Welcome to the electronic newsletter from Grand Haven Charter Township! Stay informed on what is happening in the township. This newsletter will deliver up-to-date information including upcoming meetings, development news, Township services and more! You can always find more information on our website or Facebook.

SPONGY MOTH SPRAYING

The Township Board approved an expenditure of just over $153k to spray 3,154 acres with a naturally occurring BT bacterium (i.e., Bacillus Thuringiensis Kurstaki) to control the spongy moth (formerly called gypsy moths) caterpillars at an early stage of their development.  Aquatic Consulting Services completed an egg mass survey to identify the areas to be sprayed and a bid was forwarded to four certified aerial sprayers within the State. The bid was awarded to Hamiliton Hilicopter. The Township anticipates spraying to occur in late May to early June.  Residents will be provided more detailed information closer to this time and notified of the spraying.   The Township is seeking more input from residents and would greatly appreciate your assistance by completing the survey below: SURVEY LINK:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZB27P86

WINTER PROPERTY TAXES DUE – FEBRUARY 14th

Winter property taxes are due on Wednesday, February 14th.   Winter property taxes can be paid using the on-site drop boxes, mail, or an on-line option https://ght.org/i-want-to/#bill .   Residents can also pay their taxes in-person at the Township lobby during normal business hours.

CHRISTMAS TREE DROP-OFF

The Christmas tree drop off is set up behind the Fire/Rescue Department. It will continue through the first week of February. Some residents take the trees for their goats … which is allowed.  (Goats can eat pine trees – according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, goats find untreated Christmas trees delicious and nutritious. Further, goats get the “winter blues” and like anything new and unusual.)

FIRE/RESCUE STATION CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The Township received a required wetland permit from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to construct the new Fire/Rescue building and parking area within 0.11 acres of wetlands. The EGLE permit is, of course, provided pursuant to several conditions and limitations– but none of these are considered burdensome and are normal to the development process within the State.

TRANSMISSION MAIN #3 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Five (5) bids were received for the “open cut” construction portion of the Transmission Main No. 3 project (i.e., the transmission main work through the city of Grand Haven to the 172nd Avenue meter station). The low bid was from McCormick Sand, Inc. for $4.2 million – which was about $108k (or 2.5%) below↓ the capital construction cost budget estimate for contract #1. The second contract will be developed for the actual meter station. (The total capital construction cost estimate for both contract #1 and contract #2 is $5.85 million.)

FIRE/RESCUE EMERGENCY RUNS

The Township′s Fire/Rescue Department has 8 full-time and 26 part-time positions. The department ran a total of 1,395 emergency runs in 2023. This number is down↓ about 7% over the record number established in 2022.

A majority of these emergency runs are medical/rescue calls – almost 75%. This is why the department emphasized medical certifications and became one of the few Advanced Life Support (ALS) or paramedic certified departments in West Michigan. [As a sidebar – the Sheriff′s Department is discontinuing their “E-unit” (i.e., paramedic) program for Park and Holland Townships by September and Georgetown Township prior to 2026 – these townships will now have to determine how to provide emergency medical services for their residents.]

GRAND RAPIDS WHOLESALE WATER RATE INCREASE

A portion of the Township – generally south of Little Pigeon and near the M-45 and US-31 intersection – receives their water from the City of Grand Rapids water treatment plant. That said, the City of Grand Rapids has increased↑ their wholesale water rate from about $1.76 per 1,000 gallons to $1.91 – an increase↑ of $0.15 per 1,000 gallons (or about 8%) effective January 1st. This wholesale increase↑ will be passed on to the Grand Rapids water users during their next billing cycle – after adoption of a resolution by the Township Board at the January 22nd Board meeting.

Township Questions? If you have specific questions about Township operations, please send an email to bcargo@ght.org .

(616) 842-5988  | info@ght.org | www.ght.org

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