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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.
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New Election Equipment
Township voters will find upgraded technology and a fresh look to their voting experience at the next election.
The Ottawa County Clerk’s Office, together with the State of Michigan, has purchased all-new voting equipment from Hart InterCivic, a federally certified elections software vendor based in Austin, Texas. The purchase marks the County’s first major upgrade of voting technology in 13 years.
Hart’s technology represents a state of the art system; and one that voters and election administrators will be able to rely upon for many years. Hart’s Verity voting system was selected for purchase because it is secure, accurate and easy to use. Verity is the only system offered in Michigan that is federally certified for electronic transmission of election results and meets Michigan’s most stringent standards. Ballot programming and vote tabulation are never connected through the Internet and all devices are rigorously tested for accuracy prior to each election.
Voters will continue to mark a paper ballot that appears largely the same as previous paper ballots. They will then insert their ballot into a new touch screen scanner and wait for the image of an American flag to appear, signifying that the ballot has been accepted. Those needing physical assistance may utilize the Verity Touch Writer, a new, portable touch screen ballot marking device that includes an audio ballot reader and accommodates adaptive devices. Absentee voters will continue to receive their ballot, and instructions for marking it, by mail.
After polls close on Election Night, results will be securely and automatically transmitted to the County Clerk’s Office from each ballot scanning device, decreasing the typical wait time for results. All paper ballots will be retained by the Township after each election.
The County Clerk’s Office, in partnership with local clerks, will be holding public demonstrations of the new voting equipment in order to give voters an opportunity to see first-hand prior to Election Day.
One of these election demonstrations will be held at the Loutit District Library on September 11th from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
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Skilled Nursing Care Facility
Regency at Grand Haven
Regency at Grand Haven is a proposed 74,000 square foot,
120 bed, skilled nursing care facility that would be constructed on Comstock Street – immediately west of the Piper Lakes apartments that are currently under construction. The Regency will provide both short-term rehabilitation care as well as long-term nursing care.
The facility would have 38 private rooms, 38 semi-private rooms (i.e., 76 beds), and 6 private bariatric rooms. A future wing on the proposed facility could add another 20 beds to the development.
Because much of this property is encumbered by “wetlands”, this development was a challenge to develop.
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See diagram below.)
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But, if this nursing care facility is approved, approximately 3 acres of wetlands will be protected by a conservation easement.
The Planning Commission held its initial public hearing on this development on July 17th and the project is expected to be in front of the Township Board on August 28th.
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Homebuyer Education
Grand Haven Charter Township financially supports the Neighborhood Housing Services, who will teach a two-part Homebuyer Education class next month on August 15th and 29th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The class will be held at 11 North Sixth Street in Grand Haven.
Valuable, unbiased information for the first-time homebuyer will be presented in a casual, small-group setting. No selling, no pressure, no tests! Class is 6 hours long, split over 2 evenings.
Topics will include:
- Money Management for Home Ownership
- Shopping for Your Home
- Financing Your Home Purchase
- Protecting Your Investment through a home inspection and homeowners’ insurance
- Understanding the Home Buying Process
- Access to Grant Money
The fee is $25 per household and pre-registration is required. Attendance both evenings earns a Homebuyer Ed Certificate.
Call Neighborhood Housing Services at (616) 935-3270 for more information or to register.
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