Talk of the Township - Monthly E-Newsletter

Delta Township monthly news & updates

Vol. 6 | Issue 8

2020

We Need Election Workers for November!

Are you a registered voter who is interested in serving the community?

Are you interested in assisting others to exercise their right to vote?

Then we need you!

Delta Township is looking for volunteers to work in all 16 of our voting precincts during the November 3 election.

All election workers will be trained prior to the election by the Delta Township Clerk's Office and will be paid for their time.

Please note that working the election is an all day commitment. The day will begin at 6 a.m and finish at 9 p.m.

For more information please contact the Delta Township Clerk's Office at 517-323-8500 or email [email protected].

Election Worker Application

2020 Election Schedule

November 3, 2020

General Election

Voter Registration Deadline

Election Day by 8:00 p.m.

For more information about each election, please visit www.deltami.gov key word: election.

Waverly Pathway Project Progressing

The new Waverly Road Shared Use Pathway is nearing completion. Recently, the concrete was poured for the shared use pathway from I-496 to Home Depot. In the coming days the pathway should be connected to the sidewalk on St. Joe Highway. The remaining portion of the project is the new railroad crossing just north of Lansing Road where restoration efforts will begin soon. The entire project should be completed this fall.

Photo Courtesy of Mac Wolfe

At Your Fingertips: Resources at Delta Township District Library

During this challenging time for everyone, the Delta Township District Library is working hard to provide services to the community while keeping everyone safe. Even though you still can’t browse the books, the Library has found new ways to be at your service.

Carside Hold Pickup Service

The library is now open for Carside Hold Pickup Service. You can have your holds or summer reading prizes delivered to your car with contactless service. You can also access Remote Printing with this service. Currently, the service is available Tuesday – Friday from 12 – 6 p.m. Visit dtdl.org for more information, or call the library at 517-321-4014.

Story Line and Library Line

Love storytime and want more? Now you can listen to a story right at home by simply calling the library. A children’s story, as well as an adult short story or poetry is updated every week by our staff. The children’s story also includes an activity you can do at home that ties into the reading. Call 517-321-4014, press 8 for a children’s story and press 9 for the adult short story.

BookMatch

Are you running out of ideas on what to read and miss browsing the books? Our staff can help! BookMatch is the library’s personalized reading recommendation service. Answer a few questions about your reading preferences and library staff will respond within a week with personalized suggestions for either you or your child. You can choose to receive a list by email or have staff place the books on hold for you for carside pickup. This service is free and confidential. Visit dtdl.org/bookmatch to get started!

Digital Services

DTDL cardholders have free access to a large variety of services digitally. Some include: Hoopla Digital, Woodlands Downloadable Library, Creativebug, Mango Languages, Consumer Reports, and RBDigital Magazines. Patrons who are 18 or older, and who do not already have an existing library account may register for a digital-only library card online, which provides instant access to all of these digital resources. For more information on how to access our digital services, please visit dtdl.org/digital.

StoryWalk®

If you are out-and-about on the Sharp Park trail across the street from the library, make sure you check out the StoryWalk®! Updated with a new book quarterly, the 17-panel book will entertain children of all ages with activities and excitement on your walk. To see what is currently on display, check out the library’s FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/deltatwplibrary.

Staff at the Delta Township District Library hope everyone in our community is staying safe during this trying time, and we look forward to serving you.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Reconstruction Project Update

Delta Township submitted the application for low interest loans (est. 2 - 2.5%) from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) to finance construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) improvements at the end of July.

Final Draft of SRF Project Plan can be found here:

http://www.deltami.gov/documents/Delta%20Project%20Plan%20WWTP%20Improvements%20for%20Board%20Meeting.pdf

The project is estimated to begin construction in the spring of 2022.

On July 20, 2020, the Township Board approved an agreement with TetraTech for engineering services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Major Capital Improvements Project at a cost not to exceed $1,992,000.00. The agreement states that TetraTech will complete the basis of design, Final Design of Phase 1, permitting and bidding of Phase 1 and design 30% of Phase 2.

Background

Why is this major capital improvement project necessary?

The plant is at the end of its useful life.
The plant needs new equipment to meet future water quality standards required by the State of Michigan
The plant is nearing capacity.

What are the proposed improvements?

After identifying the large cost, construction difficulty, and inefficient operation of the plant associated with repairing and retrofitting the plant, Delta Township’s project team developed a plan to reconstruct the plant on the same site. Reconstruction was found to be more cost effective to both build and operate and is anticipated to use 34% less energy than repairing and retrofitting the plant.

How Much will this Cost?

The total cost of all necessary improvements is estimated at approximately $78 million and the project will be constructed in multiple phases. The Township is planning to submit an application for low interest loans (est. 2 - 2.5%) from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) to finance construction of the WWTP improvements late in July.

The Township is pursuing principal forgiveness funds that are available through the SRF for energy efficient “green” infrastructure.

The Township’s initial estimate is that sewer rates will need to increase by an average of 6% per year over six years. At the end of that six-year period the estimated residential monthly bill will have increased by approximately $10 a month. There are many variables associated with this estimate and actual rates may vary from this estimate. Even at this level, however, Delta Township’s sewer rates would remain competitive within the region.

Because the project will be constructed within the current fenced-in boundary of the WWTP, it is not expected to have any significant negative environmental or social impacts. For questions regarding this project, you may contact [email protected].

Delta Township Board

Kenneth R. Fletcher

Supervisor