There’s been a bit of a stir brewing in the Grand Mere area of Lincoln Township as the township considers having some of the roads paved.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Lincoln Township Board of Trustees, multiple residents of the neighborhood spoke in opposition of the potential paving during the public comments. One resident presented a petition he’s circulated among neighbors that he said shows a majority don’t want the roads paved, partly to avoid being charged a special assessment for the work.

Township Supervisor Glenn Youngstedt told us how this all started.

“For years, they’ve had dirt roads, and a lot of the residents like that because it keeps down the traffic, because people don’t want to drive down a dusty road,” Youngstedt said. “Well, some of that neighborhood has turned over over the years, and there’s people there that would like paved roads.”

So, the township was asked to consider doing a study to at least have its roughly 1,400 feet of Grand Mere Road paved. Youngstedt said that’s when the opposing petition emerged. He’s spent time talking with residents against the idea and says what the people want, the people may get.

“We’re going to listen to what the residents say and we’ll look at it from their standpoint.”

If any of the roads were to be paved, the Berrien County Road Department would do the work. However, the township would have to get the process started.

Youngstedt told us he expects the entire issue to be resolved with the township board’s next meeting.