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!
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TRUSTEE RON REDICK ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION |
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Trustee Ron Redick announced that he will resign from the Township Board effective April 1st.
Trustee Redick has provided twenty-four years of service to the residents of Grand Haven Charter Township as both a member of the Township Planning Commission (i.e., from 2001 to 2015) and as a member of the Township Board (i.e., from 2015 to 2024).
Further, Trustee Redick provided an emphasis in Parks and Recreation – serving on both the North Ottawa Parks and Recreation Authority (NORA) and Chairing the Township′s Parks and Recreation Committee – where he provided significant leadership on the Schmidt Heritage Park project and other important recreation planning and capital projects.
In his resignation email, Trustee Redick wrote the following:
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It has been a great pleasure to work for the Township for the past 24 years, including as a Planning Commissioner for about 15 years, as a trustee for over nine years, as Chair of the Parks & Rec Committee, and as the Board representative at NORA.
Throughout these years with the Township, I have consistently been impressed by the quality of the Township’s management, its officials, appointees, department heads and employees. No matter the issue involved, or the extent of policy differences, or the level of public interest or controversy, I have always found the Township to be a respectful forum, in which these issues are cooperatively discussed, with a consistent eye toward the betterment of the community.
In the current political climate, where there are, unfortunately, so many examples of distasteful and objectionable behavior in government, Grand Haven Charter Township has risen well above the fray – consistently displaying respectful behavior and decorum.
I wish my fellow Board members the best in their continued service to the Township. I know the Township is in excellent hands with your continued and dedicated service.
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No special election will be required to fill the vacancy. |
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Maverik Service Station Approve |
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The Planning Commission conditionally approved a special land use application to allow Maverik to construct a gas station located at the southeast intersection of Lake Michigan Drive (M-45) and US-31. (The applicant had previously approached the Planning Commission about this development as the brand Kum N Go, which has since been acquired by Maverik.)
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The development will include a 6,000 square foot convenience store that will be open 24-hours and features a café offering freshly prepared food. Located on the site are twelve (12) traditional fuel pumps and five (5) pumps that offer both traditional fuel and “hi-flo” diesel to accommodate oversized vehicles and semi-trailer trucks.
Access to the site is offered through three driveways, one each on US-31, Lake Michigan Drive, and 158th Avenue.
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Township Board Approves Bid for Fire/Rescue Station |
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Bids on the new Fire/Rescue station were opened on February 22nd and the results – including three alternates – were under↓ construction estimates. The alternates included:
- Alternate #2 – the Addition to two Vehicle Bays at $752,201
- Alternate #3 – the Milling and Paving of the Administrative Parking Lot at $55,000
- Alternate #4 – the Sheriff Department Restroom Renovations at $45,884
Specifically, the project budget indicates a surplus of about $209k at the end of the project in July of 2025. This includes all past costs (i.e., land costs which have not been reimbursed, bond costs, etc.), a 5% contingency (i.e., about $453k), and a generous allowance for owner equipment, furniture, and systems equipment.
As a result, the Township Board approved twenty-one (21) recommend bids and the General Requirements (i.e., $75k) that total $9,066,227.
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On April 1st, all the current ght.org accounts will become ghtmi.gov as the primary sending account.
This will be the first of four phases to complete the migration from the .org to the .gov domain name convention.
The other phases include the Township website, servers, and other background services. It is important to note that over the next year both .org and .gov will both work simultaneously.
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New Public Services Director |
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Matt Wade has accepted the position of Public Services Director with Grand Haven Charter Township, and will begin Monday, April 15th.
Matt's journey in public works began in the City of Grand Haven as a seasonal employee, gradually progressing through various roles to attain a comprehensive understanding of public works operations. Presently serving as the Public Utilities and Streets Manager for the City of Grand Haven, Matt brings extensive experience, having held this role since 2017.
Matt holds an S-1 license, the highest certification for water distribution systems, and is a GVSU graduate – completing his bachelor′s degree in 2010.
Matt is already known by many members of the Township Public Services team and is respected by these members – being the lead contact from the city for the ongoing Transmission Main #3 Project.
Matt is excited for the opportunity to serve the Township and the greater Grand Haven community in a new capacity.
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Leaf Drop-off will begin on Monday, April 1st and continue through Sunday, April 21st.
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ALDI - Preapplication Conference |
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Representatives from ALDI appeared before the Township Planning Commission regarding their proposal for a limited assortment grocery store in the Township.
The proposed 20,000 square foot building would be constructed on the northwest corner of Hayes and 172nd Avenue – adjacent to the Speedway Service station. The building would be open 7 days a week, offering standard dry, refrigerated, and frozen goods including beer and wine.
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UCMR 5 Water Sampling - Non-Detect Results |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “selected” Grand Haven Charter Township as a community to participate in the Uncontaminated Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) which is orchestrated by the EPA to sample for contaminants that may be present in drinking water but are not yet subject to regulatory standards.
This additional testing of select communities is required per the Safe Drinking Water Act and for different UCMRs every five years. The chemicals being sampled during this round included 29 PFAS substances and lithium. (PFAS substances have been found in numerous water systems throughout the nation and are a growing public health concern.)
Township staff sampled two connections to the NOWS water system at our east and west meter stations for four rounds in May, August, and November of 2023 and February of 2024.
The Township is pleased to announce that all four rounds of samples that were taken tested “NON-DETECT” across for all the substances being tested – including all PFAS substances.
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Township Questions?
If you have specific questions about Township operations, please send an email to bcargo@ght.org .
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