had any positions open. He suggested she consider being his deputy clerk. So she began working in that role in 2004 and continued until 2007. She was also working elections in Climax Township.
After Torrance resigned at the end of the fiscal year in 2007, Lewis was appointed to the clerk position April 1, 2007 and she continued to be elected each election cycle.
Lewis has seen a lot of change over her 18 years as the township clerk and she says most of it has been good.
Lewis has been a part of the township board that has worked out of two other locations, including some with challenging conditions.
She’s worked with many township board members over the years and feels some of the most satisfying moments occurred when board members networked together to make improvements.
The first township hall she worked out of was at the old fire station, remembered as the big yellow barn where the current new fire station is located. The township board shared office space with the fire department, creating some cramped conditions. A portion of the fire station where two fire trucks were parked, was converted to a township hall meeting room and election area.
The spirit of community volunteerism has shined where working with township board members, community members and local organizations has been enjoyable.
She recalled the election in August, 2002 at the old township hall located in the fire station, it was very hot with heavy voter turnout. Election workers opened the doors,
however the heat remained intense. Lewis said it wasn’t long before some caring township residents who had already voted came back with fans, lemonade and water for the election workers.
“That’s great community spirit right there,” said Lewis.
The Township Board purchased the old school on South Main Street where Dave’s Bargains currently operates out of. While the old school offered more space for meetings and elections, it was not energy efficient, creating some very cold working conditions in the winter and some hot days in the summer.
Lewis recalled Phyllis Simmons, who first served as a trustee and later as supervisor of the township, was a mentor to her, sharing valuable insight on how local government works and time frames she needed to keep in mind. “That was priceless,” said Lewis.
Lewis said the large, old windows were not energy efficient, creating some cold conditions in the winter. She recalled she joined Janet Seybert, Donna Seybert, June Bailey, Simmons, and other volunteers installing shrink wrap plastic over the windows in the office area during the winter months. The plastic shrink wrap was removed in the spring and the Climax Village Council sold the township a window air conditioner for $1. Some of the same group made curtains that were installed, and Simmons cleaned the old wooden floors that made the floors look brand new. She recalled her former deputy clerk, Justin Low, also helped install plastic shrink wrap around windows in another area of the township office.
While the long hallway in the old school provided more space for elections, a good portion of the walls were empty. She wanted to have something for the voters to look at while they stood in line. She collaborated with the Prairie Historical Society to bring in some old photos of the area and place them on the walls. The C-S Elementary School provided some art work made by elementary school students to hang on the wall and some small quilts made by local residents, were also hung on the wall.
The township board purchased the current township hall that used to be the location of CTS Communications and owned by the Collver family. The township board was able to pay for the large purchase with cash built up over the years, saving Climax Township taxpayers a significant amount of money because a loan was not needed. She said “we remain grateful to the Collver family who made the transaction possible.”
She recalled community volunteerism was in full force when the township moved from the old school house to the new township hall, noting Climax Township firefighters helped move all township documents to the current township hall.
Another program Lewis was proud the township board participated in while she was in office was a Memorial Day weekend ceremony at Gilson Cemetery put together by Simmons and her son John, recognizing local veterans and remembering their stories.
As a fourth generation resident of Climax Township, Lewis said she’s enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with relatives and friends, even it if was just on election day. “I love it. They (relatives) would come in and say hi. Meet other folks in the community. I liked that part of it. It has been really enjoyable,” said Lewis.
Outside of three changes in location for the township hall, the biggest change she has seen has been with elections, creating a much bigger workload. “Most all of the changes that have happened are for security reasons,” said the departing Climax Township clerk.
As she gets set to depart, she feels the township is in a good position.
“The board has been fiscally responsible all along and that hasn’t changed. We have decided though, there’s some things we kept putting off, we really have to do this now and the ARPA funds allowed the Township to make some much needed updates,” said Lewis.
She said the approximately $184,000 the township received in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds allowed the township to purchase a new furnace and air conditioning unit at the township hall, have the township hall roof repaired, and allowed the township fire department to purchase approximately $37,000 in new equipment.
Another improvement that has occurred she feels is important is updating cemetery records.
Outside of a lawsuit with the Village of Climax many years ago, Lewis recalled nothing out of the ordinary or odd has occurred while she has been in office.
The long time clerk said she will miss her visits with people and helping township residents the most.
“It’s a community effort thing. We get along. We help anybody we can. Everybody does here. We don’t have someone that’s on the board or associated with the township that is very self centered and have their own thing that they want to do. It’s more of a group effort,” said Lewis.
Climax Township Clerk Marcia Lewis, believed to be the second longest serving clerk in the township’s history, will be ending the role she has held since 2007 later this month.
Lewis, who became deputy clerk in 2004, and then clerk in 2007, decided not to run for re-election in November.
Sarah DeBoer won the August primary and was elected to the position in the November 5 general election. November 20, at 12:01 p.m. will be the end of Lewis’ term and when DeBoer officially takes over. Lewis will assist DeBoer and the township during the transition.
According to a database put together by former Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow, it is believed Carleton Horsfall served as Climax Township clerk 19 years.
The outgoing clerk recalled when the company she was working for in Grand Rapids made the decision to move the department she was working in to New York in a downsize move, she decided to focus on her role as a grandmother when her grandchild was two years old.
She also wanted to keep busy and recalled asking former Climax Township Clerk Scott Torrance if the township had any positions open. He suggested she consider being his deputy clerk. So she began working in that role in 2004 and continued until 2007. She was also working elections in Climax Township.
After Torrance resigned at the end of the fiscal year in 2007, Lewis was appointed to the clerk position April 1, 2007 and she continued to be elected each election cycle.
Lewis has seen a lot of change over her 18 years as the township clerk and she says most of it has been good.
Lewis has been a part of the township board that has worked out of two other locations, including some with challenging conditions.
She’s worked with many township board members over the years and feels some of the most satisfying moments occurred when board members networked together to make improvements.
The first township hall she worked out of was at the old fire station, remembered as the big yellow barn where the current new fire station is located. The township board shared office space with the fire department, creating some cramped conditions. A portion of the fire station where two fire trucks were parked, was converted to a township hall meeting room and election area.
The spirit of community volunteerism has shined where working with township board members, community members and local organizations has been enjoyable.
She recalled the election in August, 2002 at the old township hall located in the fire station, it was very hot with heavy voter turnout. Election workers opened the doors,
however the heat remained intense. Lewis said it wasn’t long before some caring township residents who had already voted came back with fans, lemonade and water for the election workers.
“That’s great community spirit right there,” said Lewis.
The Township Board purchased the old school on South Main Street where Dave’s Bargains currently operates out of. While the old school offered more space for meetings and elections, it was not energy efficient, creating some very cold working conditions in the winter and some hot days in the summer.
Lewis recalled Phyllis Simmons, who first served as a trustee and later as supervisor of the township, was a mentor to her, sharing valuable insight on how local government works and time frames she needed to keep in mind. “That was priceless,” said Lewis.
Lewis said the large, old windows were not energy efficient, creating some cold conditions in the winter. She recalled she joined Janet Seybert, Donna Seybert, June Bailey, Simmons, and other volunteers installing shrink wrap plastic over the windows in the office area during the winter months. The plastic shrink wrap was removed in the spring and the Climax Village Council sold the township a window air conditioner for $1. Some of the same group made curtains that were installed, and Simmons cleaned the old wooden floors that made the floors look brand new. She recalled her former deputy clerk, Justin Low, also helped install plastic shrink wrap around windows in another area of the township office.
While the long hallway in the old school provided more space for elections, a good portion of the walls were empty. She wanted to have something for the voters to look at while they stood in line. She collaborated with the Prairie Historical Society to bring in some old photos of the area and place them on the walls. The C-S Elementary School provided some art work made by elementary school students to hang on the wall and some small quilts made by local residents, were also hung on the wall.
The township board purchased the current township hall that used to be the location of CTS Communications and owned by the Collver family. The township board was able to pay for the large purchase with cash built up over the years, saving Climax Township taxpayers a significant amount of money because a loan was not needed. She said “we remain grateful to the Collver family who made the transaction possible.”
She recalled community volunteerism was in full force when the township moved from the old school house to the new township hall, noting Climax Township firefighters helped move all township documents to the current township hall.
Another program Lewis was proud the township board participated in while she was in office was a Memorial Day weekend ceremony at Gilson Cemetery put together by Simmons and her son John, recognizing local veterans and remembering their stories.
As a fourth generation resident of Climax Township, Lewis said she’s enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with relatives and friends, even it if was just on election day. “I love it. They (relatives) would come in and say hi. Meet other folks in the community. I liked that part of it. It has been really enjoyable,” said Lewis.
Outside of three changes in location for the township hall, the biggest change she has seen has been with elections, creating a much bigger workload. “Most all of the changes that have happened are for security reasons,” said the departing Climax Township clerk.
As she gets set to depart, she feels the township is in a good position.
“The board has been fiscally responsible all along and that hasn’t changed. We have decided though, there’s some things we kept putting off, we really have to do this now and the ARPA funds allowed the Township to make some much needed updates,” said Lewis.
She said the approximately $184,000 the township received in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds allowed the township to purchase a new furnace and air conditioning unit at the township hall, have the township hall roof repaired, and allowed the township fire department to purchase approximately $37,000 in new equipment.
Another improvement that has occurred she feels is important is updating cemetery records.
Outside of a lawsuit with the Village of Climax many years ago, Lewis recalled nothing out of the ordinary or odd has occurred while she has been in office.
The long time clerk said she will miss her visits with people and helping township residents the most.
“It’s a community effort thing. We get along. We help anybody we can. Everybody does here. We don’t have someone that’s on the board or associated with the township that is very self centered and have their own thing that they want to do. It’s more of a group effort,” said Lewis.
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