The effort to recall four Bertrand Township board members is moving forward.

Recall organizer Therese Niemier turned in this week the required amount of citizen signatures to the county in hopes of getting the recall issue on the May election ballot, according to Berrien County Deputy Clerk Frank Sampsell.

Niemier is targeting Supervisor John Mefford, Treasurer Linda Layher and trustees Dick Haigh and David Zelmer for recall due to their vote to have the county collect summer taxes in 2011 — a practice the township has been doing for several years.

Niemier argues that if the treasurer would begin collecting summer taxes, the township would receive about $4,000 a year from the state. The county currently receives that money since it collects the taxes. Having the township treasurer collect taxes would also eliminate a 1 percent administration fee being charged by the county for the service.

Township Clerk Jane Lano is not being pursued for a recall since she voted against the measure.

In an interview Wednesday, Mefford explained why he and the other board members voted to have the county collect the taxes.

“The reason we voted that is way is that the county is dramatically changing its database system,” he said. “Our treasurer will not have training on this new system until next June. She was not comfortable in making a commitment to collecting taxes this summer when she has not seen the program at all.”

He also claimed that Niermier’s information on how much money the township could save by collecting its own summer taxes is inaccurate.

Niemier had to collect at least 230 signatures for each candidate, amounting to 25 percent of the number of votes the township cast in November’s election. Friday was the deadline for submitting the paperwork.

The county now will forward the signatures to the Bertrand Township clerk to verify that the signatures are truly registered voters of the township. Once that is complete, the county will do a final check before it is placed on the ballot.

Sampsell said it could be difficult to get the steps complete in time for the May election but it could be placed on the ballot in August.

The board members have the opportunity to file challenges until Feb. 23.

Niermier, who has had help with her cause through a Facebook page called “Concerned Citizens of Bertrand Township,” said people are ready for a change of leadership.

“There seems to be some excitement about getting some new blood in there,” she said in an interview in December. “It’s nothing personal. It’s just about people doing their jobs to benefit the people in the township and make it better.”

Mefford, however, does believe it’s personal, arguing Niermier and her supporters have a “vendetta” against him.

Mefford also came to the defense of his fellow board members being targeted for recall.

“I’ve never worked with people who are more sincere and concerned with the best interest of the township,” he said. “I wish people would take the time to come to board meetings rather than go based on what people tell them.”